“God has said Be Moderate with eating and drinking,
but never Be satisfied when taking in the light.”
— RUMI
Greetings!
At the center of my current work is the concept of “Living in Leela.”
Leela is a philosophy built around playfulness, curiosity, and faith. I am currently developing a book around this idea, exploring how physical practice, spiritual inquiry, creativity, and nature can become tools for having fun while navigating complexity and uncertainty.
In a world that is often obsessed with certainty, optimization, and having the right answer, I propose that maybe the goal is not to perfect and control every part of the journey. Maybe the goal is to become more present, more connected, more playful, and more fully alive while we are on it? Maybe be-ing itself is the practice.
I’m JENNIFER - educator, artist, entrepreneur, and lifelong student of human behavior, movement, sensory experience, creativity, and what it means to live a more integrated life.
On the neverending path of discovery, I operate at the intersection of education, wellness, design, spirituality, and entrepreneurship. Much of my work is grounded in a simple but powerful idea: human beings function better when we recognize and focus on connection—to ourselves, to our bodies, to one another, and to the natural world.
I dislike labels and rather seeks to understand experience, behavior, and motivation. My path has not been linear, more like a spiral. I have studied yoga and human development for more than 30 years, beginning with Iyengar yoga and Montessori education in 1994. My background includes years of teaching both children and adults, in classrooms, studios, gyms, and privately one-on-one, with a particular interest in individuals on the spectrum.
I am interested in patterns—how people process experience, what drives behavior, how the body and “mind” influence one another, how environment influences well-being, and what tools help people create new patterns and pathways that give access to more focus, physical and emotional regulation, confidence, and connection.
A multi-passionate creative entrepreneur, I want to share a message humans so often forget: that we are loved, that love is expansive rather than sentimental, that we are called to learn to Love more.
I am also a textile artist, pattern designer and founder of a hemp and organic cotton clothing business called Surya Leela Designs. Every day, I wake up excited to continue exploring my potential while sharing what I love with the world.
Something new is always unfolding — stay connected by signing up for Jen’s newsletter and following her on Insight Timer.
Surya Leela Designs
Surya Leela offers pattern design and apparel made from natural plant-based fibers like hemp, linen, and organic cotton. Each piece is thoughtfully designed to move with you—soft on sensitive skin, breathable, and beautiful in its simplicity. Inspired by the rhythms and colors of nature and the playful spirit of living in leela, Surya Leela’s designs are made to feel as good as they look—whether on the mat, at work, in your studio, or out in the world.
Each piece and pattern is a mindful reminder to live in harmony—with yourself and the world around you.
As part of SLD’s commitment to sustainability, we also offer a Re-Dye Service—a way to refresh and extend the life of garments, whether purchased from us or elsewhere, using vibrant, non-toxic, fiber-reactive dyes.
