Sandra Vanatko
Sandra Vanatko is the inspiration behind Indra’s Grace. She is passionate about Yoga and even more passionate about sharing Yoga with others. Sandra is recognized and certified by Yoga Alliance as an ERYT 200, RYT-500 Instructor. Sandra is also a Certified Holistic Nutrition Counselor. She is CPR and First Aid certified. Sandra is a certified Reiki Practitioner. She received her BA in Biology and Minor in Chemistry at Texas A&M University in 2001.
Sandra spent several years traveling learning Yoga and Yoga Philosophy. She first traveled to Northern India and then returned to the United States to further her Yoga education with Mr. Shashi Pottathil of San Diego, California. Mr. Pottathil is founder of Yoga and Meditation Center and has received several honors for Yoga. Sandra was blessed to spend two and half years as his apprentice and completed more then 3400 hours of in class Yoga training in addition to several hundred hours of Yoga Philosophy.
In the fall of 2009, Sandra decided to return home to Texas to be closer to her family and to pursue her dream of opening up a Yoga Studio. In late January 2010 her dream came true when Indra’s Grace opened it’s doors.
Sandra loves blending science and spirituality and believes that healing starts from within. She loves teaching Yoga as a preventative physical therapy and draws on her science background to teach the most updated form of Hatha Yoga. She continually updates and modifies postures and breath work to help Yoga be something that anyone at any age and level can do for better health. She focuses on health and prevention versus disease and treatment.
Sandra created the “Just Breathe” program that local doctors refer patients to, to help manage blood pressure, stress levels, anxiety, sleeplessness, and depression. Sandra specializes in one-to-one Yoga Therapy, Breath Work, and Beginners Yoga. She also has experience working with students after back, knee, and shoulder surgery. She assists students in their healing process suggesting variations of postures that will help students in their healing journey. Sandra also works with students going through chemotherapy and radiation and also has experience working with stroke victims. She intuits postures and breath work so that each class is specifically tailored to what the student needs in the present moment.
Sandra teaches over twenty-five group and private classes weekly. She has taught over 1700 classes since Indra’s Grace opened it’s doors in January 2010.
Sandra will present (with DeAnna Nielson):
Yoga For Emotional Health – Saturday, February 18 – 8:00 am – 10:00 am
