Welcome to the very first episode of Make a Move podcast. Hello everyone. My name is Matt bendy come from Slovakia and I'm currently living in Dubai Let Me Maybe first introduce myself a little bit. So you have an idea who you are listening to so my name is actually mate, but I use a shortcut mat here in Dubai because everybody has issues with pronouncing my name I've been living in Dubai for almost 5 years. I was working here as a flight attendant as a cabin crew for an airline for something like four and a half years. But I wasn't happy anymore. So I wanted to change so I resigned about three months ago and I became a yoga teacher a freelance photographer and videographer. Maybe you're asking. Why did I decide to make a podcast there is enough podcast in this world. Well, I just think there is not enough podcast. I think there is audience for everyone. I was thinking about it for about one and a half year, but I was procrastinating I was scared to do it. So finally, I stepped out of my comfort zone and here I am the podcast name is make a move and I named it the way because I'm a dad. Moving my life. I decided to follow my dreams and pursue my goals and I would like to collect and share interviews with people that inspire me that motivate me people that I know personally or just from the internet and I want to share their stories with you guys because I believe their insights and their stories might be of a big value for you a little disclaimer about this episode. The quality isn't as good as I would like it to be because the microphone didn't work. So I recorded only on my laptop, but please bear with me. It's my first episode and I promise I'll Fix it for the next time. So without a further Ado. Let me introduce you my first guest very interesting person. One of my best friend's established yoga teacher here in Dubai, and she slowly spreading her wings globally with her Instagram and YouTube and her name is Sarah white. Welcome Sarah. I don't know why I'm so shy I'm good. How are you fabulous? Thanks for coming to my studio. She's chopard. Very humble, very successful girl. I would say how long ago did you resign from your job with Emirates? I manage same words. You just said it. And now it's just gone over one year. So I started full-time teaching yoga when you from your resignation, yeah. Yeah. Well, I started teaching full-time yoga the beginning of October last year. Oh nice. We've actually exactly what I do know, it's I thought this longer seems longer because you got really kind of high very fast. I would say yeah. No, it's not. I don't know whether it's going super slow Gummer. Fast. Yeah, you've done like from when I think back to it. I'm like man that seems so long ago, but then going through it it goes quick. That's that totally doesn't make sense. But it makes sense. It went Zubin, like literally busy all the time. You've been pushing it. I don't stop as you know, I don't know. Yeah, that's like my therapist as well has been many a times. I've been a crying over on what's or on his sofa just so you know, it's not all of them Ruth fun. Yeah, it's not over unicorns and all that stuff. I worked exactly so I would like to talk about your journey how it all started. And why did you decide to even become a yoga teacher? How did you come to the decision to become a yoga teacher and why you even started yoga? You can start all the way from the very beginning so in 92 linen Keith white know maybe where do I go from? Yeah from the anxiety and all that kind of stuff. So I've been in two by two years I think to wish and I went for a point in my life where I was breaking up from a crappy relationship and really bad self-esteem. My anxiety was through the roof and if there's any other cabin crew listening to this, you know that anxiety and flying kind of going to together. Yeah. Yep yoga to be honest like I've always felt. More connected down the spiritual root like growing up and stuff and I was always fascinated by yoga and there's always something that was making me wanting to try it oddly enough the relationship. I was in told me if I tried yoga then that would be the end of it. So that's quite ironic. But with he totally yeah the guy yeah, why because he had something against Yogi's and the whole image of the spiritual path. Anywho when I was in probably the worst Time in my life. I felt very alone. I just moved out of a flat. I was living in a bedsit in business by I just felt horrendous and I had not reasons to get it a bit like I told you before there is I'd have to take C for sleeping pills to be able to sleep. And there was one point I was in Ikea get in a new sulfur because my sister was coming out to see me to make sure I was okay, so I needed a bed for her and I remember walking. And I care and I thought everyone that's looking at me now can tell what a worthless piece of shit. I am and I went completely red in the face and I had a full-blown like anxiety attack in the middle of I get you by yourself. Yeah. Yeah, so I run out and I ring my dad. I'm getting older motion on that and feel free. No, I don't want to cry out on the first one and I remember my dad saying looks are either you need to do something about it. And I was like shit I can't it was that point where you get so low and I think I was just sick of myself. Like I felt so weak and just nothing like completely Hollow. I was like, okay, there's I need to pull myself out of it somehow and actually I was living near Urban yoga at the time and the amount in any business business maximum area in the both. You are not from the yeah, sorry, and the Man of Courage you actually took me because anyone starting yoga you'll know that to walk into a yoga room. Yeah, it's a very daunting place, especially when you've not done it. You don't know anything about it and I remember shaking over the doors and I'm like no I need to do something for myself. He went by yourself. Yeah. How do you how did you even decide to go? What was the push for you to try yoga specifically yoga not any others. I'd always be drawn to it and it was more than mental state like because you see everywhere a yoga helps the mind, right? Yeah, and I wasn't even drawn by the asanas and the way that it looks it was more of a kind. There's something going on inside that I even need to fill or I need to fix. So this is why I was like, okay yoga was coming up. I think it was a lot more mainstream than as well just fight with many people perceive yoga exact opposite way that it's just like the fitness part and yeah the physical one, but I knew it. There is something I think I always I was just drawn to it like that kind of path. And as soon as I started I was hooked. So it was the only reason I was getting out of bed in the morning. I was like, you know, what if if there's one thing that I achieved today, let it be that I've gone to a yoga class and I've done something and it's at the start. It was just a relief because in that one hour my thoughts wasn't on the future or the past and I