Amber Sawyer, PhD, E-RPYT, E-500RYT

As a way to find balance among the rigours of a PhD program, Yoga found Amber in 1999. The practice quickly became a way of life, a refuge, and a catalyst for incredible transformations and opportunities. In the years to follow, Amber began to study Ayurveda alongside her biomedical research, finding the bridge between Eastern and Western practices, and further deepening her love of Yoga. Since 2000, Amber has studied directly under the tutelage of many Masters, learning to share Active Meditations (using sound & movement), as well as being certified in more than 1000 hours of Universal Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Yin Yoga, Prenatal/Postnatal Yoga & Mindful Birth, Elemental Yoga Therapy and 1400 hours of Ayurvedic Lifestyle Counselling.

Among the wealth of trainings that Amber has completed, they include experiences with Krishnamarchya Yoga Mandiram, practicing in the heart of the Anapurna Mountains of Nepal in remote monastic villages, 8 weeks of noble silence and sadhana in a traditional ashram of India, mentorship with world renowned Ayurveda Acharyas and Vaidyars, pilgrimages to the feet of Masters, and personal study for more than a decade with Sannyasins, Lamas and other Teachers. Amber is also certified in Level 2 Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki, as a Raw Food Chef and as a Birth / Postpartum Doula. She is currently undertaking a more extensive training as a Birth Doula with Childbirth International.

In 2009, Amber founded a community in the heart of Singapore known as Satsanga where she offered and organised weekly active meditation classes, yoga, kirtans, international retreats & community events. For nearly 10 years, Amber dedicated to the blossoming of this community, holding space for conscious growth in this urban landscape.

Of all her accomplishments, giving birth to her daughter in 2015, in the comfort of her own home, has been the most transformational. Her empowered birth journey planted the seed for a quintessential integration of her life experiences as a birth worker, to empower other women to step into a conscious pregnancy, birth experience and preparedness for motherhood. She has assisted nearly 50 home births, serves as a birth doula, and in 2019 founded Embodied Woman Yoga - a platform for courses, CEUs, Yoga Teacher Trainings and resources related to women’s health, particularly pregnancy and postpartum. 

Currently Amber focuses on sharing active meditations, elemental yoga, pre/postpartum yoga, pelvic health immersions, as well as offers her own 90hr YA Embodied Woman Pre/Postpartum Yoga Teacher Training biannually. After 16 years in Singapore, she recently relocated to Mallorca, Spain, with her family, and continues to share her work internationally. 

EXPERIENCE:

• Founder of Embodied Living, a family offering of in person and online embodiment practices, Oct 2020 - current

• Certified Instructor of Love Based Birth Preparation, a holistic birth preparation course for women & men, March 2022

• Founder of Embodied Woman Yoga, a platform for offering CEUs, Teacher Trainings related to pregnancy, postpartum & pelvic health, 2019 - current

• Resident Yoga Teacher & Teacher Trainer (Prenatal, Postnatal, Elemental Yoga, Ayurveda, Special Workshops & CEUs) at HOM Yoga, Singapore, 2013 - 2022

• Birth Assistant and Birth Doula in training (Childbirth International), Singapore, May 2017 - Current

• Developed and led Postpartum Yoga Foundation Series for HOM Yoga, 4-class series, monthly, and Core Awakening (online 5-week postpartum program) Dec 2017 - current

• Developed and led 90hr Yoga Alliance Embodied Woman Prenatal and Postpartum Yoga Teacher Training, 2019, Singapore (continues biannually - current)

• Lead Teacher of 5-Elements 200hr Yoga Teacher Training, Chiang Mai, Thailand (Jan 2019) and Andalusia, Spain (July 2019) with Swara Yoga School

• Co-Organiser of Sound & Silence Gatherings MOVE LISTEN BE (conscious festival), 2 - 22 Sept, Corfu, Greece 2017, and 2023 - current

• Facilitated Elemental Yoga & Active Meditations internationally at Bali Spirit Festival (2014 - 2019), Soulscape Singapore (2015 - 2016), Thailand Yoga Art & Dance Festival (2016-2019), Sound & Silence Gatherings (2016 - 2023)

• Founder & Director of a conscious community in Singapore, Satsanga, 2009 - 2018; facilitating weekly yoga, meditation, dance, Ayurveda classes and workshops; organising guest facilitators' events, workshops & international retreats; offering 1:1 private wellness consultations

