Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandy Klemmer, MS, RD, LDN, CNSC, RYT.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have always been fascinated by how the body works, and both nutrition and yoga are direct dialogues with our body. They are ways to make contact with our being. That’s magical! And, having grown up with a chemical engineer for a father, and a social worker for a mother, it was organic for me to chose a career path that envelops both science and spirit.
After college at Tufts, I lived in London for a year and then worked on some community health research projects here in the Boston area before starting grad school. I had a job offer at a hospital upon finishing my Masters and Registered Dietitian program in 2008, but the financial crisis led to a hiring freeze (*poof* went the job offer).
I ended up working at Ralph Lauren, and that turned out to be one of my most influential experiences. Even once I took a clinical nutrition position at MGH, I continued working at Ralph Lauren part-time for seven years. Fashion inspires me – art, creativity, self-expression – and I got to work with some of the most interesting people (still among my closest friends).
Yoga had a very profound impact on me. Like a spark on dry grass, it quickly went from practicing once a week to twice a week, to every day. I ultimately completed teacher training with David Magone in 2014 and currently teach at Exhale in Back Bay. The Buddhist philosophy and meditation that David introduced me to remains an integral part of my life, practice, and perspective.
I wasn’t raised with any formal religion, but rather my parents taught curiosity and morals, which I think gave a lot of freedom for me to explore spirituality — I was grateful to spend a few weeks studying in India this fall. I stayed at MGH for 10 years, providing medical nutrition care primarily in the ICUs. My “nerd brain” loved this work, but other interests were tugging at my attention. I needed the mind-body dimension to be feel fulfilled.
I say I have a hippie heart and a medical mind. In 2014, I started a private nutrition practice dedicated to helping clients explore their relationship to food, body & movement. I identify more with the role of “nutrition therapist” (vs dietitian) because the work I do involves navigating the full context of associated thoughts, feelings, and influences – all of it comes up. It all comes up.
I cherish this integration of my understanding of mental, spiritual, physical health — steering away from a strictly prescriptive or “diet” approach, to fostering personal competence and trust in our bodies. I think some people are surprised by the potential to redirect thought processes from self-judgment and criticism (which stifle change) to acceptance and curiosity (the grease for a change!).
The other channel of work I do, where I get to integrate all of the things I’m passionate about, is speaking engagements (often corporate settings) on topics around mindfulness/meditation, nutrition, wellness, and yoga. I get to share the science behind these things, as well as the practical application.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
To be honest, yes! Not without effort and challenges, but smooth. I try to lead from authenticity, curiosity, and inspiration – I think that takes away any flavor of “struggle.” I’ve also been very fortunate to have incredible teachers and mentors along the way. One of my teachers says, “patience and enthusiasm are everything,” which I’ve found to be very true in my path.
Complex cases at MGH certainly taught me a lot about problem-solving. I enjoy figuring things out, that hooks my interest. In my nutrition work, self-employment, teaching yoga, all of those all have an element of uncertainty and thinking on my feet.
Nutrition Therapist, Yoga Instructor, Wellness Speaker – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My primary job is at my nutrition practice in Brookline, specialized in weight concerns, disordered and disorganized eating, heart health, and mindful/intuitive eating. I also give wellness lectures and teach yoga. It’s incredible to do work that feels very authentic to me.
My platform is consistent across all areas. I see health as a process – a very dynamic one – and health related-practices as an incredible resource for daily living. We are all seeking congruence of behaviors with our sense of self.
That’s what’s most satisfying – not even necessarily the achievement, but the pursuit, the dialogue. Much of what I get to do is helping people cultivate language around their internal atmosphere, and create enough space to ask & explore the important questions.
Wellness is a practice in subtly, but not precision. I’m pleased there is a clear momentum in the research towards a more nuanced and individualized understanding of metabolism and nutrition, and away from the outdated and simplistic calories-in, calories-out model.
We need to elevate above dieting and numbers, we are capable of so much more! The zeitgeist is shifting to an appreciation for complete foods, versus isolated nutrients and supplements. And, the large body of evidence discrediting diet and weight-based approaches to health already exists, it’s solid, so my hope is that healthcare and media will catch up.
We do a disservice when we tell clients what they think they want to hear (“do this” and “don’t eat that”), instead of helping them in the messy – and amazing – work of figuring out why maladaptive behaviors arose and how to establish a pattern that feels good.
There are far too much noise and information overload in the wellness world; our more powerful health tools these days are mental filters, discernment, and earmuffs.
I find the lines between yoga and nutrition are very porous, my work all blends together. For example, we learn so much from paying attention. Watching the mind. Noticing the texture of an experience or sensation. Listening to all the ways our body speaks.
The system is ON, it’s working. It saddens me greatly that words like “wellness” and “healthy” have become synonymous with rigidity, deprivation, and often, moral superiority. I’d love to see us polish off the residue and semantic satiation from those terms – to reclaim “wellness” and “health” in the fullest senses!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Moments of teaching. Supporting. Creating space. Learning. My work in both yoga and nutrition is really joining people in exploring their own stories, in compassionate self-study…what’s there? Once we cultivate that internal awareness, we can also better apply awareness to our actions “out there” in our community. I’m working on the same process! and I’m proud of anyone who joins in on that.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1101 Beacon Street, Suite 4W Brookline, MA 02446
- Website: www.SandraKlemmer.com
- Other: https://www.exhalespa.com/locations/boston/back-bay
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