About Me

Hi! My name is Jessie Sandoval and I own Shanti Yoga Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

I am living out my dharma, or my purpose in life. Ancient yoga texts describe dharma as an inner wisdom, or a cosmic guidance that governs us as individuals and the Universe itself. I believe I was called to create a space and community where people can experience peace (in body and mind) through the practice and deeper teachings of yoga. The kind of peace that comes from unveiling our true selves -- our authentic light.

The path to my purpose has been very diverse and yet full of growth and learning. After a 12-year career working in higher education, I decided to switch directions and pursue my passion and delight for the practice of yoga. What I desired most was to create a community where teachers and students alike could deepen their awareness and understanding of yoga, beyond the physical practice. So, I founded Shanti Yoga Center!

One of the ways I believe we can connect and create a sense of community is through travel. When I opened Shanti Yoga Center in 2019, my business plan included hosting retreats, not just locally, but all over the world! I am excited to be leading a yoga retreat in Baja, Mexico in November 2021 and now a retreat to Portugal in June 2023. I consider it a wonderful blessing to be able to combine my knowledge, love and passion for yoga with culture and travel. This retreat in Portugal is called, “Community, Culture and Community,” because that is exactly what you can expect from the experience. We arrive in a new community while we create connections with each other through shared experiences in a new culture. This is YOGA! Being in community with each other and open to learning and growing in our awareness is why we practice. Creating opportunities for this magic to take place is my purpose, so why not join us?! We will do yoga, breathwork and meditation on the beach daily with plenty of sightseeing, exploring and enjoying the tastes of the country. It is sure to be an amazing experience, and if you need any further convincing, be sure to reach out.

Jessie has over 3000 hours of teaching experience and her RYT500 certification as a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with Yoga Alliance. She received her 200hr yoga teacher training (YTT) in Houston, Texas, and completed her 500hr training at Yoga North in Duluth, Minnesota, with a focus on Therapeutic Soma Yoga and Classic Hatha Yoga. In 2020, Jessie earned her E-RYT 200 and joined the faculty team at Green Lotus Yoga and Healing Center where she taught yoga philosophy and pranayama (breath work) in the 200hr teacher training course. Most recently, she completed her training in Unnata® Aerial Yoga, a style of yoga that uses the support of a soft, aerial fabric hammock to explore, refine and advance traditional asana, both in the air and on the ground. Overall, Jessie uses her curiosity and commitment to self-study as a way to continue learning and growing in the practice of yoga.