Year-End Review (psssst, rather listen in to a delish podcast version of this baby? click above xo 

Soooo, I kinda need to start with December 2018 for this all to make sense. Time is a relative and moving target sometimes, isn’t it? December 2018 was what I call “The Wall” month, a time of being unable to move, think, or do. Essentially I was immobilized by some outside source I couldn’t name--my angels, guides, God… I can’t say which one. But it was a moment of seeing resisting this was futile, it was not up to me. I believe it was the culminating point of grief from losing my father, Gord Barnes, in June 2018. So I rested. I mean, I had to.

If you look back to my timeline from Dec 2018 on FB, you’ll see this story in real-time. Rather than retracting fully into hiding (because that actually isn’t helpful for me), I shared. I shared the PROCESS I was in, the prayers I said, the beliefs that were needed at this time. I did my best to show up for myself FIRST and in this action, trusting this intention energetically (and practically) showed up online. I had to trust it was safe to step away from my business, energetically. 

December 2018 was also my month to launch my next level sisterhood. It was a critical new step into marketing (AKA selling!) a price point I hadn’t done before. It was scary AF to say the least. 

How could I sell something in my “Wall Month” that was new? Here’s the belief I latched on to harrrrd. I looked back at allll my other sold-out courses from 2018, and even though they were shorter, even though they were waaaaay less of a financial investment, I KNEW I had the foundation to build a slightly different program and sell it. I’ve done it before, and it always worked out.  

Let’s Talk Marketing/Funnels
One thing in any online business you need are ways that people can get connected with you, a path that they naturally take towards your offers. In teaching and learning, we call this scaffolding. You’re building a way for others to reach an outcome. In my business, the outcome is that these amazing women come into my paid courses (where I can give intentional/personal support). But any funnel method is not a one-size fits all method. Not every funnel strategy will energetically match everyone the same. 

Funnels that worked really well were Moon Circles. AND here’s the truth about that: when I started my moon gatherings I really didn’t know much about the moon. But I believed I knew enough. I knew enough about releasing energy (Full Moon) and manifesting (New Moon). I researched, learned and integrated it first into my own daily practise and then into my circles. I made the choice to have monthly and reoccuring events to host women in circle. It was a way to connect in a way that allowed women to BE in the circle, to feel the energy, to experience it with me. Because, after all, this is what I do. I lead circles. So, your funnel REALLY loves it when it makes sense with who you are, your core beliefs, desires and what you do. When it feels natural. Truth connects with truth. 

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Funnels that worked really well were Moon Circles. AND here’s the truth about that: when I started my moon gatherings I really didn’t know much about the moon. But I believed I knew enough. I knew enough about releasing energy (Full Moon) and manifesting (New Moon). I researched, learned and integrated it first into my own daily practise and then into my circles. I made the choice to have monthly and reoccuring events to host women in circle. It was a way to connect in a way that allowed women to BE in the circle, to feel the energy, to experience it with me. Because, after all, this is what I do. I lead circles. So, your funnel REALLY loves it when it makes sense with who you are, your core beliefs, desires and what you do. When it feels natural. Truth connects with truth. 

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Another organic funnel was to host opening circles to celebrate women coming into my programs. And EVERYONE was invited. You didn’t have to be a paid member of the program to be in the circle. This funnel felt really good and worked beautifully. 

After my first 2019 sisterhood was completed in April, I held a round of Intensives for $97. This was a way to host a deeper container, allow someone to be deeply supported AND if they asked or I felt called to share my program that happened. I used this organic funnel back in 2018 and it supported a few sisters in joining my Jan 2019 program. I booked 10 of them, so a 30% conversion rate (look at me doin’ all this math! lol) 

Another “funnel” (I use “” because it was never meant to be a true funnel) was #SisterSpeak. This is a grassroots interview series for visionaries and emerging leaders. I remember sitting quietly in my office with my coffee one morning and this very clear voice that told me to create a platform for women to share their voice, it would be zoom interviews dropped once a week.  It felt aligned... And in deep integrity to my core desire for myself to seen as a leader who holds space for our voices. More to the point a space for women to share and be seen, which was the initial driving force. I plan to continue this into 2020. 

Beyond ALL the strategies, ALL the funnels, ALL the ways things moved last year the ONE part that held everything together was my Guiding Light... my beliefs--about myself, what’s possible, the willingness to shift who I serve and what I support them with. It was the meaning I created out of whatever came up. And when I found myself on a ledge of misery in meaning (aka, I lost a sister in my program so I must be a failure--which wasn’t true but it was healing an old wound and shame point I HAD to move through. This is where my own network of sisters supported me. AND without that I would have been swirling in my own ‘stuff’ muuuuch longer. 

