Alumni Feature: Lauren Sacks on Prenatal Yoga & Authentic Teaching

Q3: One of the intentions behind AYC’s 300-hour program is to support teachers in stepping more fully into their authentic voice. What does showing up authentically mean to you?

To me, being fully present with my students and getting out of my own head is when I feel most authentic in my teaching. I am showing up as me — with all of my quirks and imperfections (and hopefully a sense of humor to accompany both) — rather than as someone trying to emulate the ideal yoga instructor.

Q4: Why do you teach prenatal and postnatal yoga?

For so many reasons. Referring back to the previous question, I love the authenticity of this time of life. Birthing people show up so authentically, and when we’re pregnant or postpartum, we have no choice but to be really embodied. Things are changing all the time, and honoring those changes — and how our bodies feel and react to them — is essential to the experience. I am also really drawn to the community created as a result of a shared experience. I start all of my classes with a check-in and find that the mutual support inherent in that deepens the experience. People leave feeling better in their bodies and with new friends to boot.

Q5: What’s currently lighting you up in 2026? What are you creating, building, or dreaming about?

I am feeling really inspired about a few things this year! We just finished the 10th iteration of our Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga Teacher Training a few weeks ago, and we had an amazing group of teachers. I am constantly in awe of the depth of shared wisdom, experience, and passion that shows up in our cohorts, and I am so grateful to be able to participate and learn from such amazing people. We are increasingly focused on reproductive justice in the work that we do, and that continues to be reflected in the students we attract to our training. I would love to offer the training more than once a year, so we’re looking at different ways to make that happen. I am also finishing up my first year in a graduate program for Clinical Mental Health Counseling and am looking forward to offering a mutual support and movement group for postpartum parents this fall. Moving into Motherhood combines emotional and mental wellness practices with supportive postnatal yoga, and it is a particular favorite of mine. I hope to replicate the model I’ve created at other yoga studios and wellness spaces in the coming year. I am actually excited to seek support for the program in order to increase accessibility for all who might be interested in participating.