• Developed & Taught 6-Day Meditation Facilitator Training, annually, Singapore & Bali, 2015-2018

• Organised more than 25 International Meditation, Yoga & Dance Retreats (Bali, Thailand, Malaysia, Greece)

• Developed online Elemental Yoga & Meditation videos 2015, 2020

• Developed and Taught Intro to Ayurveda 6-week Course, biannually, 2014 - present

• Guest Yoga Teacher Trainer in the HOM Yoga 200 hr TT with Nike Ambassador Leah Kim, 2012 - 2017

• Taught Active Meditations at Google Headquarters, Singapore, 2013 - 2015

SCIENCE:

• PhD, Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA, 2005

• Masters, Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA, 2002

• 17 International Peer Reviewed Publications in the area of Bone Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell Tissue Repair, 2001 - 2014 (5 are first-authored, can search AA Sawyer on Research Gate or Pubmed)

MEDITATION:  

♡ Co-facilitating International Active Meditation Retreats (2010 - 2020); Launched a 30-day Online Daily Active Meditation Series, April 2020; Teaching weekly active meditations at Samata Soul, Singapore (Feb 2020 - Apr 2020), taught weekly active meditations at Satsanga (2009 - 2016); guest meditation facilitator at Hom Yoga (2012 - present), Stretch City (2014), and Over the Rainbow Foundation (2014); Corporate Active Meditation Facilitator at Google, Inc (2013 - 2015); International Festivals (Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Bali, Greece, Czech Republic), Founder & Teacher of Satsanga Active Meditation Training (2015-2018)

• Continuous study & assistance under the guidance of Swami Maitreya, learning to share Active Meditations, organise meditation retreats and facilitate meditation workshops (2009 - 2019).

• The Potential Project, 10-week Foundation Course in Corporate Mindfulness Based Training, 2014

• Shamata Meditation Foundation Course, Levels 1 - 4, AuthentiCity (Jan 2012 - June 2014)

• Vipassana 10-day retreat at Dhammagiri, Igatpuri, India (Jan 2011), teachings of SN Goenkaji 

• Vipassana 10-day silent meditation retreat (April 2009), teachings of SN Goenkaji, Singapore

YOGA: 

♡ Founded Embodied Woman Yoga 2019, Founded Embodied Woman 90hr Yoga Alliance Prenatal & Postpartum Yoga Teacher Training (Dec 2019 - Current); Lead Teacher 200hr 5-Elements Yoga Teacher Training, Swara Yoga School (Jan 2020 - Current); Teaching weekly Elemental Yoga, Prenatal & Postpartum Yoga at HOM Yoga (2017 - Current); Teaching weekly Elemental Yoga at Veda Yoga, Singapore (2019); Teaching weekly Yoga at Satsanga (2009 - 2016), guest Yoga Teacher Trainer at Hom Yoga (2012 - 2017, part of Nike's Hom Yoga TT; teaching Yoga Philosophy & History, Subtle Anatomy, Pranayama, Meditation, Ayurveda), Created online Elemental Yoga Videos

• Pelvic Health Yoga Certification with Leslie Howard, Pelvic Liberation, 2021

• Pelvic Health Yoga Certification with Shannon Crow, Pelvic Health Professionals (In progress)

• Hom Yoga 300-hr Yoga Teacher Training, 30 Jan 2020, Singapore

• Postpartum Yoga CEU with NYC Prenatal Yoga Center, Apr 2020

• Prenatal Yoga CEU with NYC Prenatal Yoga Center, Nov 2019

• The Art of Assisting with Janet Stone, CEU, April 2019

• Mindful Birth Teacher Training Yoga for Pregnancy, Birth and Baby, Modules 1 - 3, RPYS certifiable (Prenatal Yoga, Postnatal Yoga, Yoga for Active Birth), 100 hours with Michelle Papa and Dr Jean Byrne, 29 Sept - 8 Oct 2015, Singapore

• Universal Yoga Teacher Training with Andrey Lappa, 100 hours Yoga Alliance Certifiable (Nov 28 – 7 Dec 2014): Level 2 UY Theory & Practice: Mandala Asana Sequences, Pranayama, Mudra, Mantra, Bandhas, Shiva Nata

• Elemental Yoga Therapy Training with Sofia Araujo (200hr), Swara Yoga School, Portugal, July – Aug 2013

• Universal Yoga Internal Practices, Level 3 UY (Mahasiddha lineage of Vajrayana Buddhism), led by Master Andrey Lappa, June 18 – 29, 2011), 100 hours Yoga Alliance Certifiable

