Canada
United States* includes international guests
Australia
Please note: You will lose the contents of your shopping bag when you change regions.
Canada
United States* includes international guests
Australia
Please note: You will lose the contents of your shopping bag when you change regions.
http://www.yoganadi.co.nz
info@yoganadi.co.nz
Sitting quietly in meditation and taking it slowly was not generally the approach that featured strongly in Sandi’s family culture and life as she was growing up.
They were definitely more of a “go go” lot. As the oldest of 4 children life was noisy and busy and due to her parents adventurous spirit Sandi’s experiences were rich and diverse with always a colourful story to tell later, even if at the time it all felt like chaos.
Sandi started running when she was 15 when on a family campervan exploration around Europe, in the winter with her marathon Dad. She involved herself in competition gymnastics and stopped just short of ski racing, leaving that up to her speedy gonzali brothers.
She has always enjoyed the deeper philosophical questions of life and was drawn as a child to performance and in particular acting which required a sometimes serious look into the age old question “who am I?”
It was during her training in Canada, to become a qualified actor that Sandi experienced her first dance with yoga. Yoga asked many of the same questions of her as acting did. She fell in love with the ancient art of relaxation and found it to be a wonderful compliment and balance to her more ambitious self. Not to mention the journey it has been to unravel the years of running locked up in her hamstrings and hips! YOGA and acting welded together and continue to be two of her greatest passions.
Learning to breathe consciously and deeply and combining strength with flexibility was integral to coping with the demands of performance on a physical, emotional and mental level and yoga continues to give her the tools to cope when the going gets tough.
In 2006 Sandi received her certification as a yoga instructor from Samadhi Yoga, Sydney where she was mentored by Sue White and Katie Manitsas. (qualified Jiva mukti instructor and director of the school) and also continued to enjoy the Dynamic Hatha vinyasa teachings of Rick Barnsdale and Debbie Manoy at Dharma Shala Studio.
Sandi’s style is dynamic and flowing, eclectic and versatile. Mostly influenced by the classical styles of Astanga Vinyasa, Jiva Mukti and Hatha .She emphasises correct alignment principles but also allows time for restoration, philosophy and moments of stillness. Her classes are infused with poetic analogy, selected music, humour and light heartedness.
Sandi enjoys the process of continuing to further her knowledge and experience and so joins other teachers when the opportunities arise. Most recently she has studied with Lance Schuler (Jan 2011) and enjoyed Swami Shanti Murti’s workshops in 2010.
Sandi’s passion for play and the joy it brings naturally attracts her to the energy of children and children to her.
She was inspired to teach kids yoga by Ana Davis (founder of Bondi Bliss Yoga Studio in Sydney and Bliss baby in Byron Bay). She specialised in this area for 6 years while living in Sydney and has continued for the last 2 years in Queenstown.
Her diverse style integrates the art of story telling, song and classical postures in a way that children can relate to. (Read more under kids yoga section).
Now mother to 2 year old Jasper, Sandi has expanded her teaching to include the specialised area of pre and post natal yoga (read more in pregnancy and mums and bubs sections).
Sandi is also a qualified remedial Massage therapist, holds a degree in Theatre and Film and a diploma in Acting for theatre film and Television. Sandi’s most recent theatre performance was in Queenstown, July 2010
at the Hills clubhouse where she performed a one woman play as a fundraiser for the local Abuse Prevention Network.
“I love Yoga because it helps me to sweep away obstacles and clear the way for something new (even if it is just a fresh breath), to remember to surrender when I try too hard, to forgive myself if I make a mistake and to be grateful for all that I have. YOGA helps me to feel light, fit and strong from the inside out. When I honour my own well being through the practise of YOGA my well OF being feels full and I can let that overflow into hopefully enriching others lives too. I love passing on what I am learning to my students and feel privileged to be able to do so in my home town, certainly one of the most beautiful and majestic places in the world.”
Love and light,
Namaste
Sandi
