A conversation with:
Sarah Lindsay, Sala

We are inspired by the people within our community and the passions that shape them. We recently collaborated with Sarah Lindsay, founder of Ponsonby studio Sala.

The multidisciplinary movement studio is home to the likes of yoga, reformer pilates, barre, and sound healing. Sala has recently expanded its studio and included thoughtful touches from Città’s furniture and textile collection. We chat with Sarah about her wellness journey, Sala’s vision, and the beautiful renovations.

Kia ora, Sarah. Tell us about yourself and what you do.
Hey, I'm Sarah. I own a multidisciplinary movement studio in Ponsonby. I teach yoga and am a mother. I suppose all these jobs are encompassed by the title ‘space holder’.

Can you share a bit about your health and wellness journey?
I wasn’t a sporty child. As a kid, I was into Beat Generation poetry and world music. I could never have imagined one day I would build a business off the back of movement.

I’ve always struggled with my mental health and, while at university, I was recommended to try yoga. In the beginning, I was drawn to its rich history, but building an autonomous and tender relationship with my body was transformational. Now, movement is not only the way I explore my body-home, but also how I process and digest my day-to-day experiences.

Tell us the story behind Sala. What was the inspiration and how was it conceptualised?
My husband Joshua is from New Zealand and, to be honest, we moved here on a whim. I’ve always considered myself a bit of a “yes” girl. Want to take the midnight Eurostar to Paris? Yes. Want to take the tube as far east as we can go and camp in the forest? Yes! (Actually, that was Joshua and mine’s second date). Want to move to a country on the other side of the globe you’ve never been to? Yes.

Through living overseas for so many years, Joshua arrived as friendless and nomadic as me. It was loneliness that drove me to open Sala–an ache to find my people.

It’s been a long time in the making, but you’ve finally opened your newly expanded doors at Sala. What are you most proud of?
It really has been a long time, which has been challenging to navigate for lots of reasons. I’m an impulsive and impatient person. I like to make on-the-spot decisions. I’m a big believer in intuition.

For example, with the first studio, from initial thought to opening day was less than three months. This expansion has been unfolding for much longer and so many things have gone wrong along the way.

Throughout, I continue to feel certain we’re creating something with purpose that will genuinely influence people's lives for the better. This belief is the driving force when everything seems a little hopeless. I’m most proud of staying true to my core values–to never be swayed or influenced by others. I know what I want to create and I create it, deliberately.

Tell us about your vision for the new Sala look and feel.
There is an obvious warmth to the new space. The earthy ribbons of terracotta act as a continuous flow of movement from one space to the next. The raw timber details are the stopping points for congregating, encouraging touch through tactility.

We’ve worked entirely with local materials, suppliers, and fabricators. Staying local solidifies the heart of Sala as a community-focused space. Knowing that everything we need is already right here.

The space was designed by Mijntje Lepoutre. Tell us about your experience of collaborating with her multiple times.
Mijntje and I are both collaborative as people–our relationship is very easy. She has been a member since we first opened and experienced the evolution of the studio first-hand. This is essential to keep the space flowing cohesively. There is no stop-and-start, only one state of consciousness into the next.

The new studio state is inspired by our shared collective experiences of parenthood, a pandemic, and recalibration. It’s a response to our changing world, thus our changing needs.

Tell us about your Città product selects and how they fit into the new space.
We are replacing our towels with Città’s waffle towels in latte that complement the earthy colour palette perfectly. We’re hoping that by elevating the showering experience, we can encourage the community to lean into hybrid living. Now that so many of us are familiar with working from home, or flexible work, we hope to allow our members to integrate wellness practices into their routines. This way, our lives are more fluid and harmonious.

I’ve always loved these textured harvest planters. Something incredibly decadent, even in their simplicity.

We are also adding oval full-length mirrors that have been high on our members’ wish-list for a while now. Full-length mirrors are surprisingly hard to find–or at least ones I liked, perhaps. I never want to jeopardise the overall feeling of Sala, so sometimes things take a little longer, but once they’re done, they’re done with love.

What helps to keep you grounded when you spend a lot of time teaching and giving yourself to others?
Ceremonial cacao is an important ritual I turn to when I feel depleted–not only for its high magnesium, calcium and zinc content, but for the act of slowing down and participating in something as simple as drinking. It is very powerful to me.

Lastly, what’s something you took away from your experience of collaborating with us?
First of all, how enthusiastic and positive the Città team is! It’s always so inspiring working with people who feel attuned to the work they’re doing. Sala only works with brands who are aligned with our core values in terms of sustainability, locality and vision. For me, Città is one of these brands.

We’ve enjoyed the opportunity to work with Sarah and Sala’s special studio. To discover more, visit Sala online here and follow on Instagram.