As rumours spread that Roxy Shahidi, Emmerdale’s Leyla Harding, is leaving the show, it seems acting wasn’t always her only passion.

Roxy joined Emmerdale in 2008 until 2011. But she made her full-time return in 2014. Now 17 years later, reports suggest she is leaving the for good. Some have even reported that Leyla will die in the upcoming ice stunt.

But away from the Dales, Roxy’s life focuses a lot on healthy mindsets and living. And one way she gets this is from her dedication to yoga.

Just how much does yoga have an influence on Roxy’s life? Let’s have a look.
Roxy is a qualified yoga teacher (Credit: ITV)

Roxy Shahidi yoga teacher

She doesn’t just practise yoga in her spare time. Roxy is actually a qualified yoga teacher, sharing everything that she has learned with others. And she would split her time working in Emmerdale with teaching classes in Nottingham.

But if you couldn’t make it to her in person classes, Roxy still made sure you were included. Over the years Roxy has created her own YouTube channels and social media feeds, YogaRox, dedicated to yoga.

There are regular tutorial videos and  inspirational quotes to keep her customers motivated. And it seems to be more than just a job to Roxy.

Yoga is her ‘passion’

The former Dancing on Ice contestant previously spoke to Your Healthy Living about her “passion for yoga.”

Explaining what inspired her interest in yoga, Roxy admitted it was actually because of borrowing something from her grandma.

She said: “when I was a teenager I borrowed a Barbara Currie yoga DVD from my grandma. She wore luminous lycra outfits and the DVD had cheesy 90’s backgrounds. It really inspired me.”

I’m just as passionate about it now as ever

But it wasn’t until Roxy was on her Emmerdale break when she became “more dedicated” to practising.

Roxy admitted: “I think whenever you come into contact with something that you feel passionate about then you want to learn more. Initially I just wanted to learn the names of the poses and the proper adjustments. But the more I did it, the more interested I became.

“Yoga is such a vast subject and has such a rich and semi-secret history that you can just keep going with it. There are so many variations too. I’m just as passionate about it now as ever.”
Roxy Shahidi Emmerdale co-stars have joined in (Credit: ITV)

Does Roxy do enjoy other exercises?

It seems yoga is the only form of exercise that is for her. She knows with it she can “never get bored” which makes it stand out for her more than anything else.

She explained: “I just do yoga. My passion is so great I just want to keep finding out more.

“The more you know about yoga, the more you can use it in your everyday routine and benefit from it.”

Roxy Shahidi Emmerdale co-stars get involved

Back in 2020, during the pandemic, some of the Emmerdale cast shared their off-screen talents with the world. The official Emmerdale YouTube channel would even share videos of them to make everyone feel connected.

Then in 2021, the Emmerdale YouTube channel uploaded a video called “Yoga at Emmerdale with Roxy Shahidi.”

In the 37 minute yoga lesson, Roxy was joined by Emmerdale co-star Ash Palmisciano (Matty Barton). She showed him all of the best poses and stances to get them feeling at ease. In episode two she was joined alongside Isabel Hodgins (Victoria Sugden). And in the final episode Matthew Wolfenden (David Metcalfe).