Hi! I'm Lesli
I'm the Founder of Health Thru Yoga
& the Singing Yogi
HEALTH THRU YOGA is the name chosen by Lesli Kotloski, founder and director, to describe the way in which a student can achieve health. This title incorporates the importance of yoga as a way of life and the importance of wellness through meditation, breathing, conscious eating, and positive thoughts and actions.
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OUR MISSION is to provide thorough and accurate teachings of the philosophies of yoga, thereby bringing knowledge and awareness to a student of the spiritual, emotional, mental and physical practice. Health Thru Yoga encourages students to acquire optimum health and well being and to bring that consciousness through ourselves to our community and our world. Health Thru Yoga promotes the growth of our inner selves to serve our higher consciousness; to eat, speak and think in a way that embraces and radiates health, compassion, love and serving others.
Explore Yoga With Me
Lesli Kotloski, Director Lesli began Health Thru Yoga in August of 1997 following her recovery from a life threatening disease. The healing benefits of yoga helped Lesli to become well and inspired her to teach and share its lessons with others. Lesli's vibrant personality and love of poetry, art, and music create classes that flow with imagery, learning, and humor. She combines intelligent instruction with imagination to inform and inspire students. Lesli is passionate about health as the union of body, mind and spirit. As an experienced yoga teacher, she focuses on the spiritual, mental, and physical dimensions of yoga and she illustrates lessons with creative examples of everyday life.
Lesli's background in metaphysics, Religious Science, and Christianity is grounded thru various workshops, church, and study groups. Her academic background in Health Education; including anatomy and physiology, and fitness and nutrition comes from the University of Michigan - Flint. Lesli studied yoga at Siddha Yoga Ashram in South Fallsburg, New York. She has studied with numerous highly-regarded teachers of many different styles of yoga, and still continues her studies, participating in workshops and studying from books and teaching her weekly classes. In the thirty years practicing and teaching yoga, she has completed more than 50,000 hours of teaching yoga, 20,000 hours of yoga studies, 14 years of Fitness for a total of 44 years in the Fitness industry.
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Most recently, Lesli adds to her studies: her personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ thru the studies of the Bible, Small Group studies, attending church regularly, volunteering in Five Teams at her church, and she was baptized in February 2022.
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For an in-depth explanation of how Lesli teaches, click on her class sneak peak under Gallery.
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Why Should you choose Health Thru Yoga?
There are several different styles of yoga, and HTY incorporates many of them. Life offers many choices to us, and here are some facets of HTY and our teachings:
Choosing Health Thru Yoga and Wholeness
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The Use of Props - props are an integral part of yoga
- Assists the student in entering poses
- Helps students remain in the poses for increased benefit
- Reduces discomfort in the poses -
The Personal Attention
- Addresses students' pains, issues, and fears
- Alterations in poses for injuries or physical conditions -
The Versatility in the Classes
- Provides variety to the classes
- Benefits both beginning and advanced students
- Adapts to the seasons, students, and the energy in the room -
Our Anatomical Knowledge
- Safely address students' physical needs, pains, & injuries
- Educates the student on the benefits of certain poses and actions
- Provides poses to address particular needs due to injury or discomfort in the body -
Our Experience - HTY has been around and will stay around
- Lesli has been teaching in the Pittsburgh South Hills area since 1995 and practicing since 1990
- Franciscan Spirit & Life Center
- HCR Manor Care
- Elementary and high schools
- Adult education
- Summer camps
- Musical theatre groups
- Retreats at Deep Creek and Seven Springs Resort
- Privates
Why Health Thru Yoga is More!
At HTY, we provide our students more than "just an exercise class." You will learn how to breathe, meditate, and reduce stress. The reason that we are here is to provide you with the tools to live a healthier and less stress-full life. We hope to see you in class!
