Leslie Howard is an internationally respected author, educator, and registered Yoga therapist whose work has transformed how people of all genders understand the pelvic floor, embodiment, and whole‑body wellness. With decades of teaching experience and a rare ability to blend anatomical precision with compassionate, down‑to‑earth guidance, Leslie has become a leading voice in therapeutic yoga for pelvic health. Her research, writing, and trainings have empowered thousands of students, clinicians, and yoga professionals to reconnect with their bodies in ways that are both healing and practical.
As the author of Pelvic Liberation, Savasana: Between Breath and Death, and the creator of several groundbreaking yoga programs, Leslie brings a unique combination of scholarship, lived experience, and accessible teaching style. While she is widely known for her contributions to women’s wellness, her approach is rooted in principles that benefit all bodies. She skillfully translates complex topics—biomechanics, trauma‑informed awareness, subtle body energetics—into practices that feel grounded, inclusive, and transformative for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of pelvic health.
Participants can expect a learning environment that is warm, welcoming, and free of assumptions. Leslie creates space for curiosity, personal agency, and respectful exploration, making this workshop ideal for people of any gender, background, or level of experience. Whether you’re new to this subject or have been exploring pelvic health for years, time with Leslie offers clarity, empowerment, and a renewed sense of connection to your own body.
Schedule
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1:00 pm
The pelvic floor is one of the most essential — and most overlooked — regions of the body. In this 3.5‑hour session, participants will explore the structure, function, and subtle intelligence of the pelvic floor through a blend of education, movement, breathwork, and mindful awareness. Designed for people of all genders and levels of experience, this workshop offers a clear, compassionate introduction to understanding how the pelvic floor supports posture, stability, digestion, sexual health, and overall well‑being.
Guided by Leslie Howard’s decades of research and therapeutic expertise, the session will demystify common misconceptions about “tightness,” “weakness,” and “core strength,” replacing them with a more nuanced, body‑positive understanding. Participants will learn how to sense the pelvic floor more accurately, how to distinguish between gripping and true engagement, and how to cultivate both strength and ease. Expect a thoughtful combination of lecture, gentle asana, targeted exercises, and restorative practices that help reconnect you to this foundational part of the body.
Whether you’re dealing with discomfort, seeking preventative care, or simply curious about how this area influences your movement and energy, this workshop offers tools you can integrate into daily life. Leslie creates a learning environment that is warm, inclusive, and free of assumptions, making space for each participant to explore their own anatomy with curiosity and respect. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of your pelvic floor, a more balanced relationship with your core, and practical techniques to support long‑term pelvic health.
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4:15 pm
Are you gripping your butt muscles with everything you’ve got in yoga poses—or perhaps you have a “lazy ass” that sometimes doesn't kick in when called on?
Each side of the pelvis contains three gluteal muscles—gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus—giving us, in a sense, six butts to work with. How these muscles function (or don’t) can influence the hip joint, the position of the sacrum, the stability of the legs, and ultimately how a pose feels from the inside out.
Originally developed as an extension of Leslie Howard’s pelvic floor work, this workshop explores the often-misunderstood role of the glutes in yoga practice. It was so well received at the Yoga Journal Conference that it inspired a feature article in Yoga Journal (March 2015).
Through clear anatomical insight and experiential practice, you’ll learn how to skillfully engage—or release—the glutes in standing and hip-opening poses. The result: familiar shapes, felt in entirely new ways.
This workshop qualifies for Yoga Alliance CEUs.
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1:00 pm
Leslie Howard’s newest book, Savasana: Between Breath and Death, is a deep exploration of one of yoga’s most misunderstood and transformative postures. Drawing from decades of therapeutic teaching, personal inquiry, and anatomical study, Leslie illuminates Savasana not as a simple “final relaxation,” but as a profound practice of surrender, presence, and embodied stillness. She invites readers to consider what it means to truly let go — physically, emotionally, and energetically — and how this posture can become a gateway to healing, integration, and inner spaciousness.
Blending clear instruction with reflective insight, Leslie examines the cultural, psychological, and spiritual dimensions of rest. She offers practical guidance for approaching Savasana with more intention, whether you are a seasoned practitioner, a teacher, or someone seeking a deeper relationship with your own nervous system. Her writing is grounded, accessible, and infused with the same compassionate clarity that defines her teaching.
This book is especially meaningful for anyone who has ever struggled with stillness, resisted rest, or felt unsure about “doing nothing.” Leslie reframes Savasana as an active, courageous practice — one that invites us to meet ourselves honestly and soften into the truth of the present moment. It is a powerful companion for your seminar’s Savasana session, giving participants a richer context for the posture and a deeper appreciation of its potential.
Instructors & Speakers
Leslie Howard is an Oakland-based yoga teacher known for her groundbreaking work in pelvic floor health and her thoughtful exploration of yoga as a practice for living — and dying — with awareness. She leads workshops and teacher trainings worldwide and is the author of Pelvic Liberation, a comprehensive guide to caring for the pelvis through yoga, breathwork, and self-inquiry. Her method, developed through decades of therapeutic teaching, has been scientifically studied at the University of California, San Francisco and shown to improve symptoms of incontinence and pelvic pain. Leslie’s teaching is informed by more than 3,500 hours of study with senior Iyengar yoga teachers, most notably Ramanand Patel, her longtime mentor. A regular presenter at Yoga Journal conferences and contributor to Yoga Journal magazine, she brings together anatomy, physiology, cultural context, and subtle energetics in a way that is both accessible and deeply informed. In 2022, following the death of a longtime student, Leslie began a profound exploration of mortality and the role of yoga at the end of life. She has completed two Death Doula trainings, facilitates a regular Death Café, and volunteers with hospice through Kaiser Oakland. Her new book, Savasana: Between Breath and Death, co-authored with Richard Rosen, explores the final yoga pose as both a physical practice and a gateway to meeting impermanence with clarity and compassion.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Refunds (less a 25% admin fee) are available until Sunday, August 30, 2026.
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