I'm Sarah Hannala,
A world traveling Yoga Teacher, Environmentalist, Writer and Full-Time Lover. I am on a mission to make a huge dent in this world and leave it a better place than it is. Yoga has changed not only my life, but it has benefited the entirety of my being. I am strongly passionate about the outdoors and everything it entails, from exploring its depths to cleaning its surfaces. Blooming from a space of severe mental illness, I strive to influence others to utilize the benefits of yoga, meditation and the great outdoors to help balance a healthy and happy life.
We all have a divine infinite power within us and it is my life's goal to help others surface that power!
I was a lost and sad girl before yoga lifted me from the depths of fear. I came from a household filled with drugs, child abuse and hatred. Yoga was my path before I ever knew it. My divine infinite power was beginning to surface and I knew that a change needed to come. It was in that moment that I called some family in California and asked for help. I was 15 years old when I moved across the country, leaving my entire life behind me. Within one month of my move I was introduced to yoga, meditation and rock climbing. I quickly fell in love with it all.
You are your greatest teacher, just listen to the wisdom that already lives within.
I was diagnosed with bipolar/manic depression and severe anxiety, but none of that stopped me from pursuing my dreams. I believe that all mental illnesses are in fact treatable. A mental illness is an imbalance in our neurochemistry. Medication is used to produce the chemicals we are lacking to create balance. I believe that if we can find other ways to increase the chemicals that we need, we can balance our neurochemistry ourselves. Yoga, meditation and connecting with the great outdoors is how I balance my neurochemistry. I believe that we all have the power to heal ourselves and through my teachings, it is my goal to show people how to do just that.
A true healer does not heal you, but they hold the space for you to heal yourself.
Throughout my travels, I have become aware of the many ways humans are negatively affecting this planet. From pollution poisoning our planet and damaging animal habits and behaviors, to draining natural resources and mass deforestation. All of this is not only damaging to the Earth itself but it is damaging our connection to Pachamama (Mother Earth Goddess). As we are all children of the Earth, when our connection to nature is damaged, we are damaging the connection to the true self.
Every day approximately 8 million pieces of plastic pollution find their way into our oceans.
It is my mission to help educate others on how we are affecting the planet as well as to inspire others to be the change they wish to see in this world. Something as simple as using a reusable water bottle versus a single use plastic bottle, not only saves you thousands of dollars a year, but saves the planet from thousands of pounds of plastic that will NEVER biodegrade.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long have you been practicing Yoga? How long have you been teaching?
I have maintained a consistent asana practice since 2010. I was first certified in 2014 in Urban Bhakti Flow at Studio Tahoe in Truckee, California. One year later, I was certified in Hatha Yoga and Vedanta at the Sivananda Ashram in Paradise Island, Bahamas.
How did you begin?
I was first introduced to Yoga in 2010 when a family friend brought me to her husband's class. I had just moved out of my parents house, across the country and I was fifteen years old. I was struggling with bi-polar, depression and anxiety severely. She thought Yoga might be a healthy outlet and a good way to adjust to my new surroundings. I fell in love almost instantly, even though I thought it was really hard, but I have always loved challenging myself and I have always been very physically active. I was never naturally as flexible as I was strong, but I grew up taking gymnastics classes, and competed on private cheerleading teams, which created a foundation of understanding my body awareness. This body awareness transferred easily to my Yoga practice and eventually my teaching style.
What kind of Yoga Asana do you teach?
I teach Vinyasa, a style of asana that is typically fairly quick moving as the practitioner flows from posture to posture connecting breath and movement, approximately one to five breaths at a time. Creative sequences are created based around the sun salutations and the quick movements increase your heart rate and get you sweating!
I also teach Hatha, a restorative practice that is less cardio based and focused more on the release of the fascia connective tissue and diving deep into postures, which are held for longer amounts of time, typically 1-10 minutes per posture.