wasn't dwelling in all the stuff. That was going in my head. And then later on it was more like I don't know. I felt worthy and this worthiness feeling that was coming from within I'm like, okay, there's something to it and after about three months and like the changes I saw in me and how I was able to accept more of the things and get rid of judgment. Then I was like, okay, I need to give this to people even though I don't even doing it once. Yeah, so you decided to do teachers And after just a couple of months of doing yoga, we say I started my teacher training after a year of doing yoga, but I knew I was so this is why I say it's like a lesson in fate as well because after three months, I knew I wanted to do it and then you know being cabin crew. I'm like, how can I have a month off? Like it just doesn't work. I can't just go to India and do my teacher training or wherever in the world. So I was always praying for like a sign saying like if it's meant to be they'll be something that comes. Zup, where I can actually do it and then that's when I found a teacher training that we did here wanting to buy with. Yes Natasha. We love you. I'm gonna link to it down below. I do the same teacher training. She's an amazing teacher amazing human being and she literally transformed Our Lives I would say and she pulled the best out of us. Yeah percent and she made us. Yes you made us believe in ourselves. My self-esteem. My confidence went skyrocketing to the sky that works words. I mean comparing to what I was before because if you told me two years ago that I will teach yoga or I'll do a podcast or do a YouTube video. I would not believe you. I was absolutely I could not I cannot clean the ice. This is what gets me an even like when people say no they see the events that are doing stuff and big crowds and I'm like if I can do it Like me to the point where I can't even speak in a group. I just shut my mouth and I'd be like I can't physically get the words out. So if I can get over that to do it then I feel like anyone can that's exactly my thoughts when I walked out of the closet. I finish the class and I'm like if I can do it if I can teach a yoga class afterwards. I've been before so shy and as he said talking in front of the group I given in school when I had to present some project or anything I was shaking getting Adding my face and if I can do this literally anybody can do anybody's and it's like a skill that you can learn I would say, but I want to go back to what you said when you started to go in for yoga. Did you start to go and being like in the last rows and where you like? Yeah, they say it's like all of us the viewer like shy to go because you were like, everybody's going to judge me that I'm not flexible. There was always a spot right in the back right hand corner of the room by the window because I like to be by the windows and that was my spot. And if anyone was there when I walked in I'd be like, oh my God, it's throwing me off can even practice here and even some of the teachers like Omari used to teach there need be like I see you're still in the corner and I think the first time I moved like nearly the front of second row, he just did a double take and he was like, what are you doing a bit? But yeah, that was my safe space. You know, I was always bad and I think because of the way that I approach the practice. I didn't expect anything from myself and my body and I think The reason I got results so quick it's because I didn't go in there thinking is I want to do this on balance. I needed that. I'm like, I'm just here to feel sane any better about myself good your mind. Yeah, if that stuff comes an amazing, but my whole agenda was always just what was happening up in my head and not in the body. Is that might Inspire or motivate few people to try yoga this I still meet so many people with so many judgments towards yoga and they all think That it's something just for flexible people just forfeit people because that's how it's presented to the world and Sonic Cycles in a loyal guy. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, exactly and I don't know it's exact opposite. I would say should be exact opposite because should be for everyone and if you actually look at the wider scope of what yoga is, oh my God, it's not even the practice that you do on the map is why I struggle when the people s but what is yoga and I'm like and he got everything. Yeah right now, but people shouldn't get food. Of it's not just for flexible purple anything it should be more for the inflexible. Yeah for the do physically. She's the one of mental as well. And who would say was the most influential. Sorry that yoga teacher may be hearing by who will inspire you do have one person. That would be like this teacher was the one that's really opened my eyes. She's a good friend of mine too. I think as well like if you I'm sure you'll have neither on here as well, but she is such an incredible human being and So feel humble and she's so real with her own journey and around thoughts and she says like she's not perfect but I don't think she realizes how much her sharing her pain and obviously the good times as well how much it connects to people in that room. So she'd always have a theme or she'd say the right things at the right time and I'm just like what this woman is incredible. She's a Powerhouse, but she doesn't even know it now and she gives me so much strength so much strength through A little so yeah. I love you. Yeah. Now if you're listening, yeah, I already told her and have to show that as well because they have was actually the first so class with their how was my first ever class I did in Dubai second-ever class. I did II every yoga class. I did in my life. First one. I tried in Bali just anybody accident when I was doing my free diving course, but when I came back to the way I wanted to try and I went to Urban yoga as well in Business Bay, and it was nice class, which After the class I was like, I wanna do that. I wanna give people what she gives people and that at that time. I didn't even think I would ever be yoga teacher. It was just she inspired me so much. That was like wow if I could ever do this the way she does it or at least 10% of what she's doing. I would be happy and she's still being inspiration for me until this day and I'll definitely bring her to my podcast if she agrees and I hope you will who you would say was the most influential person in your life. Is there one person that really influence your life the most not a part of yoga taking yoga in the party. He's a one or like a couple of people that really you would say without them. You wouldn't make it. This is going to sound really like cliche but my family and like when you get older as well you realize how much like a childhood impact impact shh, and when you're growing up you don't You don't count your blessings as much as you do as an adult, but the way that my mom and dad brought up each and every one of us now like that gave me everything