Finding Joy on the Mat: How I Turned Yoga into a Practice of Play and Presence

Hey there! I’m Sarah—yoga teacher, professional fun-seeker, and your guide to a yoga practice that feels more like recess than a workout. My journey into yoga wasn’t exactly traditional, but then again, neither am I. I’m 29, grew up on a small farm in western Kentucky, and spent my childhood running wild through open fields (usually barefoot and definitely with more enthusiasm than coordination).

Fast forward to my twenties: I’d moved to Nashville, traveled the U.S. in a van for three months, and ended up in Miami, where I found myself in a Jivamukti yoga class that changed my life. I felt like a little kid again—curious, fearless, and totally in love with every moment on that mat. Yoga became my daily ritual, a place of freedom. But let me tell you, I took it seriously. Too seriously. The kind of serious where you’re holding your breath trying to nail a pose, forgetting that, hey, breathing’s kind of the point.

Burnout hit hard. I was practicing yoga every single day, pushing myself to be “better” in every class, and losing sight of why I loved it in the first place. So, I hit pause and took a leap: I went to Yandara Yoga in Todos Santos, Mexico for my 200-hour teacher training. Imagine camping on a beach, ocean waves in the background, and whales migrating along the shore—talk about a reality check! It was here that I remembered what yoga really is: connection, joy, and simply showing up as you are.

When I got back to Miami, I jumped into teaching full-time, running around the city to share yoga with as many people as I could. But, true to form, I overdid it. My passion started to feel like a grind. My body had had enough, and I got sick—a forced break that turned out to be a blessing. I realized I needed a different approach or I’d lose the very thing I loved most. So, I took another leap and went to Rimini, Italy for my 300-hour training. This time, I came back with a mission: to keep yoga fun, free, and (most importantly) to teach it in a way that lets everyone feel strong, joyful, and a little silly.

Now, I teach in a way that brings back that feeling of barefoot, open-field freedom. My classes are a space for you to be fully you—messy, loud, curious, and fearless. We laugh, we fall, we try new things, and we grow. My goal? To make yoga feel like the most playful, empowering part of your day.

If you’re looking for a practice that lets you throw perfection out the window and dive into what makes you feel strong and joyful, you’re in the right place. Let’s get on the mat and make yoga an adventure worth smiling about.