From working the rat race to survivor and sharing, meet Saori Soga—a Yoga Tune Up® Licensed Coach who took management of her life and ache.
Over the previous decade, Saori has used Tune Up Health strategies to assist athletes and health lovers in addition to to assist these with power ache and medical circumstances like her personal. She brings her personal expertise of discovering the Coregeous® Ball, and utilizing it as her lifeline, serving to her handle ache from a 15-pound tumor till she was in a position to safe the care she wanted whereas nonetheless persevering with to encourage her college students.
From Artwork Director to Directing and Sharing Wholesome Life-style Habits
After spending over 16 years as a Graphic Designer and Artwork Director within the music and leisure business, Saori’s sedentary way of life led to weight problems, power ache, and sleep struggles. In her late 30s, after years of poor well being and hitting all-time low, she acknowledged the pressing want for a balanced, wholesome way of life. Decided to reclaim her well-being, she misplaced over 30 kilos and transitioned right into a profession devoted to health and wellness.
At the moment Saori has spent over a decade empowering athletes, health lovers, and people managing power ache and medical circumstances—together with her personal. Her journey is marked by private triumphs and a deep dedication to serving to others. Saori’s story is not only about overcoming adversity; it’s about inspiring others to reclaim their well being and stay a lifetime of goal.
Now as Health Skilled who helps practice and coach for marathons and triathlons, Saori enjoys serving to others obtain their greatest and teaches a variety of courses: from Yoga Tune Up®, HIIT Bootcamp, Working, Biking, Swimming, Pilates, Yoga, and Sound Meditation, at firms akin to Equinox, Middle For Yoga, YogaWorks, Artha, Valley Scorching Yoga, Hollywood studios (Disney, Paramount Photos, NBC Common), and lots of different company firms, in addition to non-public purchasers throughout Los Angeles.
Moreover, Saori enjoys taking part in group applications such because the Excessive Faculty Weight problems Prevention/Vitamin Program, SOS Mentor Form Up, and Mission Angel Meals Vitamin Division in addition to instructing group health courses for Most cancers Help Teams.
Interview led by Meg, Tune Up Health’s Model Engagement Supervisor, with over 25 years of dance expertise, beginning in Dallas, Texas, and has now traveled the nation performing and instructing. After years of repetitive dance actions, Meg’s ache in her shoulders, palms, and toes was relieved by the Roll Mannequin® Methodology. This new information impressed Meg to finish extra Tune Up Health programs; she continued to take Physique by Breath and Yoga Tune Up® Instructor Certification to share it along with her college students and reawaken her love for anatomy.
Study extra about Saori on this month’s Instructor Spotlight interview beneath.
Meg: What number of years have you ever been instructing?
Saori Soga: Health 20 years, Yoga Tune Up® 10 years
Meg: What’s your #1 tip for academics?
Saori Soga: At all times observe your coronary heart, your calling, and your ardour. Regardless of your background, expertise, historical past, and so forth., there are such a lot of “puppies” to be saved on the earth, and there are individuals on the market who want you. Be accessible, seen, and prepared so your tribe can discover you. And be 100% authentically YOU and never be like anybody/everybody else. There are all the time 1% haters on the market however don’t let that dim your mild, ever! Each expertise we have now (good or unhealthy) makes us distinctive and might help others who may be going by way of comparable struggles.
Meg: What’s your favourite rollout?
Saori Soga: Toes! I’ve been a runner all my life, and that is my first go-to. Each single day!
Meg: What’s your favourite transfer?
Saori Soga: Tubular Core/Diaphragmatic Respiration. Jill’s “Physique By Breath” guide saved me so many instances… from working marathons, swimming, surgical procedures, and navigating by way of LA visitors to on a regular basis self-care.
Meg: How has the Yoga Tune Up® coaching impacted your instructing?
Saori Soga: I stumbled upon my very first Yoga Tune Up® class at Equinox Santa Monica, a day after my very first LA Marathon. I didn’t know what YTU precisely was, but it surely was within the yoga room, so I figured it’d assist alleviate my insane soreness and agonizing ache. I used to be limping, couldn’t stroll straight, and couldn’t even stand up from my chair, automotive, and bathroom seat! When a trainer requested the category for any requests, I raised my hand and defined my scenario, and she or he kindly catered to the category to assist me. I couldn’t consider my eyes when the category was over, I used to be strolling out of the studio like a standard particular person! And all I used to be considering was how excited I used to be for the subsequent Marathon!
