We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sarah Dobosiewicz. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sarah below.

Sarah , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Over the course of your career, have you seen or experienced your field completely flip-flop or change course on something?

Throughout my teaching journey, I have noticed a growing awareness surrounding how to adapt your yoga practice for your body during pregnancy. I’ve completed an extensive prenatal yoga teacher training and gained more perspective into what the body can do and how your practice can flourish throughout pregnancy. For many women, pregnancy may lead them to the mat for the first time, and for others this is an ongoing familiar practice. Some are looking not only for modifications for how to safely practice as their body and baby change, but how to safely go deeper and perhaps challenge themselves. It’s not that best practices have changed in this instance, but that traditional knowledge is being viewed on a more individual basis. Being a pediatric occupational therapist, I also have knowledge in anatomy and fetal developmental furthering my understanding of the body. By taking the time to know my clients on a personal level I can guide them through a safe practice that is most beneficial for them.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m originally from Pennsylvania and was initially introduced to yoga through athletics when I was studying occupational therapy. I moved to San Diego in the summer of 2014 and immediately noticed my yoga practice start to shift and blossom from that of a fitness mindset to more of a mindfulness practice. I initially immersed myself in yoga teacher trainings to further my own practice and spiritual growth. Since working as a pediatric OT I started including more yoga and mindfulness activities into treatment sessions and started teaching kids yoga classes throughout San Diego. I was introduced to a lot of prenatal clients through my kids yoga classes and started to expand my teachings to serve the prenatal population. I’ve also recently teamed up with a pelvic floor physical therapist to collaborate on providing specialized yoga classes for the perinatal population with an emphasis on awareness of the pelvic floor. I currently teach a variety of classes both in studios throughout San Diego and privately as well. My current offerings include kids yoga, family yoga, prenatal/perinatal, vinyasa, hatha, yin, restorative and breathwork. My goal is to empower children and students of all ages and abilities to let their inner light shine by teaching yoga in a creative, educational and safe way to promote and support health, happiness, peace and love.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

100% yes. I truly enjoy blending the synergies between OT and traditional yoga to create self-empowering therapeutic yoga practices. I feel inherently grateful to be doing something that brings me joy each day.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Throughout all of my training and life lessons I have learned that self care and self love does not equate to being selfish. I should not feel bad or guilty for taking time for myself and creating balance. It is not selfish to set boundaries and take time for rest. Although self care looks different for everyone, we all need to set aside time for nourishment. Taking time to know yourself and tune in to what you need is important. Swami Ruma said “Do what is yours to do; don’t do what is not yours to do”. Teaching prenatal yoga gently reminds me of this important life lesson.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: peaceloveandlittleyogis
• Facebook: Peace Love and Little Yogi’s
• Other: email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Brad Smith Andoni Diaz Courtney Delmore Mustanir Ahmed