We both taught at Mang’oh Yoga for years without crossing paths until eventually having classes back to back opened up the opportunity to catch a few moments to chat in the lobby. Casual conversation was the start, until spontaneous synchronicity took over, and we started running into each other all the time, both in our neighborhood of Murray Hill and far flung corners of the city. Sometimes multiple times in a single week! Everytime it happened, we just looked at each other and laughed. Our random run-ins became so frequent that we finally took them as a sign and decided to officially meet up. A great friendship developed over many dinners and glasses of wine, where we chatted about life and yoga. We realized we shared a deep commitment to the practice as well as the desire to enrich and support our students through a deeply connected, intelligently aligned practice. Over drinks one evening, the topic of yoga retreats came up -- we  had each thought about leading one but never acted. In an instant, it was like a halo of light glowed around us as we both smiled, knowing we were thinking the same thing, we blurted out, let’s lead a retreat together! As fate would have it, we were brought together to create The Yoga Life Retreats. With over 1,000 hours of training between us, we look forward to combining our distinct perspectives to craft a transformative retreat experience.

Andrea Lodico

Andrea Lodico is a New York-based yoga teacher. She found yoga through dance, beginning a new journey of movement and discovery. Since 2004, yoga has been a source of joy and calm within the hustle of life in NYC. In her teaching, she hopes to share the passion and peace she feels on the mat and provide students with an environment in which they uncover new insight, vibrant presence, and strength. Andrea infuses her classes with playfulness and dynamic sequencing in which students move through asana from a strong foundation of alignment. A vigorous and lighthearted practice works to encourage mindfulness of breathing and somatic awareness. Andrea is filled with gratitude for her teachers and the community that yoga has brought into her life, having completed a 200-hour certification at mang’Oh yoga in 2014 with Erica Whalen and her 500-hour training in 2017 at Boston Yoga School in Boston, MA under the mentorship of Ame Wren and Kevin Courtney. She received a 75-hour certification through The Sacred Fig and Kula Yoga Project with Anton Brandt and Nikki Vilella in September 2019.

In addition to teaching yoga, Andrea is an arts administrator, working with choreographers and dance companies to bolster infrastructure and guide change and strategic planning. Over the last decade, Andrea’s creative and strategic vision, along with her commitment to collaboration and innovation, has distinguished her as a leader in the dance field.

Sara Blumenkranz

Sara Blumenkranz received her 200hr certification from Mang’Oh Yoga in the Spring of 2015, a mentorship through Sky Ting Yoga in the Spring of 2016 and a 200hr Katonah Yoga certification in the Fall of 2018. In life, she refers to, BYTT (Before Yoga Teacher Training) and AYTT (After Yoga Teacher Training) as it was sincerely life transforming. She found that balance, calmness, and fulfillment through a yogic lifestyle is truly the key to harmony.

Sara is a footwear designer by day and yogi by night. She invites you to explore the magic of yoga in every class. Her goal is to create a safe and comfortable environment in every class. She brings a mix of vinyasa flow filled with a blend of several styles including Katonah Yoga, Pranayama and Classical Hatha. Pairing a fresh playlist in every class, weaving in essential oils during savasana, you will undoubtedly find euphoria. Yoga brings so much value to our lives, being able to share the yogic lifestyle is truly exciting.