Lee Moodley is an established South African Movement Therapist, Mobility Specialist, and founder of Kinisi Therapy. Lee bases his practices on internationally accredited certifications in 13 styles of yoga, calisthenics, mobility, strength and conditioning. While pursuing his own learning, Lee felt that Yoga practice had become misaligned, as it focused on body conditioning instead of its true essence - healing and peace. Born of this is The Kinisi Method, a modern yoga approach, which holds space for the balance between body, mind and soul. This balance allows a tailored movement practice to stem into self-empowered growth and insight, leading to supported and gentle healing.
Lee Moodley, South African Movement Therapist And Mobility Specialist
Tell me about yourself and Kinisi Therapy.
Honestly, I find it challenging to separate Kinisi Therapy from myself, as I feel the brand reflects who I am. I acknowledge and accept that I am not perfect. Kinisi Therapy embodies that concept and upholds my wish for the world, that we become the best imperfect versions of ourselves.
I believe we all deserve individualised guidance to develop into our best selves. I have had the privilege of exploring various aspects of human existence, including philosophy, economics, politics, and physical and mental health.
As a child, I struggled to focus my attention. However, as I grew older, I realised the importance of developing that skill. I was fortunate to discover yoga, which helped me enhance my concentration. This newfound focus impacted me both professionally and personally, culminating in the Movement Sanctuary, the home of the Kinisi Therapy brand.
I would like to hear how you entered health and wellness.
I began my young adult life studying Finance. While most of my classmates chose to major in Accounting, I decided to pursue Economics, a social science. I diverged, probably to avoid the corporate environment. I have always felt like a commercial hippie, appreciating fine things but resisting wearing a suit.
I became a Project Manager for a small electrical, control, and instrumentation company. I enjoyed the stimulating work environment, which suited my A-type personality. At that time, I engaged in high-energy extracurricular activities like capoeira and dancing rather than following a mundane gym routine. I chose what moved me.
I was fortunate to be introduced to yoga by a fellow capoeirista. I discovered Bikram Yoga and instantly fell in love with it. The intensity of the heat ignited me from the very first class, sparking my yoga journey. To my delight, I joined a studio that offered a variety of styles, exposing me to gentler forms of yoga, which are now central to the Kinisi Studio practices.
A year later, I enrolled in a Yoga Teacher Training programme to refine my practice. At the time, I had no idea how impactful that decision would be. During my training, I stumbled upon a meditation technique called Vipassana, which provided me with what I perceive as the ultimate lens of observation and a scientific approach to spirituality.
I continued my work as a Project Manager while teaching occasional classes when needed. My teacher often used me as a Yin (soft yoga) instructor, as she recognised a gentle side in me that I hadn’t yet acknowledged. Initially, my ego directed me toward becoming the popular Vinyasa/Flow instructor with large classes. However, I am grateful that my teacher unmasked my nurturing nature. Kinisi Therapy focuses on healing through a compassionate and attentive yoga practice rather than emphasising large classes where participants focus more on external expression instead of internal processing.
I transitioned into the health and wellness field only three years after receiving my yoga certification. A martial arts-inspired movement practice called Budokon gave me the courage and awareness to advocate for myself. Returning to my previous job, I realised that a toxic work environment undermined my inner peace. This realisation led me to quit my job and pursue a career as a yoga teacher, where I finally found my passion, helping others.
Explain the concept of the Movement Sanctuary.
Movement Sanctuary was an idea created to share the mindfulness and movement tools of Kinisi Therapy, but I yearned to share more.
I stumbled upon a post I cannot repeat verbatim, but it goes like this: “How can you say you are mindful if you don’t consider the impact we’re having on our environment and the people around us?”
This steered Movement Sanctuary to its next phase, a space that showed people how to live symbiotically with nature. This equates to a sustainable building that grows food, consumes waste, collects water, and produces energy. It also showcases the concept that a home can be comfortable and luxurious without compromising the environment.
How do you use your tools to train clients? And how do you tailor your interventions to your client's unique needs?
Economics gave me an invaluable perspective, allowing me to model various interactions using micro and macro principles. Without this lens, I would not have developed the Kinisi Therapy model, which helps individuals take a macro-to-micro approach to their body’s development, balancing their mind, body, and spirit.
Each client is unique, so their requirements must be addressed accordingly. I start with a two-hour assessment, which includes an interview to understand the client's general day-to-day life, extramural/weekend activities, desired training goals, medical history, and limiting conditions.
This gives me valuable insights to assess their bodies and determine their therapy goals. During the assessment, I determine if they have the prerequisite range of motion, strength capacities, and healthy joints to achieve their goals. I cannot guarantee or predict when a client will safely attain a goal, as it depends on the rate at which their biology adapts. However, I can guarantee that results will be evident if they remain consistent and committed to the training programme.
Once an assessment is completed, I examine how to approach their programming. Some clients need a softer lens, as they are strong but lack control over their strength. Others need a more rigid approach to developing strength within their body's potential spaces. Yoga is subtly integrated into this training, making each individual aware of their natural approach and highlighting where they can adjust their movements or lifestyle to assist with their body's training or healing.
As Africa's highest-certified Functional Range System specialist, a yoga trainer of nine styles, a calisthenics instructor, and a mobility coach, I enjoy utilising all my tools. I aim to showcase how effective, simple, and specific training can enhance your health and wellness journey. I also wish to make it enjoyable, as training can often feel mundane or monotonous, causing us to halt the required maintenance.
Where do you envision Kinisi Therapy?
Kinisi Therapy started as a simple venture for me to teach and train yoga and mobility. However, its vision drastically changed when I quit my job as a Project Manager. Self-reflection and development work were easy for me when I was employed, but they became rather challenging when I started experiencing financial stress.
This led me to the epiphany that financial stress jeopardises our ability to thrive in modern society. If we continue on this path, we will likely foster a deeply stressed community, compelled to think from a mindset of scarcity rather than abundance.
This realisation led to Movement Sanctuary, a centre where individuals can experience what abundance truly means. I don’t refer to flashy cars or large bank balances but rather the essential things that enable our survival: food, water, and shelter. When these basic needs are satisfied, we can focus on personal growth. This contrasts with the perpetual survival mode, driven by the fight-or-flight response, which disrupts our peace and prevents us from bettering ourselves.
Currently, Kinisi Therapy offers a premium service in the luxury suburbs of South Africa, intending to extend these services to underprivileged communities, as they deserve these tools too. This embodies the Kinisi Therapy ethos, that health is not a luxury but a necessity for well-being.
What is your greatest achievement so far?
Building Movement Sanctuary, my studio and home, has become a place where I’ve poured my blood, sweat, and tears. It has called upon every skill I have acquired to help create it. I never thought I would see the day when I needed to utilise all my skills, but the universe has a peculiar way of guiding you along your path. Until that point, I believed I had filled my mind with useless information.
I managed the project, encompassing finances, logistics, and construction, while living and working on the property. I was fortunate to move in and embark on this journey when the lockdown was implemented in South Africa. It became my lockdown baby. I would begin my mornings preparing for the construction day, whether by sourcing materials or working on the roof, and I would retire in the evenings to focus on designs, administration, or rehabilitating any soft-tissue injuries I sustained during the day.
I lived in a room with a plastic sheet for a roof for six months during the winter. This experience allowed me to embrace the suffering that often accompanies transformation.
In my 20s, I dreamed of building everything in my house by age 40. I never thought I would reach that goal so soon, but I find myself closer every day.
What would you change in your industry?
Make it free! These tools should be available to all. Money should not limit anyone's potential.
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