09/10/2026
What happens when yoga becomes more than a practice — and becomes a lifelong journey of discovering your true self?
At 29, Sandra Sammartino turned to yoga during a difficult chapter of her life. What began as a way to find relief from physical pain, anxiety and emotional turmoil became a decades-long exploration of yoga, meditation, breathwork and energy.
Sandra studied with teachers from different traditions, including Iyengar, Sivananda and Kundalini, but never confined herself to a single lineage. Instead, she took what resonated with her and continued developing her own practice.
Her philosophy is beautifully simple:
“I was just teaching what was right for me.”
For Sandra, yoga is ultimately about returning to our true self, learning to balance the dark and the light, and developing the creativity and intuition to find our own way.
Her connection with the Yoga Association of Alberta spans nearly five decades. She describes YAA as a “fantastic organization” because of its inclusive spirit and its ability to bring together practitioners from different traditions.
And perhaps one of Sandra’s greatest gifts as a teacher is helping others discover their own path:
“My gift is to help people… give them a little boot towards their true self.”
🎥 Watch YAA Pioneer Interview #5 with Sandra Sammartino to hear more about her remarkable yoga journey, her experiences with teachers and traditions across decades, and the wisdom she continues to share.