because it was never about what I was achieving. It wasn't ever about my grades at school. It was basically Sarah you do you we're all basically they just told each and every one of us to be individuals and they let us have that freedom which sometimes it was so frustrating because all you want is direction and you like tell me what to do and all they used to say to us. I can hear us a note look so as long as you're happy, that's it and that kind of stability that it gives me an even then it gives me the courage to act because I know as far as I can go in this world if something goes completely wrong, I can pack my bag I go back to Wolverhampton and I still have that unit to go back to support. Everything the love. So with that that is the concrete, I don't think I would have grown out of it, you know to me because they'd be so much more insecurity. Whereas I know that I'm okay that if push comes to shove I can go back and I still have that family and that unit to actually be a part of so the yeah, they're the biggest influences. So it's funny because you were just calling with your dead before we started recording and I could hear the way he spoke to you was with very nice. I could see that he really cares and supportive. Yeah it just if I ever have kids that's the one thing I want to instill in them is what my mom and dad give to all of us. Yeah because it's just the most amazing start in life like no pressure. Why should kids have any pressure in life? You shouldn't let us know if I never met him and from just a couple of minutes of you talking to him and me hearing he was talking on the speaker and I could literally feel the easiness and support and just understanding. Yeah, I know pressure. Nothing like like that is important. What do they say that your kids come through you and not for you and that's a hundred percent what they've done like they've come we've come as individuals through them, but we're not here to do their bidding. You know what I mean? They've just give us complete Freedom self. Thanks, Mom and Dad. Love you. When would you say you started changing? When did you start seeing changes in your mindset after you started practicing from all the anxiety depression would you say you were depressed? Well, I don't like to use the word depressed. I definitely was in a very low place. I can't say it's depression because I know that other people have a way better than what I ever did so I don't want to be like, oh no I was so depressed and anxious and feel sorry for me. Because I know those people out there you have it way worse and the stuff that I dealt with is nothing compared to some of the pain that it's more internal stuff. It's just your head. Yeah intro playing with you. Yeah, when did I start feeling the change? I really don't know how because my mentality was changing before. I got to the auger because of the stuff that I was going through, you know, so I was reading some self-help books and there was just these kind of switches that were Were speaking on it slowly started. Yeah, the yoga was just in the process of it already and I think I've always had quite an open mind to this kind of things. Like I've always thought a little bit differently and outside the box, even from when I was a kid, so I knew that life could be seen and lived a lot differently to what I was seeing in front of me, but the changes with the yoga within a few months I but I think that's again credit to the teachers for actually showing and put in their heart and soul into it and seeing It how it changed them and relate in their lessons that they should into my life as on and you know what it's like it starts attracting right? So you start doing it you'll have a conversation or something will be said in a yoga class and then I went on board and then you'd meet certain people who tell you sort of books and being like similar situations. So they feel like once you've got an aunt to this kind of energy. It's like a cannibal. Yeah, like it keeps rolling and the world or God or whatever you want to call. It keeps feeding. And you these little bits to like pull you a little bit so bad. So it's coming together. Yeah remember which boo boo which was the first book that you've read the pair of now over? No, I don't think so. Yeah. Yeah. This was the biggest Clique point. So I remember I was on holidays with my then boyfriend, but we was splitting up and I was in complete disrepair. Like I was just a mess and I remember just crying The point of no avail thinking how crappy my life was and how everything was falling apart. And I remember I was just sitting on my own reading and I remember reading a segment that said like if you think about it now like how upset you are in this very moment. Actually, what is wrong with you? And it was like this huge light bulb enough and I'm like, whoa. Nothing's actually wrong with me. Now. I've created this mess because my brain then was so stuck in the past or I was thinking of the future and how awful it's going to be. Yeah, and it was a massive click in my head to the point where I was like, okay. I'm I'm done. I'm going on So everyone could ever I needed to bring went to the airport and I got a flight in that was the pivotal moment of I think that was the Catalyst of the change, you know, I mean, just seeing how that perception like the switch and seeing how not in the moment. I was that was the change in the book that started it all I think for me it was the out of Happiness. It's the interview with the Dalai Lama and say, Saying it's just started to switching my mind slowly slowly opening it towards all the change that came after I think yeah, they comment just at the right time as well because I think I read that book. Now most of it. I wouldn't even connect to you know, how I feel. Yeah, they come because you probably if you are all content and happy I would say you probably wouldn't really seek for books like that. No, no, no one reading a self-help book is yes and happy right? There's always because it's like, oh, yeah. I'm extremely happy. Let me Why this book on love and see what it sounds like? Yeah. All right. Let's talk about you quitting the job and switching to something completely. Yeah, everyone's life something completely new before you were never freelancing never having your own business. All right. It was like your first you can't even can't what I did before. I was just messing around pretty much so was it was very tough decision to quit job at the Line five years flying everyone tells me that it's tough and brave. Yeah, I was in a big like with yoga when she find your passion and you know, it's your passion to step into that just feels so right like yes, it's scary. Yes, you know that it's going to be very vulnerable. Then it might not always got to plan but because I believe wholeheartedly that this was meant to do. I was ready to give myself up to it. So it was done with the job anyway, and I didn't want to do it and I knew yoga is a start but in my head I said, okay, so