BIO ROAST: Leslie Munday
A spin on our usual Friday format of satirical yoga bios, the Bio Roast is when we dig up our old teaching bios and deconstruct them to get to the truth of the matter. RY co-founder Leslie Munday kicks things off.
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By Leslie Munday
I recently came across the first yoga teacher bio I ever authored about myself. Upon first glance I didn’t think it was too bad (aside from the excessive use of commas, of course). But after reading it a few times over, I decided that a little self-reflection (read: self-deprecating honesty) was in order.
Leslie’s classes support a path of self-discovery through energetic, compassionate, and challenging practice. (Read: I’m gonna kick your ass because I have no idea what I’m doing, people. Perhaps if I distract you with ridiculously fast-moving sun salutations, followed by poses so challenging that even a Cirque du Soleil performer couldn’t do them, you won’t notice? I’ll smile politely with empathetic eyes the whole time though.)
In her athletic approach to yoga, students are encouraged to listen to their inner voice and to create a personal practice both on, and off, the mat. (Read: Forget your inner voice. My inner voice is telling me to get the eff off this mat and trot on down to the local watering hole for a stiff drink, but I’ll never tell you that. I’ll be the one hiding in the alley behind the bar smoking a ciggie, because yoga teachers “don’t smoke.”)
A long-time student of Iyengar yoga, Leslie is also deeply inspired by the Baptiste Method and philosophy. (Read: I just dropped ten thousand big ones on this asshole, so he better have something brilliant to impart. Method? Method to the madness maybe.)
She is an associate teacher of Baron Baptiste and is presently working toward her certification. (Read: Maybe one day I’ll get my shit together and finally complete all of the meaningless writing requirements I know they won’t actually read.)
© Andy Freeberg all rights reserved http://www.andyfreeberg.com
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Teachers, dig up your old bios and roast yourselves! submissions@recoveringyogi.com
5 Comments !
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Shawn says:
After that, how can I possibly roast Leslie? Let me count the ways…
Self-discovery: this always sounds dirty, even more so when it’s a “journey”. C’mon, Leslie, do tell.
Personal practice on the mat? So YOU are the one encouraging my students to ignore me in class and do whatever the h#$% they want!
Baptiste Method? Is that an acting style? First, imagine you are your students’ breath…become their breath…be one with it…
Leslie says:
There’s actually nothing dirty to tell! I answered, “Ew!” to the poll about bedding teachers. Now bedding students on the other hand…Kidding!
Yogini5 says:
That is the first step in your actual journey to recovery: when you stop believing your own “press” …
Thursdayyoga.com says:
Love the part about ridiculously fast sun salutations and Cirque Du Soleil moves. Used to do that myself, now my peak pose if students are ready is probably Chair. Actually, my peak pose really is Urdhva Hastasana in Tadasana.
I love the picture with the little bio btw,
Thanks,
Renee
Leslie says:
A class where the peak pose is chair sounds like my kind of class. Sign me up!