• Private Yoga Study of Universal Yoga with Master Andrey Lappa, Lama Phuntsok of Karma Kagyu Lineage and select students, 3 weeks, Anapurna Himalayan Mountains, Manang, Nepal (April 2011)

• Yin Yoga Teacher Training with Paul Grilley, 30 hours Yoga Alliance Certifiable (12 – 17 Feb, 2011): Anatomy, Chakra Meridians, Yin Yoga

• Universal Yoga Teacher Training with Master Andrey Lappa, 100 hours Yoga Alliance Certifiable (Dec 1 – 12, 2010): Level 1 UY Theory & Practice: Mandala Asana Sequences, Pranayama, Mudra, Mantra, Bandhas, Shiva Nata

• Bhayala College of Yoga, Saharanpur, India (14 Jan 2010 – 28 Feb 2010): 6 week daily study in Raja & Hatha Yoga with Sri Raj Pal (meditation, pranayama, asana, yoga philosophy), including 45 days of silence

• Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (2nd February – 27 February 2009) Certificate in 4-week Heart of Yoga Intensive (yoga asana, philosophy, sutras, yoga therapy, vedic chanting, meditation, pranayama), 200 hours Yoga Alliance certifiable, Chennai, India

• Bhayala College of Yoga, Saharanpur, India (1 July – 12 July 2009): Hatha & Raja Yoga intensive at ashram of Sri Raj Pal (meditation, pranayama, yoga asanas)

• Yoga practitioner (1999 – present): practicing Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Yin, Universal, Kundalini Yoga and Elemental Yoga.

AYURVEDA:

♡ Developed a 6-week Intro Course to Ayurveda (2014 - 2018), Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultations, Guest Facilitator of Ayurveda Lectures at Hom Yoga (2014 - present)

• Yoga Wellness Coach Certification (with Cate Stillman, YogaHealer.com), July 2014 - June 2015 

• 300-hour Living Ayurveda Lifestyle Consultant Course with Cate Stillman, Yoga Healer, Sept 2012 – June 2013

• 300-hour Living Ayurveda Lifestyle Consultant Course with Cate Stillman, Yoga Healer, Sept 2011 – June 2012

• 750-hour Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant Course with Vaidyar Atreya Smith, European Institute of Vedic Studies & with Dr. Sunil Joshi, Vinayak Panchakarma Centre, Nagpur, India (Sept 2010 – Sept 2011).

• American Institute of Vedic Studies 300-hr (May 2008 – 2010): Certification as Level 1: Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant. Directed by Dr. David Frawley

• Ayurvedic Anatomy & Physiology, presented by Dr. Satyam of SVYASA University, 30 hours, Singapore (June 2009).

birth:

• Certified Instructor of Love Based Birth, Birth Preparation with Red Miller, Mar 2022

• Midwife Assistant, Singapore, May 2017 - Mar 2023

• Childbirth International, Doula Certification (In progress)

• Postpartum Doula Certification with Julia Jones (In progress)

• Pelvic Floor Training for Doulas with Mommy Berries

• Birth Doula Training with Denise Love, Singapore, Oct 2016

REIKI:

• Reiki, Usui Shiki Ryoho, Level 1 Certification & Attunement, with Elaine Hamilton Grundy, at The Reiki Centre, Singapore, 2010

• Reiki, Usui Shiki Ryoho, Level 2 Certification & Attunement, with Elaine Hamilton Grundy, at The Reiki Centre, Singapore, 2014

• Reiki Healing 101, with Elaine Hamilton Grundy, at The Reiki Centre, Singapore, 2014

NUTRITION:

• Raw Food Chef Certification with Ben Richards & Sayuri, Level 1, The Seeds of Life, Ubud, Bali, 18 Dec 2014 - 1 Jan 2015

INTERVIEWS:

• On BSF and Satsanga with Wellness Warrior with SickBubble

• On Satsanga, with Luke Eljah

• On BSF, Soulscape & partnership with Daniel by Luke Elijah

• Personal Interview by Sandra of What Therapy

videos:

• Elemental Yoga online series available for purchase (prenatal and regular practice)

• HOM Yoga Online studio (Amber has prenatal, postpartum and meditations to stream for free)

• 5-Elements Guided Meditation by Amber (free on Spotify)

youtube channel:

• www.youtube.com/aasawyer1