Meet Sarah of Yoga Online

Sarah Ferguson, yoga expert and founder of Yoga Online

Sarah is one of Tāmaki Makaurau’s most experienced yoga teachers and a Manzana resident. Her educational platform Yoga Online is a leading source of wisdom for yogis of all backgrounds. Sarah’s experience as a public speaker and Doctor of physics makes her an excellent and interesting teacher.

While she’s at Manzana, Sarah works on her own business while also contributing to the Manzana kaupapa, such as by publishing some of the great interviews you’ve seen right here on our website!

This time, we managed to catch her to hear a little more about her own background:

Sarah, what other occupations have you had in the past, and how did those experiences eventually lead you to teaching yoga?

I’ve been teaching since the 1980s when I was a jazzercise instructor for my primary school. We would stand on a sturdy table and demonstrate exercises to the whole school for PE in the morning. Later, I began mentoring and tutoring my peers in the after school maths help room at high school, and this continued as a side job when I was in university studying for my own degree.

Communicating and explaining complex ideas clearly have been a theme throughout many of my roles. When I was working on my PhD in computational optics I was also running some of the undergraduate physics labs at the university. That led to me winning teaching awards, and from there I was the head teaching assistant for two years, running the weekly meetings for other graduate teaching assistants. 

When I completed my first yoga teacher training, these experiences certainly helped my find my voice as a yoga teacher. I’m careful to avoid fluff and be clear in what the alignment is. But it’s fun too. Yoga is both precise and creative.

What’s your approach to running Yoga Online as a business owner?

I’m the web designer/content creator/marketing department/customer service/founder/CEO/SEO for yoga online. I make time for my own practice first and foremost, and from there the rest happens too.

How do you feel about the current online climate which is saturated with free yoga classes and so many other teachers? Is it challenging running a paid educational platform alongside these other entities?

The more the merrier. My style will speak to many but not all, and that’s ok. People will start on one platform and then change to mine as their practice evolves. Many of our members joined because they appreciate a New Zealand business and there’s an awareness of the incredible small businesses on our doorstep.

Why did you choose to take up co-working at Manzana?

I have a lot of respect for Manzana’s vision. Community is incredibly important.

What are your long-term goals for Yoga Online?
The platform is continuing to grow both in content and in membership. It’s an honour to facilitate that.

Thank you for your continued support Sarah!