About Me
Meet Leslie Mckenzie
When looking for a fitness instructor or fitness classes, I believe you need to know 2 things:
- What kind of experience they have and are they qualified to teach specific classes, and
- Why do they do what they do
MY EXPERIENCE - I have over 25 years experience in the Fitness and Wellness industry. My journey began in Jan 1995, when I became certified as a group fitness Instructor with the Alberta Fitness Leadership Certification Association, (AFLCA).
YOGA INSTRUCTOR - In 2006, I received my first certification in Yoga. To date, I am a 500 +hour Registered Yoga Teacher with full certifications in:
- Yin Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Pain Care Yoga, Restorative Yoga and
- Level 1 iRest Yoga Nidra.
PERSONAL TRAINER - In 2008, I received my Personal Training Certification through CanFitPro. This means I am qualified to:
- Evaluate my client's needs in physical activity and
- Provide the client with a safe and effective exercise plan based on their needs, abilities and goals.
LIFE COACH, MEDITATION & REIKI - In 2013, I received my first certification in Life Coaching and in 2018, I completed my Coaching Certification with the Certified Coaches Federation (CCF). In 2015, I became a certified Meditation Coach and in 2018, a certified Reiki practitioner.
TEACH THE TEACHERS! - Since 2005 I am also an Assistant Trainer for the Alberta Fitness Leadership Certification Association, which authorizes me teach others to teach instructors.
Want to learn WHY I do what I do? CLICK HERE to read my journey.
why “Wellness Defined”?
“who or what defines if you are well”
If someone is struggling mentally and putting their energies into staying mentally well but they neglect their physical wellness...are they well?
That person is happy because they are mentally well and that is their priority and that is ok.
But...do they know about the Wellness Wheel. Do they know that short term, it is ok to be focused on one area of the wellness wheel but at some point, that will put them out of balance.
I want to...
Teach you about the different spokes in your wellness wheel,
Help you to understand the importance of balance in all areas of your wheel,
Help you to learn how to measure your wellness and identify where you are out of balance,
Give you the tools to be empowered and bring yourself back into balance in all areas of your wellness wheel.
"I have known Leslie for many years, first as my fitness instructor. I would look forward to Leslie’s classes and found that she was very thorough with her instruction and always adapted exercise for those that had any issues. Then I began to attend her yoga classes and found that she explained everything so well and it was a healing experience. Soon Yin Yoga was introduced and thought I wasn’t going to like it as it wasn’t as comfortable but I soon learned that Leslie guided us through the discomfort and I was enjoying that as well! Next came Meditation and Chakras and I was completely hooked! Never thinking that I could meditate, I soon learned that it was a very useful tool in my life. I have attended 2 yoga retreats in Huatulco Mexico with Leslie and several others. We all had a wonderful time and bonded through our common wish to better ourselves and our love of Yoga. Leslie guided us through our practise with lessons and words of wisdom from a book that we followed on each retreat. Every yoga session was spiritual and full of great wisdom, a truly amazing learning experience! This past year, after being diagnosed with breast cancer, the ladies all grouped together with Leslie’s guidance and did a healing circle with me. I have carried all that energy with me throughout my treatment and to a very successful ending! I have been in contact with Leslie and all the others as they gave me positive energy, reminders, tips and support. I’m so grateful to my Yoga Angels! As Covid has kept us separated we are still bonded in spirit! I cannot speak highly enough about Leslie and her vast knowledge and ability to see just what we all need. We always leave her class saying “That was just the perfect class, how did she know?” Namaste
I have taken fitness, yoga, and meditation classes from Leslie for years, and even permanently changed my Tuesday work hours so that I could attend her classes – she’s that good!
As an instructor, Leslie is passionate, innovative, dedicated, thoughtful, and knowledgeable. She emphasizes fundamentals such as proper alignment and explains how particular poses, routines and movements can be incorporated into everyday life. I particularly appreciate that Leslie ends each of her yoga and meditation classes with a quote. And what’s more, Leslie has a joyful quality to her and her classes are just plain fun!
Leslie has taught me to listen to my body more and to become less attached to my thoughts. I have spent most of my life in my head and I never believed I could get to a place where my thoughts don’t continually dictate my moods, behaviour, and actions.
Through Leslie’s Yin Yoga and meditation classes, I am learning to be more at ease with discomfort: physically, mentally, and emotionally. For sure, I am still a work-in-progress, and thanks to Leslie, I can live with that.
