Bella Loca

Sarah earned the nickname Bella Loca as a stand out member of the cycling team Velo Bella. How exactly does a cyclist earn the nickname Loca? Well, check out the team chatter - the race reports will tell all (or part, and probably some fiction too).

Sarah's recent escapades include a trip across the pond to the Cyclocross Elite World Championships, where she earned a top 20 racing with the world's best. Locally, Sarah is known for twice winning the Santa Cruz Sentinel Triathlon. Not one to rest on her laurels, Sarah is currently racing cyclocross nearly every weekend, including a World Cup event in Belgium. If you spot her on the roads (she's the one with the pink flamingo on the handlebars) wave hello!

Sarah began practicing yoga in 1994 with Julie Kimball at UC Santa Cruz. As a competitive swimmer and water polo player, Sarah balanced the stresses of time in the water with a yoga practice that was heavily influenced by Iyengar tradition. Sarah eventually added Vinyasa flow to her practice, and trained to teach Power Vinyasa under Linda Schlamadinger McGrath. Everyone, especially athletes, need quiet time, so Sarah recently completed her Yin Yoga teacher training with Sarah Powers.

As an athlete, Sarah has benefited from her yoga practice in many ways. Recovering from races, working through injuries, and developing core strength and stability are just the beginning. Yoga also can be a path to greater mental focus, developing a sixth sense, and becoming more efficient through greater body awareness. Sarah loves to help athletes learn more about their bodies through yoga!