Daily Inspiration: Meet Auria Sanders

Today we’d like to introduce you to Auria Sanders

Hi Auria, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
It’s been a journey going from a heavily masculine space of Podcasting in Atlanta to becoming pregnant and finding inner peace through a new journey. I had and was going through a lot of shedding skin and old thoughts I believed in. My son, Harper was born December 30th, 2019. Right before the pandemic hit and I was navigating motherhood all while figuring out who this new woman was.

I have been practicing yoga for over 10yrs but didn’t know in the future I’d be a yoga teacher. My younger brother Phoenix was a certified yoga teacher and passed away due to his battle with mental health – little did he know he would inspire me to get out there and carry on what he was so passionate about. Few months after my son was born, I looked into Kids Yoga and obtained my certification- started at 8AM and we would finish at 5PM – it was through Grounded Kids and thankful they had online because everything was shut down due to the pandemic. This program not only taught me so much but was a safe space I didn’t know I needed with some amazing women.

When things started opening up I was looking for spaces to teach kids yoga; schools, ymca, etc. I then also started teaching my friends because they asked and they gave me such amazing feedback. I looked into getting my certification to teach adults and possibly in a studio – all while the ebs and flows of being a new mom, being a partner and navigating in our new world.

Yoga and meditation brings me so much peace and it has created a safe space for me to go to when I need it most. I knew I wanted to share it not only with kids but with women as well. Before the world opened back up I was teaching Atlanta Public Schools teachers meditation and the importance of it as they were still navigating teaching students through a pandemic with The Namaste Project.

When the world opened up it was hard to find spaces to teach – my friends worked at an night club that was closed during the day – I begin putting together women’s yoga events inside this club; moving couches, creating an ambiance for women to come bask in self-love and self-care through yoga and meditation.

It felt so good to create these spaces for women especially when we needed it most. Through this journey I began teaching kids at APS with The Nanette Project – teaching them they can always find the peace they need within themselves as I was pouring into and nurturing my baby boy.

I then began finding a space where I would create women’s yoga popups at Hansberry Creative in Atlanta owned by an amazing black women who supports black entrepreneurs daily. My events have been here going on 3yrs and love to create this space for women each month. I worked in an yoga studio for a year and it was a great experience but realized in blocked me in as I teach a yin based yoga flow that may be a little different from what people are used to.

My yoga practice consist of finding the time to breathe, to be in tune with your body and allow breath and movement to join as one. I also end every practice with a meditation because feels that’s so important for our overall mental wellbeing. I’ve taught yoga at Phipps Plaza, Black Girl Environmentalist, REÍ -Co-Op, Michelin Fleet, Sole Circle Foundation / SolePlayATL and it’s been an amazing journey helping employees with employee burn out.

I am gearing into 2025 and look forward to creating more Women’s Wellness Events, more yoga pop ups and reaching more companies through yoga and meditation. Also I love the kids and will be bringing back my Mommy and Me classes.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It had been nothing short of smooth but a lot of time talking to God on my mat and breathing and my community has uplifted me through it all. I had to navigate through a whole pandemic where no one knew what was going on all while being a new mother and finding my way.

A little over a year ago I had to leave a toxic environment for the betterment of myself and my son and began a new journey of working full time at a Montessori with some amazing infants, being a single mom all while not burning out from continuing doing what I love; which is holding space through yoga and meditation.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a certified yoga teacher but I believe I am more than a title. I am a woman who has gone through a lot in her life – I count the good more than bad and transmuting pain into my work. I am passionate not in the act of teaching but the act of inspiring women that not matter the pain that resides you can overcome it and turn it into something beautiful. I live to create spaces for women to reach within themselves to find strength, vulnerability and inner peace through yoga and meditation.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Id like to share that no matter what your journey looks like – keep going, growing and evolving. Lean on your community, lean into yourself and know that you have all the tools within you to keep going.

Pricing:

• $100 Yoga + Meditation to Book

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themamayogi_