Hi, I’m Sarah, co-founder & director of Yogasara CIC. I am a senior teacher/trainer with YAP; Yoga Alliance Professionals and a Yoga Elder with the IYN; Independent Yoga Network IYN. I am also the Director of Yogasara Training Ltd.

I offer embodied transpersonal therapy, Yoga therapy with structural bodywork techniques & Reflexology. I often offer a synergy of these approaches to provide individualised, bespoke sessions that we decide about together.

Transpersonal, Embodied Therapy

I am a embodied transpersonal therapist & a member of the PCSR (Psychotherapists & Counsellors for Social Responsibility)

I work with individuals, couples and groups.

I initially completed an Integrative psychotherapeutic counselling training Fdsc (dist) and am currently completing an Msc in Transpersonal Psychology & Spirituality.

I am a qualified Movement Medicine Teacher & Facilitator, Yoga Teacher & Yoga Teacher Trainer.

I believe we are all capable of living a fulfilling and meaningful life. There has been a much needed paradigm shift in psychology leading to a more neurobiologically informed approach. We are gaining more knowledge about how our conscious and unconscious stories/beliefs are ‘stored’ in the brain & body and how to help. We need to integrate the mind-body & spirit in order to find ‘healing’ or wholeness.

Transpersonal psychology is an approach that includes the level of ‘soul’, ‘spirit’ or ‘wise loving self’ -the place of knowing and profound inner wisdom. By accessing this inner power you can take full responsibility for your life & live it fully.

This approach is rooted in empowerment, as such, my role is more like a facilitator or a guide, helping you to navigate whatever has occluded access to your power and capacity to self regulate. My intention is to move beyond the power dynamics of ‘expert’ and ‘patient’ into the reality of two humans exploring together. To foster this collaborative approach I encourage feedback in the spirit of your empowerment and my learning how to support you.

I aim to facilitate you remembering and fully embodying your “wise loving self’ which is like the sun, always shining, radiant and powerful. We explore what is in the way of you shining & flourishing. This will include examining the mind and emotions and all the parts of you, through open communication, imagination, guided meditation & visualisation. We will reflect on your life story through a systemic lense, where insight and curiosity reign over looking for who or what is to blame. This exploration may involve archetypes, breath work, voice, writing, movement or constellating. Some of these stories will be stored in the body, thus we may work directly with the body through somatic parts work, which may include touch, informed by my training in massage, reflexology, neuro-effective touch & structural integration.

Which of these tools we use or not, depends mainly on what your personal interests are and what you want to get from therapy along with what we both feel is most appropriate in the moment.

I’m always curious and open to how we can work together and will encourage you to choose what feels most empowering, liberating and safe, while also inviting you to challenge yourself and put in the effort needed to awaken & grow.

This collaborative, client centered style, means you choose the frequency & duration of our sessions and you choose if & when we finish. I may advise on this based on what we discuss about your needs. I recommend an ending/transition session when the time comes or you may choose to take an open ended approach where you are free to return for ad-hoc sessions to support you longer term.

My training in therapeutic work began with Nursing in 1999, specialising as a Nutrition and Complementary Therapies Link Nurse and as an Addiction Specialist Nurse. Whilst working for the NHS, I was fortunate enough to gain a lot of experience in the management and treatment of many health conditions in a variety of clinical environments. I therefore am able to offer informed support for many medical conditions, bridging the Western medical model with the holistic wisdom I’ve gained from my other training.

The limitations of the mind-body-soul split in mainstream health care led me to study alternative ways of healing. Inspired by a profound opening to the wonder of life and the power of love, through a Near Death Experience (age 22) my training has been spurred by my own longing for awakening & healing.

Nursing led to Reiki 1,2 & Masters & Indian Head Massage with Healing Connections. Thai Massage in Chang Mai, Reflexology with the British School of Reflexology. Intro to Homeopathy, with Marisa Formicola, Structural Bodywork & Ayurvedic Yoga Massage.

I have a Drama therapy diploma and NLP practitioner training

Qualified in Family Constellations.

Other CPD training includes; Neuro-effective touch, Embodied Relational Therapy, IFS (Internal Family Systems), Peter Levine’s Somatic Experiencing, Neuroscience with Christine Caldwell, Treating Complex Trauma Certification with PESI & Integrative Somatic Parts work with Fran Booth.

I offer a loving, supportive, well held relationship for you to explore what you need to find fulfilment in all areas of your life. I have regular professional supervision to support me to offer you the strongest container I can for your wellbeing. I am also dedicated to my own journey and have various teachers and therapists who continue to support me personally.

I continue to be a dedicated student & practitioner of Yoga & meditation (for 30 years and counting!) & Movement Medicine & 5 rhythm’s (for nearly 25 years, still dancing!).

I have experience working with people from all walks of life for all kinds of reasons. I have experience with (but not only); addiction, eating disorders, PTSD & Complex trauma, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, abortion, dissociation, bipolar, psychosis recovery, loss of purpose, relationship difficulties, abuse-physical, emotional or sexual, bereavement, self esteem, feeling ‘stuck’, loss, transitions, spiritual crisis, chronic fatigue, gender identity, sexuality, hormonal imbalances and body pain.

1-1 Breath & Body Journey

These sessions are 2-2.5 hours.

A healing ritual using a synergy of breath, bodywork and trauma release. The session may include working with sound, movement, & mantra. I may also use my voice and or/drumming to support the process.

1-1 Yoga

1-1 Yoga can enable you to deepen your practice so that you can understand how yoga can best serve you as an individual. 1-1 can also enable you to discover the deeper, therapeutic application and support you on many levels.

How I can help- Along with over 20 years personal practice of yoga, conscious dance & meditation including several teacher trainings in different styles, I have extensive Anatomy & physiology training from Anatomy Trains UK and ongoing training in Body Mind Centering. With a background in nursing- I understand health from an allopathic perspective and have integrated a broad knowledge base -I worked in many different  healthcare settings as a nurse so have encountered/treated a wide range of conditions.

I have developed a progressive holistic approach where I apply my professional & personal experience of health and wellbeing- Ive had my share of health issues, including a congenital heart condition which I manage really well (much to the confusion of my cardiologist!) largely through yoga. Therapeutic Yoga can benefit any one who is interested in understanding how the mind-body-emotion-spirit interplay.

I am very experienced working with injury and a whole range of other health conditions. I am passionate about making the benefits of yoga accessible to all no matter what state you are in; physically, mentally or emotionally- there is something in the Yoga Medicine cabinet for everyone!

Reflexology

As old as the hills, rooted in the wisdom of Chinese medicine, Reflexology is a deeply relaxing treatment that involves stimulating reflex points on the feet to facilitate the bodies innate healing mechanisms. I combine this with lower leg massage rooted in Structural Integration techniques to bring a deep feeling of relaxation and sometimes also include head neck and jaw if appropriate to give a top to toe healing experience!

Practicals

Cost:

Individuals

• 60 minutes – £80
• 75 minutes – £95
• 90 minutes – £110

Couples

• 60 mins (intro session only) – £100
• 75 mins – £115
• 90 mins – £130

I have some Bursary places at reduced cost. (Bursary places currently FULL)

Cancellation Policy:  24 hours notice or full fee is payable

Payment is by cash or bank transfer on the day of the session.

Bristol Therapy Rooms are based above Yogasara studio.

Mostly sessions are in the Lilac Room. Occasionally in the Jade room, Teal room or Yogasara Studio. I will confirm the room when we arrange our session.