This month, I’m excited to introduce you to my dear friend, mentor, and yoga teacher, Texas Strong Woman of the Month LeeAnn Matson.

Meet LeeAnn Matson

Originally from Houston, LeeAnn now lives in southwest Austin with her husband Doyle and their daughter Adaline.

She is an amazing mother, an accomplished dancer and a dedicated and compassionate yoga instructor for people in all stages and from all walks of life. She has taught me–and countless other students–so much about self awareness and about the importance of slowing down and extending grace to ourselves and others on a daily basis. I am so thankful for her enduring impact on my physical, mental and emotional health, on and off the mat.

Texas Strong Woman of the Month

Favorite title(s) for yourself

I’m not a big fan of titles.

I never wanted to be called “Aunt LeeAnn,” just LeeAnn. I don’t hold a lot of empowerment to titles. But there is one title, that I never thought I would carry, but I hold it close to my heart and can’t imagine not having it now, and that is “Mom.”

I am a yoga teacher, at the 500+ hour level. And that is a title I like, but, ultimately, that title means different things to different people. So I guess what I am saying is that titles are just roles played, and I don’t need titles.

I am also wife or partner.

Your toughest lesson or challenge

Having lived a life I pretty much wanted, creating my path and detours along the way, I would say that the biggest challenge I have is forgiving myself. It is much easier for me to forgive others and find compassion for my friends and family. But I do not always hold that space for myself.

With practice, it comes. But I also know I have difficulty accepting it when it does come and will walk away from the practice that brought me to a level of forgiveness that I’m not comfortable with at the time. It ultimately has to do with the feeling that I am not worthy of this forgiveness that I can hold for others. So, I return to this practice often with all the challenges it brings.

Your proudest accomplishment

My proudest accomplishments are probably the moments when I’m most awakened to authenticity.

I am proud that I went abroad in my twenties and traveled. What a learning experience about life!!! I am proud that I went to the University of Texas and got my degree, even if I am not using it in a traditional way. I’m proud that I finished my 500 hours of advanced yoga training after I had my daughter. And I’m proud that I said I wanted to be a dancer and spent several years as a professional dancer in another country.

Your role models or mentors

My French mother, Beatrice Viard, was a wonderful yoga mentor.

She lived what she taught. When I showed up in Lyon, I was there for a few months of French studies on the study abroad program. I spoke very little French, and when my host family showed up at the train station, I thought I had totally done the wrong thing. I couldn’t understand a word that was coming out of her until she said the word yoga. I replied abruptly with, “Je fais de yoga, ” and the next morning, she woke me up and took me down to the yoga studio, where she taught classes, and started showing me how to move with my breath.

She taught me to slow and simplify. She lived a beautiful, simple life, and it was so comfortable and peaceful to be in her home and in her presence always. It was honest. She was honest.

My sister has been a mentor in ways, too.

She is the one who raised me and really took on the mother role in my life. I love my mother, but my sister is the one who personified that role. If anyone every showed me how to treat people with God’s kindness, it would be her. She would give the shirt off her back to anyone in need. She is a truth seeker. She has suffered all types of loss and never would think it was anything but part of God’s plan for her, and even if she didn’t understand, she would make it through in her faith. She has taught me what it is to be sacrificial.

And now my friend Tracy Kamm is my mentor.

I think this woman rocks the world. She may not believe it, but I see her living her truth. She is an amazing mother. Her eyes are open to possibilities, and she lives with purpose, integrity, compassion, passion, a heart filled with light and the ability to discern. She lives authentically. She reminds me often that the beauty we see in one another is just a reflection of what we hold within ourselves.

Your best advice for newbies

When it comes to yoga, don’t let one class be your only experience.

There are so many types of yoga and so many teachers. If one teacher doesn’t resonate with you, try another class. If one style doesn’t feel right, try another style. But I do want people to think about the fact that yoga is about slowing down.

In our society, we need opportunities to slow down and be fully present with ourself and, in turn, with those in our life and with the world. If you start yoga with a sense of ease for the poses, chances are the practice will become more challenging trying to slow down and meditate. If you start yoga, and the poses are tough, it will get easier, because most likely you are going to take time to slow down to try to understand it.

Yoga is not about already having a flexible body. It’s more about flexibility of mind.

I teach chair yoga to people who are recovering from injuries or can’t get down on the floor. So it is definitely not about poses. Find a class or a teacher that resonates with you and explore. And if you think it will contradict your belief system, please think about this: yoga should support your belief system. It is not a religion.

How you’re building community

One thing I have done recently to maintain community is that when Premiere Lady Fitness closed unexpectedly, I contacted South Austin Aikido, where I also teach yoga, and asked if they would let us use the space if I offered a donation class to the ladies. I knew most of the women in the class were on strict budgets, and I didn’t want it to be about the money.

The women expressed their love for the class and how much they got from it so many times. It took some effort from me and a few students to get the word out, but we did. And now many of those women come together for this connection. My heart was filled with joy to hold this space for these lovely ladies and to donate to the dojo (Japanese martial arts studio) for their kindness.

Quote or verse you live by

^“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

In yoga, we discuss often that love is the only emotion that lasts and the one to hold to.

Favorite nonprofits you support

My daughter, Adaline, and I have donated time to Capital Area Food Bank and the Rainbow Room. We want to do what we can for children in need, and I believe that everyone should have food on the table.