Yoga For Mainstream People

Qualifications & Experience

“Meditation begins with understanding the function of the mind and then doing something about it. That is, to refine the mind, refining by my practice, my food, my inquiry, my attitude.”

– TKV Desikachar

Certifications

Sandra is a certified Krishnamacharya Healing Yoga Foundation Yoga Teacher dedicated to the teachings of T. Krishnamacharya, TKV Desikachar, Kausthub Desikachar. She has been teaching yoga since 1995. Sandra holds diplomas from The American Viniyoga Institute (Yoga Teacher 500 hour level and Yoga Therapist), Kripalu Center (500 hour level), Integrative Yoga Therapy (200 hour level), and Sadashiv Nimbalkar, Yoga Vidya Niketan, Mumbai. She is a 500-hour Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (ERYT) with the Yoga Alliance.

In addition to the yoga training, Sandra has successfully completed Positional Therapy Level 1 (2003), Level 2 (2007) and Level 3 (2009) certification. Positional Therapy consists of Strain/Counterstrain and Muscle Energy Technique.

Sandra continues her studies with Fran Ubertini, a KHYF Teacher Trainer and with the Desikachar family.

Experience

Sandra has an M.S. in Management from Stanford Business School and a B.S. in economics from Miami University, Ohio. She had a long career in local government as an elected town official and in state government as an environmentalist, then as policy advisor in the Executive Office of Environment Affairs. After attending business school, she served as management consultant to the Secretary of Environmental Affairs, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and later as a manager and internal consultant at the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, the agency responsible for the Boston Harbor Cleanup. Her musical activities include 9 years as a Trustee of Berklee College of Music (now Trustee Emerita) and several years as Trustee and Advisor to Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston. Volunteer activities include Cambridge Neighborhood 10 Study Committee and People for Riverbend Park Trust.

Yoga Teaching Experience

  • Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Staff Yoga Therapist, Integrated Therapies team in Pain Management Dept. 2006–2009

  • Yoga for a Healthy Back classes at Brigham & Women's Hospital, 2007–2009

  • Yoga for Mainstream People classes in Cambridge and Watertown, 1997–present

  • Individual Yoga and Yoga Therapy Lessons, 1995–present

  • The Gables at Winchester, Independent Living Seniors, 2004–present

  • Wellbridge Center, Yoga Classes, various workshops 1995–2006

  • Berklee College of Music Students and Staff, 1999–2005

  • Harvard Divinity School Faculty, Staff, Students, 2002–2005

  • Newton Wellesley Hospital, Cardiac Lifestyle Modification Program 2003–2004

  • The Cambridge Homes, Assisted Living Residents, 2003–2004

Yoga & Hiking In Switzerland

Organized and led yoga and hiking retreats in various alpine villages, 1997–present

Corporate Yoga Classes 1997–2002

The Boston Globe, Harvard Business School Staff and Students,
South Shore Elder Services, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority,
Lasertron (High Tech Co. Staff), Northeastern University,
Belmont High School, Buckingham Browne & Nichols faculty/staff,
Cambridge Health Alliance, Lesley University, Staff

Yoga Publications

  • Yoga and the Autonomic Nervous System: Re-educating the Mind, Yoga Therapy in Practice, August 2006

  • Ready, Set, Hike, Yoga Journal May–June 2001. Interview by Dimity McDowell

  • Creating Sangha in the Swiss Alps, Kripalu Bulletin, 2000

  • Yoga in the Air, EarthStar, February/March 2000

  • Mile-High Yoga, Natural Health, December 1998

  • Yoga In Flight, Yoga International, May, 1998

Testimonials

“Yoga with Sandra Uyterhoeven has been a blessing. Yoga has brought me relief from the lower back pain I have suffered with for years. I now use yoga as a way to start my day and to focus/warm up before participating in sports. (Sandra) has shown compassion to her students by making sure every class contains at least one element that addresses the needs of each individual student in our class.”

– Liz Gorgone, Wellesley Association of Day Care Workers

“Dear Sandra, I have rheumatoid arthritis, and I find that yoga classes have helped increase my circulation, range of motion, and I feel much stronger. They have also helped with stress, and I look forward to continuing classes with your wonderful staff.”

– Susan M., The Boston Globe

Other staff members, chosen based on their credentials, experience, reliability, and compatible style. have been uniformly well received by corporate and individual clients.