Sarah Haghighi on the Path Into Yoga

gain clarity and surpass the fear of making a radical shift in my life. I realized that I needed a break from what I already knew, to be in the position to discover what I truly desired. So I quit my safe and well-paid job in finance and went to Bali to complete a 200h yoga teacher training.

1 was unsure what I would have done after the training but my plan was not to teach. I thought maybe in 5 years when I have some sort of track record. Plus I was afraid that turning a passion into a job would ruin yoga for me. I started teaching yoga to friends, then to neighbors, and what started as a hobby gradually grew into a profession. Building a Path Beyond Finance

Recently I paused and realized that in less than 3 years I accumulated almost 700h of teaching experience (something I would have NEVER expected to happen so quickly!) and I completed a 300h training in India in March 2024. But the most interesting fact is that teaching yoga was never my full-time job. In the meantime, I also worked as a freelance consultant using my past career skills.

Today, I feel most alive when I support other individuals’ personal growth. Yoga is a fantastic method, but I realized I needed to train as a life coach to be able to provide the kind of support I wanted to offer. In February 2025 I completed a Life Coaching and Neurolinguistic Programming certification.

My Offerings

I want to inspire and support individuals to find more purpose in their life, develop their consciousness and dare to create the life they truly desire.

Today, I offer yoga classes, 1:1 life coaching journeys, and I'm about to launch Flow Through Change — my first online group coaching program designed to support life transitions, whether that’s a career shift or a personal change that feels scary and unclear. Each phase of the program explores a different theme and combines live group coaching calls with yoga and off-the-mat practices to be completed at home.

How I Started My Business

I created a group class in my condo because I lacked the experience to apply to studios. The class was very successful, attracting both people living in the condo and in the neighborhood. It felt like a safe space to start.

I invested in the support of a business mentor: she helped me trust myself, expand outside of the condo and start my IG page. I invested in continuing education and a 300h training.

Expanding and Scaling

I quickly realized that only in-person classes would not allow me to fully convert to yoga. I'm currently working on creating an online program to scale. I also decided to add life coaching to my offering. Next steps: retreats, hybrid yoga/coaching group programs, and yoga/coaching in corporates.

Lessons I've Learned

My career transition is a constant work-in-progress. I value gradual and organic shifts based on trials and experiencing before deciding what is right or wrong.

The key learning for me is that it doesn't need to be all this or all that, and what feels like baby steps truly sums up to big and unexpected shifts. I'm still trying to figure out how to be financially independent from the freelance consulting part.

My Message to Founders

I've experienced bad decisions that were exclusively based on the rational mind. I've also experienced bad decisions that were made impulsively based on instinct and intuition. Best decisions rely on both, so pay attention to gut feelings, listen to your heart and don't forget to use your mind.

Something I've learned for working in and for start-ups is the lean approach: before going ALL IN, what is the minimum viable product or how can you try something on a small and not risky scale? Try then scale.

Business Takeaways from Start safe

Begin where you are. Even a condo class can grow into something much larger.

Invest in Growth

Mentors, advanced trainings, and education accelerate confidence and expansion.

Think Lean

Before committing fully, test a smaller version. Trial and feedback shape a stronger offering.

Embrace Baby Steps

Small, consistent moves add up to radical transformation.

Balance Intuition and Mind

Neither instinct nor logic alone is enough. The best decisions emerge from both together.

At , we don't just share inspiring stories — we break down what makes yoga businesses succeed. By learning directly from real founders and entrepreneurs, we extract actionable lessons and proven strategies you can apply, so you can avoid common mistakes, feel more confident, grow faster, and make bold choices with clarity.