MARLENE BOYETTE (she/her)
Marlene Boyette is an educator, trauma-informed wellness practitioner, healing arts facilitator, ceremonialist, yoga and meditation teacher, and founder of Leela Yoga + Wellness. With degrees in Early Childhood Education and Psychology and over 20 years of experience bridging education, wellness, and community care, she creates experiences that integrate movement, mindfulness, sound meditation, ritual, and contemplative practice. Her work is rooted in the belief that healing is relational and that transformation happens when people feel seen, welcomed, and connected to themselves and one another.
Marlene recently served for a decade as the full-time Yoga and Mindfulness Teacher at an independent elementary school in Boston, where she designed and led a preschool through sixth-grade curriculum integrating yoga, mindfulness, restorative practices, and social justice. During her tenure, she founded the school’s first Students of Color Affinity Group after serving on its Social Justice Task Force, helping cultivate spaces grounded in belonging and representation. She also develops wellness programming for middle and high school students, supporting young people in building sustainable practices for emotional well-being.
Marlene’s commitment to social justice extends beyond schools through the creation and facilitation of affinity spaces that foster connection and community.
Inspired by the joyful spirit of the children she teaches, Marlene named her practice Leela Yoga + Wellness after the Sanskrit word līlā, meaning divine play. This philosophy of curiosity, creativity, and presence shapes her work, inviting people of all ages to approach healing with openness and compassion. Through Leela, she offers trauma-informed yoga, sound meditation, retreats, professional development, and community wellness experiences rooted in accessibility, choice, and collective care. She is also the creator of Yoga for Us, a monthly BIPOC-centered gathering, and Grief & Praise, an immersive experience honoring the intersectionality of loss and joy, while making space for remembrance, gratitude, ritual, and communal healing.
Marlene has facilitated programs across the U.S. and beyond, partnering with public / government agencies, educational institutions, cultural organizations, and global brands. Whether working with children, educators, or communities, her work invites people to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and remember that healing is something we cultivate together.
What You Can Expect From My Classes
It is my deepest intention to offer safe opportunities to practice that are accessible, restorative and light-hearted. My classes, which are foundationally hatha, focus on maintaining connection between the breath and movement of the body through gentle, slow placed asanas that are meant to encourage the release of mental, emotional and physical tension and strain. As a Certified Trauma Informed instructor, I believe in the offering of invitations to move or find stillness, rather than directives, that remind each participant to do what feels right and comfortable in each moment of their practice.
You can expect my classes to be lighthearted, inviting you to move at your own pace while attuning to the natural rhythm of your breath and the needs of your body. Grounded in choice and autonomy, the practice encourages you to concentrate and listen deeply to Self, to honor how you feel in each moment and to move in ways that support your physical and emotional wellbeing.
I often incorporate aromatherapy by way of essential oils, and sound healing into my classes to support release and restoration during the last portions of the practice.