Possible by Design Approach to Somatic Practice
You might be drawn to this work if:
- your mind stays active, even when you’re ready to slow down
- you feel tired but wired, or more on edge than you’d like
- you’re noticing patterns of stress or overthinking
- you’re curious about feeling more steady or at ease in your body
- you feel a pull to reconnect with what matters to you
- you want space to move, explore, or try something different
- you’re drawn toward creativity, expression, or a more open way of being
- part of you misses feeling playful, free, or fully yourself
My Teaching Style
I create a warm, open space (for real!) where you can show up exactly as you are.
Be loud and wild.
Be quiet and introspective.
Be quirky, edgy, or free.
I’m an observer and a listener, energized by the uniqueness of each person and the stories they carry.
There’s no pressure to perform — only an invitation to reconnect with yourself.
Yoga Beyond Postures
Yoga is often associated with postures and flexibility. In practice, it’s much broader — a way of paying attention to your body, your breath, and how you move through your life.
Traditional yoga is inherently somatic. It focuses more on how we feel in our own body, and less on how we look.
In practice, that might look like:
- rest
- gentle movement
- noticing your breath
- feeling sensation
There’s no single way to do it “right.”
The work is noticing, listening, and gradually shifting patterns in a way that feels supportive and real.
Over time, this can create:
- more steadiness
- more clarity
- more connection
- more room for creativity and expression
Ways Into the Work
I draw from a range of evidence-backed approaches. You don’t have to fit into a single path.
Body & Nervous System
Grounding, breath, rest, and somatic practices that help your system come out of a constant “on” state. As your body settles, your mind can begin to slow down.
Sound & Sensory
Music, rhythm, and sound that work with mood and emotion without needing to think or explain. These pathways can help shift how you feel when words aren’t enough.
Movement & Expression
Free-form movement and expression that give your body a way to release tension and complete stress patterns. This can create a sense of ease, energy, and access beyond thinking.
Reflection & Meaning
Writing and guided reflection that help you process what’s been building and make sense of your experience. This supports clarity, integration, and a stronger sense of direction.
My approach bridges traditional yoga philosophy, modern somatic practices, creative expression, and emerging nervous system research.
My work is trauma-informed and rooted in the belief that the body holds profound wisdom.
About Sarah
RYT 500 • Yoga Therapist-in-Training • Clinical Mental Health Counselor-in-Training
Advanced training in Yoga Nidra, somatics, and yoga for mental health and sleep.
I’m Sarah Atkinson, a mind-body teacher and guide with a background in psychology, and research focused on patient and user experiences in healthcare.
My work integrates somatic practices, nervous system regulation, sound, and embodied creative practices, like writing and freeform movement, to help people reconnect with clarity, steadiness, and authentic expression
From Burnout to Expression
After many years working in large corporate environments, I became deeply disconnected from myself and eventually burned out — physically, mentally, emotionally, and intellectually.
Those experiences showed me:
- how stress accumulates in complex systems
- how easily we internalize pressure that was never ours to carry
Eventually, I left my corporate career to pursue a path more aligned with my values.
Yoga and somatic practices became my way back — along with a renewed connection to creativity through music, writing, and design.
Today, that experience informs how I support others navigating:
- burnout
- stress
- disconnection
- identity shifts
through yoga therapy, workshops, and small group programs.
Creativity and embodiment remain threads that run through everything I share.
Ways to Begin
Want to connect more directly?
Email me at sarah@softsmilesomatics.com
Putting myself first
Was a quiet thing-
Soft and certain,
A gentle rebellion
Long overdue.
— s.r.w.
My Path
Exploring mind-body practices has been a path of deeper self-acceptance, calm, and connection with my values for more than twenty years.
With a background in research, I stay curious about the growing science behind these practices — while also holding the ancient wisdom of yoga in deep respect.
Much of my work begins with restoring steadiness in the nervous system.
From that foundation, there’s more space for:
- clarity
- creativity
- authentic expression
to begin to return.
I love co-creating with people as they reconnect with their bodies and learn to trust their own experience.
Core Professional Training
- Yoga Therapist-in-Training (C-IAYT track, expected 2026), The Mindfulness Center
- Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-500), The Yoga Center Retreat
- Trauma-Informed Yoga Certification (TIY), YogaX at Stanford Psychiatry
- Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (expected 2028), St. Cloud State University (CACREP-accredited)
Specialized Study
- Advanced training in yoga for anxiety, depression, and sleep support — Yoga North International Soma Yoga Institute
- Yoga Nidra Levels I & II — Tara Sherman
- Advanced Training in Somatic Practices — Michelle Young
- Additional studies in meditation, yin yoga, somatic movement, and complementary healing practices.
Yoga Therapy Training
I am completing my C-IAYT Yoga Therapy Certification at The Mindfulness Center under the guidance of Dr. Debbie Norris, Psychologist-in-Residence at American University and Director of the Psychobiology of Healing Program, whose work integrates decades of research on mind-body practices and health.
My teachers include Aurora Hutchinson, Dr. Steffany Moonaz, Megan Doyle, Darin Somma, and James Foulkes.
I chose The Mindfulness Center because of its strong foundation in research, trauma-informed teaching, and reverence for ancient yoga practices.
These values — science, tradition, and imagination — are the foundation of Possible by Design.
Academic Education
- MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (expected 2028), St. Cloud State University (CACREP-accredited)
- Graduate Certificate in Health Care Design & Innovation, University of Minnesota
- MFA Coursework in Creative Writing, Queens University
- BA in Psychology & English, University of North Carolina
Values that guide the way
Protect What Lights You Up
I'm here to support you — you don't have to carry it all.
Respect the Whole Person
I honor the full, complex humanity you bring with you — your body, your voice, your experiences, and your story
Create Possibility
I believe imagination isn’t a luxury — it’s the spark that opens new paths for healing and growth.
Honor Tradition, Intuition & Evidence
My practices draw from ancient wisdom, inner knowing, and modern research — holding all three in thoughtful balance.
Embody Self-Expression
You are invited to show up as you are, not as who you are expected to be.
Sprinkle a Touch of Whimsy
I take your mind-body needs seriously. And I take fun seriously, too. Expect lightness and play woven into the work.