<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[sarawest.co]]></title><description><![CDATA[sarawest]]></description><link>https://www.sarawest.co/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 20 Jun 2026 20:36:16 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.sarawest.co/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Reflections From My First Pilgrimage to Ma India]]></title><description><![CDATA[Travel had been part of my working life for many years. Conflict zones, aeromedical evacuations, teaching overseas, airports and movement and constantly adapting to unfamiliar places had once felt normal to me. And then, suddenly, I had spent eighteen months in one place. In that time there had been grief, burnout, moving house, changing careers, caring responsibilities for family, and the slow shedding of identities that no longer seemed to fit. Most weeks I worked six days. Christmas was to...]]></description><link>https://www.sarawest.co/post/reflections-from-my-first-pilgrimage-to-ma-india</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0f120af0529c749995ae7f</guid><category><![CDATA[DEVOTION]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 15:44:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c82137_666775e0ae214b9db2c65162463c4960~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sara West</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Īśvara Praṇidhāna: Hand It Over]]></title><description><![CDATA[The fifth and final Niyama is Īśvara Praṇidhāna. Do your best. Then hand it over. This teaching is often translated as surrender to God. Or, if that language doesn’t resonate for you, surrender to life, to truth, or to something larger than your own limited plans. Either way, the invitation is the same. Show up fully. Make the effort. And let go of the need to control the outcome. Patañjali’s Promise In Yoga Sūtra 2.45, Patañjali says: Through surrender to the Divine, samādhi is attained....]]></description><link>https://www.sarawest.co/post/%C4%AB%C5%9Bvara-pra%E1%B9%87idh%C4%81na-hand-it-over</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0ae3ce8ba6aec9a80faf31</guid><category><![CDATA[PHILOSOPHY]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 10:09:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c82137_c66a2d17b7744959ad755cdb43389719~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sara West</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Svādhyāya: Read the Manual]]></title><description><![CDATA[The fourth Niyama is Svādhyāya, usually translated as self-study. At first glance, that sounds like a fancy way of saying: “Pay attention to your own nonsense.” And, to be fair, that’s a solid start. But Svādhyāya has two parts. The first is studying yourself. The second is studying the teachings that help you make sense of what you find. In other words: Watch your patterns. And consult the manual. Patañjali’s Promise In Yoga Sūtra 2.44, Patañjali says that through Svādhyāya, we come into...]]></description><link>https://www.sarawest.co/post/sv%C4%81dhy%C4%81ya-read-the-manual</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0adafc0b9e4f37fd2c3b19</guid><category><![CDATA[PHILOSOPHY]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 09:31:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c82137_dbf967121fe3430ebd62b526356dbdd5~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sara West</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tapas: Keep the Fire Burning]]></title><description><![CDATA[The third Niyama is Tapas. The word literally means heat. Not the kind of heat you get from sitting in a sauna or doing hot yoga until you have a full flowing river of sweat running down your spine. The kind of heat created by steady, consistent effort. The fire that transforms. Tapas is discipline. But not the David Goggins “STAY HARD!” joyless, self-punishing sort. You know the vibe.  It is the willingness to keep showing up for what matters. Again and again. Even when you can’t be...]]></description><link>https://www.sarawest.co/post/tapas-keep-the-fire-burning</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0a4c64df43effc8ce3156e</guid><category><![CDATA[PHILOSOPHY]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 23:18:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c82137_6d9fd01ce4e049b991159a4b11ce84a9~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sara West</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Santosha: The Practice of Enough]]></title><description><![CDATA[The second Niyama is Santosha, usually translated as contentment. Or, in plain English: This. Right here. Is enough. That can be a surprisingly radical idea, and even a lil rebellious in an age when we're bombarded with marketing messages conditioning us to believe that happiness lies somewhere just over the horizon. I’ll be happy when I lose the weight, earn more money, meet the right partner, become more flexible, get stronger, can do handstand, get the another degree, have more success, or...]]></description><link>https://www.sarawest.co/post/santosha-the-practice-of-enough</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0a462f2fd8b3b69694b693</guid><category><![CDATA[PHILOSOPHY]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 23:01:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c82137_da4a5363b54f48e7966490bf213e819d~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sara West</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Saucha: Clean Up Your Act]]></title><description><![CDATA[The first of the Niyamas is Saucha, usually translated as purity or cleanliness. That can sound a bit severe. A little too close to those “clean eating” posts that make you feel guilty for enjoying a biscuit. That’s not what we’re talking about. Saucha is much more practical than that. It asks a simple question: What helps you feel clear? And perhaps just as importantly: What leaves you feeling a bit grubby—physically, mentally, or emotionally? Saucha includes the obvious things. Wash your...]]