Yoga Instructor - La Ventana, Mexico

When you meet Sara, you light up. Her energy and story to back up the transition into this luminous person is inspiring.

1. Name.

Sara Leslie

2. Where is your hometown?

Canadian prairies. Winnipeg, MB

3. What is your professional/career/title/self-label/designation?

Yoga teacher. Inspiration of passionate living, health & wellness.

4. What was the journey like to get where you are (career wise)? When was the mental shift to start the journey?

The journey to get to where I am has been full of life & adventure. It seems every turn I take there are another 10 paths to choose from, & they get more wildly bold all the time. Even more than I could imagine. Whenever I find myself in a place of transition, feeling down, stuck or frustrated I begin getting curious about my choices. Practicing self observation. Positivity to myself/others, practicing health/yoga, living in the moment & support from friends/family always brings me afloat. The amazing support I've received from my friends/family all over is unexplainable. I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for them.

The mental shift to truly living this way began just over 4 years ago. April 1, 2012. While riding my bicycle home from work I got hit & ran over by a big pickup truck controlled by a young drunk driver. They sped away as I tucked & rolled out from underneath. At the time I was not quite 22 years old, working in a bar that I had been employed with for about 4 years.

The process I went through (& in some ways am still going through) has shaped my current life.

5. Biggest accomplishment since making the (physical/mental) move?

The biggest accomplishment from this life-changing shift has been letting go of anger, transforming out of a victim state, & gaining my own power from the whole experience.

With this, my yoga practice has advanced tremendously, I don't have pain in my body every day anymore, & I've loosened away from PTSD. There are still moments/days when old habits creep in, the difference now is I know how to manage/learn from them. I feel most accomplished when I positively inspire others from my own experiences.

6. What was biggest disappointment and plan to overcome it?

That would probably be the lack of help, on a human level, from a few of those involved in the legal side of this bike accident. Or those in general who attempt to put each other down. Some of us are so systematically conditioned to the point where compassion fleets. We become robot-like.

This was (& is) a boost of motivation for me to continue growing & learning. Inspiring others to live up to their great potential.

7. Advice for other women?

You can do anything if you don't hold yourself back. Make dreams happen. Begin today with little steps in that direction. That may just be talking, writing, or reading about what you want to do.

Take care of yourself.

Absorb all that's helping you reach your goals & filter out what drains you.

Learn to take good from the bad.

Don't allow fear to guide your life.

& Trust yourself.

8. Where in the world do you feel “tallest”?

I feel tallest wherever I can do yoga every day. I am happiest on the beach & in the ocean.

9. What is the future goal/challenge (career and/or life goals in 5-10 years)?

Goals are very important to me. They also shift, change & grow as I do. Right now, I know I want to train/study more in yoga. I want to study Herbal medicines (& down the road Traditional Chinese Medicine). I eventually want to run yoga retreats/trainings paired with surfing or kiteboarding. Lately I've also been very intrigued by dance & choreography... so we'll see where that takes me.

10. What fears are you still hoping to overcome?

The fear of falling (aka failing), or getting hurt. This shows up for me during kiteboarding, yoga (mostly inversions), & in relationships in my life. Something I have learnt so far which I'm getting better at practicing is distinguishing between my instincts & insecurities, then just going for it even if it's scary.

11. Anything you'd do differently (if you had another go at life?)

Although there are moments I'm not proud of, there is nothing I would change about decisions I've made throughout my life. Everything, even the challenges (or the not so graceful moments) happened in the most perfect way. I am grateful for where/who I am today & would never risk changing that. No regrets.

12. What inspires you?

Art (of all kinds). Witnessing others truly be themselves & utilizing that positively in their life & the world. Health & yoga. Music & dance. The ocean. Surfing & Kiteboarding.

13. Who is a “WOW Woman” in your life who inspires you (and why)?

Honestly I am so blessed to have so many WOW-women in my life- each in their own way. They are constant positive influences for me. I often feel there is no way to ever fully repay them for their greatness. Whenever I get the chance I intentionally pay-it-forward. (Amazing ladies in my life, you know who you are).

14. Where can others find you/your work (links to websites, blogs, etc.)?

Right now I'm on an airplane back to my love, Baja, Mexico. Jumping on a sailboat from Cabo-Ensenada, then heading back to Canada. This summer I will be living in Tofino, British Columbia. Check-in with my FB page or IG soon for classes I'll be teaching! Beginning in the fall I'll be back teaching at Baja Joe's in La Ventana for the entire winter season.

Instagram: @windsoulyoga

Facebook link
(you can also search FB for Windsoul Wellness)