Sandra Garfinkel

Sandra Garfinkel is an Integrative Health Coach whose work incorporates simple, creative, and effective techniques that make sense and are easy to integrate into one's daily life. With 18 years of experience in the wellness industry, she is a licensed massage therapist, certified yoga teacher and personal trainer, Urban Zen Integrative Therapist, energy worker, and veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Sandra's journey into health began with 5 years in the Marine Corps where she learned to strengthen her body and develop discipline, self-motivation, and leadership skills. After her enlistment, she moved to NYC to study acting at Atlantic Theater School's conservatory and got certified as a personal trainer. Interested in the healing benefits of yoga, she traveled to Kerala, India for yoga teacher training, and then went on to attend the Urban Zen Integrative Therapy Program founded by Donna Karan, Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman Yee. Here she learned a synergistic blend of therapies to help clients deal with symptoms such as pain, anxiety, insomnia, and exhaustion. Sandra also earned a degree in eastern and western massage therapies at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in NYC, which allowed for a more hands-on approach and deeper knowledge of the body and energy systems. Currently, she is excited to be studying Tibetan KuNye massage at Menla. Uniting all of these different techniques and studies, Sandra addresses wellness with a goal to help people connect with their inner guidance at a deeper level and give them resources to take control of their own personal well-being..

Upcoming Programs by Sandra Garfinkel

I just returned from an over-night stay at the Menia Retreat Center. During that time, I was very fortunate to have had four services at the beautiful Dewa Spa.All of them were amazing, but I really have to take a few minutes to write about Sarite Sanders who did Craniosacral Therapy and Nicole Bernhardt who provided Extended KuNye Massage.

Both of these women are gifted practitioners who clearly are dedicated to their healing modalities. Sarite is not just a healer but a teacher–a very powerful combination for a true wellness practitioner. She even suggested movement exercises that I could do at home to help with an old injury–one I had not told her about, but that she “felt” as she worked on my body. Both of these women took time to explain what and why they were doing certain things and thus were able to create a very safe environment for healing. Thank you for a truly lovely experience.

Virginia Giordano

“Menla is indeed magical, a place out of time that is rich in presence. The vibrational quality of this sanctuary is palpable as well as the magnificent natural beauty. Healing, peaceful and luminous with Light, a pilgrimage to Menla evokes the proverbial Medicine Mountain, and yet it is so close to NYC. Our Ayurvedic massage and experience at Dewa Spa was transporting, regenerative and deeply nourishing. Looking forward to our next retreat here and sharing this treasure with friends.”

Sarah Drew

“Beautiful place, amazing people! I had one of the best massages of my life. What stood out unambiguously at Menla, was that I felt peaceful there.”

Ana M.

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