How yoga and nature help Lesli Lee be in alignment

Lesli Lee doesn’t have a title that fits into a box—and that’s intentional. A yoga practitioner with a lifelong love for nature, she focuses less on labels and more on helping people bring the benefits and joy of yoga into everyday life. For Lesli, the practice is less about the mat or the physical body and more about how we show up in each moment; in other words, how caring for our inner landscapes shapes how we care for the outer world.

Formerly a physical therapist, Lesli changed paths after a transformative yoga training experience outdoors. A longtime member of Sonoma Land Trust, she leads our Yoga in Nature experiences and is an active community organizer in her Oakmont neighborhood.  

Emily Harwitz (SLT): What does practicing yoga mean to you? 

Lesli Lee: The true, historical definition of yoga is when we stop misidentifying with the thoughts and emotions of our mind. Yoga is first and foremost a mental practice. 

I think of the inner landscape as our thoughts, emotions, moods, and feelings, and how we relate to them. Do we notice and allow them—even when they’re uncomfortable—or do we judge and push them away? 

The practice of yoga is noticing and allowing with equanimity, and I think that’s the first step in inner resilience—how we deal with what’s happening inside us and in the outer world. 

Emily: Speaking of the outer world, how is practicing yoga outdoors different from practicing in a studio? 

Lesli: Even though yoga is an inner practice, we’re always connected to our outer environment. When we’re outside, I invite people to notice what they’re hearing, what they’re seeing, and what they feel beneath them—the uneven ground, the air, the breeze. 

It’s not a flat, smooth studio floor. It’s the bumpy, uneven, sometimes prickly earth.There can be more distractions, and when people slow down, they often notice even more than they would indoors.  And since we ARE nature, practicing in nature can create opportunities to feel that connection even more.

Emily: What has connecting with nature given you personally? 

Lesli: Nature has been a huge draw for me for as long as I can remember. I grew up in San Francisco and spent a lot of time in parks, playing in soil and climbing trees. I also went to camp in Occidental almost every summer, and my parents would take us camping.  

One pivotal experience was my first yoga teacher training in the Sierra foothills. As the snow melted and I started to see green grass and flowers starting to bloom with the birds singing, I chose to camp outside instead of staying indoors. Being immersed in nature while receiving these ancient teachings gave me clarity and courage during a time when I was questioning my career in healthcare. It helped me develop a deep sense of trust that I will be taken care of as I navigated caring for my own inner and outer landscapes.  When I connect with nature I feel more calm, grateful and joyful.

Emily: I keep thinking of the word “alignment” as you describe this. In yoga, it’s important for your body to be in correct alignment, and it sounds like practicing yoga while connecting with nature helped you be in alignment with your true self. 

Lesli: Absolutely. Alignment with one’s true self and values is exactly it. It starts with asking ourselves how we’re feeling, what we need, and listening.  Then, taking action to align with values like connection, kindness, and service for the greater good.

Emily: How did you first connect with Sonoma Land Trust? 

Lesli: Through my husband Bruce [Hartsough]’s involvement with Bay Nature, we attended a collaborative event with Sonoma Land Trust at Glen Oaks Ranch Preserve in Glen Ellen. That experience opened our eyes to the beauty of Sonoma County and the alignment with environmental values. 

When we moved here, we knew we wanted to be involved with organizations doing meaningful conservation work, and we’ve been connected to Sonoma Land Trust for over ten years. 

Emily: Do you see yoga in nature as a gateway for people who might not otherwise spend time outdoors? 

Lesli: Yes. When we led a bilingual yoga class at the Santa Rosa Southeast Greenway, for many participants it was not only their first time doing yoga in nature, but their first time doing yoga. Practicing outside can be more challenging, but when it’s offered as a guided, inclusive, welcoming experience through a trusted organization like Sonoma Land Trust, people can feel safer trying something new. The feedback was really positive. 

Emily: What do you love most about Sonoma County? 

Lesli:  Oh, that’s an easy one. Primarily, it’s the natural beauty. There’s such a wide variety of habitats and ecosystems—from forests and redwood forests to oak woodlands, the coast, and chaparral. Bruce and I love that, depending on the weather, the temperature, or the season, we can choose where to go based on what we’re needing in that moment—whether it’s more sun or cool shade, a steep climb or a gentle walk, or something in between. So, it really is the natural world. And because of Sonoma Land Trust’s role in protecting and expanding these places, that’s a huge reason we value the Land Trust. 

I’ll also say the people. I’ve lived in many counties across the Bay Area, and I feel like I’ve made more friends here, more quickly, than anywhere else I’ve lived. Part of that may be me, but I do feel people here are more casual, more open, and more friendly, and it makes living in this county especially enjoyable. I’d say it’s really the combination of both. 

Emily: What gives you hope for the future of conservation here? 

Lesli: I’d love to see more of what’s already happening—more land protected, more opportunities to experience nature, and more people taking action to care for land, water, and air. Less pollution, less waste, and more beauty. The fact that Sonoma Land Trust protects land in perpetuity—for biodiversity, water, and recreation—that’s huge. 

With Sonoma Land Trust, I love the opportunities to be invited onto the land—to feel awe, wonder, and joy. That’s what inspired me to help offer yoga in nature. Connecting with the land is a key part of my life, and I love sharing that with others. We protect what we love, and the way to help foster care of the land is to first get to know the natural world and spend time with it.