Each Tuesday, The Citizen features a health professional from the Finger Lakes community in The Banks: This week, we spotlight Lesley Kennedy of Down To Earth Yoga in Auburn.

Lesley C. Kennedy

Occupation: Director of Down to Earth Yoga in Auburn

Hobbies: Playing computer games

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your job?

A. Being of benefit to others.

Q. What is the most challenging?

A. Breaking through the myriad of misconceptions that people have about what yoga is.

Q. When you're sick, describe yourself as a patient.

A. In a word, curious. I'm always looking within for the root causes of any disturbance I experience in myself and examining my lifestyle. Yoga is a holistic practice and considers that sickness is a manifestation of imbalance, so I look at how I'm living. Am I getting enough sleep? Am I feeding and nourishing myself well? Am I getting the right kind of exercise? - And then work at making appropriate adjustments.

Q. The most common misconception you hear from patients?

A. There's a tremendous amount of misinformation currently in our culture about yoga. Many people think yoga is a physical exercise system alone, akin to Pilates or aerobics. In truth, the physical discipline is a very small part of a complete scientific and philosophical system, the main purpose of which is self-realization. In the Yoga Sutras, yoga is defined clearly: “Yoga is the mastery of the operations of the mind, at which time one rests in one's True Nature.” Physical posture work is a way of preparing the body to be comfortable and steady for prolonged periods of meditation.

Q. If you weren't a health care professional, what would you like to be?

A. I studied to be an opera singer for many years, so I would probably be doing that.

Q. For someone considering a career in the health industry, what career advice would you give them?

A. My teacher once said, “Always remember, no manipulation goes undetected.” Be completely honest with yourself about your intention to be of service, clear about your limitations and rigorous in your integrity. Then, trust the process and get a good teacher/mentor.

Q. What's the favorite thing you have in your medicine cabinet?

A. My neti pot, a traditional yoga tool for rinsing the sinuses and nasal passages. A miracle for anyone with chronic sinus problems.

Q. Fill in the blank. Despite being in the health care field, people would probably be surprised that when at home, I _____.

A. Have been known to spend an entire afternoon playing computer games.