Sandra Stanton was born and raised in Verona, NY. She attended VVS high school, NCSA, and graduated from The Juilliard School in NYC as a four-year scholarship student with a B.F.A. in Dance. As a student, Sandra participated in all-state and all-county orchestras, playing the violin for a total of 12 years. As a young dancer, Sandra trained with the Chicago City Ballet, The Bolshoi Ballet Academy and the Chautauqua Dance Co.

After graduating from Juilliard, Sandra toured the world performing original works with Twyla Tharps dance company THARP! She also danced with Peridance in NYC, Jessica Lang, LaLaLa Human Steps in Montreal, BMW in Tokyo and help to found Rubberbandance group of Montreal. Sandra has taught all over the world at schools, companies and major universities, including Stanford University, University of Vermont, Cape Cod Ballet and many others. For several years, Sandra also travelled nationally judging dance competitions. The years of intense training and performing left Sandra with numerous serious, chronic injuries in her shoulder, knee, cervical spine and hip joint. She was intoduced to yoga while performing on tour with THARP!. Slowly, by practicing just 45 minutes of yoga each day, the daily pain significantly decreased and strength, mobility and flexibilty was regained as a result. Sandra realized that it was not necessary to live with pain and began to immerse herself in wellness education. She has been practicing yoga for 10 years. She was led to complete her ashtanga YOGA teaching training with David Swenson at YogaVermont and is reiki certified. Sandra also attended the Wellness Guides Institute for massage therapy and is certified in several modalities of massage including: Swedish, Russian Therapeudic, chair, infant and pregnancy massage. Sandra holds a current personal training and nutirition certification with APEX fitness and in 2005, opened her own personal training and yoga studio, studio U, in Vernon NY. In the summer of 2008 Sandra began working with the world- renown Glimmerglass Opera House in Cooperstown, NY choreographing the North American premiere of Richard Wagner's 'Das Liebesverbot' and also performing in the production. Sandra was invited back to her high school alma mater to choreograph their spring musical production of 'Footloose'. Sandra is an ABT Certified teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 3 of the ABT National Training Curriculum. In 2007, ballet classes were added to the studio schedule in hopes of teaching ballet in a positive, challenging and fun way for area children. Ballet classes at studio U are taught in a supportive, encouraging environment even incorporating musical education (and math!) into each class. At studio U, children learn to appreciate themselves, the teacher, the space, the art form and the process of learning. Nationwide arts programs are being cut from school programs as children sit in front of television and computer games. Arts education is most important to create intelligent, well-rounded children who grow into cultured and educated adults. studio u strives to provide that top-notch arts education for children and young adults. As the yoga community at studio U continues to grow , it is Sandra's desire that studio U stand as a beacon of hope for those who may be living with life's physical, mental and spiritual pain. studio U truly welcomes all ages, body types and fitness levels. Even those dealing with serious injury, physical or otherwise, are embraced into each class. Sandra is so proud to be the mother of her beautiful 3 year old son, Rikson Stanton, and would like to thank her parents, Dick and Maria Stanton, for all of their love, support, encouragement and advice throughout her life.