About Tune

TUNE was born from my personal experience — drawing clear and direct linkages of the benefits of yoga with sports performance. I want to help people discover these benefits, defusing the mystery of yoga and revealing its power — physically, mentally, even emotionally.

I am proud of my athletic accomplishments and sports participation, with a few key highlights here:

  • 2013 AMBASSADORSHIPS: selected from thousands of applicants for two prominent national brands – Zico Coconut Water and YMX by YELLOWMAN
  • CYCLING
    multi-year member of the US national women’s cycling team, the 7-Eleven and Lowrey’s pro women’s teams, two-time world championship medalist, numerous race or stage wins — Coors Classic, Ore-Ida Women’s Challenge, races in Europe, etc.
  • CYCLING
    featured athlete in original, CLIO-winning NIKE commercial, “Bo Knows”
  • CYCLING
    Colorado State Woman Athlete of the Year
  • US OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
    appointed to a prestigious subcommittee of the US Olympic Committee (USOC) chaired by track great, Edwin Moses
  • US OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
    athlete appointee as cycling national governing body representative to the USOC Athlete’s Advisory Council
  • TRIATHLON
    started bike racing through triathlons — having won the few races completed, age group category in the Eastern Regional Championships
  • SWIMMING
    nationally ranked, AAU swim champion – Cincinnati Marlins under Stanford’s Skip Kenney; Ohio State champion, All-American and record holder (that record has fallen but other pool records from the ’70s still hold today); team captain – undefeated Skidmore College women’s swim team
  • RUNNING
    completed four marathons; qualification for 100th and 101st Boston Marathons
  • SKIING
    former PSIA associate certified ski instructor, on staff Keystone/Arapahoe Basin, Colorado; collegiate ski team member, Skidmore College
  • EQUESTRIAN
    broke, trained, showed hunter/jumper thoroughbreds for many years; participated in 3-day eventing; riding my own mounts and as a ‘hired gun’ for others; hired consultant/aid for prestigious Saratoga Race Track annual yearling sales
  • SOCCER
    SAY soccer center halfback — championship Ohio team
  • BROADCAST JOURNALISM
    Journalist and broadcast commentator (cycling events – post pro competition) -Broadcast mediums included: ESPN, Prime Sports Network, Tour Tracker, NBC Sports, NBC/ABC affiliates around US. Print mediums included VeloNews, Inside Cycling, Bicycling Magazine, and a ‘stringer’ for major national dailies covering cycling and triathlon events.

YOGA INSTRUCTOR: I am now a full time, a certified yoga instructor – registered with the national governing body, Yoga Alliance (RYT-200). I teach numerous classes weekly and workshops year around. I continue my study in yoga, physiology, functional anatomy, nutrition and sports psychology in the form of classes, advanced workshops and industry conferences. I received my initial formal yoga teacher training through  international renowned leader Francois Raoult, Open Sky Yoga, and have attended national Iyengar conferences with name teachers such as John Schumacher, Patricia Walden, Karin O’Bannon and Lois Steinberg, as well as some study with Tiffany Cruikshank, Seane Corn (vinyasa) and Leslie Kaminoff (anatomy).

CYCLING COACH: I am also a certified USA Cycling coach (with the national governing body) and enjoy working with cyclists and triathletes to hone their posture, form, efficiency, cadence, power and performance on the bike – many times combining cycling training on the bike with optimization through yoga, breathwork, nutrition recommendations and recovery off the bike. Custom plans are developed to target individual needs and goals.

INDOOR CYCLE CERTIFICATION: I am currently working toward a certification with Cycling Fusion for indoor cycle training and teaching. I currently teach indoor cycle following best practices in form, function, cadence, power and cardio.

