Hi %FIRSTNAME%,

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

🌿 This Week’s Yogi Inspiration — Self-Study + Compassion

Recently, I did a DNA test and started digging more deeply into where my family comes from. It led me into old photos and connections that reminded me just how layered identity really is.

My father is Jewish, my mother is Peruvian, and I grew up right here in Rock Hill. I still claim to be a New Yorker sometimes, and while I identify as American, I’m also Hispanic and white — and somehow I ended up married to a Spanish husband! What a mix I am proud of!

The more I looked into it all, the more I felt how connected we really are. Different places, languages, histories, and cultures somehow weaving together into one shared story.

In yoga philosophy, this reminds me of Svadhyaya, the practice of self-study. It’s not just about observing our thoughts or habits on the mat, it’s also about understanding where we come from and how those layers shape who we are.

And alongside self-study comes Ahimsa, or compassion. The more we understand ourselves and each other, the easier it becomes to soften. To let go of assumptions. To meet people with kindness instead of judgment.

Yoga shows us this in a simple way. We come to class from different places, with different experiences and bodies, but we breathe the same air and share the same space. It’s a quiet reminder that the borders we often feel are not as fixed as they seem.

This week, I’ve been reflecting on how we’re all more connected than we realize, and how powerful it can be to approach both ourselves and others with curiosity and compassion.

📸 Photos of the Week:

My Aunt Alyse and my grandmother Shirley, my father’s mother, who was originally named Sarah, the person I’m named after. My parents often tell me how much I remind them of my aunt. I like to believe they’re watching over me as I run around through life down here.

Thank you for being part of this little community.

Hope to see you Thursday

Warmly,
Sarah 🧘‍♀️✨