Sari Anna Thomas, Yoga Facilitator
Sari Anna is a dancer and yogi, and is truly honored to be teaching yoga at New Directions for Women in the outpatient program. She first embarked on her yoga journey in 1998 and has never looked back. Training under a handful of mentors over the years, she has studied several different styles that have helped pinpoint her favorite approach – one that is holistic & therapeutic. Using movement as a form of healing, she is widely known for making her classes accessible to all ages & levels – and her classes at New Directions for Women are no different. She creates a safe space for students to turn inward while encouraging self care that helps to support in the recovery process. Using breath work, meditation & gentle movements, she hopes her students leave class with a deeper connection to themselves.
Sari Anna became certified in 2019, earning her 200-Hour RYT certificate with Yogaworks. Even now, continuing her training remains a priority, as she still takes several classes each week. It is important to her that she always remains a student, and is still constantly humbled by this practice and all it has to offer. Outside of yoga, Sari Anna also loves the work that she does with the nonprofit DOWN FOR DANCE (DFD), which is a dance program for individuals with Down syndrome, along with other physical & intellectual disabilities. She co-founded this organization with her dear friend in 2017, and serves as the artistic director & instructor for many of the classes. DFD currently offers classes in Long Beach & Orange County, but their mission is global, with a dream of spreading this around the globe so that all individuals with Down syndrome have access to high quality dance classes.
