Sister Sledge was an American musical vocal group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Formed in 1971, the group consists of sisters Joni, Kim, Debbie, and Kathy Sledge. The siblings achieved international success at the height of the disco era. Sister Sledge said it best, “We are family, get up everybody and sing!” or in the case of Sara Woosley, the library’s Zumba instructor and Beginner Spanish instructor, dance…and habla Español! Sara has joined our library family in January, when the first Zumba classes started.  

If you’ve never been to Sara’s Zumba classes, you’re missing out. Dress comfortably and get ready to bust a move and dance your gluteus maximus off! Movement keeps our bodies and minds young, and Zumba definitely fits the bill! We love the energy and passion Sara brings not only to the Zumba classes she teaches at our not-so-quiet library – by the way, make sure you sign a waiver before Zumba-ing on in – but also to the dedication and fun she brings with her “Let’s Learn Spanish with Sara” classes. Those classes aren’t like the classes you took in Señora Doris’ class in High School. They’re engaging and in a way that you’re not just repeating what the instructor says. 

They library is family, and it’s community. And families and communities lift their members up and help the grow as people. We’re really glad Sara has joined our family, and we hope you get to meet her the next time you come to learn a new language or dance! Please meet Sara Woosley, our library cousin! 

Where were you born?   

I was born in Mountain View California, in a hospital. 

 What was your first job?   

My first job was as an English language instructor in Tokyo, Japan.   

What book most influenced you and why?  

Every book I read is influential in the moment I’m with it. But a book that has lingered and warrants my continued study is YOGA SUTRAS by Patanjali. It is continuously relevant and more applicable as I age. I have the most potent words from it tattooed on my forearms. 

I wish I could lead a study class focused on these sutras and break down the Sanskrit nuances and cosmic grammar. I also often reference Homer’s The Odyssey and Iliad; epic world journeys, impossible love, and battle driven commerce daily crosses my mind and I like to think of Odysseus and Achilles! 

If you could have any superpower what would it be and why? 

Thank you for asking this! I sincerely think about super powers. My fitness goal is OMNIPRESENCE! Chapter 4 of the Sutras actually mentions them, Siddhi, they are inevitable for a yogi not the goal of yoga. They are a side effect! 

My Super powers are 360 vision, shapeshifting, willful gravity waves and antigravity propulsion, extreme magnetism and repulsion, clairsentince, grounded light body dynamics, multidimensional data translation, invisibility and time lord settings.  

 Are you on Team Dog or Team Cat and why?  

I’m Team Cat. My daughters wanted pets.They make the house smell, they don’t help clean up their messes at all! They whine and insist, but I don’t think I’d like my home without them. My cats get to go in and outside, but NOT in my bedroom. 

Have you ever seen a ghost or a UFO?   

Yes. All day long in Sedona! Our visual bandwidth is so limited compared the to totality of light. Sensing and feeling electromagnetic fluctuations with my field allows me to “see”, be aware of a gamut of beingness. 

If you could have a coffee with any famous person, living, dead, fictional, who would it be and why? 

 Fun ponder… Today Kublai Khan and Gangus Khan come to mind. I’m interested in visionary warrior spirit. 

Any other information you’d like to share about yourself or what you do for the library? What did you do before you joined the library as one of its program instructors?  

What a joy to connect and share! I would love to offer an introduction to Japanese, Korean, or Chinese languages and highlight the writing systems.  Considering a different approach to language really grows healthy brain function. 

Also, I would love to be involved in or see more “study groups” at the library.  Like a science study, anatomy and physiology basics, or great literature study for example. 

I imagine All the happy books and resources at the library would enjoy to be activated and engaged with. Libraries and librarians are super pillars of knowledge and educational potential absolutely paramount to our communities! 

We value being able to learn and grow in a safe and supportive place.  

Just walking into the Community Library Sedona one is instantly inspired! Seeing the craft projects and folks working on things quietly is a very pleasant creativity. It is my sincere honor and privilege to participate in library offerings. 

We are family! Come on everybody and speak, and dance! Community Library Sedona is also a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your gifts and support, just like the Friends’ contributions, allow us to provide a plethora of services and programs for the community, for free, all year long. Visit communitylibrarysedona.org/donate to make an online gift today.

As published by Red Rock News

Library News Column for May 30, 2025, by Jan Marc Quisumbing, Scheduling Coordinator