In our ‘Wellness Conversations’ series, we engage with creatives to discuss their personal experiences, insights, and approaches to well-being. Our latest conversation features Sarah Beston, a yoga and meditation teacher, somatic coach, and writer based in Los Angeles. Formerly the owner of The Greenhouse, a wellness studio in Palos Verdes, CA, Sarah combines ancient wisdom with modern science in her teachings. With a Master’s in Clinical Psychology focused on Spirituality and Mind-Body Practice from Columbia University, her offerings span trauma-informed yoga, Ayurveda, and mindfulness practices. She currently teaches courses on spiritual entrepreneurship and venture creation at Columbia University.
In this conversation, we explore Sarah’s approach to helping others overcome self-imposed limitations, the practices she incorporates into daily life, and how her work supports authentic self-discovery.
What does wellness mean to you?
I believe in a holistic approach to wellness. Mind, body, and spirit are all interwoven — if one of these is out of whack, all are impacted. Movement can help calm the mind and enter the realm of spirit. Meditation and mindfulness can help soften and release held tension in the body. Connecting with spirit, or something greater than ourselves, can help promote a clearer headspace and a more relaxed physical state. Wellness to me is when the mind, body, and spirit are properly nourished, held, and in sync with one another.
What daily rituals or practices do you engage in to foster balance and well-being?
My morning ritual has become a non-negotiable for me. I am an early riser. I dedicate the first quiet moments of each day to sit, meditate, write, read poetry or a passage from a spiritual text, listen to the morning sounds over coffee, and just be before the rest of the world wakes up. This sacred pause sets the tone for my entire day.
When you travel for work or leisure, do you find it challenging to maintain your daily wellness practices? If so, how do you adapt to ensure you stay committed to your well-being while away from your usual routine?
I bring my practice with me wherever I go and try to stick to my morning routine no matter what time zone I’m in. One beautiful thing about yoga and meditation is that we can do it from anywhere. We can close our eyes on a moving train, allow a few deep conscious breaths, and go inward to find peace. The floor on the side of a hotel bed can become a practice space. Journaling at a cafe or just watching life go by in an unfamiliar place can become its form of meditation.
I’ve found that the secret cure for jet lag is to take a yoga class in whatever city I’m visiting. I particularly love it if the class is in a language I don’t understand. It reminds me that movement and breath are universal and a shared love language.
During times when you’re facing challenges or experiencing a low mood, is there a specific quote, piece of advice, or song that helps to raise your spirits and motivate you?
In times of need, I look to the sages. Lately, it’s been poetry for me … anything by Mary Oliver, Rumi, John O’Donohue or David Whyte. They remind me to pause and pay attention. And if all else fails, my family reminds me to laugh and not take myself or life too seriously. None of us get out of it alive, but we can sure as hell live for today.
INTERVIEW SIBY THOMAS
PHOTOS SARAH BESTON
