We had the good fortune of connecting with Shari Sims and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shari, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Experience Amara grew out of both study and lived experience. I’ve spent almost twenty years teaching yoga, guiding breath and movement practices, and creating spaces for reflection and connection. Along the way I trained in the Sivananda and Ashtanga lineages, studied Ayurveda, and somatic movement, and lived through my own transformative experiences of loss, resilience, and spiritual seeking. What I noticed was that people weren’t only drawn to the physical practices, but to the conversations, the clarity, and the sense of being truly seen. That is what led me to create Experience Amara: a space where I could bring together all of these threads in the form of spiritual companionship and gatherings that tend the spirit, not just the body or mind.

What should our readers know about your business?
My work emerged from over a decade of teaching yoga and facilitating personal development. I’ve taught thousands of classes across studios, gyms, and community spaces, but my weekly seated yoga class for seniors became the North Star that showed me what truly matters: presence, service, and authentic purpose.

What sets me apart is that I teach what I’ve lived. I’ve spent over 20 years studying with renowned teachers across various wisdom traditions, but the real education came from applying those teachings in service to others, week after week, year after year.

The path here hasn’t been easy. When the pandemic hit and my mother died suddenly, everything fell away except what was essential. The biggest challenge was recognizing that what I was already doing was my purpose. I kept looking elsewhere when it was right in front of me.

The lesson? Your personal growth isn’t separate from your life’s work; it IS your life’s work.

I now host events for women exploring purpose and meaning, and work with people one-on-one to help them recognize their authentic path. I facilitate conversations that bridge ancient wisdom with modern life challenges.
What I want the world to know is this: your purpose reveals itself through what you’re naturally drawn to do, not through what you think you should be doing.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Day 1: Arts & Culture
Brunch at Lon’s at the Hermosa Inn, then the Heard Museum to dive into Native American art and culture.
Day 2: Music & Pampering
Musical Instrument Museum in the morning, then pure relaxation at Well & Being Spa at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.
Day 3: Desert Beauty
Desert Botanical Garden when it’s still cool, followed by dinner at Citizen Public House for their famous chopped salad.
Day 4: Sedona Escape
Day trip to hike Oak Creek and explore the red rocks, ending at Tii Gavo at Enchantment Resort for a sunset dinner.
Day 5: Roosevelt Row
Gallery hopping through murals and creative spaces. Happy hour at Sake House, dinner at Palma.
Day 6-7: Wildcard
Taco Boys and who knows – the best trips need breathing room for spontaneity!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to learn from a variety of sources, both formal and unexpected. My yoga home is the Sivananda Vedanta Center in Los Angeles, and here in Phoenix I’ve studied with and practiced under teachers including John Salisbury, Cheryl Oliver, and Tara Martell.

I also want to give a shoutout to the many students and clients who have trusted me over the years. Their courage, curiosity, and openness have pushed me to refine my own practice and deepen my understanding of what it means to guide someone through life’s big questions.

Finally, some books that have profoundly shaped my thinking and continue to guide me: Meditations from the Mat by Rolf Gates and The Mind and Its Control by Swami Budhananda. I return to them again and again for insight and inspiration.

Website: https://www.experienceamara.com

Instagram: @experienceamara

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ByShariSims

Other: experienceamara@gmail.com

Image Credits
Tillie Van Etten

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