About Suzanne

 

Suzanne Sterling is a singer, musician, social innovator, ritual leader and activist who has been performing and teaching transformational workshops for over 25 years.  

She is the founder of Voice of Change and co-founder of Off the Mat Into the World. Her life work is dedicated to inspiring others to find their unique voice and to use self-expression and ritual as a tool for healing, community building, and conscious evolution.

Suzanne has been a featured artist/teacher at numerous International festivals and conference centers such as Wanderlust, Omega, Esalen, Kripalu, Yoga Journal, Hanuman, Burning Man, Symbiosis, Ecstatic Dance, Bhaktifest, Boomfest, Lightning in a Bottle, World Festival of Sacred Music, Balispirit, Earthdance (where she led the worlds largest Spiral Dance for 5000 people) and many more.   

Since 2006 she has been training leaders of sacred activism through her co-founded organization Off The Mat, Into the World.  She co-founded and served as director of the Global Seva Challenge which raised over $3.5 million by activating yoga communities and raising awareness about critical global issues. She spent time working with communities in the US, India, Cambodia, Haiti, Ecuador, Uganda, and South Africa around community resilience. She led efforts supporting local organizations in their work in conservation, micro-loans, eradicating poverty, ending human trafficking, women’s and children’s rights, and more.  In addition to her work with OTM, Suzanne has leveraged the power of her musical message to support hundreds of causes from animal rights to environmental justice, from women’s empowerment to pay equity, and more.  

In 2021 she co-founded the Auricle Collective to support sacred musicians and amplify the awareness of the incredible richness of the Sacred Music genre.

Suzanne is a master teacher and leader’s leader. For over 25 years Suzanne has worked with the International Reclaiming Community, co-creating public ritual and training teachers in earth-based spirituality.  She offers year-long training in Sacred Leadership and is excitedly training facilitators in her signature Voice of Change work.  She has been a guest teacher in numerous Yoga Teacher Trainings and is part of the nationwide faculty for YogaWorks Teacher Trainings. 

As an artist, Suzanne uses her voice to create award-winning music.  She has released 5 solo albums, numerous DVD soundtracks and has made guest appearances on over 15 albums and compilations.  Her current Concerts and Kirtans are a thoroughly modern exploration of devotional music and have been known to have an audience on their feet in a matter of minutes. She has been called a soulful and groove-loving musical priestess – refining and reinventing the ancient traditions of ecstatic prayer through the voice. 

“Your voice is the strongest tool you have”

- SUZANNE STERLING

Professional Bio

Experience

  • Co-founder of non-profit Off The Mat, Into the World (OTM) with Seane Corn and Hala Khouri. 2006-present

  • OTM’s reach includes 50,000 plus supporters, trained 4000 leaders, 100 plus service projects initiated, and 200 plus community action groups.

  • Director of Global SEVA Challenge for Off the Mat, Into the World raising millions for international aid projects, and leading six international service trips. 2005-2014

  • Founder Voice of Change, empowerment initiative. 2014-present

  • A respected expert on sound and sound healing

  • 25 years as a professional music performer including over 800 live performances.

  • 5 albums of original musical material on several record labels: Sounds True, Gaiam, White Swan. All music is available on iTunes and Spotify.

  • 11 Commissioned musical compositions for DVD, films, and theater.

  • 25 guest appearances on compilation albums or with other artists.

  • 25 years of creating large-scale public ritual and leading ritual arts in the International Reclaiming Tradition. 1990-present

Academic Teaching

  • 15 years Priestess Apprenticeships in Sacred Leadership both solo and with Gerri Ravyn Stanfield in California and Oregon. 1996-96, 2005-present

  • 15 years of experience teaching singing for groups and individuals internationally.

  • 15 years of experience teaching yoga classes and workshops nationwide.

  • 10 years teaching at Esalen and Omega Institute. 2005-present

  • 8 years faculty for the YogaWorks 300-hour nationwide Teacher Training in Karma Yoga and Art of the Voice. Guest teacher in numerous teacher trainings.

  • 8 years on faculty at Globe Sound Healing Institute both in-person and online.

  • Teacher and Facilitator in Eco-feminist spirituality and ritual arts in the International Reclaiming Tradition intensives and classes. 1990-present

  • 33 International Yoga and Sound Healing Conferences including Yoga Journal, Yoga Alliance, Wanderlust, and Esalen.

  • 40 International Yoga and Music Festivals.

Teaching Experience With Off the Mat, Into the World

  • 30+ Yoga, Purpose and Action trainings nationwide. Training 4000 leaders in social justice and activism.

  • Co-wrote the Yoga in Action Curriculum used by small groups nationwide.

  • Empowered Youth Initiative, led trainings and programs in Los Angeles and Oakland.

  • Yogavotes, a nationwide initiative for voter engagement including creation of The Yoga Oasis with The Huffington Post at the Democratic National Convention in 2008 and both DNC and RNC in 2012.

  • Co-led the Gamechangers Conference at Yoga Journal 2015 and Global Action Summit at Wanderlust, 2014.

Awards & Press

  • Contributing writer for Elements of Magic book published by Llewellyn.

  • Contributing writer for the Wanderlust Book: a Modern Yogis Guide to Discovering Your Best Self.

  • Articles and Interviews published in Yoga Journal, Conscious Dancer, LA Yoga, Mantra Magazine, Origin Magazine, & Elephant Journal.

  • NORBAY awards – winner Spiritual Music Category 2008.

  • Marin Arts Council Grant recipient 2000.