Awakening to Presence and Joy – Exclusive Interview with Sara Brinell
- Brainz Magazine
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Sara is an expert in inner harmony and the healing power of nature. She carries a profoundly healing story, having experienced depression in her teenage years and, later in life, the early loss of both her parents. These experiences became part of a deeper journey that eventually led her to guide others back to their hearts through her work as a yoga instructor, mindfulness coach, and speaker. She also shares her insights through her book One with Nature.
Sara Brinell, Author, Speaker & Awareness Guide
Who is Sara Brinell?
Sara Brinell is a deeply present woman with her feet firmly on the ground. She can be described in three words: Yogasara, a tree, and someone who smiles a lot. These words capture much of her essence – connected, grounded, and joyful. This shines through in both her work and her greatest passions. Sara is a public speaker, author, and yoga and mindfulness teacher who shares what brings strength, healing, and joy. She is also deeply connected to nature – one of her greatest passions, and works to spread its wisdom and healing message to others.
What inspired you to focus on the area of awareness as your core work?
For me, awareness became the path home, to healing and to a deeper connection with myself. Over time, it naturally evolved into becoming my profession as well. I noticed that people around me were curious, even though there was a lot of resistance when I first started teaching yoga eleven years ago. That became a driving force for me: to share the beauty and healing power of awareness, through yoga, mindfulness, and breathwork, while also helping to demystify what some might dismiss as “woo-woo.” And I deeply believe that awareness nurtures kindness, and that’s something the world truly needs, and that belief continues to inspire me every day.
How do you help organizations bring mindfulness into their culture?
I help organizations integrate mindfulness into their culture by sharing both the science and the lived experience of its benefits, and why it’s more relevant than ever in today’s fast-paced society and workplace. This work takes many forms: I offer talks, workshops, and guided practices using methods such as yoga, breathwork, and mindfulness-based tools, and embodied movement. I draw from my own personal journey, combining practical tools with deeper insights to show that mindfulness is not just a technique – it’s a mindset rooted in presence, compassion, and connection. I emphasize the importance of vulnerability and heart-led leadership as essential components for creating healthier, more sustainable work environments. My approach is to make these practices accessible, grounded, and relevant, so they can truly support both individual well-being and collective growth.
What is the biggest misconception people have about yoga or meditation?
One of the biggest misconceptions about yoga is that you have to be flexible or physically mobile to practice it, and that it’s mostly about moving your body. But at its core, yoga is far more about the inner experience than the outer form. It’s a method for grounding yourself and cultivating mental clarity and a deeper sense of connection. And as I always say: give yourself permission to be more playful. It’s not about performance or perfect poses, but about tuning in and becoming more aware of what’s happening within. Similarly, meditation isn’t about “emptying your mind,” but about building a conscious relationship with your thoughts, emotions, and heart. In summary, yoga and meditation are inward practices that strengthen self-awareness, focus, and connection to the heart, regardless of who you are or how flexible your body may be.
Why did you choose to write a book and lecture about nature?
Nature is my home, my safest place and my greatest source of wisdom. Over time, I believe many people have become increasingly disconnected from nature, and in that disconnection, also from themselves. There is so much we can learn from nature, if we are willing to slow down and truly listen. Nature teaches us presence, gratitude, balance, and how to move through life with more ease and awareness. It invites us to stress less, breathe deeper, and come back to what really matters. That’s why I chose to be a voice for nature, to guide people back to a sense of wholeness that nature so generously offers. For me, this work goes hand in hand with everything else I do. Whether it’s through yoga, mindfulness, nature or breathwork, the foundation is the same: awareness and finding the way home to the heart.
What would you say are the top three benefits your clients experience?
The top three benefits my clients experience are inner peace, happiness, and stability. I believe these are some of the most powerful feelings we can experience today, in a world that is often fast-paced, stressful, and challenging. When the pace slows and presence deepens, something shifts within us, we find our way back home to a sense of calm and lightness, and from there, it becomes easier to smile and to create a sense of direction and meaning in life.
What daily practices do you recommend for someone just starting out their healing journey?
One step at a time. It’s common to think we need to change everything at once to start a whole new life overnight. But usually, that only lasts for a week before we fall back into old habits. Healing is a journey, not a project. It looks different for everyone, but there are a few simple daily practices I recommend to everyone:
Spend time outdoors every day. Sit for at least ten minutes, in silence and simply breathe in the fresh air.
Reduce your screen time, especially in the morning. Try not to look at your phone as the first thing you do.
Gratitude. Write down or say out loud around eight things you are grateful for each day.
Smile more. Smile at yourself, at others – even small smiles can shift your energy.
Move your body every day. It doesn’t matter how, go for a walk, play sports, take the stairs, play with your kids, dance, or do yoga. Any kind of mindful movement helps you reconnect with your body and your presence.
Small steps, practiced often, lead to deep transformation.
How do you measure success or transformation in your work?
The biggest shifts happen in the subtle moments, when I see people start to breathe fully again, when their faces soften into smiles, and when a sense of inner harmony begins to return. These moments often lead to something deeper: a renewed joy for life, greater clarity and focus, and the ability to truly be present and enjoy the moment. And this is also what creates positive change in workplaces, when individuals feel more balanced and connected, the whole environment begins to shift.
What challenges do your clients commonly face before they work with you?
Many of my clients struggle with a lack of presence, joy, and gratitude. They often feel weighed down by constant stress, which results in poor focus, confusion, and a loss of direction, both in life and at work. This also includes organizations looking for guidance in stress management and support in creating a more sustainable and balanced workplace.
Why should people spend more time in nature?
Simply put, nature is always there for us, free and unconditionally welcoming, no matter how we feel or who we are. Countless studies show that spending time in nature improves our well-being; it can support recovery from burnout, enhance focus and concentration, and deepen our sense of connection. Nature holds immense wisdom and inspiration that can awaken our creativity, joy, and inner calm.
Considering how the world has evolved in recent years – with less contact with nature and more urban living and technology – rates of loneliness and mental health challenges have risen just as sharply. There is likely a deep connection between these trends and our disconnection from the natural world. Therefore it’s time we find our way home to nature again, by spending more time there and remembering that we, too, are part of it.
Why should someone choose your approach over other wellness or mindfulness coaches?
My approach is unique, it’s infused with the wisdom and playfulness of nature. I bring a sense of lightness, fresh perspective, and inspiration that empowers people to reconnect with their own strength. My own story is proof that healing is possible through presence and love. I see my role as a guide, offering a hand to hold, a warm embrace, and sometimes a gentle push forward when it’s needed.
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