Celebrate the Light Within: Insights from Hana Saotome

As we prepare for our Summer Solstice Festival on Friday 20 June, we spoke with British Wheel of Yoga tutor Hana Saotome. She’s one of four inspiring teachers leading sessions throughout the day and will guide our closing practice – A Yoga Journey of Abundance and Light.

Here, Hana shares her yoga journey, what drives her teaching and what people can expect from her session.

Tell us about your yoga journey…

I originally trained as a professional dancer, and that love of movement still shapes how I teach. I’ve been teaching yoga for around 17 years and my approach has evolved significantly over time. What began as a physical practice has become something much deeper.

As a mum, yoga teacher and teacher trainer, I’ve learned that yoga must nourish and support us from the inside out. My teaching weaves classical yoga with a more intuitive, supportive practice that responds to what we need in the moment. That’s now at the heart of everything I offer.

What inspires your teaching today?

The people I teach are my greatest inspiration. It’s incredibly moving to witness someone shift from feeling disconnected or overwhelmed to finding stillness, renewed energy and confidence in their body. That transformation fuels my passion for sharing yoga and reminds me that yoga has the power to bring us back to ourselves.

What can people expect from your Summer Solstice session?

A vibrant 75-minute practice celebrating this special point in the year – the peak of light, energy and abundance.

We’ll explore flowing, expansive sequences to tap into the dynamic energy of the solstice. As the session unfolds, we’ll gradually ease into restorative relaxation, echoing the sun’s soft descent into evening and inviting calm and balance. It will be a beautiful dance between dynamic energy and gentle surrender – moving in ways that are both energising and deeply nourishing. It’s open to all, with options offered throughout.

What do you hope people will take away?

I hope they leave feeling fully present in their bodies – energised by the flowing sequences and soothed by the gentle stillness. I want them to remember they can access both states within themselves: the vibrant, abundant energy of summer’s peak and the peaceful surrender of evening’s gentle descent.

More importantly, I want people to feel their own inner light has been celebrated. The solstice is about honouring the peak of light, and I want each person to feel that sense of radiance, joy and presence within themselves. I hope they leave feeling celebrated and held.

How do we honour yoga’s roots while keeping it accessible?

When I first discovered yoga, it definitely wasn’t trendy! There were no designer leggings or Instagram, and it had a slightly hippy reputation. It’s incredible that yoga has become so popular and reaches so many people.

But with that growth comes responsibility. I believe we honour yoga’s roots by staying connected to its full depth – not just the postures, but the philosophy and values that underpin them. At the same time, we need to create truly welcoming spaces where everyone feels yoga is for them.

I believe we can do both: honour yoga’s wisdom traditions while adapting it for modern life. When we approach yoga with reverence for its origins while embracing its adaptability, we create space for everyone to experience its transformative power.

Join us at the Summer Solstice Festival

Why not join Hana Saotome, alongside other tutors: Gary Carter, Annie Cryar and Vinayachandra Banavathy at our Summer Solstice Festival. Click here to book.

Hana runs regular BWY Yoga Teacher Trainings, an online Women’s Yoga membership and day retreats in London and remotely. Visit hanasaotome.com or follow @hanasaotome on Instagram.