I stay in Dubai for now. I quit I try it if it doesn't work, then it doesn't work but it's still the next step that I needed to do whether it would work in Dubai or not. I knew the resignation and going out as a yoga teacher or something and then I left the rest of it to buy so you were not scared of like like losing security not having enough money, which I think most of the people which I was going through as well recently. Most people are don't get me wrong. I have Simon's which I'm very grateful for because I think that does give you peace of mind like an arm when it's not everything but we do live 21st century life. Like we need to live a parent I had savings was I scared could be points when my Self Doubt would come in and I'd be like, oh my God. Am I actually doing this but no majority of the time in my head. I was like, you know, this is a hundred percent. I know I need to do this. Like I said, it could have worked it could not have worked and I'm going to be back in the UK or tanning myself in Thailand right now. So you were quite Confident by quitting the job and just going for the next step. It's not confident. It was more I would say yoga gave me my faith right so I know that even in my crappiest of times But there is always either going to be a light at the end of tunnel or this path is going to lead me to somewhere else where I need to be. So I knew I just had faith in whatever was coming was meant for me. It would have been difficult if I probably was still enjoying the job and I was torn between the two because I was so dumb I fly and I was like what have I got to lose like that's the thing whatever. I actually got to lose losing the job that you don't want to do anymore. Exactly. So, yeah, I think maybe mine story would resonate. With people little bit more effort. Sorry, that wasn't the answer. I was actually scared to quit the job. I was quite in the comfortable bubble of getting paid every month getting quite a good money. But at the same time not comfortable doing the job anymore being tired constantly being jet-lagged and it took a huge toll on my body on my health and I just knew I don't want to do it anymore. Just I feel like so many people out there especially in this job. I'm going to talk about this job because that's what Yeah, and that's where we came from and maybe some career listening. I know how it feels to be scared and quit the job especially if you have no other plan or you don't know what to do, which I kind of had. I kind of had plan I would say but it's still scary. You don't have a plan but there is a plant there's something that's going to come out of it. Yeah, you know what? I mean when you make a commitment like this or you make a move so bolt making my own make a move. I didn't even realize I did that when you make a move so about can that be The promo but if there's a quote Yeah, right. When you do do something so bold and you put that kind of energy. It's the universe that has such a strong frequency. And I said as soon as I resigned that's when all the offers would be coming in and that's when the world will know that I'm ready. And as soon as I did it was there when you like feel actually feeling so that you are ready and you surrender to you things just come to but then again some people that listen to this. Or maybe not really open to this kind of they would call it spiritual thing and about universe and all that and for them and I know because I've been there they see everything the reasonable way. I would say what's the word? I'm looking for a logical way that they're like, but you have to have a plan but you have to have these you have to have enough savings. You have to have another job before you quit because if you don't nothing's gonna go right if hypothetical stuff. Yeah, exactly. That's what I'm saying that the scent of it will never Most of the people think like that though because that's the peers that they created over the years and that they're being fed with from the society and everybody else that you cannot quit your job because you don't have anything else and well, you can't be a yoga teacher if you're not married and being looked after in divorce, but I got a lot even I could like. I don't remember who told me I think few people told me it was actually few yoga teachers and when I told him that I'm about to quit my job and I'm going to start teaching yoga. They were like, are you sure are you sure you're going to make enough? Money because it's tough out there and you know, it's not that easy and it's not that well played and it's just the mindset though and I feel like that mindset again everything carries a frequency. Yeah, so you're putting that out there. Yeah, you're lowering your frequency that kind of stuffs coming to you because that's what you're given energy to I get it. It's not easy and don't get me wrong. We know how tough it is now, but I know I have to be in here a year doing the freelance job and trying to support myself. On yoga teacher salary not burn myself out and still do the stuff that I'm doing online. It's tough. I'm not being like quit your job. It's going to be amazing your level these days off. But the thing is you will be tired. You will be exhausted your feel like sometimes just giving it all up but the difference being the tired under the exhaust nurse is actually coming because you working on something that's in your heart and it's not giving it to someone else and you you work for yourself and on yourself and not that's waiting for Somebody else just for the money because that's for me was the big thing when I realized that the job I was doing was I was doing only for the money and it was not satisfying enough for me because I needed to do something that actually makes me happy happy gives me purpose. Yeah, I think that's the biggest thing. I think anyone is suffering from now is the fact that we all want to make a difference in the world, right? Whoever it whichever way that is I think we all want to make a difference and we all want Express but we've been told that may be the way that we express isn't right or it's not a smart way to live. Yeah, you know, I mean that you can't pay your bills with what you're actually good at and what you feels in your heart. So then you're stuck behind this cloak of a KL get a decent job pays the bills and take off all these things. And how bad is that? They literally destroy your dreams just because they tell you you cannot be paid for what you like doing and then you look out there and all the famous. His big people are doing that and then you're saying oh, but I can never do that. Nobody's saying you have to be famous or big but you can still do something you enjoy doing and leave out of it and it's maybe just sometimes you have to cut some Corners maybe. Yeah, maybe you have to give up the lifestyle you there's also has half but then maybe then you gain something else. You know Wonder flows is another opens. There's always sacrifice and depending on where you want to go