Help Lee Shine at the World Yoga Championship

Help Send Me to the Yoga World Championships!

After years of soccer injuries, unnecessary surgeries, and failed physical therapy, I hit rock bottom in 2016. I had just left my job in the cannabis industry, and without the numbing effects of being high all day, I was forced to confront the unbearable pain in my back and joints. Despite daily pool therapy and rehab, my doctor told me that without spine surgery, I’d be in a wheelchair within four years.

At the time, I had no health insurance, no job, no savings, and no hope.

Then one night, while eating pizza and watching Game of Thrones, my roommate, Jordan, convinced me to try a 10-day Bikram yoga pass. We pushed each other to go every day, and for the first time in a decade, I slept through the night without alcohol or marijuana. My nerve pain lessened, my focus returned, and I fell in love with yoga.

Within a month, I was work-trading at a studio. Within a year, I became a certified Bikram teacher. Within two years, I was competing in the National Yoga Asana Championship.

In 2018, I had the incredible opportunity to compete in the World Championships in China, where I nailed a one-arm peacock pose on stage and placed 10th in the finals—the proudest moment of my athletic career.

Since then, I’ve competed in 12 in-person yoga competitions and 6 live virtual ones, qualifying for every international competition from 2018 through 2025. Despite the tremendous costs, I’ve always found a way to attend, balancing my training with my teaching salary.

Now, I’ve qualified for the World Championship of Yoga Sport this April, and for the first time, I’m asking for help. The costs—including airfare, lodging, transportation, training, and food—add up to around $4,000–$5,000.

Why This Matters

This isn’t just about my personal goal—it’s about using my platform to share yoga’s transformative power. I want to teach more workshops, speak on podcasts, and bring yoga into prisons, schools, retirement homes, and the military—places where it can truly change lives.

Ways to Support

✅ Donate – Every bit helps! Please only give what you can afford.

✅ Share – Spreading the word makes a huge impact.

Even if you can’t donate, sharing this fundraiser means the world to me.

As Picasso said, “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”

Yoga changed my life, and my purpose is to pay it forward. If you ever have questions about yoga, health, or nutrition, I’d love to connect. Thank you for being part of my journey.

Please note, there are no raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or promotions offered in exchange for any donations.

With love and gratitude,

Lee