Though I’ve enjoyed the expansiveness of my path, I’ve long been aware of a deeper longing. A desire to shed the skin of tension and reactivity, to drop into a state of spiritual receptivity and fully realize my potential in this lifetime. What has facilitated this shift for me, improving every aspect of my life, is the study and practice of somatics.

I am Sarah Shourd (she/her). Somatic Transformation Coach, Bodyworker, Storytelling Coach and Workshop Facilitator. My work focuses on the intersection of social justice, leadership and personal trauma transformation. I support individuals and groups who are seeking to experience and make transformative change.

I am also a leader in the movement to create safer communities though Reimagining Justice outside prisons and jails and a lifelong commitment to antiracism, equity and systemic change. In this movement, I am an award-winning journalist, acclaimed playwright, seasoned activist and creative producer.

I’m based in San Rafael & Oakland, CA but work with people all over the world.
The first four and a half decades of my life have been full of meaningful adventure, creativity and impact — as well as serious trauma, struggle and loss.

In many ways my life and work reflect my unique path and experiences. I was raised in poverty by a single mom. I felt very different and somewhat isolated growing up, and always very troubled by the problems of the world. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, I joined the antiwar movement while at UC Berkeley, then in 2008 I moved to Syria to teach Iraqi refugees. It was one of the most exciting and expansive years of my life.

The next chapter of my life is the most publicly known. In 2009 I was captured while hiking near the unmarked Iran-Iraq border and held incommunicado as a political hostage by the Iranian government for 410 days. The media often referred to my companions and me as the American Hikers.

Some of my other identities, fixed and fluid, are cis woman, queer, not currently disabled, tentatively middle class (I have no inheritance and own no property), divorced, a proud aunty (biological and chosen), committed daughter and friend, community-builder, movement-weaver, truth seeker and antiracist. I’m an Enthusiast in the Enneagram (7), a Manifesting Generator in Human Design, an ENFJ and Leo Sun-Libra Moon-Professed Moon in Cancer and I have a strong pitta-leaning in the Ayurvedic framework. I’m a reformed codependent and parentified child with hard-earned secure attachment patterns. I’ve healed from chronic PTSD and sometimes my nervous system still leans towards fight or appease under pressure. I am a feminist, global solidarity activist and relationship anarchist, meaning I don’t value my romantic connections over my other relationships. On my maternal side, my ancestors came from Ireland three generations ago, after the mass starvation imposed by colonial Britain. On my paternal side I am a seventh-generation European immigrant/colonizer. I like to hike, rest, learn new things, do yoga and get free. I believe that identities matter, and also that we are more than their sum. If my identities mean that I’m not the right coach for you, no worries — may you find someone who is.