and what goals you have Ambitions and stuff you will end up sacrificing it. I mean I have been away from my family sucks. It sucks. But for doing what I want to do. I have to be here so same as some friends and stuff. They will start come in kind of out of my life because I am so focused on my job, but then Aaron I'm exhausted but this is the sacrifice you have to make it was actually really interesting thing. I was heard in it was actually Louis house podcast. I don't remember the guess but what he said was something would we talk about now? He said that usually people are scared to do this kind of Step because the only thing they can see and measure is what they lose. They don't see and they cannot measure what they will gain when they do the step and you can never see it because it's uncertain but how do you know that you're not going to gain more than you lose? And that's that for me was like switching my head. I was like, wow, I sis that's amazing to keep in your mind right that okay. The one your intention has to be pure as to why you're doing it and Okay. Yes, you're going to be losing some kind of stuff. But you like you say you don't know how big or how well it's going to do unless you do it. Yeah, and I know that in my head as well. I focus more on where it could go rather than okay. I'm struggling to make the rent this month. Like I have not slept properly in like two months. I keep waking up in the middle of the night with stupid yoga ideas in my head, you know, I think always just I just Positivity even in the Krampus of days thinking I'm going to be all right, like there's something come in with something more and then again, everybody's measure of success is very different like for somebody success is having lots of money for somebody maybe being famous for somebody just being with his family at home. So I feel like people should really set up their goals of the Sexes. What is what for them means to be successful and just go for that. Yeah. I think it's what's important to you. Write. What? Impact you want to have on the world and if it's money then yeah great. That's really what's going to make you happy then let it be that but don't let your image of success be defined by someone else's rules, right? Yeah also things like earning lots of money or spending money. That's nothing better really like we talked about it a lot but it's just exchange of energy like you put lots of effort lots of like hours and hours of training of teacher trainings of workshops of studying yourself reading you put so much money in it so much time. So much energy and effort in it. And then when you teach people that of course you want the energy back and the energy comes in in like anything. I don't think he can have a really closed grip on money because as soon as you start gripping something tight, it's automatically in stinkers. It's it's going you know, you've already got it in your head. Okay. I'm losing this kind of stuff. So it's hard as it is trying to let it flow freely that you give it a try but like it's coming back. It's fine. I don't know when I hope it's next month because my carbonyls all but whenever it is beautiful idea about money as well in the book that I'm reading now. So the books name is the illusion of money by Kyle sees and he said this really nice idea that your relationship with money is the same way as a relationship with any other person or with anybody else. If you are too stingy, if you are really grabbing to it and being very possessive with it than money pushes away because doesn't want to be in a relationship like that. Right and then If you are in a healthy relationship, you get money you give money it's like Circle and then comes to normally attracted to the vibe. Yeah all about the vibe. If you just saw his arm action. You would be cringing nervous. I am thank God. I'm not recording this on video. All right, let's talk business. Now. Let's talk. Let's talk Let's talk about how you establish yourself. Maybe from I would say I like the world stopped is because yourself I would have never been established. I would say you are an established yoga teacher in the world quite doing quite well being I don't know. I don't want to say popular or famous because you hate me saying that stuff. No, but you are pretty you're doing pretty well for yoga teacher invite you are teaching in few of the best. Artists studios in Dubai and they're quite busy. Yes, you are having plus Studios, you're having private classes. You are being invited lots of events. You done some workshops yourself and yeah, just tell us how maybe tell us. How did you start it? How did it feel in the beginning of starting teaching because Sarah actually has a eBook which is for free on our website, which we're gonna be going to because you write all these in your ebook exactly, but which I still haven't finished. Finished but I'm working on it. It's actually really good book from I'm in like a half of it and it's actually really good. You put all these ideas together so nicely and it's all together. But yeah, maybe share it with us as well. How did you start? What was the biggest challenge for you? I don't know because a lot of it. Okay, I'll go with the teaching side and then I'll go social media site. Yeah, because I think there's two aspects to that teachin. How did I start with my first class? It was in gravity actually, so gravity is the kind of son extreme that I try not and I've been a member at for over three years and I do teach the yoga that as well. It was actually me call the manager who he knew like he's been a part of my journey as well. He knows everything that I've been. from and he knew how much I wanted to teach yoga and he knew that that I was in my teacher training so they needed a cover one day and they asked me to cover and I was absolutely broken it and I remember so before even going into this when I was doing my teacher training Natalia asked us to teach a sun salutation to the group and this was my first ever experience of teaching and I could not I didn't know like what even to say it was so nerve-racking to the point where I did it and when I went home that night I was like, I don't know if I can do this. Haha. Like I went through the same thing, even when she was making us to 20 minutes and I was that nervous and my heart was literally in my throat and I was sweating buckets and I'm like, I can't do this. I don't have the strength, you know, someone that helped me through that was Ella. He's my friend. He took a few photos of me. And I've yet to see him for a while. So if Allah listens to this we need to do copy, but I remember we're in a road trip to wrestle coma to watch the blood moon and stuff and I was telling him about my anxiety and I know he's been through a lot in self and he said to me it was like Sara the reason that you get anxious when you come into these rooms best piece of advice I've ever had. So the reason you get anxious he says because all you're thinking about is you it's like you're