Meet Sara Avant Stover | Bestselling Author, Certified Internal Family Systems Practitioner, and Teacher of Feminine Spirituality

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sara Avant Stover and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sara Avant, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
Having been immersed in building both my business and career for the past 23 years, the most important thing this process has taught me is the need to keep taking small steps, consistently. These regular points of engagement (like posting on social media a few times a week, sending out a monthly newsletter, and writing for one hour every morning) are key and add up over time to create more opportunities, bodies of work, and engagement.

So often, people I work with think they need to do something big and bold right out of the gate. Success takes time. It’s a slow, gradual path. When we show up for ourselves and others consistently, even (and especially) when we don’t feel like it or life is challenging, this builds trust (others trusting me, me trusting myself), as well as momentum and structure that’s otherwise often lacking outside of the 9-5 box.

A book can be written by writing one hour a day for a year. An audience can be cultivated by publishing two podcasts a month. Daily baby steps add up and are so worth it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a pioneering teacher of women’s yoga, mediation, and spirituality, as well as the author of two books: The Book of SHE & The Way of the Happy Woman. (Plus, my third book is in the works!)

I came to this career by accident, as my initial plan, upon graduating from college, was to get my Ph.D. and to teach and write in academia. A health scare upon my college graduation threw me a curve ball which unexpectedly led me to live in northern Thailand for a decade.

It was there that I learned a whole new way of living (slower, saner), and, over time, I started to teach other women how to live this way, too.

Parts of my journey have been easy and others have been incredibly hard. It’s been easy in that I felt I was serendipitously redirected to this career path, upon which I”ve been offered many opportunities (publishing two books, teaching at leading retreat centers around the world, and meeting many wonderful people).

The main challenges I’ve faced have been both internal and external. Internally, I’ve come up against a lot of self-doubts, inner criticism, and comparison at various times. Externally, I’ve faced financial challenges, burnout, a steep learning curve around managing a team and a small business, and life events that have made showing up for my work (which demands a lot of my presence and creativity) challenging.

What have helped me get through all of these things are my regular yoga and meditation practice, making sure I take ample time off (I aim for 6 weeks a year), working with mentors and coaches, and learning how to have good boundaries (that’s been a process as well!).

What I most want the world to know about my story is that I teach what I live. Everything I create comes out of my own, direct life experience, which is one of the reasons why so many women relate to what I write and teach about.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting me in Boulder, I’d make sure I took her to the Saturday morning Farmer’s Market, followed by a dance class with Lucy Wallace of “Dance to Be Free,” and lunch at Fresh Thymes.

We’d hike the Valley Trail on Mount Sanitas, stroll around Wonderland Lake, enjoy the Mesa Trail, as well as my favorite: the Anne U. White Trail.

Coffee (or an oat milk matcha latte) at Boxcar would be a must, along with fresh juice or a smoothie at Wonder Press, gluten-free pizza at Barchetta or Basta, sushi at Hapa, live music at the St. Julien (if she’s visiting during the summer), and poulet frites at Mateo.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I give thanks to my long-time business mentor, Andrea J. Lee, as well as my long-time spiritual mentor, Sarah Powers. Both of these women have helped me to face obstacles, find opportunities, and keep playing for the long game.

My daily yoga and meditation practice, along with regular walks in nature (plus the companionship of my rescue dog, Sadie) are also invaluable supports.

Website: www.saraavantstover.com

Instagram: instagram.com/saraavantstover

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saraavantstover/

Facebook: facebook.com/saraavantstoverauthor

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWKJDwvzpEuuHgjz4IT383w