Meet Sarah Ruiz | Owner & Creator, Sweet Tea Yoga

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Ruiz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
When we moved to the area (Peachtree City, just south of Atlanta) the town did not have a yoga studio. I was pregnant with my fourth and had practiced yoga with each previous pregnancy. I knew that I needed a space to practice, to connect with my growing baby, and take some time to breathe and find centering in my day. There were instructors teaching in a variety of venues, from gyms to recreation centers, but there was not a dedicated yoga space. I felt that this was something our community needed, a place to decompress and find connection with others through the practice of yoga. While I studied and trained as a music teacher, I had never owned a business, so there was a bit of trepidation and nerves when opening. It is always a challenge to put yourself out there, but I truly believed that this was something that would help others. Since opening in 2018, we have doubled our practice space and our yoga community is growing daily. While owning a business presents a myriad of challenges (especially during a global pandemic) it has also brought moments of great joy and happiness for myself, but more importantly, for the people in our community.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am most proud of our beautiful yoga community! From embracing new students into our space, to hearing laughter in the hallway, it is bringing people together that has made this venture worthwhile. It brings me immense joy to be on my yoga mat and seeing people smiling and finding joy in our otherwise very busy and stressful lives. To arrive at this place has been a journey, as owning a business always presents challenges, both small and large. From arriving at the studio to find a pipe had burst to a global pandemic, each time we turn a corner there is always something to keep us on our toes. One of the most difficult obstacles has been to keep people coming into the physical studio space. When the world shutdown and people began practicing yoga online, we learned we had to get creative with our class offerings and also move the business online. What we didn’t anticipate was that people are still hesitant to return to yoga studios because the online classes are very convenient and often free. But what online yoga will never be able to replace is our connection to others, something we inherently need to survive as human beings. Sweet Tea Yoga is truly a space for all and will continue to create opportunities for people to come together in a healthy and safe environment.

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.
This is so fun because my best friend actually lives in Chicago and was just here for a weekend! I have lived in Louisville, Memphis, Chicago and New York, so moving to Atlanta was a great way to learn about the city and it’s rich history, which is so important! A perfect week in Atlanta includes the Museum of Human and Civil Rights, the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King, Ebenezer Church, the MLK Jr. National History Museum, beautiful Piedmont Park, and definitely Ponce City Market for shopping and yummy food. As an Atlanta Symphony Orchestra subscriber we often take guests to their performances, or to shows at the Fox Theatre, both accessible and affordable. If it’s summer time, an Atlanta Braves game is also a must! Truist Park is beautiful and offers so much as far as entertainment, food, and drinks. Lastly, we ALWAYS, always make time to come to classes at Sweet Tea Yoga!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Our teachers! We have 17 yoga instructors at Sweet Tea Yoga, with a range of trainings, accreditations, and experiences. Our instructors have gone above and beyond to maintain the integrity of the studio, to create a welcoming space for people from ALL backgrounds. I cannot say enough wonderful things about their ability to make yoga students, both new and advanced, comfortable in their yoga practice, ensuring a safe and supportive environment. It truly takes a village so I would like to offer a HUGE SHOUTOUT to Summer Aston, Tanya Dunne, Leslie Donnellan, Jill Elkin, Malinie Feeney, Chandra Fowler, Marsha Fraker, Samaneh Kazemi, Tami Lewis, Karen Martin, Renee Morris, Dana Muggy, Kathy Pabst, Brandy Redd, Jennifer Schultz, Jane Semaan, Flo Sheffield, and Kelly Smith.

Website: www.sweetteayoga.com

Instagram: @sweetteayogaptc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweetteayoga

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdTukQOfC414MrtYv4iMUGQ

Image Credits
SOUTHERN LIGHT CINEMA