“Ayurveda is to free the mind which is trapped in the body. Yoga is to free the soul, which is trapped in the mind.” Baba Hari das
Sara Castañeda
"I Am the Heart of Your Journey"
I am not just a practitioner, but a mother, grandmother, sister, and daughter. I am a storyteller, a community organizer, a birth worker, and a yoga teacher. I am the embodiment of a rich cultural tapestry, a proud, bilingual Latina, born and raised in the vibrant heart of Boston, MA, in Jamaica Plain.
I am the first-generation American, a fusion of Nicaraguan, Guatemalan, and Cuban heritage. In the beautiful overlap of my cultures, I am a bilingual full-spectrum doula, an Ayurvedic lifestyle consultant, an herbalist, and a Vedic Philosophy enthusiast. My journey is about birthing justice, about making the precious gift of doula services accessible not only to the BIPOC community but also to our immigrant brothers and sisters.
My calling to birth work began in the depths of the pandemic, as I reached out to Spanish-speaking mothers in Maryland through virtual prenatal support groups. Their stories of struggle and trauma in their care during pregnancy and childbirth moved me to become a doula. In 2019, Prince George’s County lacked Spanish-speaking doulas. I realized that resources and accessibility were disparities for many marginalized communities, so I pursued doula training with Birthing Advocacy Doula Training in 2021.
My journey continued as I relocated to Rhode Island in February 2022, where I immersed myself in public health initiatives, becoming aware that resources and accessibility issues were widespread for marginalized communities. To deepen my doula knowledge, I obtained certification through the Commonsense Childbirth Institute. I'm now a certified Perinatal Doula Educator and Full Spectrum Doula, a member of the Doulas of Color and Doulas of Rhode Island, and the founder of a community collective of bilingual doulas known as Doulas Conectadas.
I am driven by a deep passion for social and birth justice, the empowerment of families from all walks of life, and the joy of creating memories with my son and two-year-old granddaughter. My mission is to empower people, for it truly takes a village to thrive.
My journey with Ayurveda began when I faced a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis amid a demanding corporate career. This challenging period led me to make radical lifestyle changes and ultimately embrace Ayurveda as medicine. I transitioned from the corporate world to become a yoga teacher and an Ayurvedic practitioner. In this transformation, I discovered that my diagnosis was a blessing in disguise, leading me back to my body, mind, most importantly, my soul. My healing journey started in 2009, and I'm still evolving, grateful for the profound path I've walked. I am honored to serve families, offering support for their emotional, physical, mental, and sexual health throughout all phases of life.
My educational background includes certification as an Ayurvedic Consultant from the Kripalu School of Ayurveda, becoming a Certified Herbalist at Farmacy Herbs, and being recognized by the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA). My doula journey has been enriched through certification as a Full Spectrum Doula by both the Birthing Advocacy Doula Training (BADT) and the Commonsense Birth Institute.
Welcome to my world, where culture, community, and holistic well-being converge in a beautiful tapestry of support and love.