We were lucky to catch up with Savannah Blake recently and have shared our conversation below.

Savannah, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about the best advice you’ve ever given to a client? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)

The best advice I can give to anyone, client or otherwise, is to arrange your life around stress management.

Our world has become cluttered and clouded, there are so many things constantly hijacking and wrecking the entirety of our existence. Not just mentally, physically and emotionally but affecting our relationships, communities and quality of life as well. Our nervous system is our communication center, in charge of signaling to all other systems, internally and externally, how to properly function. Stress raddles these communications and sends everything into chaos.

Our nervous system works in a “light switch” type of way. Higher stress levels lend to the “Fight, Flight, Flee” side of the switch which all but shuts down the body’s immunity and restoration abilities. Lower stress levels lend to the “Rest, Digest & Heal” side of the light switch. If one is on duty, the other takes a seat.

A body trapped in survival mode doesn’t have much interest in digesting food, breaking down and absorbing nutrients, rebuilding damaged cells and so on. Those mechanisms are saved for times of safety and ease. If we’re never making time for ease, our bodies are unable to restore themselves, lending to increased levels of disease. This often leads to consequences outside of the body and self, touching every area of our lives with this same imbalanced chaos and deterioration.

So many of us are stuck in chronic stress responses. Crippled with anxiety and multiplying health concerns. Focusing on stress levels alone could make a huge difference for most people struggling.

Finding ways to manage this stress should be a well rounded approach of mental and physical exercises coupled with environmental and lifestyle choices. Which routines work best for you and your life are up to you to uncover and discover.

Maybe meditation, nature walks or journaling feed your specific needs. Maybe it’s yoga, pickleball or jiu jitsu that’s for you. It can be just more sleep, exploring new, healthier recipes with loved ones or learning to be okay with the stifling traffic that slows you down each day.

Starting with a small, single, simple choice and allowing it to build naturally will slowly but surely get you to the goal of less stress, more ease. Remaining aware of feeding this intention daily, attempting to stay in the “Rest, Digest & Heal” as often as possible is allowing it to touch all areas and categories that we experience on a daily basis, healing and balancing our biological mechanics into a smoothly purring machine.

Savannah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

When people ask me what I do, I always answer “I teach restorative yoga!” because it’s the easiest umbrella term to explain a concept that may be difficult for many to wrap their head around. If they seem further interested, I explain that I work with the nervous system to promote a holistic approach to healing.

I don’t just guide you through a physical yoga practice, though. I use the principles of energy and breath work to help clients align and balance all areas of their life, similarly to a life coach but from the understanding of prana and chi flow as taught by yogic philosophy, reiki, various martial arts and the chakra system concepts.

Taking these various disciplines from around the world, I work with clients to develop an alternative and holistic plan of action to release stagnant energy and tension that may be obstructing progress in healing. Through deep relaxation techniques guided by meditation and restorative yoga poses, we work together to clear any blocks that may be stagnating the natural healing processes the mind and body are capable of.

In essence, we are training the mind and body to settle into a more balanced state, aligned with desired outcomes more often than not (Since true balance is a delicate teeter-totter). Integrating the specific components of your being towards a more intentional and fulfilling existence of vibrant experience.

Not exactly a field that you can pick out of your college’s choices of career options. Landing here has been an amazing journey of discovery that started with yoga but branched off in so many deep and meaningful ways of understanding this life and world.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

I believe that community is essential for succeeding in any field. Trying to do things on our own is what so many of us try to do for various reasons, but things unfold so much smoother and strong when we work together for a common cause.

Humans are communal creatures by nature and together is how we thrive. I spent nearly a decade trying to build my practice alone before I began softening to the potential safety of allowing others to help me. Once I finally started accepting the various offerings of those around me who were intrigued and inspired by my field, my business blossomed effortlessly.

Nothing is more powerful than word of mouth spread through a tight knit tribe. Without the people in my community who believed in me and what I do, encouraging me to never give up, I may have succumbed to the struggles I faced in the years it took me to get off of the ground.

When there is no clear cut path or example in front of you, it can feel like free falling through chaos with no grips in sight. It was always the people around me; business collaborators, clients, mentors, friends and family that helped me work through the details and become more confident in what I had to offer.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Reputation is built on integrity. Sincerity is how you achieve that. Never putting on a show based on what you think things should be and look like but instead being honest and transparent to the best of your abilities at all times.

Life is messy, abstract and full of ups and downs. People relate to the realness of that and are drawn to those who can admit to the downs being a part of their experience instead of only showing the ups.

People can tell when you’re not being fully sincere, and it pushes them away. Honesty about your experience draws them in with curiosity. We’re all human. None of us perfect and none of us with all of the answers. When we can meet people in need not as a savior but as a compassionate collaborator in solving their problems and meeting their needs, they respond to that.

I’ve arguably been too honest about my challenges through my career. I often walk away from a podcast episode or email with a ‘vulnerability hangover’ but try not to regret my real honest humanness. I’m out here doing my best and I try to hang onto the comfort of that truth when I inevitably question myself and my choices just like we all do. As scary as it can be to live in your truth, it can be so worth it. Fulfilling in the most invigorating way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.patreon.com/earthandwater
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earthandwateryoga/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/earthandwateryogameditation/
• Twitter: https://x.com/Earthand_Water
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjiUdlNV9JX7NnrZj9bndDQ