get to know seara

Seara’s Philosophy & Approach

Seara Mainor (MPP, E-RYT 200) is a dedicated yoga practitioner and teacher, fitness enthusiast, strategy consultant, and contemplative thought leader based in the Washington, D.C. area. Her work explores the intersection of embodied practices and thoughtful introspection, drawing from yoga, meditation, calisthenics, philosophy, and contemplative science to spark inner transformation and growth. Seara knows that through dedication and devotion, we can all minimize the habitual patterns of the mind, cultivate an abundance of loving-kindness, and evolve into our authentic selves, as the Universe intended.

Seara was first introduced to yoga in high school while seeking refuge from the years of physical strain of competitive sports on her body. In her first yoga class of the 26×2 tradition, she experienced not only a physical relief, but also an intense mental stillness that felt entirely new and ~needed~. That life-changing experience began her decade-long commitment to learning how the intersection of movement, breath, and awareness can strengthen the body and quiet the mind.

Seara believes yoga is a practical framework for understanding the relationship between mind and body, while simultaneously serving as a spiritual medium to shed the ego and reunite with our Higher Selves. She approaches the practice as a moving meditation—one that builds awareness, patience, and equanimity no matter the posture or position. She emphasizes consistency over intensity and humility over performance, pushing back on the idea that yoga is something to achieve. Instead, her work focuses on developing discipline, self-awareness, and the ability to observe patterns—both mentally and physically— over time.

Training & Teachers

Seara is forever indebted to her teachers and her teachers’ teachers for passing on the sacred wisdom of yoga and meditation from generation to generation.

  • Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 200) with Yoga Alliance | Washington, D.C. at Flow Yoga Center with Marie Belle Riviera Perez (Dec 2023)
  • Ashtanga Yoga Practitioner (2023 – Present), trained under:
    • Saraswati Jois (daughter of Patabhi Joyce) | Mysore, India (Jan 2026)
    • John Bultman (Sharath Jois Certified Ashtanga Yoga Teacher) | University of Virginia (2024 – Present)
    • Faith Schmecca (Sharath Jois Level 2 Authorized Ashtanga Yoga Teacher) | Washington, D.C. (2023 – Present)
  • 2-week Pranayama Intensive under Sri S. V. Venkateshaiah | Mysore, India (Jan 2026)
  • Vipassana 10-day Silent Meditation Course | Ho Chi Minh City (Mar 2026)
  • Insight Dialogue Meditation Group | Washington, D.C. with Downtown Dharma (2025 – 2026)
  • 100-Hour Ashtanga Teacher Intensive with Mark Robberds (Jul – Aug 2026)

Education & Professional Experience

Seara received two Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees in Biology and Cognitive Science with a Concentration in Philosophy at the University of Virginia (UVA) in 2020. During this time, she studied the relationship between the mind and the body in both her academic coursework and her applied research at the Contemplative Sciences Center (CSC). There, she was introduced evidence-based stress reduction and yoga therapy, further shaping her interest in the measurable impact of these techniques on health and well-being. She later completed her Master’s in Public Policy (MPP) at UVA’s Frank Batten School of Leadership focusing on social psychology, research methods, and systems-level change.

After graduating, Seara moved to Washington, D.C. where she began her career as a Strategy and Business Transformation Consultant at a prestigious technology firm. In this role, she worked with federal agencies to design and implement large-scale organization change initiatives, largely focused around process, in alignment with their mission and priorities. Her consulting experience strengthened her ability to analyze complex systems, identify root causes, and develop structured and practical solutions tailored to each unique client – skills she now also applies to understanding patterns of behavior, thought, and internal change.