Sarah wears the Signature Shirt, When The Stars Go Blue Knit, and 01 Leggings.

You describe Sala as a "multidisciplinary movement community". For those who haven't had the privilege of visiting Sala or attending one of the myriads of classes on offer, what do they need to know?

In a nutshell, Sala offers over 100 classes a week (soon to be 140), in Barre, Yoga, Pilates, Reformer Pilates, Sound Healing, and Strength. We're also currently building a treadmill and strength training room which launches in July. Additionally to the movement studio element, we host monthly journal sessions with journo and teacher training and workshops. So, there are many different threads weaving the tapestry together, and we are all meeting at the intersectional points. Whether you're new to moving your body, on a deep spiritual yogic enquiry, or just regaining body autonomy after having a baby, there are a lot of different micro-communities to join within the incubator of Sala.

That word, 'community', is something you do so well, from the little details like the matcha, tea + coffee station, and communal tables for reading and resting, to the local artists like Grace Bader whose work you have on display. Community is clearly at the centre of all your decision-making - did you feel this was missing from the wellness space?

It wasn't deliberate; Sala is just a physical manifestation of who I am as a person and what I value. I've always been fascinated by people and connections. I often joke that I’m the girl in the kitchen at parties listening intently as you trauma dump. I studied sociology and philosophy at university, which is the study of human behaviour, interaction, and organisation, so that's unconsciously set the backdrop of the way I approach building a business.

I'm deeply moved and inspired by art, culture, and music, so these elements will always infiltrate any business I start. I love artists like Hilma af Klint and her abstract experiments in spiritual investigation. The circular motif of her work is expressed through the studio as its evolved; beginning with the original eclipse, followed by the sunset room's atmospheric sun and then with the solar room with Angus Muir's work, which is inspired by the light of illumination, which shines within all of us. We're collaborating again with Angus for the new space in a really huge and exciting way.

You're building a new era for Sala. What can you share about what's on the horizon? And how do you want to deepen your commitment to creating safe spaces for connection?

I never planned to expand into a full fitness, treadmill, or empty-the-tank space, but the community pushed for this. Sala is in a co-creation with its community, so I'm always quietly listening to its needs. The new room fulfils the need to respond to the changing seasons of our lives. We don't have to pigeonhole ourselves into one thing. I'm not crazy about these Instagram trends of “I'm a Pilates girlie” or “with the fitness girls”. We can simultaneously be: Soft and hard, introverted and extroverted, loud and quiet. The movement practices I wanted at twenty differ from those I enjoyed during pregnancy, burn-out, depression or postpartum. Instead of resisting change and forcing ourselves to maintain practices that no longer bring us joy, Sala has cultivated a space that invites you to lean into change. We are in a constant state of evolution.

Entrepreneurs make many sacrifices, making these tradeoffs even more complicated for parents. How would you describe the push and pull of sacrifices you've made between building Sala, your first baby, and raising your daughter?

I've always been naturally quite entrepreneurial, if I see an opportunity, I take it and trust that I will work out the finer details in the flow. I'm very flexible as a person in some ways, which helps me juggle it all. I feel blessed to have my daughter Ophelia to keep me grounded and creative within this organic business chaos. I work long, unstructured hours around her, but I know that all parents make these sacrifices. If anything, I am lucky to be able to work more flexible hours, pick her up every day without fail at 3pm, and choose to work after 7.30pm, her bedtime. Not all mothers have such a luxury. Every disadvantage has an advantage.

And lastly, a nosey-parker question because I have to ask! You spend so much time, money and resources researching what's new and emerging in the wellness space and are always at the forefront. What does your current routine/practice look like, and what do you prioritise each day as a time-poor entrepreneur and working mother?

I am time (and sleep-poor), but I prioritise a form of movement daily, even if it's walking. A motto in our home is to lead by example, and that feeds into all our relationships: romantic, parenting and work. This includes treating and communicating about food as energy and a resource rather than 'treats', 'cheats' or 'healthy'. We also tell Ophelia when we go for runs, yoga, or the gym and take family walks together. It is important to us that she is familiar with movement as a way of processing, having fun, and finding connection. I have a few non-negotiable classes a week that I schedule in my diary and I work meetings around them. I treat these like any important meeting; I don't cancel. I show up for myself.

I always do at least one Yoga, barre or reformer, and strength training a week, but I aim to do one class a day, Monday to Friday. Five classes a week sounds like a lot, but they're not all empty the tank, work to 100% classes. In fact, I never work to my maximum effort, I believe in less but often. Sometimes these classes are sound healing, Yin or meditation. How often do we feel tired and don't have the energy to do something nourishing for ourselves but feel more energised, happy and inspired afterwards? Movement isn't about body type, calories or aesthetics. It's a way of transforming stagnant energy, processing experiences and feeling connected to yourself.

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