My Story
I am a Professor of Education and Environment, a marine scientist and a yoga, meditation and breathwork teacher.
I am deeply passionate about education, working as academic in marine biology, sustainability and conservation for over 20 years. My teaching spans the classroom, the lab, the field and I have led marine expeditions, field courses and research across the globe including Indonesia, Mexico, Egypt, Jamaica, Fiji, England, Scotland, Greece, Croatia and Belize.
My research focusses on innovative and contemplative education, environmental and systemic change, regenerative growth, reefs, fisheries, sustainable solutions and equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI).
I am the author/co-author of over 30 peer reviewed publications and book chapters see here for list.
During my tenure in higher education and leadership, I developed degrees at Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Master of Science (MSc), numerous innovative modules and have supervised 100s of undergraduates, masters as well as several PhD research projects to successful completion. Please see my academic website for more details www.leannehepburn.com.
I am passionate about collaboration and have worked with amazing people and organizations, including business, charities, NGOs, government and industry, to understand and protect marine and coastal habitats across the globe. I talk about this in my Professorial Inaugural lecture here. (44mins-1.16mins)
Alongside my academic career, I have been practising yoga since I was 20, but it wasn’t until my yoga teacher training that I started to blend the two.. beneath the science and structure, I always felt something deeper calling, a need not just to study nature, but to feel it, to live it, and to help others do the same.
At first, OceanFlow Yoga was simply a way for me to bring water wisdom into my classes. But as I continued to teach, a powerful integration began to emerge, one that combined scientific understanding, embodied practice, and a deep reverence for the ocean.
The OceanFlow Method is the result of this evolution.
It’s a synthesis of everything I’ve learned—as a researcher, leader, educator, and practitioner. It brings together breath, movement, nature connection, and ocean advocacy into a cohesive framework for yoga teachers who want to teach with depth, purpose, and planetary care.
I now offer in person and online vinyasa inspired yoga with meditation and breathwork as well as worldwide retreats and an online CPD course for yoga teachers – The Ocean Flow Method , which links breathwork, pranayama, yoga, meditation with an energetic connection to water and watery spaces see here.