Fizzle Points
So I’m guessing you’re wondering where the fizzled and ‘fails’ of the year showed up? I mean, I’ve been riffin’ on soooo many parts that went well. There are two. And to be clear, I subscribe to the belief there are never failures, only moments of feedback and a chance to ask yourself: What is the pattern I’m running, what am I missing? How have I created this outcome, what is happening within myself? 

“Fail #1” Fall 2019 launch. Straight off the heels of my summer vacay with the fam-jam I hit the ground running and headed into what I would consider the messiest launch to date. I wasn’t claiming that I wanted to work with women in business, I was flip-floppy and was still trying to please everyone. (whomp, whomp!) I wasn’t being intentional in the way I knew this program needed me to be. Why? Because I was scared in some ways. Brave AF at points, confident in the work I teach (always have been) BUT there was still a voice that told me it wasn’t safe to really shift who I worked with and ‘problems I solve’. And if you’ve ever worked with me, you know I’m talking about shifting who we believe we are, our identity, which (you guessed it) is the deepest level of transformation you can experience IMO. So this launch was my smallest circle, and on paper was my least $$ generating. But, and here’s where the magic is. This particular round of women was by far the most committed to the work. They showed up on every call. They did the work and experienced shifts. So, energetically speaking (aside from the facts/data of this launch on paper), it was my most successful course. In fact, I’ve been slightly hiding how wonderful the reviews were. Something I know I get to work on! #Bragging is so powerful! 

Fail #2 Upgrading Prep Course. Again...remebering that failure is simply feedback, this was a slight flop on paper. So, this was a prep course to get people into the work I do, give them a taste AND (most important) a result or inner shift that would support them. I opened the group December 8th and spent a couple of weeks sharing it and getting people in there before we started. I had an application section that people HAD to fill out to get it, which was new for me. I wanted people truly ready/wanting to show up for the work not just clickity click a free course. This course had three live calls; all teaching circles with an open and closing ceremony. There were three short and easy units with short exercises to do. I made sure to show up, but without overwhelming the group make sure to tag the members when something new was posted. When you host a group it tells you who has and who hasn’t seen the post. (stay on that!) 
The way this was a flop IMO (at least on paper) was that the engagement in the group was okay but not what I felt it could be. There were many not responding to the exercises, or showing they had completed them. Bearing in mind I had never done this before, it was hard to gauge how ‘normal’ this was. 

Stats 
I used course craft (like teachable) to host gathering emails and for members to access the materials after the group was closed. The data on that shows very few have completed the work AND that’s actually normal. On average online DIY courses have a whopping 97% Incomplete rate. So, this is on par. Giving them the online course link made sure they have the work when they want AND to create another way to stay in touch. (Just because they weren’t active in the group or did the course doesn’t mean they are closed to staying in connection) Soooo, why was this a “fail?” In the end. the conversion rate from the 60 members to how many went on to have a chat with me about the program that followed (the next step in the funnel) was low. Yes, there were sisters that DID sign up. Yes, there were so many moments I was like “yessss, this is amazing”. BUT, while I plan to archive the group I’ll first go back and access what I would change next time. I know my copy and CTAs need refining and tweaking. And the general pacing of it all gets to also be upgraded. 

The Unexpected Outcome
The BIG win from this ‘fail’, is that it solidified that creating a monthly $97 membership would be of high service for many of the members I met in that prep course. This is something I’ll be putting together in the next month. Those who were super committed to the course were not always a good fit for my 6-month container, A Course in Transformation (the one I’m launching now) BUT the membership is beyond perfect. 

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In the end, the failures simply gave me new insight and direction. Likely what you’d imagine I would say lol. But in order to see this as my reality (that I didn’t fail) there were some guiding beliefs about life, myself and what was possible I need to have. And this, my loves, was what held all the other wins and fails together in a safe and expansive package ;) You can apply all the magical strategies you want, but the netting of your soul, identity and beliefs will determine the outcome above all else. The work of embodiment and transformation will be found more and more in the online business space. This I know to be true and also why I teach this work. 

What would I change about 2019? Nothing. 
What would I change for 2020? 
Everything. 
Because that's how we grow. 

So, go out and be amazing. Be free, wild and expansive. Be brave and bold in your vision, because it’s calling you, sister. And it won’t stop until you heed that call. 

