sandra erickson

Biography: Sandy Erickson Sandy Erickson was introduced to yoga through a friend that attended classes at a local gym. As a former gymnast, she enjoyed the challenge of the physical practice immensely. The instructor offered to teach Sandy privately, if she would agree to help her expand the yoga program at the gym. After several months of training she began teaching classes regularly and eventually completed her certification through Erich Schiffmann in 1997. Erich is the author of, Yoga The Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness, and the master yoga teacher featured in the video, Yoga Mind and Body with Ali MacGraw. Her teaching style has been influenced by such masters as David Swensen, Tom Gillette, Beryl Bender and Tom Birch, Manju Jois, and Jimmy Barkan. She continues to study with some of the most influential teachers of yoga, currently recognized in the United States. Sandy has studied Pilates under Beth Downy, owner and operator of Body Precision, located in Rosemont, Pennsylvania. Sandy continues to teach a wide variety of specialized yoga and pilates mat and reformer classes throughout the local area. Sandy has developed innovative yoga and pilates workshops using the resist-a-ball, and leads partner yoga workshops several times a year. She adapts her classes to embrace students with little or no experience, as well as offer challenges to students desiring to deepen their practice. Her instructional teaching style is designed to encourage her students to experience not only the physical alignment desired, but also to utilize the incredible benefits of proper breathwork. Students experience transformation through increased strength, flexibility, stress release, self acceptance and confidence. Group classes are designed to be supportive and enjoyable. Students learn to be mindful through breathwork, by allowing the breath to sculpt the poses. Meditation techniques are introduced, building on the fundamental principles of yoga. Students soon discover that yoga is much more than just an exercise program they attend once or twice a week, and instead becomes an active part of daily life.