></description><link>https://www.sarawest.co/post/saucha-clean-up-your-act</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0a41870b9e4f37fd2b0df1</guid><category><![CDATA[PHILOSOPHY]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 22:36:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c82137_461372492693407b89c002f44818915e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sara West</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Aparigraha: Learning to Let Go]]></title><description><![CDATA[The fifth and final Yama is Aparigraha, usually translated as non-grasping or non-attachment. In plain English: Loosen your grip. Don’t cling so tightly. Easy to say. Much harder to do. Most of us spend a good chunk of our lives holding on... to possessions, to relationships, to plans, to identities, to ideas about how life “should” unfold... Aparigraha invites us to open our hands. Patañjali’s Promise In Yoga Sūtra 2.39, Patañjali says: When non-grasping is established, knowledge of the...]]></description><link>https://www.sarawest.co/post/aparigraha-learning-to-let-go</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0a3a4c8ba6aec9a80e62e0</guid><category><![CDATA[PHILOSOPHY]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 22:05:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c82137_da456545175d43d3ba922b0cccc14a5e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sara West</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brahmacharya: Stop Leaking Your Life Force]]></title><description><![CDATA[The fourth Yama is Brahmacharya. This is usually the point in the list where people get a little nervous. Traditionally, the word is often translated as celibacy  Which tends to make modern readers think: “Hang on... yoga wants me to do what now?” Fortunately, there is a much more useful way to understand it. Walking with the Sacred Brahmacharya can be translated as: Walking with Brahman (or God). Or, more simply: Living in a way that keeps you connected to what is sacred. For most of us,...]]></description><link>https://www.sarawest.co/post/brahmacharya-stop-leaking-your-life-force</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0a30e90b9e4f37fd2af203</guid><category><![CDATA[PHILOSOPHY]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 21:25:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c82137_a2ffd27767f74fbd925e64c9a126344f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sara West</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Asteya: Don’t Take What Isn’t Yours]]></title><description><![CDATA[The third Yama is Asteya, usually translated as non-stealing. At first glance, this sounds fairly straightforward. Don’t pinch other people’s stuff. Solid advice. But, as with most yogic teachings, Asteya goes much deeper than that. It asks us to look at all the subtle ways we take what hasn’t freely been given. More Than Theft Most of us are unlikely to stroll into Tesco and walk out with a television tucked under one arm. But stealing can be much more subtle than that. We can steal:...]]></description><link>https://www.sarawest.co/post/asteya-don-t-take-what-isn-t-yours</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0a2ca60b9e4f37fd2ae959</guid><category><![CDATA[PHILOSOPHY]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 21:07:26 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_f26ee566e369473482455d6a0a5238be~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sara West</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Satya: Tell the Truth]]></title><description><![CDATA[The second Yama is Satya, usually translated as truthfulness. At first glance, it sounds straightforward. Tell the truth. Simple. Except, as most of us have discovered, truth can be a bit inconvenient. Sometimes it means disappointing someone. Sometimes it means admitting we don’t know. Sometimes it means saying “no” when we know the answer should be “no,” even though part of us wants to keep everyone happy. Truth Comes After Ahimsa In the Yoga Sūtras, Satya comes immediately after...]]></description><link>https://www.sarawest.co/post/satya-tell-the-truth</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0a28198ba6aec9a80e4084</guid><category><![CDATA[PHILOSOPHY]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 20:50:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_036d89f7b1174ba39df609b78d154317~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sara West</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ahimsa: Don’t Be a Dick]]></title><description><![CDATA[The first of the Yamas is Ahimsa, usually translated as non-harming or non-violence. And because it comes first, we can safely assume it matters. Before yoga asks us to stand on our heads, control the breath, or contemplate the nature of consciousness, it starts with a much simpler question: How are you treating other people? That’s the original context. Ahimsa is not primarily a self-care slogan. It is practical guidance for living in relationship with others. Years ago, a wonderfully direct...]]