About Leslie Gossett Whalen

Leslie Gossett Whalen is an herbalist, holistic health practitioner, yoga teacher, naturalist, and educator,. With a deep reverence for the wisdom of nature, she finds magic in walking barefoot through fields collecting plants and meditating beneath maple trees. Raised in Nashville, Leslie’s childhood was spent with the pine trees as her closest companions, where she learned the most important lessons from simply being in the natural world.

Leslie is passionate about helping others reconnect with themselves and the wisdom of nature, believing that this connection is an innate part of the human experience. Over the years, she’s discovered that all of her teachings and practices converge on one central truth: the path of awe. She is inspired to guide others along this path, empowering them to discover the wonder and wisdom that nature offers.

Leslie’s Background

Leslie’s journey into holistic health began in 2008, driven by her own health struggles and a lack of success with conventional medicine. This led her to explore the body’s inherent ability to heal itself, sparking a deep interest in holistic health practices. In 2009, she began her formal study of plant medicine, training with many herbalists and elders over the years. Leslie continues to expand her knowledge, actively pursuing advanced herbalism training wherever she can.

In 2012, Leslie completed a Holistic Health Practitioner program, which included a Master Herbalist certificate, and deepened her understanding of the interconnectedness of the body, mind, and spirit. Her commitment to health sovereignty was further solidified after a stroke in 2013, when she chose not to seek conventional treatment. This experience reinforced her dedication to healing through nature and deepened her desire to help others navigate their own health journeys.

Leslie’s path also led her to meditation and yoga. Introduced to meditation as a teenager, she later discovered yoga, which transformed her life. She became a certified yoga teacher in 2013, and has continued to deepen her expertise with certifications in Children’s Yoga, Teen Yoga, Preschool Yoga, Yoga for Special Needs, Yoga for Trauma, and Meditation Instruction. In 2021, she completed her 500-hour yoga teacher certification.

Through her diverse training and experiences, Leslie has coordinated and led numerous retreats and programs for adults, families, and children across the United States. Her passion for plants led her naturally to study botany, foraging, and primitive skills. In 2021, she completed her Tennessee Naturalist Certification, further deepening her understanding of the natural world.

Bringing together her background in education and years of diverse experiences, Leslie has found her true calling: guiding others back to themselves, the earth, and the ancestral practices that offer wisdom and health in modern life.

Credentials

  • Master Herbalist, 2012

  • Holistic Health Practitioner, 2012

  • Registered Yoga Teacher, 2013

  • 500-Hour Yoga Teacher Certification, 2021

  • Certified Children’s Yoga Teacher, Teen Yoga Teacher, Preschool Yoga Teacher, Yoga for Special Needs Teacher, Yoga for Trauma Teacher, and Meditation Instructor

  • Tennessee Naturalist Certification, 2021

  • Ongoing advanced training in herbalism

  • People of all religious backgrounds are welcome here. Leslie believes that all things are interconnected on a basic biological level. The plants around us create the oxygen we breathe. This truth is the foundation of her approach- to help people connect to something bigger, to the sense that we are not living in a vacuum. Leslie does not teach from a doctrine, and people of all beliefs and approaches can find meaning in her practices. If you want to know more about her personal beliefs, she is always happy to share more.

  • Email us. We can work with budgets, or even create work study or barter opportunities. This knowledge belongs to all humans, so you will not be turned away due to financial hardship.

  • If you have a special class request, location request, or unique need, just email. We love custom creations.