René Quenell, E-RYT 500, IAYT

René has helped thousands find joy and access their inner wisdom through radically transformative practices of meditation, yoga therapy, Ayurveda and Vedic Astrology.  She holds a BA in Communications from the University of Southern California and founded Yoga Madre studio more than 20 years ago.  She has developed renowned meditation trainings and 200- and 500-hour Yoga Alliance-accredited teacher training programs. She leads live, online master trainings, interactive workshops, retreats, personal counseling sessions and the monthly JoyWork Academy.

René loves sharing the teachings of a living lineage where spiritual practice serves as an instrument for navigating modern life with grace and ease. With reverence for the teachings, she weaves together humor, joy and everyday wisdom. Her life’s work is to share with students the tools to brighten their inner light, move toward self-mastery and live a life that’s happy and purposeful. 

A devoted student and practitioner, René also supports the Himalayan Institute's work in the US, India and Cameroon.

Dr. Abbey Leigh, E-RYT 500

For Dr. Abbey Leigh, the practice of Ayurveda, Yoga and meditation has been a journey of coming home to her own true nature. Having healed her own physical and spiritual diseases through these modalities, Abbey has guided hundreds of patients to access their innate healing capacities through Ayurvedic diet, lifestyle, herbology, body therapies and sadhana.

It is Dr. Abbey Leigh’s mission to empower people to reconnect with their bodies, tap into their innate wisdom, and embrace the natural rhythms and cycles of life. She advocates for freedom, sustainability, self-love, and compassion as integral aspects of holistic wellbeing.

Currently, Dr. Abbey Leigh holds her private practice in the Azores islands, Portugal and is the founder of Sacred Maternal Wisdom Method which supports mothers-to-be to consciously conceive through the wisdom of Ayurveda. She holds an Ayurvedic Doctor Degree from California College of Ayurveda, certified by NAMA and is a E-RYT-500 yoga instructor with Yoga Alliance.

In Abbey’s spare time she loves to take dance classes, admire the plant kingdom, and hike the volcanic mountains.