Ready to get real with your vision, stop playing the prep game and get in the arena? Check out my programs here, sister


Big light and love!

Life is a continual process of wanting to break through our own limitations. And for most of our life, these limitations are broken through with a level of effortlessness. We learned to talk, walk, broken through the limitations of our own size because we grew. Out DNA, our birthright, our physical and spiritual design is to desire and achieve breakthrough. There was a pattern of non-thinking and simply allowing the limitations to be naturally unhinged because life and Source has set our experience up this way. We simply let life break through FOR us. We didn’t have to DO, just be. 

On the other hand, of our design, we limit ourselves. And we can do this over and over again. Until we don’t. Until we stop that cycle and break it. We started and stayed in a relationship that over time was not serving us. And so we broke through. We woke up one day to realise the very place we thought was a safety net is anything but, and so we leave job and break through a pattern of believing we strictly following a “plan” never opened the doors we were told it would. 

Everyone wants to experience the magic, the flow and the abundance of life. The bliss point. But very few are willing to breakthrough enough emotional attachment to fear of truly living the life they came here to live. It takes a brave soul to release limitations within the self. So many times we limit ourselves to actually taking the steps because: 
What if it doesn’t work 
What if I don’t follow through 
I don’t trust myself
I tried before and it didn’t work 

You may feel a resonate ping within you as you read those and say to yourself, “yesss, that’s me”. But it isn’t you. These are not your truths. They are your limited beliefs and they will continue until the willingness within you opens and you start asking new questions. Ones that allow the old to be there (accepting) AND invite and allow questions that spark life. 
What if it does work 
What if I do follow through and learn to trust the process, myself and this time the end result is different. 



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You have everything you need in order to do everything you want. Just remember you don't have to do it all at once.

We're running a marathon here, not a sprint.
Expansion takes the time it takes.
Less is more.

Balance is everything.

Finding that balance though? It's easier than you might think.

It's about:

Passing through a threshold of old stories and beliefs that used to have you running around working harder and expanding energy where you didn't need to in the first place 

Getting up-close and personal with your fears and owning them

Saying no, unapologetically.

Understanding, on a soul level, you can't be everything to everyone

Giving yourself time.

Permission to f*ck it up along the way--forgiving yourself

Saying yes because you are worth it

Opening to receive

Believing you are worthy (over and over again) without conditions

Not buying into your old BS that's been having you believe you are 'stuck'

Getting out of your own way

Creating from the soul

Living and listening from the heart

​Learning how to be still. 

#LessonsFromLightworkersSchool

For all my sisters out there who doubt if it's okay to fully (and I mean FULLY) step into your own gifts, your dreams, your desires... If you wonder whether you're "doing it right" or if it's really "meant to be..." I want to share a little story. Curl up, and take a cozy seat in the love chair (or hit "save" in the top right for later)
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I started teaching children in elementary school because at that time I believed it was a gift I had and I wanted to help. In some way, I wanted to be part of the healing and nurturing of those early years. It was a calling that went deep.

Flashback to University. I majored in Aboriginal Studies. I learned so many beautiful teachings, and some really hard ones that hurt my heart in ways I don't have words for. The reality of our muddy history ran deep in my bones. So deep, I feel like it's why I got really sick during my studies (Rheumatoid Arthritis was the name of that game). I felt like I had to carry the weight of that pain as though it might help. (Turns out it doesn't work that way).

I took on the pain of that story, the European attempted genocide, and made sure I would not step foot in that story come hell or hight water. I stood firm that the best way to move forward was to just mind my own business and stay out of it. I wasn't "equipped" to help or to be part of the healing--hell, my own bloodline was part of the problem. My own limiting belief was that I wasn't 'made for the job' to be part of the reconciliation process. "White people just keep f*cking it up, so I'm not going to be part of that".

This is a worthiness wound.

In so many ways I love hard on that old me, that girl who just wanted to do what she thought was 'the right thing' and just bow out.

Until it came time to get a teaching job. I just wanted to teach children love, compassion, justice, and how to be a good person in this world. Everyone told me to work up north, go to a community and teach.

F*ck that was my mindset. (I'm really stubborn, if you know me at all...lol) I was boldly a hell-no.

Until it hit me. Until I sat alone and connected with those feelings honestly.

I started to realise a hard truth.

