Check Out Sarah’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah.

Hi Sarah, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m Sarah Hannala – a yoga teacher, a student, a reiki and sound healer, a writer, a mystic, a creatrix and a mental health professional. I am a multifaceted and multidimensional woman who calls upon many healing modalities as a guide to self love, generational healing and collective liberation.

My story is a collection of divine timing, generosity, genuine trust, and devotional surrender. My story is unique in the way that I never really chose my career path, it chose me, over and over again. Younger me would have never thought I’d be where I am now, or honestly that I would be here at all. Growing up in South Florida, in a neglectful and abusive household, with an addict father and a mentally unwell mother, some would say that the cards I was dealt weren’t exactly in my favor. These circumstances led me to depression, complex ptsd, chronic pain, and substance abuse.

I was 15 years old when I called my uncle to ask if I could live with him and my aunt because something inside of me yearned for change, and knew the path I was on wasn’t where I wanted my life to go. They were generous enough to take me in and claim guardianship over me, so I packed everything I had and moved across the country to Lake Tahoe, California. Struggling with the move and culture shock, their family friend introduced to me to yoga for the first time hoping that it would help me. Thank you Karolina for the greatest gift of my life! I had always been an athlete and I didn’t have the option to cheerlead anymore, so I quickly immersed myself in the practice. The move remained difficult for all of us and I ended up going to boarding school in Utah, where I had yoga as my first class of the morning, as well as my first glimpse into teaching yoga.

I was 18 years old in my senior year of high school, and one morning before class, my teacher called me and asked if there was anyway I could teach the class because her dog was so sick and had diarrhea all over her house. I had been practicing for a few years at that time, so I agreed – I did it and I loved it! I was nervous, but I realized this might be something I want to pursue in the future.

I was 20 years old, living back in Lake Tahoe, when my yoga teacher at the time sent me a DM on Facebook. It was a long message explaining how she felt teaching was my life’s calling and she wanted to give me a discounted tuition for her Bhakti Flow yoga teacher training. I just needed to have the $600 deposit by that Friday, so I asked my uncle if he could loan me the money. He generously offered it to me as a gift as long as I finished the training. I was so incredibly grateful to both of them, and it was such an incredible experience. Right as my training was ending, I was in need of a new place to live so someone introduced me to a yoga studio owner who had an open room, and also was open hiring. I began teaching in a studio the day after I graduated from my training, and was able to pay off the rest of my tuition completely from teaching yoga.

I was 22 years old when I spent 2 months teaching yoga and meditation at a silent retreat center in Bali, Indonesia. Where I spent my days connecting to myself, delicious foods and the ancient lands. Where I recovered from deep heartbreak, and learned to find true comfort and safety in my own presence for the first time.

I was 23 years old when I moved into a house with 3 other incredible woman who were teachers and healers as well – one of them being an amazing sound healer, Emily Weer. We had an instant connection, and began hosting and selling out workshops that intertwined our offerings of yoga and sound healing. She taught me so much about sound healing, using my singing voice as a healing instrument, and how to cultivate and hold transformational spaces.

I was 25 years old when I moved to Los Angeles by myself, even though I had never even visited before. I was ready to move on from small town life and research showed that LA was one of the top cities for yoga. I also knew I wanted to focus more on mental health work, and LA had a lot of options for that. I was grateful to get a job teaching pretty quickly, but only 9 months later the pandemic happened. I didn’t teach in a studio for almost 2 years, the longest since I was 20.

I was 27 years old when I got hired at Shefa Yoga Venice, where I still teach today. I was finally back in studio and so incredibly happy. After teaching there for only 1 month, I was offered a job teaching yoga at a treatment center for mental health and addiction by a student who felt moved by my class. I got my RADT certification and became a Registered Alcohol/Drug Technician, and took a Trauma Informed Yoga Training. I’m also still there today.

I was 28 years old when my next door neighbor told me she worked at a treatment center for teens, and they were looking for a sound healer. I’m so grateful to also still be there offering sound healings today. This was also the year I self published my first book, The Syntax of Me, a collection of poetry and prose.

I was 29 years old when one of my best friends, Amber Bonham, offered me the opportunity to do her Reiki trainings. I learned more tools for healing, and how to use my voice even more.

I am now 32 years old and I am so incredibly grateful to work full time, doing only what I love, and to be offering tools to others that helped support my own healing journey. I am also in school working towards a Psychology Major and Childhood Development Minor. I plan to continue on this path of healing work by intertwining psychology, yogic philosophy, and somatic work to provide profound transformative experiences.

I am so incredibly humbled by and grateful for the constant generosity I was privileged enough to receive. I’m constantly in awe by the sheer divine timing of so many pivotal moments in my life. With trust and devotional surrender, anything is possible.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Although I’ve had the privilege to receive so much support, it definitely has not been an entirely smooth road. With a rough childhood leading to struggles with my mental health, chronic pain and substance abuse – there was so many bumps and obstacles I had to overcome.

