Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Kleiner.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
About 10 years ago, my very little girl was diagnosed with autism, apraxia & sensory processing disorder. Along with going through my own sadness, grief & depression over losing the life I had imagined for my family, I was also faced with raising a child who did not fit into any mold and left many therapists and doctors confused.
I walked into a yoga class in 2008, and it was the first time I started to feel like things were actually going to be OK. I became a daily practitioner overnight, and almost immediately I knew that I wanted to teach yoga and meditation to other parents who have children with special needs.
Yoga and meditation have helped me heal much of my anxiety and depression, and allow me to live a happy life, despite that it is still filled with chronic stress. After teaching yoga & meditation for nearly 6 years in the Atlanta area, I developed “Oxygen Mask Meditation” – Meditation for parents who have children with special needs – in March of 2018.
“OMM” currently provides and online support group with daily guided meditations, encouraging articles and posts; and will hold its first in-person workshop in August of 2018.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I have been teaching yoga & meditation since 2012 with the intention of bringing this modality of healing to other parents, but haven’t quite known how that would all play out.
Along with being a full-time yoga teacher, offering classes at multiple studios – I have been raising a child that has many challenges. Being a healing guide for others while dealing with an extremely challenging home life has had its difficulties.
I’ve dealt with a reemergence of my own depression & anxiety many times and forgotten to seek the refuge of my practice along the way. This journey has truly challenged me to continue to show up for myself and for life regardless of what is happening in my personal life.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Oxygen Mask Meditation is currently an online support group where I provide guided meditations to parents who have children with special needs, but it is also a place where I challenge myself to be brutally honest & share from my heart.
There are other teachers who do a beautiful job of providing therapeutic yoga to our community, but I feel that parents who have children with special needs can really take to heart and apply what I am offering.
I understand what it’s like to have multiple nights without sleep, medical mysteries, IEP meetings, heartbreak – and still find a way to practice self-care. When you are under chronic stress the way that we are, it’s very difficult to take advice from someone who hasn’t walked in your shoes.
What were you like growing up?
I was an extremely shy – yet creative child. I loved hiding in my room and painting for hours, as well as recording my own talk shows- using my voice as all the different guests on my tape recorder.
Contact Info:
- Address:
- Youtube – https://youtu.be/AjXwCcnDNeM
- Facebook – https://m.facebook.com/groups/1986072858324768
- Website: www.sarahkleineryoga.com
- Email: sarahkleineryoga@yahoo.com
- Instagram: @sarahkyoga
Image Credit:
Thu Tran of 2Tphoto
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