Crescent City Yoga was co-founded by Lee Lemond (they/them) RYT 500 and Kelly Ryan (she/her) RYT 500.
We are passionate and dedicated yoga practitioners who have each practiced yoga for over 15 years. We met during yoga teacher training at Swan River Yoga in 2019. Our shared love for yoga and commitment to inclusivity led us to further our education at Sama Studio, where we developed our skills in teaching accessible yoga to diverse populations in various settings.
Our connection and training didn’t stop there. Throughout a year of intensive learning and spiritual growth, we formed a deep bond and blossomed into close friends, supporting each other on our shared spiritual paths.
When the world was faced with the challenges of the pandemic, yoga studios closed their doors. In response, we recognized the power of community and the need for unity during these trying times. In August of 2020, we took a leap and began offering yoga classes in City Park, a vibrant outdoor community space in the heart of New Orleans.
What began as a small gathering soon evolved into a flourishing spiritual community, a sangha, where people from all walks of life come together to experience the profound benefits of yoga. Our teaching style reflects our backgrounds and trainings, emphasizing accessibility, inclusivity, and a welcoming environment for everyone who joins our classes. In 2021 we further deepened our training on inclusion by taking Susanna Barkataki’s 300 hour advanced teacher training focusing on social justice in yoga.
We hope our commitment to making yoga accessible is evident in our classes. As part of the LGBTQ+ community, we strive to create a safe space where all individuals can explore their physical, mental, and spiritual potential without judgment.
As this community continues to grow, we embrace the ever-changing landscape of yoga, adapting our practice to meet the needs of our students and the world around them. Over the years, we’ve grown beyond our weekly donation-based classes to offer private yoga, corporate/workplace yoga, and workshops on many topics such as yoga philosophy, meditation, pranayama/breath practice, asana/movement, and silent retreats.
Join us on a journey of self-discovery and growth. Together, we invite you to become a part of this ever-expanding yoga community, where every individual is cherished and celebrated on their unique path to inner peace and well-being.
