Lineage

tasmai śrī gurave namah

I bow down in reverence to all of my teachers and give thanks to all lineage holders who have come before me.

In 2011 I began studying formally with my teachers Sharon Gannon and David Life (founders of Jivamukti Yoga Method), who studied extensively with Sri Brahmanada Saraswati, Swami Nirmalananda and the Ashtanga Vinyasa method. My lineage is important to my sense of belonging within the yoga community because it reminds me that I am part of a living tradition which has been passed down over hundreds of years.

I have continued my yoga education over the last decade, often traveling across the world multiple times a year to spend time with my teachers, maintaining my connection and refuelling my passion with renewed inspiration.

The teachers I have studied with the most are:

  • Sharon Gannon and David Life (Jivamukti)
  • Jules Febre (Jivamukti)
  • Yogeswari (Jivamukti)
  • Rima Rabbath (Jivamukti)
  • Ruth Lauer-Manenti (Jivamukti)
  • Jessica Stickler (Jivamukti)
  • Keith Kempis (Jivamukti)
  • Swami Muktibodhananda Saraswati (traditional Hatha)
  • Seema Johari (traditional lineage holder in Haridwar)
  • Katie Rose (vinyāsa)
  • Maria Macaya (trauma informed yoga)

Teaching Intentions

I am passionate about dismantling the modern exclusionary yoga “fitness” culture; instead teaching yoga as an integrated holistic approach to the radical acts of Self-exploration, Self love and Self care. For me, Yoga has never been a purely physical practice – but instead an access point for regulating mental health and emotional wellbeing, while embarking upon spirituality in a fun and exciting way.

I endeavour to honour the traditions and rich cultural history of yoga, by using Sanskrit language during my teachings, incorporating classical yogic philosophy, acknowledging my lineage and continuing to study.

I hope to continue improving access to yoga for marginalised folks who traditionally have been excluded from or faced barriers in accessing yoga practice – queer people, gender-diverse people, neuro-diverse, differently abled, low-income, less mobile, remote, BIPOC and many others.

I have also witnessed the power of yoga in bringing people together, as a means of building community through finding common ground; what in Sanskrit is known as Satsang.

I am always learning, growing and evolving; as we all are. I am doing my best and realise that I will occasionally make mistakes. My intention is to both honour the traditions of yoga as they have been taught to me by my teachers, while also being adaptable and staying current with the modern needs of people, as our world changes.

CV

  • 2008: Hatha Vinyasa Yoga 200hr TT w/ Samadhi Yoga, Sydney
  • 2011: Jivamukti Yoga 300hr TT w/ Sharon Gannon & David Life, New York
  • 2012: Jivamukti Yoga Apprenticeship 500hr w/ Jessica Stickler, Sydney
  • 2012: Advanced Certification in Jivamukti Yoga, New York
  • 2013-2020: Served as a mentor for Jivamukti Apprenticeship, Sydney
  • 2019: Co-facilitated Jivamukti Yoga 75hr TT, Sydney
  • 2020: Served as a mentor on Jivamukti Yoga 300hr TT, India
  • 2021: Co-created and co-facilitated 2 independent yoga TTs with Krama Yoga, Sydney
  • 2021: Trauma Informed Yoga TT Radika Foundation, Barcelona (online)
  • 2022: Pre and Post Natal Yoga TT w/ Gabriela Fearn at Egg of the Universe, Sydney
  • 2022: Reformer Pilates TT w/ BodyMindLife, Sydney
  • 2023: Mat Pilates TT w/ The Studio, Hobart

Hello! My name is Sandy

(they/them)

I am a queer, non-binary yoga teacher currently based in nipaluna/Hobart + the founder of Golden Yoga School.

I am passionate about teaching folks how to be joyful, skillful, adaptable and successful yoga teachers and students.

Over the last 15 years, I have crafted a sustainable and beautiful career doing what I love – sharing the powerful and vast practices of yoga all over the world.

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I undertook my first yoga teacher training in ‘08 at the age of 19 + soon after became the youngest advanced certified Jivamukti Yoga teacher in the world.

I have subsequently gained certification in many other modalities including yin, restorative, pre+post natal, trauma-informed, as well as Pilates.

I have been teaching yoga full-time for well over a decade, primarily on Gadigal Land/Sydney, also travelling + teaching regularly in Denmark (where I was born), Norway, UK, Germany, USA + Bali.

Throughout these years, I have written + facilitated teacher trainings + mentored countless yoga teachers across the world.

During the last decade I have been recording + uploading my classes to this website, to stay connected to the students I met while teaching and travelling internationally.

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I now live on the heart-shaped island of lutruwita/Tasmania with my yoga teacher/scientist partner, Sas, and our darling golden retriever puppy, Shanti.

Thank you for being here with me. I wish you well on your practice journey + hope we get to know one another!

Sandy x