thinking about everyone looking at you the way that you hadn't performed by by is like don't forget when you step in that room you're there for that. And again, that was like a ha moment. So it is like I still get nervous before I go in but as soon as I got on the mat, I'm like right it's not about me anymore. I'm here for all these bodies that are in front of me, right and I think that even though it was scary. This is what the thought keeping that thought into my head. It gets rid of the ego, right? It completely stripped your back like No longer, I'm no longer here to perform. I'm here to to serve. Yeah. Yes. I started doing Community classes. I did a few at the Sheraton Mall of the Emirates. I was given a few to crew in Silicon Oasis and this is the porcupine the point that I want to make that everyone sees no like the full classes the events that I do and there's people there I used to make myself readily available for nothing and I used to get people Saying yeah, we're coming to your classes blah blah blah and sometimes I turn up. I drive all the way there silicon Isis which is quite far if you're not from Dubai and no one internal. I remember that I actually remember that. Yeah, so it's something that people think that they're going to walk out of a job and be like, oh, yes, just a my yoga teacher training like Sarah's Donnie I'm going to do it exactly not you have to deal with people not showing up people walking out of your classes. This was a big thing. But yeah, I've been there. To you not to me because you thinking what the hell's wrong with me, but it's again something you have to kind of write over it and put yourself at that like things are not going to just come to you as much as you've got to relax and surrender. I was actively emailing Studios messaging them for covers asking if I can do classes and trying to get as much as Spirits as I could whilst being crew before resigning now should I go social? Diaz so when we met I remember for some people numbers don't matter but let's talk about numbers. Anyway, when we met you were on Instagram, we talk about Instagram because especially in Dubai and I think all over the world now if you have small or big business it became crucial parts of your business promoting yourself Instagram having like good look on Instagram and basically most of your clients coming from Instagram, right? Aah my privates great. Yeah, and if you have any small business Or bigger business. You probably know what we are talking about because it's so important everybody. Is there these days almost everybody and you actually get lots of business from there. It's quite yeah and it's like running mates because and I met so yeah, we met through Instagram and I met so many people who became my best friends on Instagram and it's so funny. Yeah recently. We had on Instagram and then we went from workshop and remember Mall of Emirates handstand work. Chop and that's how we became friends. So I remember when I met you you were like when we talk numbers you were like 2,000 followers, maybe something even less I would say. I don't know once you started to really go for it you grew exponentially so fast, like you're probably the fastest growing person Instagram organically. That's the main focus here that the fact that I know you personally and I know that you never paid for likes paid for followers. Nothing. It's all came. It was slowly growing slowly growing now you're at like 30k 36 36 thousand. Are you joking? No days ago. It was it's crazy. Right? That's crazy. Yeah. Okay. So so what I want to say is time last year I was on like 3,000 that's what I'm saying. I remember that you were like staying low low low, and then suddenly boom and I want you to talk about how how it's not about like this and how much were you actually put in that how much time? I'm effort energy you put into Instagram. So people understand that. This is not like I pay for some followers and that's it. You actually do the work you do. I think Instagram started as me so, you know iíve always wrote a journal which is always my thoughts and feelings and I always feel like I can articulate myself better with writing rather than words. So for me when I saw my Instagram has always been the same I've had it for years, but when I started going into the yard, It was more of an expression like what I was feeling I could share my words. I'd obviously post a photo or I do like whatever was progressing and that's how it started with my journey. I always said it was represent reality. So you're trying to be oh you were actually very authentic for me to start with it was expression and I just I found my voice, you know what I mean? So this is how I began to push it out there and then obviously once I got a bit further down the line and I noticed what I wanted to do I was surrounded by like because I do calisthenics on the side as well. So Fitness professionals athletes and I knew how good Instagram had been for them for that business and especially as a freelancer to actually advertise themselves. So I started to put a little bit more effort into it as much as I could and like I said once I said once I resign this will be and this was when it will go more importantly just I wanted to enjoy it and then as soon as the number started growing Like okay now, I have a bit of a responsibility to not just put yoga photos in these flexible poses and quotes to show off that you yeah, and I quote you find on Pinterest. You know, I've always said Not So once I said, okay, how can I use this platform and I started to do more stuff online. I started to do the tutorials. We started doing the YouTube and I think all of this collectively I did to my what's the word? Growth. Yeah, and like if people come to my page now, they can see it's not just really for us. Yeah that you are actually giving getting something worth out of it, you know, and then value and giving them information. You try something. Yeah, they can actually get from they're not just a pretty picture but like you said it's not a takes time. I think one whole tutorial with a post in the hashtag in takes me on average three to four hours to put it all together. See what people don't realize. Yes and don't you don't see the Behind the know and that's the thing like you have to remember why you're doing it. Like for me I never did it to grow. Yes. That's a bonus. It was more of a want to do it to help people and you have to let go of the expectation of these things because sometimes I take hours to do this tutorials and for whatever reason it might not do so. Well. Yeah, like you're up against algorithms and all this kind of stuff, but you have to just let it go and still post the things that you normally would. You know, but I think it's again just I always say it depends on your purpose, right? It's knowing who you are why you're doing the stuff that you're doing and having that purpose the why always like why in the back of your head to keep your ego in check as well as to why you