Empowering Women Series: Sianna Sherman
What is an empowering woman? Immediate words that often come to mind are attributes like strong, courageous, genuine, and influential. But when you look up the actual definition of 'empower,' it means to make someone else stronger and more confident; to give power to another. That is what an empowering woman does above all else — she instills power, strength, and confidence in others.
We are surrounded by so many incredible women at KiraGrace, and we want to share a piece of their stories and characters with YOU in the hope that they will empower you the same way they've done for us. We will be highlighting different women who inspire us, challenge stereotypes, and are just, well, fabulous!
For the ninth issue of our Empowering Women Series, we interviewed our inspiring KiraGrace Global Ambassador Sianna Sherman. Sianna is an internationally celebrated yoga teacher, evocative storyteller, and passionate speaker at conferences and festivals throughout the world. She is the founder of Rasa Yoga, Mythic Yoga Flow®, and founder of RITUAL - a platform that serves the empowerment of women. She was featured in Yoga Journal as one of the 21 top teachers shaping the future of yoga.
Sianna is dedicated to the Holy Sophia as both a Tantric Yogini and Celtic Priestess. She guides women through in-depth journeys with ritual, voice, womb wisdom, shadow work, emotional intimacy, mythology, goddess transmission, blood mysteries, and rites of passage ceremonies. She trains women through embodied Priestess Pilgrimages and is a guide for women to Avalon. Every other year, she joins with her Beloved Masood Ali Khan to take both men and women to Avalon. This pilgrimage is called: Alchemy of Avalon and is a profound journey of brothers and sisters in service to each other.
Sianna has a unique ability to touch the human heart through story, transmission and devotional practice. As a globetrotting yogini, she leads high-vibration gatherings, teacher trainings, workshops, sacred site retreats and pilgrimages as an offering of Love. Sianna is an innovative, visionary spirit with a deep devotion to Soul Alchemy, and her teachings are a true convergence of science, mysticism, art and yoga. Her vision is to serve for the Benefit of All Beings & awaken magic into the world!
We’re so excited to be able to feature Sianna in our Empowering Women series, and we loved learning more about how she has become such an incredibly inspiring yogi and woman . . .
KG – How and why did you start practicing yoga?
SS – I began at the end of my teenage years, after confronting some very tough demons in my psyche from 13-19 years old. I began with meditation and long hours of weeping, grieving, and breaking my heart open. At 21 years old, I discovered yoga in the form of asana and fell passionately in love with the practice. I soon set sail for Mother India and I’ve been practicing ever since!
KG – What challenges has yoga helped you overcome?
SS – Low self-esteem, self-loathing, depression, body dysmorphia, eating disorders, suicidal ideation, addictive behaviors, sexual trauma, weak immunity, severe pneumonia, lack of clear boundaries, shutting down my heart…it’s a BIG list!
KG – What is an essential part of your day?
SS – Yoga as my Embodied Ritual – mantra, mudra, meditation, asana, pranayama, nature and magic!
KG – What is something you wish you had more time to do?
SS - Oh my gosh!!! I love life so much…and I’m a very passionate soul.. I would love to learn languages, music, weaving, pottery, painting, and one day build our own Green Eco Home with a Yoga Sanctuary on the land … and one more thing.. I would love to write a book!
KG – What do you want your students to take away from their practice with you?
SS – Kindness, Compassion, Love, Magic, Skills for emotional intimacy, Skills for embracing the whole of their being, Activation to be a living flame of Love-In-Action, big TRUST in their Authentic Voice, and increasing commitment to their transformation and to the Collective Transformation at hand on the Earth.
KG – What is your mindset when you step onto your mat?
SS – Devotion, Gratitude and Knowing that I live a privileged life and I have food, shelter, water, and resources to live. In this way, I remember to dedicate the merit of my practice for the Benefit of All Beings and ask: How May I Serve? I pray to be a Vessel of Love and for Spirit to flow through me and show me the best way to serve here on Earth.
KG – What attracted you to Rasa Yoga?
SS – I began studying Tantra in my twenties, where I “discovered” Tantra in an ashram in 1993 (or perhaps Tantra discovered me!) This opened up my mind in the philosophy of yoga in a whole new way. Several years later, I learned about the Rasa Theory of Tantra and my heart ignited! Rasa has several meanings, which include: “feeling, taste, nectar, juice, evocation, and emotional essence”. There are 9 traditional Rasas: passion/love, laughter/joy, strength/courage, sadness/compassion, anger/fearsome, dread/fear, disgust/repulsion, wonder/awe, and peace/contentment. In Tantra, everything is embraced and we become intimate with the whole of our experience; nothing is thrown out or denied. Each rasa becomes a gateway where we learn to wield the energy of the emotion so we can weave the tapestry of our lives in an artistic and beneficial way. I often teach that Rasa Yoga is in service to the “Alchemy of Yoga & Artistry of Life”.
KG- What is your favorite yoga pose of the moment?
SS – Hmmm… I adore … handstand, hanumanasana, urdhva dhanurasana, and yoga mudrasana… if I have to choose, then let’s say full wheel pose + lots of variations because I love the embodiment of the Rainbow Bridge within each of us.
KG- What is the most amazing place you’ve traveled to?
CS – Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica … I simply LOVE it there with all the monkeys, whales, toucans, scarlet macaws, and diverse rainforest +++ Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India with Lord Nataraja’s Temple and to Avalon, where I am steeped in the ancient mysteries of the Priestess.
KG – Why is yoga important to the times we’re living in?
SS – Time to Step Up! We’ve been in a collective coma of convenience for a long time… things are shaking up, old paradigms are dismantling, and a new collective force is emerging that sincerely cares for the world. We are all being initiated and we are all being called. Yoga provides us with the inner fortitude, connection, commitment and dedication to Rise Together and make a difference.
KG – What makes you feel empowered?
SS – When I’m able to keep my heart open in the midst of conflict, hold clear boundaries, listen openly and gently release my inner critic into the flame of transmutation.
KG – What accomplishment or aspect of your work are you most proud of?
SS – That I have consistently shown up for my communities in both yoga and priestess. On a manifest level, I’m ecstatic that I generated 3 extraordinary platforms of online study: Rasa Yoga, Mythic Yoga Flow®, and a 13-Moon Priestess Mystery School. This has required tremendous focus and determination, so I’m definitely GRATEFUL!
KG – What is the most important thing you’ve learned in your personal journey?
SS – Stay connected with Source and trust in the Mystery & Magic in being here on Earth. … AND it really does come down to the bottom line of LOVE.
KG – When do you feel most fulfilled?
SS – When I’m simply being in rhythm and ritual with nature, life, and love.
KG – Do you have a favorite quote or mantra you live by?
SS – “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek” – attributed to Joseph Campbell
KG – What is your favorite piece of KiraGrace clothing that you own?
SS – Goddess Luxe One Shoulder – every single color + Dark Leopard everything!
Jai KiraGrace! I love you All!
Saprema,
Sianna
If you liked this blog, check out our other blogs like: "Empowering Women Series: Christina Sell," "The Art of Aging Gracefully: Issue 3", "The Art of Aging Gracefully: Issue 2", "The Art of Aging Gracefully: Issue 1," and "Resources for Your Well-Being."
