Joëlle’s international lifestyle unfolded naturally by following what felt true to her heart. Splitting her time between the Netherlands, South Africa, Bali, and Italy, she draws inspiration from every place she calls home. Teaching across continents keeps her open, adaptable, and deeply connected to diverse yoga cultures, shaping a practice that is alive, intuitive, and rooted in presence. Through her trainings and retreats, she guides students toward authenticity, self inquiry, and connection, no matter where they are in the world.
You live and teach across the Netherlands, South Africa, Bali, and Italy. How did this international lifestyle unfold, and how does it shape the way you teach yoga today?
My international lifestyle unfolded organically by following what felt true to my heart. I’ve always been curious and drawn to travel as a way to grow, gain perspective, and explore new horizons…. something my mom says was clear even when I was a child.
Teaching yoga around the world is deeply enriching. As a student, I continue learning from different yoga cultures and approaches. As a teacher, I adapt to each place: South Africa is more asana-focused with regular students, Bali is more spiritual and transient, and Europe often approaches yoga in a more intellectual way.
Living across cultures keeps me humble, open, and adaptable, and that shapes my teaching. Yoga becomes a living, breathing practice rather than something fixed.
What first drew you to yoga, and what inspired you to step into the role of teacher and teacher trainer?
I first found yoga at the gym and, honestly, I was skeptical. It didn’t look physically challenging, and my critical mind dismissed it as a silly form of exercise. Little did I know it would become my livelihood, lifestyle, and life philosophy. I’m deeply grateful for the practice and my teachers. I can’t imagine my life without yoga now.
At the time, I was working as an economist in a corporate job. Yoga guided me inward, helping me listen to my heart and giving me the courage to completely change my life. Since I had already been teaching group fitness classes from a young age, the transition felt natural. I quit my corporate career in 2012 and stepped fully into the wellness world.
Teacher training are where my soul truly comes alive. I did my Teacher Training at Radiantly Alive in Ubud, Bali. I call that studio and village my spiritual home. I am deeply honored that they asked me to be part of the YTT team in 2018 and started leading the trainings there in 2024. Witnessing transformation and growth, both in trainees and in myself, feels incredibly meaningful. Yoga met me when I needed grounding and purpose, and once I experienced its impact, teaching became inevitable.
Teaching teacher trainings is a responsibility that goes far beyond sequencing. What values or principles do you feel most called to pass on to your students?
Yoga is more than just asana, and Yoga Teacher Training goes far beyond sequencing. It’s a deeply transformational experience. So much so that many students describe life before and after the training as completely different. It’s challenging to put into words; it really needs to be experienced.
The values I feel most called to pass on to students and the next generation of teachers are:
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Authenticity
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Humility (Ishvara Pranidhana)
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Continuous self-inquiry (Svadhyaya: keep practicing, keep questioning, keep growing)
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Professionalism
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Be of service and set boundaries (a delicate balance that is essential to honor)
I also emphasize that you don’t need years of experience before joining a 200-hour training. A year of regular practice and a genuine passion for yoga is enough. Many come not necessarily to become teachers, but to deepen their understanding of yoga and themselves—and that curiosity is just as important.
You guide both retreats and trainings in very different environments. How do you adapt your teaching to each setting while staying true to your core philosophy?
Yoga is yoga, and its medicine works whether it’s power yoga, yin, vinyasa, ashtanga, or any traditional or modern approach. As a teacher, my role is to adapt to the needs of the students and the environment. I let the place shape the rhythm, while staying true to the essence: awareness, embodiment, and connection. Yoga always meets people where they are, and my teaching simply holds that space.
As an entrepreneur, I practice non-attachment and non-judgment in choosing the people and settings I work with, allowing each experience to unfold authentically. Sometimes that means letting go and walking away, which creates space for new collaborations and more aligned relationships.
Nature, travel, and presence are deeply woven into your work. How do the landscapes of South Africa, Bali, and Italy influence your practice and offerings?
I feel deeply blessed to live and work across multiple continents, and for me, the experiences don’t feel separate, they complement each other seamlessly. I am like a chameleon, subtly shifting with each place, allowing it to expand me, and carrying that growth forward to the next destination.
Europe is my root home, Bali my spiritual home, and South Africa my heart home. Each landscape brings its own quality of being, which naturally flows into the practice I share, enriching both my teaching and my own journey.
What does community mean to you when your students come from so many different cultures and backgrounds?
Community is everything. I believe that we engage in practice and inner work not just for ourselves, but to serve the higher collective vibrations of the world; whether in person, online, or through spiritual practices. We are one, and we are deeply connected.
I am part of multiple local communities, European, Bali, and South Africa and beyond and yet, these communities all feel intertwined through the practice of yoga. This is one of the reasons I cherish social media: it allows me to remain connected with my students, no matter where I am in the world.
