All Things Zen | Pauline Leppan
A love for yoga and all things good is what Pauline Leppan is all about. A passion shared amongst friends and her husband, Dean Leppan is what fuelled their decision to open up a beautiful, restful yoga studio in Hermanus. Yoga Heart is all about inner and outer wellness while practising yoga safely. Her classes are suited to all fitness levels and all ages. Pauline is local personality that you are going to want to meet.
See what this inspiring woman had to say to us…
When did you come to Hermanus?
December 2007.
Why did you decide on coming to Hermanus?
A death in my husband’s family made him decide to relocate to Hermanus, where his family was staying at the time.
What made you decide to become a yoga instructor?
I fell in love with yoga after my very first class. When we decided to move to Hermanus, after living and travelling in Asia for 5 years, it felt like the right time to make a change and start teaching in a field that I absolutely love.
Hermanus is…
Home.
I love Hermanus in the…
Summer. I’m all about summer, the beach, the opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities like hiking trails, of which we have exquisite ones. And yes, we can all do these activities year round, but the long summer days and beautiful evenings are still my favourite!
My favourite yoga exercises are…
1) Surya Namaskara – Sun Salutations. This is a dynamic sequence of postures practised following the flow of your breath. It is an all over workout, producing strength, flexibility and fitness. After becoming more adept in this practice, it can become deeply meditative. The best part of it, is that it can take 5-10 minutes to complete, making it a great way to start each day.
2) Shirshasana – The Headstand. The headstand is often called the king of all the yoga postures as it requires almost every muscle in the body to be actively involved, and works on all the body systems. The headstand represents a personal challenge to me as it took me seven years to gain the strength and confidence to do it free standing without the support of a wall. The beautiful thing about practising yoga is that it often gives you the opportunity to face your fears, becoming more aware of the fact that our thoughts can often limit our potential.
3) Shavasana – The Corpse Pose. This posture is practised at the end of every yoga class. It is practised lying down on the back, and involves deep relaxation. This is the moment you go aaaaahhhhh.
Why should people consider yoga over any other type of exercise?
Yoga has the benefit of not only being a full body workout, but also has the beneficial aspects of relaxation that help produce a feeling of peace and calm. There is a strong emphasis on breathing exercises, which help calm the emotions and mind. Yoga has no age limit on it and you can practice yoga your entire life. The style of yoga will change as you age. Strong, dynamic, physical styles will suit the young. Quieter practices for the more mature. Ultimately, it is a practice that can always change to suit your physical, emotional and spiritual needs.
The best part of my job is…
I do what I love.
My best memories are…
Travelling. I had the opportunity to travel around Asia for 5 years. Although I love this town, I do hope that there’ll be more exciting adventures in remote parts of the globe again.
I have been to some amazing places in the world, the most memorable was…
This is a tough one! Too many to choose from. I’m going with India. I’ve been fortunate to have spent a total of 11 months there on two separate visits. It’s a vast country filled with so many different cultures, vibrant colour, smells, fabulous food, ancient history, amazing treks in the Himalaya. I’m giving India as my answer as this is where I started my journey with yoga. If you want a holiday in paradise, however, consider THAILAND!
What are your top 3 musts when it comes to staying in shape?
Healthy diet, positive attitude, dedicated practice. Sometimes you just need to drag yourself out of bed and get on the yoga mat – it’s worth it!
What is the most important advice that you could give to a woman regarding her body?
Love yourself. See your ‘imperfections’ as defining features of your beautiful individuality. Find your beauty within and let it shine through.
What are your 3 “sinful” treats that you cannot stay away from?
Chocolate, a Bamboo Beach pizza and a glass of good, local Pinot Noir. (All three are yoga no-no’s, but life’s all about balance.)
I wish I knew then what I do know about…
A challenging teaching of yoga is to remain present. It is useless to look back at past events with regret, because nothing can be changed other than the way we view past events and ourselves. The beautiful thing about life is that we are always growing and changing, learning as we go.
“Yoga is not a religion. It is a science, science of well-being, science of youthfulness, science of integrating body, mind and soul.” ― Amit Ray
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