After a stressful weekend dealing with the preparation, duration and after mass of Hurricane Irene, I thought it was great to write about a friend of mine, Sandra Bernstein who teaches all forms of yoga and the title of her company is appropriate– "Gentle Yoga with Sandra"
I first met Sandra when we worked together on projects in the pharma world teaching Presentation skills to physicians.
Her story is so inspiring:
Sandra Bernstein, a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with Yoga Alliance, has been practicing yoga for over ten years and received her 200+ hour instructor certification in Hatha, Gentle and Chair Yoga from Integral Yoga Institute (IYI) in New York City and Virginia where she was recently certified to teach yoga for arthritis. Sandra has also studied Restorative Yoga and remains committed to helping older adults stay flexible and strong through yoga as it opens their hearts, minds and bodies.
At age 50, Sandra divorced, closed her business as a speaker trainer and was starting over. Not knowing much about yoga and without any expectations, she took her first class at the New Age Spa in Neversink, NY. ( I have also gone there for years and have taught Stress and Time Management there)
Leaving class feeling lighter, calmer and renewed, she knew she was hooked. Years later, after developing arthritis which limits her flexibility to an extent, she decided to focus her teaching on the special needs of people who are physically challenged or older and suffering from the cumulative effects of a sedentary lifetime but still want the health benefits that practicing yoga brings.
Today, more than 10 years later, Sandra teaches gentle yoga throughout Westchester County and the Bronx, New York. Her students range in age from their twenties to well into their nineties. Her oldest student is 102 years young.This is SO WONDERFUL!!!!
If you would like to relax, renew and refresh at any age– yoga is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. I am a yogi for the last 5 years– however still very much a beginner.
At all ages and in all conditions yoga can help you relax, feel renewed and improve your overall sense of well-being. Gentle yoga provides the benefits of yoga in a non-strenuous way incorporating easy breathing and stretching techniques that are designed to help reduce stress, decrease anxiety, build strength and help maintain mobility. It is designed for older adults and individuals who may not have exercised for a long time, have some physical limitations or find that their body has less flexibility. New “yogis” are welcome.
To learn more about how Sandra can help you– email her at [email protected]
She is great!
Namaste
“Yoga came to my rescue after many personal challenges and has since changed the way I live. I actively work on connecting the health of my mind, body and spirit and teach to share the blessings I have found later in my life. My plans for the future: to teach yoga to my contemporaries when I am in my 80’s!”
Sandra founded ICT Impact Communications Techniques to teach executives business speaking skills. She started Gentle Yoga with Sandra while working as a Director of Development for non-profit organizations in Westchester County and New York City. A graduate of the City University of New York’s Queens College, she also has an MBA from New York’s Baruch College.