Welcome to Little One Yoga

Hello, Bonjour, Hola, Namaste, 你好 (Nǐ hǎo), Xin chào, Assalamu Alaikum! 

I am Sabah Fatima, a passionate advocate for children and adult holistic development through mindfulness and yoga. At Little One Yoga, we embrace diversity and inclusivity as core values, integrating cutting-edge neuroscience and Montessori principles to empower children with lifelong skills for emotional resilience and cognitive adaptability.

My journey into mindfulness and yoga began with two guiding forces in my early life: my father’s spiritual sojourn in India and my mother’s Montessori teachings. 

When my father returned from a trip to India when I was nine, he carried with him a new way of looking at the world—one that embraced the transformative power of self-reflection and movement. My mother, a devoted Montessori educator, showed me the beauty of hands-on, child-led learning. Both perspectives came together in my upbringing, planting the seeds for a life dedicated to holistic wellness and mindful education.

By the time I was six, I was already pushing my limits in gymnastics at the Boys & Girls Club in Fountain Valley, CA—cartwheeling, climbing, and always seeking the next thrill. At nine, my curiosity expanded to yoga when I was first introduced to its calming poses and mindful breathwork. Although the concept intrigued me, it wasn’t until I was twenty-three that I truly embraced the practice, turning to yoga not just for physical flexibility, but for emotional grounding and mental clarity.

Around that time, I began exploring meditation, discovering how a few moments of stillness could anchor my restless energy. It was an awakening—realizing that mindful movement and intentional breath could open doors to deeper resilience, patience, and self-awareness. These early forays into yoga and mindfulness became a bridge linking my father’s spiritual wisdom with my mother’s educational philosophy.

Today, these foundational influences shape my commitment to empowering young minds. Drawing on Montessori principles and the science-backed benefits of yoga, I strive to create learning environments that nourish both body and spirit. Through Little One Yoga, I hope to spark the same sense of curiosity and balanced calm in children that I first felt on a gymnastics mat, and later honed on a yoga mat—proving that, sometimes, the smallest shifts in movement and breath can ignite the greatest transformations.

I am dedicated to collaborating closely with communities and individuals across Southern California, where I can lead wellness initiatives that can bring about positive and lasting change. By integrating mindfulness into educational settings, we aim to create environments that support the holistic development of children, fostering not only academic success but also emotional well-being and social cohesion.

My grandmother—my nani ami, Wahida—has always been the beating heart behind Little One Yoga’s mission. Her name, which means “one” in Arabic, inspired me to call this program “Little One Yoga,” reflecting both her identity and the deep sense of unity yoga brings to our lives.

She was hospitalized twice in her later years, and I was blessed to be by her side, caring for her through those difficult moments. It was at Evanston Hospital that our bond deepened in ways I never anticipated. My Urdu wasn’t strong, yet we discovered a mutual language in simple movement and gentle physical therapy. By guiding her through basic exercises, I was reminded of how deeply yoga roots us in connection—not just to ourselves, but to one another. In those hospital corridors, I witnessed how mindful movement can transcend linguistic and cultural barriers, speaking directly to the body’s innate capacity to heal.

From childhood, my grandmother, along with my parents, formed the bedrock of my life. Their collective wisdom—anchored in patience, love, and adaptability—paved the way for everything I aspire to do today. My grandmother’s steady encouragement taught me the power of belief: she never doubted I could overcome obstacles if I put my heart into it. My parents reinforced this trust, each in their own unique way, nurturing a sense of possibility that still propels me forward.

For me, Little One Yoga is more than a program; it’s a living tribute to these three guiding lights. The lessons they instilled—resilience in the face of hardship, compassion for those who struggle, and unwavering hope for the future—are the same values I aim to pass on to every child we serve. When I see a young mind discover the calming rhythm of breathwork or the playful joy of mindful movement, I can’t help but think of my grandmother’s warm smile. In that moment, I feel her spirit watching over us, reminding me that the love she poured into me is now flowing on to the next generation.

In sharing these practices with children, I honor my grandmother’s enduring legacy. It is my hope that each mindful breath a child takes becomes a thread connecting them to a lineage of strength, empathy, and boundless curiosity. Through Little One Yoga, her story—and the stories of all who shaped me—continues, lighting the path for every young soul in search of calm, connection, and self-discovery.