Question 1

Who is Jennie Wadsten Sharma, and why do people care about her work?

Accepted Answer

Jennie Wadsten Sharma is a Swedish yoga teacher and founder of YogaLeela who specializes in nervous system regulation and trauma-informed practice. Born in 1977, she transitioned from a career in IT and media accounting to full-time yoga teaching in 2005, bringing both rigor and practical wisdom to her instruction. Students seek her work for her sophisticated integration of yoga with Western psychology—she studies Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, holds E-RYT 500 credentials with Yoga Alliance, and is a Trauma Informed Yoga teacher and member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists. Her teaching centers on practices like Yoga Nidra and Yin Yoga that calm the nervous system, allowing students to align daily decisions with their values. She's co-authored two bestselling books on Yoga Nidra and teaches across Scandinavia, Europe, and Goa, with senior-level instruction at The Shala in London. Her philosophy—"Yoga doesn't TAKE time. It GIVES time"—reflects her conviction that yoga is a practical resource for resilience and presence, not another obligation.

Question 2

What tradition or lineage does Jennie Wadsten Sharma's work belong to?

Accepted Answer

Jennie Wadsten Sharma's practice sits within integrative, contemporary yoga rather than a single lineage or guru-centered tradition. Her training spans Anusara, Ashtanga Vinyasa, Hatha, and Restorative approaches, alongside Ayurvedic yoga massage, giving her a broad classical foundation. What distinguishes her lineage is her deliberate bridging of yoga with Western psychology and neuroscience: her focus on trauma-informed yoga and study of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy represent yoga's evolution as evidence-informed somatic practice. She holds credentials from bodies like Yoga Alliance (E-RYT 500, YACEP) and the International Association of Yoga Therapists, which emphasize nervous system science and therapeutic application rather than spiritual initiation alone. Her emphasis on nervous system regulation, trauma awareness, and mental health reflects the contemporary postmodern yoga movement—yoga as a health practice grounded in physiology and psychology. This lineage prioritizes individual variation and what's "right" for each person over prescriptive spiritual doctrine.

Question 3

Where should a complete newcomer start with Jennie Wadsten Sharma's work?

Accepted Answer

Start with Yoga Nidra or Yin Yoga—Jennie Wadsten Sharma's signature practices—rather than vigorous Vinyasa flow. Yoga Nidra, a guided meditation performed lying down, requires no flexibility, strength, or prior experience and is designed to calm the nervous system; it's ideal for people managing stress, anxiety, or insomnia. Her two bestselling books on Yoga Nidra (available through yogaleela.se) provide accessible written introduction alongside her guided instruction. For moving practices, her slow flow or Hatha classes offer gentler alternatives to intense styles, building body awareness without overwhelming the nervous system. Her teaching style is notably warm and encouraging, designed to meet students where they are rather than enforce rigid standards. Starting with a single session—through a local studio, her website, or a weekend retreat—gives you direct experience of her approach before committing to advanced trainings.

Question 4

What makes Jennie Wadsten Sharma distinctive compared to other yoga teachers in the same space?

Accepted Answer

Jennie Wadsten Sharma stands out for her sophisticated integration of yoga with Western psychology and neuroscience, particularly her focus on nervous system regulation as a gateway to better decision-making and emotional resilience. While many teachers reference "stress relief," she brings the conceptual rigor of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and trauma-informed practice to bear, treating the nervous system as a precise biological system, not metaphor. Her background as an accountant and business consultant is unusual in yoga teaching and informs her pragmatic approach: she understands real-world pressures and teaches yoga as a practical tool. She specializes in Yoga Nidra and Yin Yoga—contemplative, restorative practices that attract depth-seeking students over Instagram-focused instruction. Her credentials are comprehensive: E-RYT 500, Trauma Informed certification, membership in the International Association of Yoga Therapists, and ongoing study in yoga and neuroscience. She maintains a teaching presence across Europe and Goa, working with corporate clients alongside studio and retreat students, demonstrating her cross-cultural, cross-sector appeal.

Question 5

Who is Jennie Wadsten Sharma's work NOT for?

Accepted Answer

Her work is not suited for students seeking vigorous, calorie-burning, or intensity-focused yoga; her emphasis on nervous system regulation prioritizes quality of attention over physical performance. If you're drawn to hot yoga, fast-paced Vinyasa with energetic music, or "power" practices, her slow flow and Yin-based teaching will feel understimulating. Her psychological framework, while evidence-based, may not resonate with practitioners seeking yoga purely as spiritual or devotional practice disconnected from Western therapeutic language; she's clear that yoga contains "many truths," but doesn't center on transcendence or mystical experience. Spiritual seekers expecting a charismatic guru figure or prescriptive spiritual instruction will likely find her individualized, warm approach less authoritative than desired. Additionally, her teaching is in English and Scandinavian languages, primarily in European and Goa-based contexts, so accessibility depends on geography and language. Finally, purists who view Western psychology as diluting yoga's traditional aims may see her integration of ACT and trauma-informed work as too secularized.

