Today we’d like to introduce you to Pri Leite.
Pri, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’m a girl from small-town Brazil who never thought she would live in LA!
Growing up I was fascinated by people of different cultures, far away places and all the mystery they seemed to carry. I was also intrigued by the mysteries of the night sky at my dad’s farm, always filled with so many bright starts that made the night look intensely bright. I often – and still do – wonder about our place in the Universe.
I can still remember the very first time I heard the word “Yoga.” I was a teenager, and Madonna was posing on yoga postures. The first time I had an opportunity to practice was in College. It was 2006, my martial arts teacher introduced us to pranayama – breathing technics – and sun salutation. I was hooked.
I did end up moving to Europe in 2008 where I traveled practicing Aikido with some of the greatest teachers in the field. But something else happened. I met an American guy – outside the tatami or yoga studio. We dated while we both lived in London and did not think our relationship would last. Crying at the airport – more than once – we took different paths.
I went back to Brazil, and him to the United States. I kept practicing martial arts, but with my teacher gone, I no longer could have access to yoga classes. And because of that time, when I was so deeply craving to practice and simply couldn’t I created a YouTube Yoga Channel all in Portuguese so anyone who wants to practice can have access to high-quality yoga.
What happened to the American guy? Well, we could not bare one more goodbye at an airport, so I landed in LA to stay. We have now been together for over a decade and have a baby boy who’s middle name is London, the city where his parents met.
In LA, I found an amazing yoga community that nurtured my eager to learn and grow into an instructor. I also lived in India where I did a 500hrs immersion training in Rishikesh. Through my corporate, private and online classes I share my passion about connecting to the present moment, creating the best version we can be and giving back.
Has it been a smooth road?
I don’t believe anyone has a smooth road when it comes to building a career with passion. In my case, as a yoga instructor, it takes a different level of commitment to the practice, to my own betterment as a human and to truly understanding and caring for my students from a place of love and compassion.
I remember that on my very first class I had one student, and it was my friend. It’s not easy being super excited to teach a class and then no one shows up. It happened more than a couple of times earlier on my career, and you just need to push through it. Go back home, ask yourself what you can do better, create more opportunities and keep showing up.
It’s easy to look at 150K subscribers on YouTube and sold out classes with over 100 people in Brazil and not see the sweat and tears behind it. You must have the same passion to teach to your mom, best friend or neighbor at your living room, park or for free at the beach as you would to a packed class of people waiting to practice with you and give you a big hug.
One, one hundred or one thousand. The commitment to respecting people’s time and honor their trust must be fierce and unshakable. One might ask: does the world – LA – really needs one more yoga instructor? But I don’t think that is the question anyone passionate should ask. I believe the best question we all can ask ourselves is: how can I best be at service?
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I offer a lot of free content through my YouTube channel all in Portuguese – Pri Leite Yoga – because in Brazil yoga can still be very elitist. Thankfully that is something that has been changing on the past few years, and I’m honored to be a part of that change.
I believe it is crucial to keep an in-person teaching practice, and that’s why I offer corporate and private classes where I can tailor to very specific needs, like team building, reducing anxiety, creating resilience and balance.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Any city is a good city to be a Yoga Teacher if you are willing to start small, work on finding your voice and truly empathize with your students.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.prileite.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prileiteyoga/
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCehH0gfC-ivKz_htoMHxHtA
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