If I didn't step up, anyone would. Anyone else would take that role on and I knew deep in my heart I felt so connected to that work. It was only my mindset of resistance, the belief I wasn't worthy of it. I had embodied the European sh*tstorm of a story so deep, the 'white guilt' became the leading role. How sad. How sad, because my deep HUMAN desire for teaching compassion, love and justice was being tossed away.
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So I applied. And I got the job. And I taught love as best I could. I wasn't perfect. I lost my patience, I was challenged on many levels, not all the parents liked me, and I didn't build deep bonds with every single child. But I loved them all. Deeply. Every single one.
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If you hold yourself back because you believe you're not deserving, or your own heart isn't big enough or good enough, that you're not 'right for the job'...the truth is, you leave a wide open gap for someone else to step into the role. And you've been designed for it--what's lights your heart up, what connects you to the deepest parts of your authentic truth--babes, that's your sacred RESPONSIBILITY. It's what you came here to do.
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Eventually, working within a system felt far too restrictive. I started to embrace self-love and self-worth on a completely "next level" space. I knew I would always be struggling paycheck to paycheck and I had spent years working hard and always being the friend who couldn't "afford it".

And so that story started to change too...And #Truth... if I don't claim that space of abundance now, it's a gaping hole that I will feel every day. Abundance isn't just about money for me. It's about freedom of choice and the ability to spend freely and openly wherever I choose. I can give more, share more and rise within on a whole new level.

Don't give your spot up to someone else.

Take it. Your heart knows this so deeply. So trust that truth and that knowingness. You've been perfectly designed for your desires and dreams. ​

Ego: You're too emotional. You're crying a lot these days
Self: Go easy, it's been a tough two months.
Ego: You're not focused enough. Scrolling too much, distracting yourself. 
Self: When you want to get something done, you do. You always have. Busy isn't better.
Ego: Yeah, but it's going to take some work to keep the business going, so get it together
Self: When I flow, my business flows. The last client just came to me. Just let things be what they are. The "work" always gets done--relax
Ego: Well, I sure hope so, because this has been going on for a long time. 
Self: The sun has been shining for a long time, the moon has been waxing and waning for a long time--but, my dear, this beautiful self has been slowing down for a heartbeat. Let time go
Ego: Oh, okay, good point. I think I get it now (until next time I come calling)
Self: I love you. 
Ego: Thankyou. I'm just trying to keep you safe. 
Self: I know.
Just in case you thought you were the only one who runs this script. XO 
I love you.

Learning to tame and calm the ego is part of our healing. 
Making peace with our thoughts, the rabbit holes we can go down, the fears we feel. All of these are magical portals to facing the healing head on. 

And we don't have to be alone on this journey. 
We can "fast-track" it just by showing up together. 
Being is a space that teaches us, that guides us, that mentors our hearts and souls to rise above the fears, the doubts, the worries. 
We are BIGGER than our struggles. 
TOGETHER we RISE, sisters! Together we rise. 
Join us this fall for a powerful and sacred space. 
Hop on the waitlist
http://www.leannajaneyoga.com/the-mindful-sisterhood.html
Can't wait to see you. XO 
​Namaste 

There was a time (not too long ago) I thought the term, "lightworkers" was total bullsh*t. It just DIDN'T resonate with me. 

Who are these people? 
What the hell is lightworking?
How is this even a career?
 
You just don't know what you don't know. And it was my limited beliefs that were holding me back. I was unwilling (not unable--two very different things!) to see possibility. 

The possibility that: 
I could make money just showing up in my light. 
Believing that my positive energy can pay my bills. 
Seeing the potentiality of how teaching others to own and shine their light could actually be a career path. 

I had my own blocks. And I was holding onto them pretty tightly.

I was hiding in my own victim story.
I was wallowing.
I was unwilling to open and become what my higher self (the one without ego) knew was deep within. 

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But I hit a point. That point where you know you can't go back. 
I started to feel (in more way than I have words for) the aching pull to acknowledge my self-worth. My right to be here and to shine my light. My right to stop accepting less than what I was meant for. 

For me, this meant leaving teaching. 
The pay wasn't enough. 
I could barely pay the bills, save, invest and buy the things I wanted. 
I started to see money as an energetic exchange. 
I stopped believing that I had to sacrifice basic needs (like feeling valued). 
I started to see the best thing that happened to me was the thing that was never coming--a pay raise in teaching. 
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I decided if I was putting so much energy into something that WASN'T working, I might as well put into something that might work. 

It was that simple. 

But deep down I knew it would work. 
Deep down I decided it would work. 

At some point we need to decide that letting go of what is holding us back is easier than holding so tightly to the fear that feeds it. 

You are no less than the sun, the stars and the moon. 
You have a right to be here. 
You have a right to shine. 
​Claim it, babes! 