want to do this. What do you say about people who were buying followers buying likes I prefer to know if that's what you want to do to validate yourself then go do it, but it's again. I don't like that kind of fake and I I think you will get caught out sooner or later because okay think from a business point of view. Someone comes to my page. They see I've got 36 thousand but say if I brought pretty much all of them, they're expecting me as a yoga teacher to be able to deliver something if all those followers are fake and you've got no actually true following when you sign up to an agreement to them. You can't actually deliver on what you promise them. Basically lying. Yeah, you're lying to them. It's a kind of everybody else. Yeah and It will come back in the end because word of meth. Okay? Yeah, you've got a hundred thousand followers, but you come and do a workshop and you've only had three people sign up. No, I just think it's said that unfortunately companies that come it doesn't need to be yoga teacher can be anything. Yeah, but companies that come and approach this so-called influencers. They I don't understand what these companies are doing because they probably don't do the research I would say cuz I could support fake followers almost immediately. And he's company that I feel like they just ignore it. They just see the big number. So okay. We want her or him because we see his bigger number. She has bigger number than did the other people and we just want exposure but then they don't understand that you actually not going to get the exposure because these people are fake. I think this comes from like if you think about managers in Department that they're all be what 50 plus managing these kind of things who are not probably that informed with instant. Um, so yeah, it is easily filled by someone who is not knowledgeable. I don't want to throw all the companies in the same bucket, but that's what I've been seeing a lot and it's I think what used to annoy me was the fact that yeah people get the jobs and the gigs just because it's not because of what they teach it's not because of the experience that they've had or who they are and what they represent. They just see a number on the screen. Yeah, and that's it's unfair like its Is if I was going to a job I wouldn't be expect to be picked it just because I've got 30,000 followers. Yeah, maybe the person next to me has 2000 as been teaching yoga eight years have it has a vast amount of knowledge. I'd rather be tested fairly and that person get the job because they're more suited to it rather than just picking me because of a number on your screen. It's just ridiculous. Well, maybe they don't even have Instagram many people don't even have Instagram. It's nothing bad about it. It's just what do you make out of it? I believe. How are you happy now? No, you bastard we go am I happy? Oh I want to say no, you know that the past month for me has been pretty shit, but only in my own head. Yeah, but I think with any type of unhappiness, it's like I am don't get me wrong. I am so grateful for everything and I do love and enjoy my life, but I believe that unhappiness actually because we judge ourselves by happy and have fun happy right and I think that Unhappiness comes to show us that something needs to change and I feel it. Now. If you've been seeing my Instagram post recently, you can probably tell the mood that I'm in but I don't see the down and the unhappier such a bad thing. I see that it needs to come to show me. Okay, like there needs to be more growth. Yeah, so it's like using Osa use the feeling of uncomfortable to show you what you need to do. So to be honest, I after a year of teaching and how busy Dubai gets in the sea. Season have time consuming it is I don't think I have it in me to do another year like this and that's the reality. I don't know if it's just because I'm not just teaching yoga that all my free time is going into something else. Hmm But I just feel like life can be lived a lot more simply a more enjoyable e and that's where I'm going to go next year. So by the new growing you mean you changing something in the why do you have now? Yeah, it needs to yeah, because I can't sustain this life. Come exhausted. Yeah in you know, how much I do. You see it was less. This is something it was hard for me to believe in the beginning when I was still flying and our schedule could get very very busy. Like, you know, how much flying we how much we were flying and I thought like wow, I'm so busy and then you were telling me when you started like I'm so busy. I don't have days off I get like one you still have one day off a week and then you go from 5 a.m. Til 9:00 p.m. And I just couldn't believe it. I was like, come on. On like you know, how flying is it's tiring, you know how busy we are and I'm starting to understand only now and I'm like 10% of your business. I'd say that's a very big professor and I always busy and closing with them. That's for me busy. Anyway, I started to realize how precious the free time can be and how much were you actually doing? It's crazy. So I believe when you say you need to Especially after year going like a machine and even placing it ebook free book. Now you working on another ebook crazy. Even when you say the last year if I think about it, it's been over two years that I have not stopped and that's the reality of actually getting somewhere and doing what you want to do for me. Anyway, I'm not saying it has to be like this for everyone but my path my journey, this is how it's been but yeah, it's not it's not sustainable. Yeah, like I said, there's always been sacrificed. So if you ever do this it is you have to have at least that one day. Laughs hmm. And that one day off I do nothing. I turn my WhatsApp knife notifications off. I don't want to speak to anyone. I don't want to see anyone. I just want to be in my own little shelter. Yeah, and you have to be able to give up some kind of stuff. So for me now because I know I progressed so quickly physically in my calisthenics my strength and stuff now, I know that that's taken a backseat. But it's kind of beautiful because it now it's my refuge rather than my push that makes sense. You mean by because before it was something I was pushing myself to do because I needed to be stronger. I needed to get my practice of open a needed to be able to hold a handstand for a minute. Whereas now now it's actually a luxury to do it. Okay, you know what, I mean? So I'm actually I'm training less myself practice yoga has gone down less but now when I actually do it and I have that time it. Is sacred for me like I lose myself in again and again and I remember now why I started yoga because I'll lose my head on a Monday and then I go to practice and I just feel like it just reads me with them all my impurities. And then I remember why I started this. Do you have any one piece of advice? You would give to somebody who wants to make a move in their life doesn't matter what it is. Maybe it's