The path of Bhakti yoga I apply to any style I practice and teach. Bhakti Yoga is the practice of love and devotion, often expressed through the art of Kirtan, or chanting mantras. Bhakti is the act of ultimate surrender to love.
"Bhakti Yoga is not something you join, it's love, it means falling in love"- Krishna Das
I'm not advanced, can I still come to your classes or workshops?
Absolutely! Unless stated otherwise, all of my classes and workshops are all-levels, this means I create a safe space for practitioners that have never stepped foot on a mat, to those who have been practicing for years.
How can I start Yoga?
Just do it! Yoga is a lifestyle, a meditational and physical practice, as well as a personal journey. There are so many different styles and teachers and it can take awhile to find what really resonates with you. I always suggest taking a class in person because the teacher can adjust you and correct your alignment in order to prevent any injuries. If taking a class in person is not available, there are a lot of online options! I offer personalized yoga videos and can create a class curated just for you! Please inquire via contact page!
How can I practice with you?
I am currently available for privates in the San Francisco Bay area. I also offer personalized videos for you to download and use as many times as you like! I also have some workshops coming up in surrounding cities, so please subscribe to be the first to know and check out my events page to see if I am going to be teaching in a city near you! Also be sure to follow me on instagram for the occasional live class!
I have maintained a consistent asana practice since 2010. I was first certified in 2014 in Urban Bhakti Flow at Studio Tahoe in Truckee, California. One year later, I was certified in Hatha Yoga and Vedanta at the Sivananda Ashram in Paradise Island, Bahamas.
How did you begin?
I was first introduced to Yoga in 2010 when a family friend brought me to her husband's class. I had just moved out of my parents house, across the country and I was fifteen years old. I was struggling with bi-polar, depression and anxiety severely. She thought Yoga might be a healthy outlet and a good way to adjust to my new surroundings. I fell in love almost instantly, even though I thought it was really hard, but I have always loved challenging myself and I have always been very physically active. I was never naturally as flexible as I was strong, but I grew up taking gymnastics classes, and competed on private cheerleading teams, which created a foundation of understanding my body awareness. This body awareness transferred easily to my Yoga practice and eventually my teaching style.
What kind of Yoga Asana do you teach?
I teach Vinyasa, a style of asana that is typically fairly quick moving as the practitioner flows from posture to posture connecting breath and movement, approximately one to five breaths at a time. Creative sequences are created based around the sun salutations and the quick movements increase your heart rate and get you sweating!
I also teach Hatha, a restorative practice that is less cardio based and focused more on the release of the fascia connective tissue and diving deep into postures, which are held for longer amounts of time, typically 1-10 minutes per posture.
The path of Bhakti yoga I apply to any style I practice and teach. Bhakti Yoga is the practice of love and devotion, often expressed through the art of Kirtan, or chanting mantras. Bhakti is the act of ultimate surrender to love.
"Bhakti Yoga is not something you join, it's love, it means falling in love"- Krishna Das
I'm not advanced, can I still come to your classes or workshops?
Absolutely! Unless stated otherwise, all of my classes and workshops are all-levels, this means I create a safe space for practitioners that have never stepped foot on a mat, to those who have been practicing for years.
How can I start Yoga?
Just do it! Yoga is a lifestyle, a meditational and physical practice, as well as a personal journey. There are so many different styles and teachers and it can take awhile to find what really resonates with you. I always suggest taking a class in person because the teacher can adjust you and correct your alignment in order to prevent any injuries. If taking a class in person is not available, there are a lot of online options! I offer personalized yoga videos and can create a class curated just for you! Please inquire via contact page!
How can I practice with you?
I am currently available for privates in the San Francisco Bay area. I also offer personalized videos for you to download and use as many times as you like! I also have some workshops coming up in surrounding cities, so please subscribe to be the first to know and check out my events page to see if I am going to be teaching in a city near you! Also be sure to follow me on instagram for the occasional live class!