Connect with me more @ Leanna Jane YOGA
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So, we're all just human. We're going around doing our human moments. Perfectly imperfect. And if we can drop this story that somehow we're not okay when we cry, or that there's something deeply wrong or broken about us when we do, we get to actually enjoy ourselves just a little bit more. 

I was talking about being in the flow today in my  FBGroup. 
I didn't plan my talk. I didn't know it was coming, but I was talking about how we need to just starting speaking our truth to free ourselves. And, naturally...well
I cried. Because if you know me, you know I wear my heart on my sleeve and my truth is my badge of honour. 

And we can still be in the flow and still feel unsteady on our feet. In fact that's what the flow is about. It's about being SUPER real. Shedding our masks, and revealing who we really are. 
Because that's where the magic begins. 

I help clients go from the muddle of dreams+desires in their heads into massive action that changes their lives. This means there are tears. Because we are releasing our old selves, our old stories, programming that just doesn't serve us anymore. 

So release and cry. Let it all out. Get messy and real. 
That's when the inner shifts happen. 
Promise. 

We'll be covering all of this in my last sisterhood before the craze of summer begins. Curious what this is about? Check it, babes. 

With dried eyes now and an open and free heart, 
Massive Love
​Leanna

When yoga came to me almost 20 years ago I resisted. I pushed it away. It was too slow, and I got bored. My body couldn't keep up with my mind--which was too fast, spinning in thought. I just "didn't get it". 

But what you resist will persist.

And so, yoga kept coming back into my life one way or another. When I struggled with it the most, that's when it became my healer. Somehow I passed this threshold and surrendered to finally going on the journey within that yoga inevitably takes you on. 

And so now, it's my saving grace, my cornerstone of calm, ease and joy. 

Yoga has never let me down. Ever. 
It has never judged me. 
It has never abandoned me. 
It has held me through pain and brought me back to life when I was certain it would only be darkness. 

And it was never just the poses, the movement. 
It was everything underneath that builds the foundation of this ancient system. 

If you're willing to listen, it speaks. 
It tells you all that you need is within.

The biggest resistance people have with yoga is this idea they are not physically "ready" or "able" to do it. But this is the best time to explore it. This is where you can push your own mindset, your own habit of thought and start to fully expand out. 

This is your chance to see what you are actually capable of. 

The light and peace we seek is within. Always. 
All we get to do is start the journey of unfolding into this space.

Curious what this journey within could look like? Ready to step into a new space and fully embrace more peace, calm and joy? Let's connect. Book your free 30min support session. 
​You're ready. This is the time. XO

Massive light and love, 
​Leanna 

For those that know me well, you know I can be head strong and stubborn. If I get an idea in my head, it's tough to change my mind. For years I carried a story that I was so "stuck on".

I was angry with my own struggles with teaching, seemingly living paycheck to paycheck each month and always holding off on vacations because it "just wasn't in the cards". My life seemed out of my control. 

I blamed the hardships on "the system", how it's broken and how it's messing it up for me. Poor me. Working hard, not valued, etc, etc, and on and on. Tears shed, anger lashed out, tension in relationships, feelings of not being good enough, smart enough or the pain of asking for financial help seemingly at every turn. 

But here's the thing: Although the feelings were real, my perception was based on a reality that I had created. I was just waiting for something to save me--someone, the Universe handing me something else...whatever it was, I believed the changes would be without my own engineering of it's trajectory.  

Put simply -- I was waiting to be saved. The princess in the tower waiting for her prince. 

I didn't believe it was all up to me. 

I didn't believe I had the power.

I didn't believe I had the right to fully expand into my gifts, the life I dreamed of. 

And then something shifted. 
I just got sick of this story! I can pinpoint the moment (I'll save that for another post) and it was raw, real and unforgettable. 

It was this feeling that there is no where else to turn but into myself and face that version of myself that believed those stories. 

It was time to take back my power and to break down that princess tower I was holding myself hostage in. 

It was hard. I cried, I was scared. 
But I was also lighter, hopeful and excited. 

There are still tough days, I still cry, I still worry from time to time, but I don't feel dread or anger the same way. 

My life feels lighter. I walk with a different connection to my purpose. I am calmer and easier on myself. I don't feel like I am betraying my truth. 

And, most important, I believe this is for anyone. I believe this is for you. I know it with every ounce of my being. 

I've got a Spring Cleanse coming up, so if you're curious how to step into spring with a lighter load, check it out. 

With massive love and light
Leanna Jane Lewis