 

TUNE Testimonials

The William Smith lacrosse team had the pleasure of working with Leslee during our extensive pre-season and what a difference it made! After the athletically geared yoga sessions, the team felt relaxed, well stretched and had reduced soreness. Leslee’s knowledge of the college athlete has allowed her to be very sport-specific when conducting her team yoga sessions. The team was able to stretch and strengthen areas of the body that are often hard to reach in a typical training day. We look forward to working with Leslee and Tune Yoga in the future!
Morgan Achilles, Lacrosse Coach, William Smith College
Class today was awesome (and hard) … First real sleep in WEEKS. It had to be the yoga. Thank you! (Loved it and still feel good).
Melissa Butler, Record-holding Collegiate Basketball player; High School All-American
Just took your yoga class at TUNE. Loved it. Wish I lived nearby. Best yoga class ever taken. You were a wonderful intsructor, excellent directions, beautiful peaceful space. I wish I could clone you.
Jennifer Roberge, Massachusetts
Leslee’s TUNE yoga sessions were extremely beneficial to my team. As athletes playing a sport with an especially long pre-season, our team is extremely vulnerable to overstressing our bodies, leading to injury. Leslee strategically catered our team yoga sessions to our needs as varsity athletes. Now we’re all in a healthy place moving into the start of our season! Overall, a great experience. Thanks, Leslee from the William Smith Lacrosse Team!
Hannah Schickel, Team Captain, William Smith Lacrosse
I had an amazing bike ride during my Ironman. I felt so strong and never tired throughout the 112 miles. During my training and during the race I stayed focused on what you taught me about my pedal stroke, body positioning and breathing. I spent time in my yoga room 3 or 4 days a week doing all of the positions that you told me would be beneficial to my bike. It all seemed to pay off! Thank you again.
Sharon Coons Radak, Ironman triathlete, road marathoner, trail run competitor
“The girls won the league easily and the boys placed second. We are seeing great benefits from your TUNE program on and off the track. It is amazing to see both teams doing some of the yoga from your program by themselves one hour before race time. It is now worked into their pre-race routine and paying off! Thanks so much for everything – we look forward to working on this for Indoor Track.”
Bob Stewart, Cross-country track coach and indoor track coach, Honeoye Central Schools (NY)
Leslee’s knowledge of the body is extensive and background as a professional athlete gives her the insight into the specific needs of those she trains. My son does yoga with Leslee and has loved it from his first class. Her knowledge of athletics is an amazing attribute and has a direct impact on my son’s personal best times and winning results.
Parent, Canandaigua high school men’s state finalist swimmer 
I just did some sprints on the bike, this being the day after your yoga for cyclists workshop. I have increased another, or maybe even two, gears due to my improved posture and breathing. I think that you have extended my cycling career by at least ten years. With forty-seven years of experience biking, and forty of yoga, my eyes were opened.
Michael Priestman, competitive cyclist / longtime yoga practitioner
I really enjoyed the 8 week yoga session, and although I don’t do my yoga every day, I have focused on two persistent problem areas that your excellent class uncovered for me. The most dramatic is my right hip. It has always been very stiff, and until you pointed that out (I would always thought it was an inborn error of development or an anatomic limitation), I assumed it was ‘part of who I am.’ It improved dramatically during the sessions, and I have kept up my focus on that hip. Also, I always knew I was ’round shouldered’, but accepted it. When I go to Haiti every spring, I notice the Haitians have superb posture. I thought a lifetime of poor posture was too great an obstacle to overcome. Guess what? Nothing feels better now than pulling my shoulders back. And my neck problems are melting away as my chin naturally adjusts to align with the new shoulder position. Thank you.
Brendan Brady, M.D., serious recreational cyclist and yoga newbie

For the TUNE list of classes and workshops, click here.

Get in the zone, feel the flow, find an athletic nirvana – yoga offers the physical and mental benefits to complement your training in ways other things can’t touch.

Tune into the details. Tune out the noise. Focus on what’s important for your athletic performance.

The personal bests and smiley thank yous make my day. Now get back to work.

A regular yoga practice is key. Stay healthy, wealthy* and wise with class attendance and an occasional intensive from a workshop. (*relatively speaking)

Nothing makes me happier than fit, healthy athletes. It makes me want to sing a tune. (No, please don’t.)

Right, wrong, indifferent, accurate or misquoted –
the world according
to TUNE.

You are destined to go higher. Ready?

Turn on. Tune in. Make it sing.