Dr. Sara Elizabeth IvanhoeSara Elizabeth Ivanhoe, M.A., Ph.D., teaches Sleep and Contemplative Practice at Stanford University. She holds an M.A. in Yoga Studies from Loyola Marymount University and a Ph.D. from the Graduate Theological Union (Berkeley); she has completed three 500-hour Yoga Alliance teacher trainings and authored the dissertation, In Search of Sleep: A Comprehensive Study of Yoga Philosophy, Therapeutic Practice, and Improving Sleep in Higher Education. In October 2025, Dr. Ivanhoe will mark 30 years of teaching and continues to focus her scholarship on sleep and self-compassionate well-being.
Reflection
Regulation
Resilience
Dr. Ivanhoe developed severe chronic insomnia as a toddler, at times going days without sleep. This condition went undiagnosed for years and contributed to ongoing physical and mental health challenges. Out of this lived experience, she has dedicated her life to studying and developing supportive tools for sleep. For Dr. Ivanhoe, sleep is not a passing wellness trend but both a lifelong challenge and the foundation of a sustained spiritual practice. Her pedagogical and scholarly work centers on the “Three R’s” of Reflection, Regulation, and Resilience, which form the cornerstone of her approach to contemplative education and well-being.
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Sleep Practices
Access a curated collection of audio sessions designed to support better sleep. These practices are based in ancient tradition and informed by evidence-based research.
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Sleep Coaching
Dr. Ivanhoe employs an evidence-based, mixed-methods approach that longitudinally tracks each participant’s sleep experience through structured self-report and optional biometrics. Private sessions introduce contemplative practices as pragmatic interventions that cultivate regulation, reflection, and resilience—supporting the whole person and their ongoing sleep journey rather than framing sleep solely as a problem to be solved.
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Schedule
If you are a Stanford student interested in classes for credit, please see Sara’s teaching schedule below. If you are a community member interested in practicing with Sara, please see Public schedule.
Fall Schedule and Special Events coming soon.
Contact
Dr. Ivanhoe
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