Leticia G. Nelson

About Letty Nelson:

“Empowering my students to thrive in their lives through the healthy practice of yoga is my greatest joy as a teacher.” Letty

Leticia G. Nelson, Ph.D. (Letty), has an internationally recognized career as a scientist, yoga teacher, wellness coach and writer.

Leticia, or Letty, is Brazilian/American. Letty was born and raised in the metropolitan city of São Paulo, Brazil, to a second-generation immigrant family. Her mother and father moved from subsistence farming communities in the rural South of Brazil in the late 1950’s to find work in the big city shortly before Letty was born. Although Letty’s parents barely finished Middle School level education, they worked hard to support Letty’s education and she became the first in her family to earn a Doctorate. She earned a Ph.D. in Genetics from the Sao Paulo State University (UNESP) and she has advanced scientific research at the University of Georgia as part of her doctoral thesis. Her research interest was linked with how science can contribute to people's wellness for a better quality of life. Her successful career as a scientific researcher also includes publications from her Post-Doctoral work at the University of Sao Paulo (USP - ESALQ), the Canadian Federal Government, and the University of Birmingham (UAB), as well as her experience working as a scientist at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia.

Soon after earning her Post-Doctorate degree in genetics, Letty started her family with her husband, David. After a few years of marriage and the birth of their son, David joined the United States diplomatic service. Consequently, they lived in several countries, including Mexico, USA, Brazil and the Philippines.

It was the diplomatic career lifestyle of frequent moves back and forth between overseas and U.S. domestic assignments that inspired Letty to become a yoga teacher and writer. She wanted to spread the joy and support she found in her yoga practice that made every foreign place feel like home to her and her students. Letty's comprehensive career as an educator includes over 8 years of experience, coaching students of all ages from the expatriate community, as well as with the local and diplomatic communities across the globe in which she has lived with her family.

More recently, Letty has independently published her book entitled “Gateway to Mindfulness: Follow Tayná on her Journey and the Science of Letting Go in Savasana”. The book was simultaneously written in English and Portuguese to make it easily accessible for native speakers and readers of both languages.

Regarding her yoga experience, she holds both certifications with Yoga Alliance of E-RYT and YACEP. Letty, the scientist yogini, has continued her yoga education with over 100hr of professional training workshops including Dr. Ray Long, Jason Crandell, Lety Trejo, Carrie Owerko and Lois Steinberg. Because of her background in science, Letty also enjoys showing how and why particular poses can improve your mobility, immune system, genetics and mental health. Her classes adhere to ancient yoga traditions while seamlessly integrating our practice into our modern life styles.

Letty is currently Yoga and Group Instructor at Crunch Fitness Club; Yoga and Zumba Instructor at a Wellness Senior Center; private yoga teacher; Burnalong Portuguese Yoga Instructor and YouTuber of "Gateway to Mindfulness."

Enjoy the ride of reading Letty's beautifully written books and thank you so much for joining us on this journey!

Namaste!

Please feel free to get in touch and follow Letty through her social media listed below.

Instagram: @lettythescientistyogini

FaceBook: Letty Joy Yoga (https://www.facebook.com/gatewaytomindfulness.blog)

Website: Lettyjoyyoga8.com

YouTube Channel: Gateway to Mindfulness by Letty