Hi darling yogis, we’re so happy to welcome back this lovely and inspiring lady – yoga teacher Leah Sugerman.

If you’ve ever wondered why so many people call yoga a life-changing practice, Leah is a perfect example of how yoga for life can impact not only your physical well-being but also your emotional and mental health. In this interview, she shares how she started, why she teaches, and what she’s learned from yoga as a lifelong journey.

When and Why Did You Decide to Become a Yoga Teacher?

About seven years ago, I first came to yoga as a means to heal an injury, and I was quickly transformed by the practice far beyond the physical benefits. I felt so deeply impacted by yoga that I decided I wanted to share the practice with others so that they might have similar experiences to mine. It has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.

What Do You Enjoy Most About Teaching Yoga?

I love to witness the transformation, in any form. I love watching a formerly inflexible student touch their toes! I love watching a student who has recently experienced a great loss feel the cathartic release of the practice. I love experiencing the transformation inside myself as my students affect me much more than they could even realize.

Top Benefits of Yoga for Life

Personally, yoga for life has changed me in many ways. Since I have started practicing, I have become a calmer and much more centered person. Little things no longer get to me and I can withstand greater things with more ease because of what my practice has taught me.

My practice has also greatly increased my self-awareness. Not only physically, but mentally as well. I am much more in tune with my body and my emotions. I feel that yoga introduced me to my own inner being.

Yoga has also created counter effects within me. The practice has both greatly increased my confidence while simultaneously humbling me. That is what is so special about yoga. As I built strength and awareness in my practice, I began to believe in my own potential. But as I built strength and awareness, I was also knocked down more times than I can count. I learned that the journey is the practice—not the end result.

I learned to have humility and confidence at the same time. It’s a practice I try to apply to daily life. So finally, yoga has changed my outlook on the world. I live my life a little bit differently each day as I grow and learn in my personal practice. Each lesson learned on my mat translates to a million different scenarios in everyday life, and I am eternally grateful for all that it has taught me.

Advice for Beginners Starting Yoga for Life

Yoga is not scary! It is a practice solely of the mind. If you can breathe, you can practice yoga. All the rest is just circus tricks.

In all seriousness, the physical practice is quite simple. All you do is make shapes with your body. And if one shape feels wrong, then it is wrong for your body. So don’t do it! Do what feels good in your body. Over time, as you build strength and flexibility, more and more poses will feel right. You can take all the time in the world to reach that place. Most people never do. And that’s totally fine.

The practice of yoga is reflecting on how your mind reacts to the body’s movements. That is what yoga for life is. So if you can tune into your mind, then you are more than capable of practicing yoga—and enjoying it!

Changes Yoga Brings to Students

Many physical and many mental changes seem to occur after practicing yoga for some time. The body begins to gain strength as the muscles simultaneously elongate and relax, creating greater flexibility. Internally, people seem to find greater self-awareness. Emotionally, people relax deeply and begin to live life in the present moment. It is a beautiful and transformative practice.

Why a Yoga Retreat Is a Great Step Toward Yoga for Life

I think a yoga retreat is the perfect setting to remove all distractions so that you can completely focus entirely on your practice. It is a luxury that we often cannot afford in our daily lives, so this isolation allows us to retreat deeper within ourselves.

I think it is the perfect setting for both beginners and advanced practitioners to deepen their practice while enjoying travel, relaxation, and adventure all mixed into one.

How Yoga for Life Changes You

Practicing yoga for life doesn’t just improve your flexibility or physical strength—it gently reshapes how you interact with the world, yourself, and others. It becomes a daily reminder to slow down, breathe deeper, and act with intention.

How Yoga for Life Changes Your Life:

• Increases emotional resilience and patience

• Builds mental clarity and self-awareness

• Improves flexibility, posture, and physical strength

• Encourages self-love and mindfulness

• Teaches humility and confidence simultaneously

• Helps you stay present and reduce stress

First Steps for Beginners to Start Yoga for Life:

• Start with simple yoga poses and focus on your breath

• Practice 2–3 times a week to build a habit

• Join a local or online beginner-friendly class

• Use props (blocks, straps) to make poses accessible

• Try a yoga retreat or workshop for deeper immersion

• Most importantly—let go of judgment and enjoy the journey