Meet the Teachers Monday: Sarah Brianna Smith

Up next for #meettheteachermonday for Yoga Lee!

Each week we will be featuring one of the fabulous members of our yoga teacher team so you can better get to know them and find connection on AND off the mat.

This week we are so excited to share more about your favorite yoga teacher— Sarah!

Sarah brings her magic and her essence to everything she does. The Berkshires have been a part of her life for some time and we are grateful she has landed at Yoga Lee. Sarah is an experienced teacher with certifications in Yin Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Pre-natal and trauma formed yoga. Sarah is also a Shamanic Reiki Healer, Meditation Teacher and Soul Coach. She guides her classes through sequences that are energetically and physically nourishing— a soul led exploration of mind, body and soul.

Tell us about your first yoga class- did you love it? hate it? what kind of class was it? 

I HATED my first few yoga classes. At the time, I was trying to find a workout routine that I enjoyed. I would take gym/fitness based power classes and get bored or find them too hard. In fact, I told my family somewhere along the way to remind me that I hate yoga and to never take class again. 

Some years later, I lost my job and felt like I had lost my identity. In my lost place somehow I found the practice I needed. The first time I did a Kundalini yoga practice I felt absolutely incredible. I felt energized, challenged in a positive way and clear. From there I found all the different lineages or styles of yoga that I am passionate about.

What made you want to take your first 200 hour YTT?

I had been practicing vinyasa and kundalini as well as deepening my studies in other healing modalities like shamanism and reiki when I knew I wanted to lead multidimensional class experiences on a regular basis that incorporated movement, meditation and breathwork. I felt a really strong pull to serve humanity in this kind of way. I knew in order to lead others I needed to dive deeper into yoga for myself than I had before so I committed to the training and traveled to Asheville, NC to immerse myself into studying at Asheville Yoga Center. 

What made you want to teach yoga?

To me, it is more than a desire. It is a calling. I feel really drawn to sharing lots of different healing modalities with people. I also really just love teaching and guiding people. Especially with somatic practices. 

What is your FAVORITE class to teach at Yoga Lee? What is your favorite class to take at Yoga Lee?

I love teaching and taking Feel Grounded. I really love slower paced classes to balance out how life can feel like it moves so fast. 

What is something that Yoga has taught you?

How to live a really soulful life. I root my life in the yamas and niyamas. I take pride in honoring the 8 limbs of yoga as much as possible. I also take pride in my very human experience which has me looking at how I may not follow them exactly or all the time. I am always committed to looking at how I live my life through that framework and it keeps me feeling nourished.

What is something you wish you could tell every yoga student that walked into your class?

Listen to your body. You know what is best for you. 

What other forms of movement and exercise do you love?

I love to dance, hike, snowboard and rock climb!

Drop your favorite playlist/musicians/songs below.

I have been a huge Taylor Swift fan since her first single. My top three songs are:

1) All Too Well 10 Minute Version

2) Maroon

3) Who's Afraid of Little Old Me

That being said, I am into a lot of different artists and genres. I love creating playlists for yoga classes. Here is the master playlist I use for my own inspiration:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0YheEEXRKQ4t4FtkdW2RAU?si=88438e16ca534734

Tell us one fun fact about you!

Just one? I don't wanna choose just one!

I have a lot of access to the enneagram 8 parts of my personality. 

Big three? Cancer sun and rising, Taurus moon.

Pitta-Kapha dominant.

I pay more attention to my infradian rhythm than circadian. 

I'm a practicing eclectic Witch with a deep reverence for my Jewish ancestors, practices and rituals.

What's your favorite snack?

I'm a foodie who doesn't choose favorites easily but chopped liver is something I have loved my whole life.

Last but not least, what's the best way to your heart? (you can be serious or silly here)

My primary love language is quality time. I love experiences over things. Spending time with those I love is absolutely the way to my heart.