Sandra Sanford
Inweekly, 11/16/2006
Sandra Sanford moved to Pensacola six years ago after living in the Virgin Islands for 14 years. Sanford, who recently opened Breathe Yoga Studio in Seville Square, has taught yoga every place you can think of for the past four years. Here she shares her methods for reducing stress, tending bar on a small Caribbean island and the best way to die.
What is your greatest fear?
Looking back on life and having regretted not doing enough. And a squirrel in our neighborhood named Murphy.
Which person do you most admire?
Oprah. She is generous, deeply spiritual, successful and looks like she is having a lot of fun.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Weekly massages, sometimes even twice a week.
What is your favorite journey?
Going to Kripalu, my yoga center, every summer for a couple of weeks to do lots of yoga, eat “clean” food, be with like-minded people, learn, run, lift weights, journal, cry, pray, dance, chant, meditate … deepen my practice. Transform and rejuvenate!
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Sacrifice. You should be able to make others happy without compromising your own happiness. Not to be confused with heroism.
When and where are you most comfortable?
In my yard, gardening. Santosha (contentment) is being deep in dirt.
Which talent would you most like to have?
A good memory. I can’t remember big chunks of my past. A girlfriend told me that we went to a Police concert years ago and for the life of me I just can’t remember.
Who do you want to play you in a movie on your life?
Angelina Jolie. See the resemblance?
What do you consider your greatest failure?
Not being able to carry my son, who was born very premature, to term.
What was your most embarrassing moment?
During my 200-hour teacher training at Kripalu, I sat in the dining hall with a Japanese girl who would pile her plate with food at every meal. I kept remarking about how much she would eat until one day she got up and said that she had had enough of my comments and left the table. Later, when I was apologizing for my behavior, she confessed that she was struggling with an eating disorder. Ouch!
What is your dream job (not your current one)?
Bartender at a rum shack in Vieques.
What is your favorite song?
“She’s a Bad Mama Jama.” It’s my theme song, everyone should have one.
What do you most value in friends?
Dependability. You can go years without seeing them and boom, just pick up where you left off.
What do you most dislike?
Drama.
If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?
I wish my sister was still alive.
What have you learned in life?
Surrendering to my faith in God.
What is the last book you read?
“Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert. She spent time in my head.
What super power would you like to have?
Flexibility like Flexi-girl from “The Incredibles.”
What is your motto?
It’s about the journey, not the destination.
How would you like to die?
Enlightened.
