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Leyla is extremely grateful to her students and teachers. After spending a year-long residency at the Kripalu Center in Lenox, Massachusetts, Leyla became a Kripalu certified yoga instructor in 1998. A life-long learner, Leyla continues her yoga training by learning about anatomy, yoga for aging bodies, and yoga philosophy. She is also a certified Qigong Teacher. Leyla has been teaching at Circle Yoga since 2010 and is currently serving on the CYC Board. She has been fortunate to teach at a variety of locations including Glen Echo Park, Whitman Walker Clinic, Catholic University, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Supreme Court. In 2002, she co-founded Capitol Hill Yoga and remained co-owner until 2008. In addition to teaching yoga, Leyla is a professor of social work at Catholic University, a mindfulness instructor at Sibley Hospital, and a psychotherapist.
What to expect in Leyla's class
With compassion and clarity, Leyla creates a safe space for beginners and experienced students alike to connect with their breath and bodies. Each class will have instruction on breath, alignment cues for safe poses, and end with a guided sivasana/relaxation. She choreographs her classes to progressively open and strengthen the body with plenty of "warm up" movements to ease the body into yoga poses. Since yoga is a practice for all bodies, abilities, and ages, Leyla provides modifications to ensure everybody feels comfortable.