Discover the captivating world of Sarah Herrington, a gifted writer, teacher, and advocate for narrative healing. With a remarkable background in literature and yoga, Sarah has made a lasting impact in both fields.
Having obtained MFAs from prestigious institutions such as New York University and Lesley University, Sarah currently imparts her knowledge as a writing instructor at Fordham University. Her exceptional written works have graced the pages of renowned publications like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Oprah Magazine. As a regular contributor to Yoga Journal, she seamlessly merges her passions for yoga and the written word.
Beyond her literary achievements, Sarah is highly regarded as a yoga teacher, having completed extensive training in various yoga styles. Her expertise has attracted the attention of NPR and CNN, where she has shared insights on safe spaces within yoga and meditation communities.
Sarah's dedication to narrative healing shines through her recent presentation at Harvard University's Uses and Abuses of Power conference. Drawing from personal experiences and contemplative practices, she empowers individuals to heal from spiritual abuse and find solace through storytelling. I am also thrilled to share that Sarah is hosting The Portal: summer journey of writing + healing. Featuring some amazing guest teachers, writing workshops, community, and coaching, including yours truly!
Please keep reading to learn more about Sarah and her many practices!
Hi Sarah! We are incredibly grateful to have you here. Could you please share a bit about your background and what initially sparked your interest in writing and teaching?
Yes! I’ve been writing since I was a little kid, making little books and poems. Growing up in a rural area in the Northeast, reading gave me connection and escape. I moved to NYC at 18 to study writing and ended up getting two MFAs (that's another story) from Lesley University and NYU. Along the way, I fell in love with teaching and helping create a creative community. I've also been teaching various forms of yoga and meditation for fifteen years, and during the pandemic began to teach mindful writing classes that combine meditation and embodiment.
Your writing incorporates elements of memoir and personal essay, as well as poetry. How do you balance these different forms, and what do you enjoy about each one?
I feel like the genre comes from the subject---different expressions take different shapes. I also love genre hybridity, where the writing combines forms or moves beyond them altogether.
I started with poetry, and this informed my love for sound, rhythm, and imagery in writing.
I'm inspired by memoirs and personal essays because you can take things you’ve lived through, witnessed, and make them into art. In this way, both forms can be empowering. You get to take what happened “to you” and reclaim your narrative, your way. There's a lot of creativity happening in these spaces, too, and you can weave in poetic elements.
I often gravitate toward essays because they are more compact, and in that way can feel like a poem. Memoir lets you spread out and go deeper into layers. At the moment I’m really interested in hybrid memoirs and essays where you can bring in different tools—- like reporting or research or lyrical play—- into your nonfiction story.
In addition to writing, you also teach writing workshops and mentor other writers. What do you enjoy about teaching, and what advice do you have for writers looking to improve their craft?
I absolutely love being in spaces where writers are working to explore and express themselves. When I'm teaching I find great meaning in encouraging others to use their voices. I also feel so honored to witness drafts and hear the stories of others. I feel like our world can be so lonely and disconnected, and working on writing in safe spaces can be medicine—- helping us connect to ourselves and others.
For first drafts, I really think it’s important to protect your sacred space and allow yourself to explore and play. Pretend no one is going to read your work. You can always edit things out later. Drafting with vulnerability and honesty can yield energetic work.
If you are interested in publishing, I think it’s helpful to aim your work toward a particular outlet as you edit. To do that, read tons of pieces from the column or publication you are aiming for and study the form. You can always break rules, but if publishing is important to you it’s helpful to understand the guidelines. When you submit your work, aim high! You never know if you can place your writing in a publication til you try.
Your work has appeared in publications like The New York Times, The Paris Review, and Elle. How does the process of writing for different audiences and publications affect your writing style and voice?
I do think there’s a process of aiming when it comes to publishing that can shape your voice for that piece. I think you should always sound like yourself, but when writing toward or with a certain publication there may be things like word count or style to consider. It’s so powerful to publish and connect with readers, but also not every piece fits in every publication. To me, publishing is a process of finding a home for your work that enhances it. It’s a collaborative process between writer and publication.
You're also a yoga teacher and have written extensively on the connection between writing and yoga. How do these two practices intersect for you, and what role do they play in your life?
To me, yoga and writing are complementary practices. I think it can be so fruitful to have contemplative practice in your life —— a realm of silence —- to dip into, inhabit, a place to hear your intuition. For me, that’s yoga, meditation, sound baths/ sound healing, color therapy, and even walks. I need those spaces of spirit, of the liminal, to feel. All that feeling and intuition then inform what I write about.
Having a regular yoga practice also taught me a lot about ritual and determination--- having a practice, and learning to show up on the page again no matter what. One of my yoga teachers used to say: “through repetition the magic arises,” and I think that’s great advice for establishing a writing practice too.
Finally, what are you currently working on, and what can readers expect from you in the future?
Thanks for asking! I’m currently writing a hybrid memoir investigating aspects of spirituality, abuse and healing. And as a wildcard I’m revisiting some old short stories from the past, stories looking at gender and power. And I've always got an essay in the oven :)
You can find out more about Sarah by visiting her website: https://www.sarahherrington.com/
Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Sarah.Herrington/