I knew then that this was precisely what I wanted in my life to maintain pursuing health, instructing so many courses, and with the ability to do all of it safely. I wished to be taught every part about YTU and signed up for the subsequent Yoga Tune Up® trainer coaching. I’ve been following Jill Miller ever since!
YTU really modified my life over a decade in the past. And I knew then that this was my life’s calling!
Meg: What’s your favourite Roll Mannequin® Methodology Remedy Ball to us?
Saori Soga: It’s between the ALPHA Ball and the Coregeous Ball®.
In 2020, one other flip of occasions occurred once I was already a “wholesome” coach. I needed to take away 15 lbs of tumor from my uterus. It was the most important surgical procedure of my life, and as a result of pandemic. Attributable to insurance coverage causes, I needed to postpone/carry that ache for 4+ years together with anemia. Throughout that point, I hid this situation from virtually everybody, to not be seen as a “weak/incapable” marathon coach or knowledgeable coach.
The Coregeous Ball® was my savior, and it helped me maintain myself till I lastly obtained the surgical procedure day set. This expertise propelled me to pursue Yoga Tune Up® even additional. Not just for runners, athletes, and folks solely with sore muscle mass but additionally for individuals with completely different medical circumstances.
Meg: I see you’re employed with sound baths and Reiki. Have you ever included sound baths into Yoga Tune Up®?
Saori Soga: I’m so grateful to carry Yoga Tune Up® all over the place! I’ve new studios throughout LA, akin to Middle For Yoga, YogaWorks, Valley Scorching Yoga, Artha, and Equinox Palisades who’re excited to carry again the format after 15+ years together with Equinox Sports activities Membership LA, Santa Monica, Westwood, Beverly Hills, and Encino.
At all times observe your coronary heart, your calling, and your ardour. And be 100% authentically YOU and never be like anybody/everybody else. Each expertise we have now (good or unhealthy) makes us distinctive and might help others who may be going by way of comparable struggles. – Saori Soga
Meg: What have you ever taken away out of your coaching with Tune Up Health®?
Saori Soga: Having gone by way of all of the trainings with Jill and different glorious YTU academics has been a real present and has impacted my instructing on so many ranges. Having gone by way of a number of items of coaching, together with the Nationwide Academy of Sports activities Drugs and RYT500, and so forth. I like Jill’s distinctive method to physique mechanics and modality incorporating respiration and fascial features.
YTU was the lacking piece of the puzzle in my wellness teaching. I can now mix all of them collectively and give you one thing stunning. Moreover, I assisted Jill at her final in-person coaching winter at Middle For Yoga. The expertise assured me that I used to be on the appropriate path.
The dream is beginning to occur, and I now train a back-to-back YTU class adopted by Soundbath. That is such a yummy combo, and it’s been an enormous hit!
Meg: How are you tuning up your self-care in 2025?
Saori Soga: That is my calling—I stay and breathe this work. I’m continuously partaking with individuals about ache and physique consciousness. I like introducing them to Yoga Tune Up® strategies and Roll Mannequin® Remedy Balls. I all the time carry a set in my purse, and I often present them to mates, household, and purchasers. The optimistic suggestions and “thanks’s” I obtain remind me of how transformative it may be to alleviate ache. I actually carry the balls EVERYWHERE I GO and assist unfold the love for YTU. Folks even name me the “Ball Girl” as a result of I all the time have Roll Mannequin® Remedy Balls in my bag or as presents to others.
Meg: I noticed you probably did a yoga fundraiser for Minnie, your canine. How did that incorporate your two passions, yoga and your pup?
Saori Soga: Sure, my expensive rescue canine Minnie has stage 4 most cancers and is present process chemotherapy. I don’t have children, so I’m doing every part and actively doing fundraiser courses to assist pay her medical payments. Minnie has her personal Coregeous® Ball that provides consolation and assist as it really works for people.
Saori turns 52 in March and is within the healthiest form of her life! She’s endlessly grateful. She strives to assist her purchasers to breathe higher, stroll higher, get stronger, and ease any ache by prevention.
You possibly can take her courses within the LA space beneath:
Saturdays: Equinox Sports activities Membership LA 12:30pm / 1:20pm / Equinox Studio Metropolis 5pm
Sundays: Equinox Westwood 11:30am / Equinox Beverly Hills 1:45pm / Equinox Encino
Mondays: Equinox Pacific Palisades 6:45pm (TBD)
Tuesdays: Valley Scorching Yoga 11:15am / 8pm
Wednesdays: Artha 1:30pm
Fridays: Equinox Sports activities Membership LA 11am / Equinox Woodland Hills 5:45pm
Discover Saori On-line at:
IG: Saorifitness
FB: Saori Soga