></description><link>https://www.sarawest.co/post/ahimsa-don-t-be-a-dick</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0a0694df43effc8ce29084</guid><category><![CDATA[PHILOSOPHY]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 18:36:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c82137_a363e18e985e4115a2f68c8ebe04f0f1~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sara West</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Eight Limbs of Yoga: A Practical Guide to Being Human]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Eight Limbs of Yoga: A Practical Guide to Being Human]]></description><link>https://www.sarawest.co/post/the-eight-limbs-of-yoga-a-practical-guide-to-being-human</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a09e5a92fd8b3b69693fc12</guid><category><![CDATA[PRACTICE]]></category><category><![CDATA[PHILOSOPHY]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 16:08:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c82137_9bdc6fe6573f47babafe7fa4d322df70~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sara West</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[YOGA, DHARMA, AND THE COURAGE TO BEGIN... AGAIN]]></title><description><![CDATA[I was boarding a flight back to Iraq when I decided to revisit the Bhagavad Gītā. I’d read it years before, but I had an audiobook version on my phone, and something called me to have another listen. At the time, I had been working as a nurse for more than twenty years, much of that in military and high-risk environments. I’d worked in emergency departments, operating theatres, onboard ships, in aeromedical evacuations, and conflict zones. I was good at what I did, and the work offered...]]></description><link>https://www.sarawest.co/post/yoga-dharma-and-the-courage-to-begin-again</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a08fbf20b9e4f37fd28a430</guid><category><![CDATA[DEVOTION]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 16 May 2026 23:39:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c82137_c6aacd19f8c946cbb2503c2053614fb7~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_678,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sara West</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[WHY STRENGTH MATTERS IN MIDLIFE]]></title><description><![CDATA[Perimenopause has a way of getting our attention. We may notice that our body no longer responds the way it once did. Muscle seems easier to lose. Recovery takes longer. Fat appears in places it wasn’t invited. Sleep can become unpredictable, and energy less reliable. It can feel unsettling. But in many ways, midlife is not the beginning of decline. It is an invitation to become stronger. MUSCLE IS ABOUT MORE THAN AESTHETICS As we get older, maintaining muscle becomes increasingly important....]]></description><link>https://www.sarawest.co/post/build-your-personal-brand-with-sara-west-s-expertise</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6932ff414f0e700bce2ef789</guid><category><![CDATA[STRENGTH]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 05 Dec 2025 15:50:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c82137_20cc33ad79fc4940a5f0edbf9edb455b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sara West</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[YOGA, OSTEOPOROSIS, &#38; THE TRUTH ABOUT BONE STRENGTH]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sara West What actually builds bone — and where yoga truly belongs There’s a quiet confusion I see again and again, especially among women in midlife: Is yoga enough to protect my bones? It’s an important question — and it deserves a clear, evidence-based answer that doesn’t dismiss yoga, but also doesn’t mythologise it. Here’s the short version first: Yoga alone is unlikely to significantly increase bone density in post-menopausal women. Progressive strength training and impact loading are...]]></description><link>https://www.sarawest.co/post/unlock-your-potential-personal-branding-tips-from-sara</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6932ff41fb424121479685bb</guid><category><![CDATA[STRENGTH]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 05 Dec 2025 15:50:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c82137_dcc861e6ca024d59bfbffebe40069ff6~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sara West</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[UNLEASH YOUR INNER POWER: HOW PROGRESSIVE OVERLOAD BUILDS STRENGTH FOR LIFE]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hey, beautiful soul! If you’ve ever poured your heart into a workout, felt that post-class glow, but wondered why you’re not feeling stronger or more capable in your daily life, this is for you. As women, we navigate a unique journey—hormonal shifts from our fertile years through perimenopause and menopause, the joys and challenges of motherhood, and a world that sometimes tells us “light weights” are enough. But you deserve more than fleeting endorphin highs. You deserve real strength,...]]></description><link>https://www.sarawest.co/post/progressive-overload</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6932ff406b2b69cfe5c4142f</guid><category><![CDATA[STRENGTH]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 05 Dec 2025 15:50:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c82137_fc8207d6234a44a08477bf9cfc015f30~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_954,h_882,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sara West</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>