MAATÏ MAATÏ- Founder Leonie on yoga, self-healing & meditation

Leonie Sevastie Lepenos is the successful founder of MAATI MAATI . She is not only a successful entrepreneur but also a healing soul for many people.

Leonie began meditating at just 22 years old to find relief from her illness at the time. She explored spirituality and discovered a new world for herself. Today, she has turned her passion into her profession and, alongside her business, works as a spiritual coach. Through conversations, meditations, energy work, and soul readings, she is able to flood many souls with light. We interviewed her about her lifestyle changes and wanted to know what's good for the soul. Stay tuned!

1. Can you introduce yourself briefly?

I'm Leonie, 30 years old, half-Greek, and originally from Berlin. I'm the founder and conscious CEO of my holistic luxury yoga brand MAATÏ MAATÏ. I've also been coaching for a good year now and am so grateful to be able to share my spiritual knowledge in this way. I also offer various courses, such as the spiritual luxury workshop on my website.

2. How did you discover meditation?

At 22, I became very ill. I was in the hospital for extended periods, undergoing numerous emergency surgeries and experiencing a great deal of pain, fear, and suffering. Conventional medicine was no longer able to help me; there was no conventional medical diagnosis available. So I was forced to seek other healing options. This led me to meditation. This allowed me to learn to heal myself at an early age—healing on all levels.

3. Do you feel that your spirituality and meditation have made you a positive person, and how has your lifestyle change changed your everyday life?

More positive too, but above all more conscious in the first step - I perceive life more consciously, have changed my perspective on many things in life and have found myself, feel connected and have made peace with myself. I feel deep gratitude for what is...but that doesn't mean that I don't sometimes have a bad day with a REALLY bad mood - spirituality doesn't just mean jumping around in meadows of flowers singing happily while completely high - that's not the kind of positivity and "deluded esotericism" that I mean. In fact, modern spirituality means the opposite to me: facing challenges and fears even more consciously, seeing them and tackling them concretely. Life has become more profound and everything makes sense somewhere...limitless! And I feel free - every day...!

4. How did you decide to become self-employed and found MAATI MAATI? Your passion must have played a big role?!

At the time, I was in a very stressful job environment (I was a marketing manager at a large publishing house). My professional environment wasn't making me happy, and I always felt "out of place." It didn't feel right... I began receiving clues and images relatively early on in meditation—and thus the complete business plan with products and designs. MAATÏ MAATÏ thus came to me rather than me having to take any major action. It came—I just had to trust and say yes.

5. How do you deal with negative situations and people?

I take a deep breath and send compassion—not pity. Compassion. That's it. And don't forget to breathe.

6. Are there moments in your job that overwhelm you? What were those events?

In my entrepreneurial journey: When I was invited to a meeting at the KaDeWe headquarters – where I learned they wanted to sell my products – that was such a moment. Two and a half years ago, I realized once again what I had accomplished in just six months and what we are capable of if we truly want it and act with wholeheartedness and are guided. We just have to follow our soul's plan and our destiny – then anything is possible!

As a coach: honestly, in almost every session—I'm truly overwhelmed and deeply grateful after every Energy Healing session, because the universal energies are always so powerful, and I've truly been able to experience true miracles with my coaching clients. From physical healing (where conventional medicine said no healing was possible) to manifestation work. It's truly wonderful.  And for me, the greatest gift. Each time, I am infinitely grateful for this gift of energy work and the support I receive from the universe – I basically do nothing, I simply act as a channel. I encourage my clients to heal themselves and do everything themselves – I simply support and hold the space.  My goal is that one day they won't need me anymore - then I'll know that my work has been truly successful!

7. How do you keep yourself and your body fit while you are at home in quarantine?

Walks in the woods, light jogging, and yoga...and meditation. Yes, that's healing for the body too!

8. Do you think that meditation can help block out the Covid-19 virus and protect your mental health?

I'm not a fan of blocking things out, because then we'd be hiding from something or looking away. I prefer to teach people to accept what is, to look at things truthfully and realistically, and thus to make peace—to integrate what is. Unconditionally. And then comes an infinite inner peace. This is also how you can make peace with COVID-19—meditation can be a very helpful, wonderful tool for this.

9. Leonie, do you think that the impact of the Corona virus is a sign that is helping people to slow down a bit and take care of essential things and now also be able to look within themselves?

It's definitely an opportunity. A chance to reflect, to look within, and to examine your life and your life plan. Some people are already doing exactly the right thing, and so they can emerge from the situation even stronger and carry on full of vigor and renewed energy. For others, however, it may well be that they realize that they've been trapped in the hamster wheel up until now and that they're now aware of what they want to change in their lives. I don't think we should tar everyone with the same brush, or put pressure on ourselves to improve, because sometimes things are just fine the way they are. But it is an opportunity—a chance to look at your life and reevaluate it, yes!

10. Dear Leonie, finally, we would like to know which mara mea product you would use for meditation from our new SS20 "Lost in Magic" collection?

All wonderful products! I can especially imagine your pretty U-shaped notebook covers being perfect for a journal, to write in after every meditation. During meditation and yoga, you calm down and find inner peace – and you don't really need much for that. But the most important thing, of course, is comfortable clothing that adapts perfectly to all your movements. Your new, fantastic yoga pants and tops are perfect for this! And then it's all about simply being completely free and detaching ourselves from everything, entering the void – finding ourselves, our pure self – without any outside distractions. Your yoga mat carrying strap is also a great accessory!

Dear Leonie, thank you for these great insights and inspiration <3