Feature Teacher - Sarah Yazici

Tell us about yourself and what brought you to the North Shore?

I am originally from Northern New York and grew up on the St Lawrence River border with Canada. I attended Clarkson University in Potsdam NY and upon graduation, the dart landed on Boston. I moved from NNY to the North Shore in 1998 and have been here ever since. Cem and I currently live in Saugus with our two sons, James (9) and Zeki (8), and our two dogs Brookie and Kuma.  My career is in construction management and I currently have the exciting job of working in Capital Projects at MIT.

What brought you to yoga? 

One of my girlfriends insisted I would love hot power yoga. I was not so sure... "om-ing" and breathing were for the birds as far as I was concerned. I went to a class out of curiosity, and was hooked immediately, 3 classes per week ever since - more if I can!! 

Why did you want to become a yoga teacher?  

I did not set out to become a yoga teacher. I took my training because I felt Ineeded to know more and understand more about this amazing practice. Teaching was not the goal, but turned out to be the next step for me.

Why do you teach now? 

Teaching allows me to interact with some of the most awesome people,  sharing my passion for the practice. At the same time, the discipline, awareness, empathy and compassion needed to teach serve me well in my day to day life. But most of all I believe in the ability of this practice to empower us all to maintain our best health, to align ourselves with our own truths and live our best lives. If I can bring this into the lives of others, than I've done something worthwhile.  

What are some things/people for which/whom you are grateful? 

I have a lot to be grateful for and could really go on for hours about this amazing place in which we get to live how we live, my fabulous friends and family (near and far!) and our relative health, my incredible sons James and Zeki,  and the amazing yoga teachers and practitioners who inspire me on a day to day basis. 

Please share a couple of fun facts about you?

I lived on an island in the Thousand Islands during the summers growing up. As a teenager I had a pet tarantula named Cookie. I graduated as a Civil Engineer from Clarkson where I was a Delta Zeta. My little nuclear family is Turkish American. We regularly travel to visit family in Istanbul and Ankara and have also been to Cappadocia, Bodrum, Antalya  and Ephesus.   

Share a quotation and/or message that inspires you?  

It is more important to be kind than it is to be right. (not sure where it came from)

When do you teach at Solstice?

I teach early mornings, 5:30 - 6:30 am Power Hour every Friday and every other Wednesday.  I also teach on Sundays 7:30 - 8:30 am Power Hour and I'm in the rotation Sunday mornings at 9 am.