Meet Leana Marie Marshall | Yoga Leader & Facility Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Leana Marie Marshall and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leana Marie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Wow! There were so man thoughts behind opening a black, women, lesbian owned yoga studio. My thought process was creating a space that was inclusive to everyone who has walked into a yoga space and hasn’t felt included. I wanted to create an authentic community where people felt like the belonged. Often times, people are so intimated to attend yoga classes because they fear being judged based on race, gender, and how their body looks. I knew I needed to create a space where any and everyone could just be themselves.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
*Business Name: Yoga Box – Decatur

*Sets Us Apart

Yoga Experience Elevated:
Every student that enters the Yoga Box studio feels a calming shift in energy, a connection to the community, and excitement for a fun and challenging class experience. Leaving with a heightened sense of connection, empowerment, and overall energetic state. Making Yoga Box not just another yoga class, but a daily destination.

Our Community:
Our community of instructors, staff, and students create a radically inclusive community of support and a place for people to connect to like-minded individuals. Through consistent, safe, and inspired classes designed to challenge, transform, and empower our students (both physically and mentally), Yoga Box provides a safe and supported space to elevate your state.

The Space:
HEATING – Yoga Box offers a range of heated and non-heated climate controlled classes strategically set to warm and loosen muscles for a optimal yoga practice.

SIGHT AND SOUND – We pride ourselves on our state of the art surround sound and lighting systems that are designed to set the mood of the class and engage your practice deeper.

INSTRUCTORS – Besides extensive education and continued training in all levels and methods of Yoga, a minimum level of experience and hours to instruct our classes is required. We ethically pay all instructors.

*How did I get to where I am?
I got here trying to bring inclusivity to yoga because yoga is for everyone.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would most definitely take my best friend to Slutty Vegan to eat because everyone LOVES Slutty Vegan. My favorite restaurant is Poor Calvin so we would definitely take a trip there.

We’d hit up my favorite weekend happy hour place Grub Burger! They have mimosas for $4.00 on Saturdays/Sundays.

I’d take my friend to Little 5 Points because that’s my absolute favorite area. I love a store there called Moods Music. I also love this Hookah Spot in Sandy Springs called Mustache. We’d had so much fun there. The music, food, and hookahs are on point.

Of course we would go to yoga at Yoga Box and I’d definitely take my friend to Effect Fitness. I would also love to walk the Belt Line and go to my favorite acai bowl place Playa Bowls.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I do feel like it’s always important to thank God for His many blessings. Without God, I literally wouldn’t be able to do the things I do everyday. My fiance’, family, and friends have always been my biggest cheerleaders. I do want to give a shoutout to my business partners Billy Canu (Canu Group) and Amanda Burns for all the support in building the Y0ga Box brand. It truly takes a village.

Website: https://www.theyogabox.com/decatur/

Instagram: @yogabox