hello, I'm sarah!

Ready to build strength, have fun, and make the world a better place? If so, let's get started.

let’s build an outdoor rec community where everyone is welcome!

Outdoors are for everyone. All shapes, sizes, genders, races, sexual identities, ages, abilities. All bodies are good bodies, and all are welcome here. This hasn’t always been the case in outdoor recreation, but we have the power to change that.

Strength is the key. Functional strength helps us play in the mountains without injury, and have more fun doing it. And you don’t have to give up your other priorities -- or do a workout program perfectly -- to get strong. I've spent the last decade helping people build the kind of true, embodied strength that allows us to listen to our bodies, give them what they need (sometimes it’s a chocolate bar or an extra hour of sleep!) without guilt or shame.

Mental health matters. Exercise supports mental health when we ditch the “no-pain, no gain” pressure and replace it with titrated challenges, shifting our relationships with our bodies, & gradually increasing our capacity to do hard things without overriding our nervous systems’ cues. We build capable nervous systems so that we can handle hard times in workouts, mountains, and life without fear, overwhelm, or shutdown.

about me

I create women-centered spaces where my clients can build mind & body strength, heal together, and take care of themselves while changing the world.

I'm a mental health-informed adventure fitness trainer, helping women have fun outside (and in daily life) without the pressure, perfectionism, & proving we’ve learned from adventure/fitness bro culture.

Over the last decade, I’ve built a body of work that brings together fitness, mental health, and outdoor recreation. I've worked with hundreds of women from Alaska to Antarctica, helping them build the mind & body strength necessary for life & mountain time.

My clients want to enjoy their workouts & their time outside, without feeling like they’re failing or falling short. And they want strong minds and bodies so they can keep up with their friends, handle life and mountain stress, and have fun doing it.

I love my work and the clients I work with — and that's only a small sliver of my life. I'm a life-long Alaskan, growing up on Dena'ina Land in Soldotna and living in Anchorage now.

My husband Luc & I have shaped our lives so we spend as much time outside as possible. When I'm not playing in the mountains, you can usually find me reading a good book (fiction recommendations are always welcome) or taking a class on something new — Learner is my #1 StrengthsFinder Strength! 

and like any culture-making project, this work is a group effort

meet the mind & mountain team

Raine Fryberger

Raine Fryberger

Organization Queen

Vanessa Chav

Vanessa Chavarriaga

Community Manager

Shanique Allen

Shanique Allen

Anti-Diet Nutrition Coach

Bridget Borg

Bridget Borg

Live Workout Instructor

Meghan Milliron

Meghan Milliron

Live Workout Instructor

the ethos of our work

As you're deciding if we're a fit to work together, I hope you'll use these ethos statements to discern if our values and approach to movement, mental health, and life are aligned.

This work has evolved from my life experience and studies with an incredible lineage of teachers. Follow this link if you'd like to learn more about the lineage of the Mind & Mountain ethos & methodology.

view my lineage

fitness & movement

Always listen to your body. All bodies are good bodies. Build functional strength & mobility through self-awareness & titrated challenge.

mental health

Everyone can benefit from attention to mental health. Self-compassion first. Healing comes in many forms. Increasing nervous system capacity improves everything -- workouts, mountain time, relationships, & daily life.

social justice

Liberation is the goal. Black lives matter. Intersectionality matters. Healing & repair matter. Commit to a life-long effort of learning, healing, & unlearning. This work can be sustainable & joyful!

nutrition

Curiosity, experimentation, & self-awareness are key. Listen to your body. Notice how your food, energy, mood, cycles, and performance interact. Build sustainable habits. Make it easy.

community culture

We are shaped by our families, our teachers, our communities, and by the land we live & recreate on. Recognize where you came from, take what works for you & leave the rest. Follow your passion and your joy.

what does this mean for you?

You’re in good hands!

I’ve been studying bodies, minds, movement, and healing for over a decade and find that my most effective work blends techniques from all of these methodologies. Outdoor adventures and healing demand complex solutions that incorporate pieces from all of the above!

sign up for
email updates

It's the best way to stay in touch, get reminders when training groups start up, and join the inclusive outdoor rec movement!

Sign me up

join this season's
training cycle

Build your mind & body strength, and set yourself up for success this season!

 

I'm ready to train

how mind & mountain came to be

Mind & Mountain was born in the mountains outside of Valdez, Alaska, where I was learning to backcountry ski, teaching fitness classes, and finishing up my Social Work Master's degree.

read the story

how mind & mountain can help

Not sure which program is right for you? Send us a message and let me guide you to find the right fit. 

Help me decide

stay connected with me

Sign up to get my email newsletter. Email is where I share all my best stuff: free workouts, inspiration, strategies for managing physical & mental health, and new ways to work together. I'd love to stay in touch

I live, work, and play on the unceded land of the Dena'ina people. I'm committed to using my life and work to create a world where colonization and oppression are no longer normal or possible. #decolonize