starting new job or quitting the job. You don't like or anything. That might be a big change for them in there. S like you did a huge change video life. And again, you are planning to kind of change your whole life even now my bipolar in me though. I don't think that'll stop me because it's been like that since I was at night and it's crazy. But what would I it's tough what with the biggest advice be can be a smaller device just one piece of advice. Can I swear course I guess. Yeah, if people don't know me, I quite us we're quite a lot and I don't know every year I get you add. But there we go. My own what I think this is sound so bad that my slogan is is even like if I come to a decision into my life and I'm torn and it is getting to me I just think fuck it. Fuck it like and it's like what is the worst that's going to happen. I want you this is so so bad that yoga teachers telling you but have a fucking Like because as soon as you ought to those words out, it's like you let go of the expectation of it, right you let go of this charge of the anger and the scaredness and the fear and you just like fuck it and you surrender to it and then walking in just a little small step every day. Just something so tiny and then the tiniest things will then come into the biggest accumulate. Yeah. You have no idea. How much an action maybe a year ago might actually come round even a conversation so many people that say I've had a conversation with that I've said like I'm a yoga teacher and then six months down the line they'll be like hey, I remember like we met in blah blah blah and I see you doing this now. So is there any chance happen to me as well? Yeah, so it's the smallest minut little data and when you just get that even just the little bit of scaredness and you think no I can't Do this like I'm not good enough bla bla just saying fuck it do it and then just see what comes so your advice would be fucking that's so bad. Come on. I'm sorry if anyone gets offended by swearing. I'm British. So it's just the way that I express myself. Great dish. Yeah. My dad's gonna go see if he's alright. I think we recorded almost one hour. Yeah, which how Press me. We could talk even longer but gonna say we could carry out. I don't think I don't think I want to make it longer than an hour the chair how people will take it. This is still first episode. I want to just acknowledge you for what you're doing for. You gonna make me can I like go out the room when you do it? Yeah, you want a napkin well, because you've been influencing my life a lot and you pushed me so much and you keep pushing me so much. He's one person. Pushes me out of the comfort zone. It's here. I think Matt secretly hates me. Hey, have you ever had moments towards you because you just know when I'm in this small comfortable bubble under the blanket is not doing anything chilling and procrastinating my life to the edge. We always come and kick me and kick me again and again and I just wish - Matt you go is a here's a gig go for it. And I really want to thank you for that because I wouldn't be be where I am without you vice versa. Matt does all my videos and photos by the way, FYI, so it's not just a one-sided thing they do. So if you want to follow Sarah, you can find her on Instagram at can you spell it? It's sad white basically half of Sarah. But now when I spell it you're going to get it wrong because I have a Birmingham accent. So it's s to Sierra I Alpha alpha Romeo under School White is in the color. And yes, that's my real last night. That's great. Yeah, so you can find her there. She's very active though. She's very consistently posting which I should start doing is well, she has her own website. She released it recently. Yes kind of recently. You have a free ebook on the website. I can find about teaching yoga and head to establish yourself, but in a Nice way. Yeah not to business like more life advice and business in general. I like the book. I know I haven't finished it but I like it because you advice is you can actually apply to anything that you starting it doesn't need to be. Okay. So you talked a lot about social media about the business part about even just little life hacks to help you through. Yeah, uncomfortable stage, you know, like setting yourself up and yeah. Yeah you are working on another ebook now. Yes, we're working on the other team you're working because I'm doing videos and photos for you. Hopefully it should be out by the end of November. Yeah, maybe December and you tell us what's that's going to be and my love of hands done. So it'll be your complete guide to get in up and ready and started and your hands done Journey. Can you tell us the name of the book inverted vote is nice, right? It is inverse times like a movie with Sarah White. Let me go that's your hashtag, right? Yeah with Sarah white. Yeah, I got rid of the yoga. So I just wanted to be more round. And so you can find it soon. It's on our website if you're listening to this and you've got this far tag me in hashtag me. Why not? Yeah, Doug me as oh Ed math Benedict. And one last question. Did I say questions washed - so much emphasis on the game. So one last question for you. How would you like to be remembered? Hmm. Imagine you're dead. Thanks, man. And he would I like to be remembered just someone is real, you know how bullshit I think the world's full of it to be honest and someone who's real and just did a best. Just trying to best. That's all it's fancy. All right, sounds good. Thank you so much for being here my first ever episode and thank you guys for listening. I hope you enjoy. And let me know what you think about it. Let me know. What would you like to hear? Maybe next time? I hope you all have a beautiful day ahead. Whatever you are listening on your phone and your laptop in a bus in the train walking. Thanks again for being here with us and I'll see you next time peace and love and go and make a move. Boom, and that's it. See you guys next time. Bye.
"The unhappiness comes to show us that something needs to change." - Sarah White Do you feel stuck in the comfort zone of your job, your relationship or just life in general? Would you like to see a big change in your life but you don’t have the courage do make a move and go for it? In my very first episode of the Make a Move Podcast, I talk about taking a leap of faith and following your passion, with one of my best friends, a person I admire and someone who always inspires me, Dubai based Yoga teacher - Sarah White. Sarah is sharing her journey of finding her passion, quitting a job as a flight attendant, taking a leap of faith and becoming a full time Yoga teacher in Dubai, while fighting the doubts of her own and the doubts of people around her. She’s sharing the challenges she encountered, her ups and downs, and she’s talking about people who helped her to get to where she is now. We also talk about her growth on social media, people buying followers and what it takes to organically grow and build your personal brand. 