I see myself as a bridge between communities; across cultures, financial backgrounds, and experiences. At the heart of it, we are all connected through practice and the openness of the heart. Community, for me, is about shared humanity. When people feel safe, seen, and connected, culture becomes a bridge instead of a barrier.
For this reason, Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu is one of my favorite mantras: may all beings everywhere be happy and free.
How do you support students through moments of transition, both on the mat and in life, especially during immersive retreat or training experiences?
I support students through moments of transition, both on the mat and in life, by holding a safe, nurturing, and non-judged space where they feel truly seen and supported. I believe that the truth already resides within each student; my role is not to give them answers, but to create the conditions for them to hear the messages of their own heart and the whispers of their soul.
During immersive retreats or training experiences, this means offering consistent presence, compassionate guidance, and gentle encouragement. I honor the pace of each individual’s journey, knowing that healing and transformation cannot be rushed. By fostering an environment of trust, safety, and non-judgment, students are able to rest, reflect, ask difficult questions, and confront both the comfortable and uncomfortable aspects of themselves.
From that grounded, non-judged space, they can access the courage and strength to take action, shift perspectives, and make choices that are authentic to their unique path. My work is to support them in stepping into that process with openness and self-compassion, whether that unfolds on the mat, in the retreat setting, or in the larger landscape of their lives.
What does your personal practice look like when you’re moving between countries and time zones?
I never thought I would say this, but my one truly consistent practice is my morning meditation, affirmation, and prayer ritual.I used to really struggle with meditation and it took me years to now feel i cannot live without. This small daily ritual keeps me connected to my inner world, offering a reference point to gauge where I am and helping me navigate life on a micro, daily level. rewrite
I personally love group settings and often struggle with a regular self-practice. Being surrounded by like-minded, open-hearted people energizes and inspires me. That said, each country I travel to brings its own unique flavors of yoga. In South Africa, I tend to practice more power-based yoga, while in Bali my practice slows down and leans into spiritual depth. In Europe, I haven’t settled into a fixed studio yet, so I often rely on self-practice, which feels grounding and flexible.
No matter where I am, I can always rely on my morning ritual to center me. I also appreciate that Jivamukti studios, wherever I go, offer consistent, high-quality classes, which makes integrating into a new place much easier.
What have been some of the most meaningful lessons you’ve learned from living a life that moves between worlds?
I resonate deeply with Jon Kabat-Zinn’s words: “Wherever you go, there you are.” They taught me that a true sense of home is found within, and that presence is the home we carry with us everywhere. I used to compare the different places I lived, thinking that one day I would have to choose the “right” place that aligned perfectly with me. Now I understand that each place has its own beauty and its own challenges—much like life itself, with its highs and obstacles. Every experience matters. Every moment adds up. Each one is a meaningful lesson, shaping the journey in its own way.
Looking ahead, what feels most alive for you right now — new trainings, retreats, or evolutions in your teaching?
I try not to look too far ahead, maximum one year at a time. In the past, planning too far ahead created a rigid, controlling version of myself and left little room for the universe to guide me and provide exactly what I need at the right time and place.
Right now, I feel called to depth over expansion. My focus is on refining what truly matters: holding more intimate spaces and continuing to teach from a place of authenticity and service. What feels most alive is the depth of existing connections and the potential to connect with new students, people, and places.
I’m particularly excited about a new retreat in South Africa. I’ve been wanting to offer a safari-style retreat for over a decade but hadn’t found the right partner…. now it’s finally coming together in May. It will be a joy to share the magical energy and beauty of South Africa with my community and beyond.
I also look forward to grounding myself in South Africa, sleeping in the same bed, and not living out of a suitcase until July. At the same time, I secretly look forward to nomading again for the second part of the year.
“I feel truly blessed to be able to do what I love and live a life I cherish.”
Anything else you'd like to share with the Manduka community?
As part of my commitment to seva and the ongoing questioning of my dharma, I host an annual charity event in Cape Town in support of Earthchild Project. This organization serves under resourced schools in the Western Cape through education focused on the environment, health, self development, and leadership. For me, this is a natural extension of my practice and a way to give back with intention and heart. Each year on International Yoga Day, we gather for this special event, and I warmly invite you to join us in supporting Earthchild Project.
Practice with Joëlle
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Connect with Joëlle
- Website: www.joellesleebos.com
- Instagram:@joellesleebos
- Upcoming retreats and events:
- 21-25 May 2026: Zen in the Wild Safari, Greater Kruger, South Africa
- 21-26 July 2026: Rituals & Soulfulness Retreat, Bali, Indonesia
- August 2026: Yoga Teacher Training 200h at Radiantly Alive, Bali, Indonesia
- 26 September - 3 October 2026: Connection Retreat, Sardinia, Italy
- November 2026: Yoga Teacher Training 200h at Radiantly Alive, Bali, Indonesia
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