Some know her as a photographer, some know her as a health buff and triathlete, others still know her as a meditation teacher, but in 2021 Sara Black is about to embark on yet another new way to be: a mom.
For over 16 years Sara Black has been a visual artist, well known for her photography. Her life was about art and work, but in 2013 she received a signal to also focus on health. A false cancer scare made Sara realise that she needed to pay more attention to her body. In the same passion with which she approached her craft, she recalibrated her lifestyle: eating healthy, exercising regularly, and even joining triathlons. It was following an unfortunate accident while training for a triathlon that she received another signal, this time to slowdown and to focus on wellbeing.
“I had fractured my pelvis,” she said. “It was a very humbling experience. From being very active and always out to having to stay still; I had to stay in bed for two weeks. I was very lucky though that I didn’t need surgery.”
Without the ability to go out, she–without knowing it–went in, into her mind and into herself. By being forced to be quieter and to spend time alone, she realised the power of a healthy and focused mind, one that is “decluttered” or free from “noise.” The feeling left her feeling at peace and content, and following her recovery she sought to maintain what she had found.
Trips to India to study meditation and yoga led to her certifications as a meditation teacher. Each time she completed a course, she would bring back what she learned to Manila, slowly building a following of students. When the quarantine hit the Philippines in March of 2020, Sara was more needed than ever. Mental health and wellness was given a spotlight as people began to acknowledge and understand their anxieties and started seeking help.
Quiet in quarantine
Already having an impressive roster of corporate clients with companies such as AXA, Asian Development Bank, and Maxicare, among many, Sara found herself doing plenty of company sessions via Zoom. In the past 12 months, many companies have chosen to offer wellness classes to assist their employees with how they are feeling and to help employees process the changes in the world and in their lives, both of which lead to a healthier work environment online.
Teaching meditation online was different, it required adjustment, and it was a lot of work, but it was also very fulfilling. It has also led to bigger projects, such as an upcoming wellness and wellbeing app to be launched by an HMO client. Set to launch in the next couple of months, the app will allow greater accessibility to services like hers.
On top of her corporate clients, Sara continued to accept one-on-one sessions and private group sessions. And while it may seem like she had also taken to meditation with the same unstoppable go-go-go attitude she had when approaching photography and athletics, the centredness and mental clarity that is the foundation of her practice makes the endeavour completely different. She is utterly at peace.
Motherhood
Peace, coincidentally, is exactly what she needed because as her life unfolded exactly as it should Sara found herself expecting. Tuning into her mind and body, just as she was trained to do, she decided to wrap up her projects this March with one last session on breathwork and meditation for moms (see image), quite in line with the role she is about to begin.
This spotlight is, perhaps, her final feature before she becomes a mother at age 40, something she is savouring with both excitement and serenity. (Truly, there may not be a calmer first-time-mommy out there!) From known photographer, avid triathlete, loved meditation teacher, and on to motherhood, the past 8 years have constantly seen her evolving, adapting, and adjusting, each time finding a new way to be.
Follow Sara on Instagram (@seethelight.bethelight) and www.sarablack.com for updates on her sessions on meditation and wellness. She admits that it might be silent for a time following her expected delivery in April, but stay tuned!
About the writer
Rachel Kelly Davis has been a published writer since the age of 14, often writing features, essays, and cover pieces. In 2016 she started writing poetry, leaving index cards of her poems all over the world and posting the photos she is sent by the people who find them. She has worked in communications for over a decade, wearing various hats ranging from digital marketing and SEO practitioner, brand strategist, and investor relations officer. Most recently she was the Associate Vice President for Customer Experience (Public Affairs) at WSP Inc., a public relations company based in the Philippines. Currently she is happily raising 5-year-old Valentina and 2-month old Levi Grey while taking charge of Mommy Mundo’s web content. Follow her on Instagram @arkaydee
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