I was 15 years old when I moved out, and I’ve never seen my parents since. I was hurt, angry, resentful and felt deeply abandoned. I took out those feelings on myself and others. By the time I was 19, I was sober and it was yoga that supported me every way, and a long journey it was. Throughout the years, I still found myself addicted to other people, getting tangled in toxic relationships. I still found myself struggling to find acceptance and love for myself. I still found myself acting from my deep wounds of anxious attachment.

With time and devotion, yoga taught me discipline. Yoga taught me how to love my body enough to care for it. Yoga taught me how to find forgiveness. Yoga taught me how to speak up for myself. Yoga taught me I was worthy of my voice being heard. Yoga taught me how to be impeccable with my word.

Therapy also played a huge role in my healing journey. Therapy taught me how to create firm boundaries. Therapy taught me not everything deserves my forgiveness. Therapy taught my it’s not my job to fix people. Therapy taught me I can’t love someone into being a good person and partner. Therapy taught me that all my feelings were valid, and that all my feelings weren’t real and true.

I want to share this poem from my book, The Syntax of Me, as I feel it sums up some of the struggles and challenges I’ve overcome.

–

I could shut myself off I suppose.
Let everything drip off instead of seep through.
I could close my doors & shut my blinds.
I suppose I could
hide.

Let everything that scares me stop me
& everyone that fears me shut me up.
I could swallow my tongue, I suppose, more than
once.

I suppose I could drink less water and chug more beer.
I could spend my weekend swallowing pills
boiling my brain cells, covering up my fears.

Never nurture my soul with books of love & poetry.
Never drown my tears in ancient philosophies.

Yes
I do suppose I could take off my clothes
& put on that box.
I could live by your judgements and cut my dreams off.

I could
but I have and I hated that me.
That me that sure enough, well, hated everything.

But I drank my water and turned the television off.
I did my push ups and took my showers cold.
I challenged my mind & my body everyday.
When I tried something new,
I refused to give up right away.

I let go of my grudges & faced all my fears.
I praised my soul and fed my belly right.
I loved every inch of this body all day and all night.

I gave a piece of my heart to every stranger I met
and held out my hand without any regrets.

Yes
I suppose I could give less and take more.
I suppose every heartbreak could harden my soul
but I love with a great love.
Oh and love makes me
whole.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an international, Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher, Mental Health Professional, Reiki master, Sound Healer and Author. With specialization in Bhakti Flow, Vinyasa, Restorative, Kirtan, Guided Meditation, Reiki and Sound Healing. I am also a Registered Alcohol/Drug Technician, and in school working towards a degree in Psychology and Childhood Development.

I was awarded with the title of “Best Yoga Class in Tahoe” by The Sierra Sun News in 2017 and 2018. I am currently based in Los Angeles, California where I teach weekly public classes at Shefa Yoga Venice. I also works in mental health and addiction clinics for adults and teens. I am dedicated to supporting others in their healing journey by offering an array of healing modalities that have supported my personal experience with mental health and navigating trauma.

Devoted to the yogic path of Bhakti (love and devotion), I strive to inspire others to use the path of devotion to connect deeper with their divine higher power and in turn, fall in love with themselves, others and the world itself.

I self published my debut book, a collection of poetry and prose, The Syntax of Me, in 2022. A lifelong creative, I began writing poetry and songs when I was around 5 years old. I love to incorporate poetry and storytelling in my yoga classes and sound healings as well.

With my innate ability to read energy, I am able to address each students’ individual needs. My classes are an eclectic blend of urban & traditional yoga practices, with a delicious hint of psychology/neuroscience. My eccentric personality is expressed by my creative flows and delicately molded playlists. My lineage inspires a unique teaching style that influences Seva (service), Bhakti (Devotional Love), Jnana (Spiritual Knowledge), Radical Self Expression and Generational Healing – leaving you feeling spiritually polished and rejuvenated.

My offerings are insightful, sweet & ultimately, rewarding.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
My life today is very driven by my love and care for little Sarah. Dealing with so much hardship growing up, I really prioritize healing and spending time with my inner child. When you grow up as quickly as I did, and have to play the role of the inner parent there wasn’t space or time for childlike wonder and play – so I prioritize that now.

I have so many similar interests and aspects of my personality that shined brightly through her as well. I am such a Pisces through and through, so I was always rather complex, existential, whimsical, creative, playful and empathetic. I’ve always loved music, singing, dancing, writing, reading, art, animals, the ocean and connecting with nature. I still love to play dress up and take pictures. I still love flowers and glitter. I still love unicorns and fairies.

I think deep down, little Sarah was always guiding me to exactly where I needed to be.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sarahhannala.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahhannala
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sarahhannala
• Other: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sarah+Hannala/@34.0187193,-119.2028128,9z/data=!4m8!3m7!1s0xa74fa2ac5e61dc1d:0x503a60c7543b008c!8m2!3d34.020479!4d-118.5433941!9m1!1b1!16s%2Fg%2F11twjf__bp?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQxMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D