Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Bradley.
Sara, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Yoga has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. My parents practiced, so the teachings and philosophy of yoga were woven into my childhood. One of my strongest memories is visiting our ashram and feeling the energy of community there—people coming together to practice, share meals, and support one another. That sense of connection stayed with me.
Like many teenagers, I distanced myself from the things my parents loved because they didn’t seem very “cool.” But yoga found its way back into my life when I became a young mother. I was living across the country from friends and family, and my husband at the time was deployed overseas with the military. I was feeling stressed and depressed, and my mom mailed me a yoga VHS tape. I remember trying it and thinking it was incredibly boring—but I kept practicing anyway.
Eventually, I started attending classes offered on the military base where we lived. Over time, I began to feel the effects of the practice not just physically, but mentally and spiritually. I always felt better when I practiced.
About eleven years ago, shortly before beginning my yoga teacher training, I suffered a serious back injury and thought my practice might be over. When I returned to yoga, I realized I had to approach it differently. Instead of forcing my body into poses, I began adapting the poses to meet my body where it was. I began using props, listening more deeply, and letting go of what I thought the posture “should” look like. My practice deepened in ways I never expected.
That shift shaped how I teach today. I love empowering students to listen to their bodies and honor how they show up each day.
After years of teaching—and seeing several studios close during the pandemic—I felt called to create a space rooted in accessibility and community. What began as renting a room in a church eventually grew into my own studio. Today, at Wyld Roots Yoga in Stone Mountain, we’ve built a welcoming community where people can come exactly as they are, practice together, and support one another—just like the community that first inspired me as a child.
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 definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road, but I’ve come to believe that so much of life depends on how we choose to look at the obstacles we face. Many of the challenges along the way ended up being some of my greatest teachers, and in hindsight they often led to something beneficial.
One of the biggest challenges came right after I opened my first studio location. Not long after opening, I went through a divorce. I remember feeling overwhelmed and asking a close friend if I should just shut the studio down or see if someone else wanted to take it over. Her response stayed with me. She told me that closing it should be the last thing I do because I had built a community for moments exactly like that—people supporting one another through difficult times.
I’m so grateful I listened to her. The community that had formed around the studio truly showed up, and instead of closing, the studio continued to grow. Around that same time I was also offered opportunities to teach yoga at two different colleges.
Those experiences reminded me why this work matters so much to me. Not only do I get to share the practice with my local community, but I also have the opportunity to introduce yoga and its teachings to younger generations.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Wyld Roots Yoga is a community-centered yoga studio rooted in the belief that yoga should be accessible to everyone. Our goal is to create a welcoming space where people feel comfortable showing up exactly as they are, whether they are brand new to yoga or have been practicing for years.
One of the things that sets our studio apart is the emphasis we place on listening to your body and honoring your own experience. In our classes, we offer variations and modifications so students can choose what feels best for them on any given day. We encourage people to move in ways that support their bodies rather than trying to force themselves into what they think a pose should look like.
We offer a variety of classes throughout the week, including yoga, Mat Pilates, and specialty classes such as Chair Yoga and Stick Mobility. We also offer yoga teacher training for those who want to deepen their practice or feel called to share yoga with others. In addition, we offer Thai Yoga Bodywork, a hands-on practice that combines assisted stretching, acupressure, and mindful movement to help support relaxation, mobility, and overall well-being.
What I’m most proud of, though, is the community that has grown around the studio. Wyld Roots Yoga is more than just a place to take a class, it’s a space where people support one another, connect, and experience the deeper benefits of yoga both on and off the mat.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
One thing I’ve learned is that mentorship and networking don’t always have to be formal. Often, it comes from building genuine relationships with people who inspire you or who are a little further along on a similar path.
For me, the most meaningful connections have come simply from showing up consistently in communities that share similar values, whether that’s through yoga trainings, workshops, or conversations after class. When you approach those spaces with curiosity and humility, mentorship often develops naturally.
I also think it’s important not to be afraid to ask questions. Many people are happy to share their experiences if you approach them with sincerity.
I’ve learned a lot from many different people over the years, and that sense of community and shared learning has been incredibly valuable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wyldrootsyoga.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wyld.roots.yoga/ and https://www.instagram.com/_sara.star/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wyld.roots.yoga and https://www.facebook.com/sara.bradley.688938
Image Credits
The pictures in the brown tank top are by Aaron Gordon
