Yoga studios specialized in various types and classes have become a lot more common in Kuwait throughout the past years. To learn more, we met with one exceptionally inspiring yogi, Sarah Ismail. Sarah has been practicing yoga for more than 15 years, she traveled and taught yoga in different countries and continents, from Canada, Thailand, to finally settling in Kuwait. The practice of yoga has changed her life entirely, it naturally became her lifestyle and right now, Sarah’s mission is to make it accessible for as many people as possible.
After Sarah received her undergraduate degree in Social Studies in Medicine with a minor in Biology at McGill University in Canada, she moved on to Homeopathic Medicine, where she regularly kept working out and continued to practice yoga. Her education was as important to her as keeping up her practice, and during one summer, she finally decided to take the next step, and began her training as well as starting her career in teaching yoga.
The journey ignited when Sarah was going to her gym in Canada, which was once a week. There, she met a teacher who inspired her to pursue the career of a yogi, she says “In her class, after a week I would notice a difference like doing a headstand in three weeks, and I was active in general, so some poses in yoga are easier when you’re active, and you’re centering yourself and everything. But I found this teacher, and she inspired me. I wanted to do training in the studio [where] she did her training.” The energy and skills of Sarah’s teacher left her feeling more relaxed and aware of herself, something she admired greatly and pursued even further.
Sarah loves how the yoga community in Kuwait has been growing and believes that she’s not the only one who feels that, “I know that the way it helped, the way that I feel about yoga I’m sure that’s how people feel about it. Even some of my yogis have gone to be teachers, so that teacher inspired me, and I think I’ve inspired others as well,” she says. The lifestyle that she’s been leading mainly revolves around that inner peace which many would receive after working out and practicing yoga.
Her classes are spread over five yoga studios around town, and Sarah adores meeting new people who share the same interest and passion as she does. As well as sharing and spreading the positive vibes with everyone in her classes. Sarah says that “No one should be able to tell if I was having a bad day, for me it comes down to that. What you give out energetically, if I’m positive, even when life throws a curveball, and life can be stressful, learn how to bounce back. Yoga with meditation gives you [these] tools.” he emphasizes on how simple breathing techniques are amongst one tool of many that would help in calming both your body and mind, becoming ultimately stress-free. The energy which she gives out inspires her students to come back for more.
On her Instagram page, Sarah posts daily challenges, both for herself to always keep learning and growing, and to inspire her followers, and maybe spark some yoga passion within them! “Some of them [yoga poses] are accessible to people, some I’d say don’t try this at home!” she says. For the future, Sarah’s goal is to open her own yoga studio, where she would be able to train different yoga classes, as well as practice her own Natural Medicine. As she excitedly says, ”It is my passion, and I’m lucky enough to have found something I love doing.”
TRUTH OR DARE QUESTIONNAIRE
How would your mother describe you in one word?
Free-spirited.
How would you describe your mother in one word?
Strong.
What is the most ridiculous question you’ve ever been asked?
If I can levitate. Of course, I can! Just kidding.
What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done?
Picked up and moved to Thailand, where I knew no one.
What word in the English or Arabic language do you wish you had invented?
Love in the English or Arabic language since I love the meaning of it.
Where would you like to live?
Hawaii.
What is your dream retirement location?
Bali.
What is the first famous quote that comes to your mind?
“A winner is a dreamer who never gave up.” -Nelson Mandela
Which animal best describes your perfect partner, be it in business, or in life?
A Lion.
Do you miss anything from your childhood and if so, what is it?
My father. He passed when I was 20, and I miss my childhood times with him and my whole family all together.
If you could change your name, to what would you change it?
If I could change my name to another it would be Isabella, it just sounds musical. And I love the nicknames: Bella or Ella.
How would you describe your handshake, in one word?
Firm.
What is the toughest part of your character?
The toughest thing about my character is that I don’t give up easily.
Who is your favorite historical figure?
Malcolm X.
What in the world do you least desire?
Insects.
What do you think is lacking in the world, which [if there were more of it] would make the world a better place?
Yoga and meditation are lacking in this world. If there were more of it, the world would be better. There would be more inner peace and hopefully lead to more peace in this world. Maybe there would be less killing of people and nature.
Why do you think most people who do, like you?
Most people like me because of my energy, which I try to keep positive.
Finish this sentence: “Happiness is…”
Happiness is peace, love, and gratitude. It is a state of mind, if you choose to look at things in a positive light. Happiness is accepting today, releasing yesterday, and giving up the need to control tomorrow.
Check out Sarah’s page on Instagram @yogisarahish and take a look at her daily yoga challenges. Images taken at Studio 33 and Omni Studio, courtesy of Fahad Al Saleh, @fahad_alsaleh and Bader Al Sarraf @bdralsarraf on Instagram.
