Lesley Fightmaster was a popular yoga instructor who had over 600,000 followers on her YouTube channel, Fightmaster Yoga. She was known for her inspiring and accessible yoga classes, as well as her candid talks about her personal struggles with depression and anxiety. She was also a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend to many people who admired her.
But on November 20, 2020, Lesley Fightmaster passed away unexpectedly at the age of 50. Her husband, Duke Fightmaster, announced the tragic news on her YouTube channel, saying that she died “unexpectedly this weekend”. He did not reveal the cause of death, but asked for privacy and respect for their family.
Many fans and fellow yogis expressed their shock and sorrow at Lesley’s death, and shared how much she had helped them with their physical and mental health through her videos. Some also speculated that Lesley might have taken her own life, as she had openly talked about her history of depression and suicidal thoughts in the past.
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Lesley Fightmaster’s Struggle with Depression
Lesley Fightmaster had been battling depression since she was a teenager. She had experienced trauma, abuse, and addiction in her early life, which led her to feel hopeless and worthless. She had attempted suicide several times, and had been hospitalized for psychiatric treatment.
She discovered yoga when she was in her 30s, and found it to be a powerful tool for healing and transformation. She became a certified yoga teacher in 2006, and started sharing her passion and knowledge with others through online videos. She also became a mother of two boys, Indiana and Stone, who gave her joy and purpose.
Lesley Fightmaster was not shy about sharing her personal story with her students. She often talked about how yoga had helped her cope with depression, and how it could help others too. She encouraged people to practice gratitude, compassion, and self-love, and to seek professional help if they needed it.
She also acknowledged that yoga was not a cure-all for depression, and that she still struggled with it from time to time. She said that she took medication and therapy to manage her condition, and that she had a support system of family and friends who cared for her.
Lesley Fightmaster’s Final Video
The last video that Lesley Fightmaster uploaded on her YouTube channel was titled “Hatha Yoga for Gratitude”. It was posted on November 22, 2020, two days after her death. In the video description, Duke Fightmaster wrote: “I am saddened to share that my beautiful wife and your beloved yoga teacher passed away unexpectedly this weekend.”
The video was a 30-minute yoga class that focused on cultivating gratitude and thanksgiving. Lesley Fightmaster guided the viewers through various poses and breathing exercises, while sharing some uplifting messages. Some of the quotes from the video are:
- “Practicing gratitude and thanksgiving are wonderful ways to increase those positive neural pathways in your mind and they make you feel happier.”
- “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all others.”
- “Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
- “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more.”
- “Thank you so much for joining me today. I’m very grateful for you.”
The video has over 1.2 million views as of April 2021, and thousands of comments from people who expressed their condolences, appreciation, and love for Lesley Fightmaster. Many said that they were grateful for her teachings, her kindness, and her legacy.
Lesley Fightmaster’s Legacy
Lesley Fightmaster left behind a rich legacy of yoga videos that will continue to inspire and help millions of people around the world. She also left behind a loving family who miss her dearly. Her husband Duke Fightmaster has been posting updates on their YouTube channel, sharing his grief journey and his memories of Lesley. He has also been raising funds for their sons’ education through a GoFundMe campaign.
Lesley Fightmaster’s death was a tragic loss for the yoga community and for everyone who knew her. She was a beautiful soul who touched many lives with her light and wisdom. She also showed us that depression is a serious and complex mental illness that can affect anyone, even someone who seems happy and successful on the outside.
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help. You are not alone. You are worthy of love and happiness. You matter.