Question 6

How can I follow Jennie Wadsten Sharma's upcoming events, releases, and travel?

Accepted Answer

The primary source is her website, yogaleela.se, which lists current retreats, workshops, and teacher training offerings across Europe and Goa. Her schedule typically includes classes in Stockholm and Scandinavian cities, European retreats, and extended programs in Goa, where she's based; she rotates between these locations, so planning ahead is necessary. She teaches as one of the senior teachers on the advanced teacher training at The Shala in London, making that program a reliable way to study with her. For specific dates and program details, contact YogaLeela directly through her website or reach out to The Shala if you're interested in London-based training. She doesn't maintain visible social media or streaming platforms listed in directories, so the website is your most reliable source for current scheduling. Her professional presence emphasizes direct communication and personalized inquiry over mass marketing.

Question 7

What is Jennie Wadsten Sharma's teaching style? What does a session or retreat with her feel like?

Accepted Answer

Her teaching is warm, enthusiastic, and encouraging—qualities that distinguish her from more austere or correction-focused instruction. You can expect clear anatomical and psychological education grounded in how the nervous system responds to specific practices; she treats teaching as skill-building rather than prescription. Her classes move slowly with generous attention to breath and sensation, particularly in Yoga Nidra (guided meditation) and Yin Yoga (passive holds), which form her core offerings. She deliberately applies knowledge of psychology, ACT, and trauma-informed practice to create safety and self-compassion rather than shame or striving, especially visible in how she frames challenge as information about your nervous system, not failure. In retreats or trainings, she emphasizes individual variation and encourages students to "communicate with their bodies and minds" rather than conform to external standards. Sessions feel collaborative and inquiry-based rather than performative or spiritually grandiose—yoga as a practical tool for presence and resilience.

Question 8

What are the recurring themes in Jennie Wadsten Sharma's teaching?

Accepted Answer

Nervous system regulation and its role in everyday decision-making and emotional well-being is the central theme across all her teaching. She consistently emphasizes that yoga's value lies not in flexibility or strength but in cultivating awareness and self-compassion—qualities that transfer into how students move through life outside the classroom. Trauma-informed practice is a recurring focus, particularly in her 2026 work; her classes avoid re-traumatization and offer students choice and agency rather than demands. Another throughline is the explicit connection between yoga and psychology, particularly how practices like Yoga Nidra and mindfulness affect mental health, stress resilience, and value-aligned action. She's vocal about individual truth: "there are many truths in yoga and what is right is individual," pushing back against prescriptive, one-size-fits-all instruction. Her philosophy "Yoga doesn't TAKE time. It GIVES time" reflects her conviction that yoga is a practical resource for living better, not a luxury or obligation.

Question 9

Do you need any background to follow Jennie Wadsten Sharma's teaching?

Accepted Answer

No prior yoga experience is necessary, particularly if you start with Yoga Nidra or Yin Yoga. Yoga Nidra specifically—lying down and following guided instruction—requires no flexibility, strength, or body awareness, making it accessible to complete beginners, people recovering from injury, and those with mobility limitations. Her teaching style is explicitly designed to meet students where they are rather than enforce alignment standards, so newcomers won't feel inadequate or behind. Her teaching draws on psychological concepts like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and trauma-informed practice, but she teaches these frameworks clearly enough that first-time encounters feel educational, not alienating. Advanced trainings may assume intermediate yoga literacy, but introductory retreats and group classes are genuinely accessible, and her warmth creates an environment where questions and unfamiliarity are welcome rather than markers of exclusion. The only prerequisite is genuine interest in how yoga affects your nervous system and well-being.

Question 10

Where can I see Jennie Wadsten Sharma live? What cities or retreats does she appear at?

Accepted Answer

Jennie Wadsten Sharma teaches across multiple locations: Goa, India (where she's based since 2016 and previously managed the Brahmani Yoga drop-in centre), and Stockholm, Sweden (her home country). She offers regular classes and workshops in Swedish cities, runs retreats and trainings across European countries, and teaches on the advanced teacher training program at The Shala in London. She also works with corporate clients in Scandinavia, bringing yoga and nervous system practices into professional environments. Her schedule rotates between these geographic bases, so participation typically requires advance planning rather than drop-in access. Current information on locations, upcoming retreats, and workshop dates is available through yogaleela.se, where you can contact her directly about specific programs. If you're in London, The Shala's advanced teacher training would be a reliable entry point; in Stockholm or Scandinavia, local studios may list her guest teaching.

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