Emily: You’re a yoga teacher and always seem so grounded and Zen. Have you ever personally had trouble getting quality sleep?
Sadie: Oh, absolutely! I was the total anti-Zen when it came to my sleep quality for years and years. Even though I was practicing yoga six days a week, I was a severe insomniac. It was extremely difficult for me to fall asleep, and if I finally did conk out, I’d toss and turn all night until the sun came up. I had resigned myself to just being a "bad sleeper" by nature and tried to endure it as best as I could.
As you can imagine — especially as someone practicing and teaching high-intensity power yoga in hectic New York City and constantly on the go — it was deeply frustrating to wake up feeling more exhausted than when I went to bed. I spent my days slogging through work in a heavy mental and physical fog, feeling like I was underwater, and becoming desperate for a real solution.
Emily: That sounds exhausting. What finally turned things around for you?
Sadie: When I reached the end of my rope, I began studying sleep and brain sciences alongside evidence-backed wellness techniques. I realized that the intense yoga I was doing wasn't actually preparing my body for sleep. The way I was living and moving was blocking my ability to rest and digest, and my schedule was completely disrupting my circadian rhythm. I was practicing power yoga too frequently and too late at night, which was dumping sleep-blocking cortisol into my system. Cortisol is a stress hormone, and a little goes a long way—it can cause everything from day-time fatigue to popping wide awake right at bedtime!
I was working out too hard without ever counterbalancing it with practices meant to reset my central nervous system back to a calm state. I had a consistent workout routine, but zero sleep routine. So, I embarked on a 10-year learning journey to discover what actually works to help us sleep better consistently. Once I put a science-backed sleep plan into place, I saw a massive improvement. Today, I know how to get quality sleep on any given night, and if I don't sleep well, I know exactly why so I can adjust. That feels truly empowering!
Emily: Why did you feel called to bring these tools together and create a course for our community?
Sadie: I’ve felt the pain and anguish of sleeping terribly, and I know how quickly a bad night can wreck your whole day — and eventually feel like it’s wrecking your life! I also know firsthand how much power we have to shift the situation when given the right tools, but very few resources bring all of these simple, profound techniques together in one place.
As someone who went from chronic insomnia to sleeping great, and as a science-educated wellness instructor, I felt I shouldn't keep this wealth of practical knowledge to myself. I needed to step up and share what I learned so others don't have to struggle alone.
Emily: Sleep can feel so elusive when we’re stuck in a cycle of restlessness. How does your course help move the body out of that high-alert state?
Sadie: This program works because every session is built on proven actions that move the body and mind out of fight-or-flight overdrive and into deep balance. Instead of targeting just one area of the body, each session layers multiple techniques to engage all of your relaxation systems at once. You’re multi-tasking across your brain, muscles, central nervous system, hormones, and heart rate so that your entire system holistically shifts into rest.
We also incorporate binaural beats, which are incredible allies for sleep. These are soothing soundscapes designed to help lower brainwave frequencies from a hyperactive state down into alpha, theta, or delta waves — the frequencies that calm the body and mind most effectively. You don't have to force yourself to "think" your way into relaxation; the binaural soundscapes help guide your brainwaves into deep rest for you!
Emily: What can we expect to experience as we work through the sessions in this program?
Sadie: You get 10 Binaural Beat Better-Sleep Sessions that are each 20 minutes long. They range from guided meditations and calming breathwork to insomnia-rescue stretches and gentle evening yoga, all set to soothing binaural wave frequencies. When you practice even one session, you can feel physical tension melt out of your body, your racing mind slow down, and your restless muscles quiet.
Over time, as sleep becomes deeper and more restorative, you’ll often notice your days feel happier, more focused, and less stressful. You can enjoy a much easier time falling asleep naturally, waking up refreshed, and stepping into a healthier circadian rhythm. Doing this program provides a lifelong resource of tools you can pick and choose from whenever you need to support your rest.
