Artistic in nature, Amanda has been creating since childhood. Her passion for expression through
the arts led her to play the violin, weld 3-dimensional sculptures, throw pottery on the wheel, and act, write and direct in the theatre arts. While studying at Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, the ancient art of yoga and eastern philosophy peaked her interest. In 2009, a year after graduating with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Theatre with a double emphasis in Playwriting and Directing, Amanda completed her first yoga teacher training course – a 500 Hour Hatha Yoga course through Sunstone Yoga Academy in Addison, TX.
Amanda continued to acquire the education, skills and experience necessary to add a variety of yoga and Pilates influenced classes to her repertoire while teaching full time. Her managerial skills were recognized while teaching at a franchised Sunstone Yoga studio in Austin and she was hired as a Designated Manager. In 2011, she completed another yoga teacher training course – a 200 Hour Kundalini Yoga course through Yoga Yoga in Austin, TX.
In 2012 Amanda moved to the west coast. While living in San Francisco, she spent her free time writing short plays and teaching all levels Vinyasa classes at three different locations for the city’s Recreation and Parks Department. A year later, she followed her heart to the foothills of the Sierra
Nevada Mountains in Northern California where she lives today. Since moving to Butte County, Amanda has had the opportunity to teach yoga to a range of students from underprivileged high school students to crossfit clients to seniors and students with disabilities. A passion for business stemming from her entrepreneurial parents, Amanda has also helped manage two start-up yoga businesses, Exhale Studio in Oroville, CA as well as the acquired yoga program at ‘Ohana Health in Paradise, CA. She is filled with gratitude for having taught yoga in many different communities as well as having managed multiple studios during her yoga career thus far, accruing experience, attentiveness and professionalism.
Amanda’s joy for learning is what inspired her to create a yoga teacher training school, and in 2014 she founded Spira Yoga School, a Yoga Alliance registered yoga school (RYS200®). To date, she has graduated 52 yoga teachers and is currently teaching her seventh 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training course. In 2015, Amanda completed a 35 Hour Yoga Nidra course with Dr. Marc Halpern in Grass Valley, CA and an 85 Hour Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training course at Yoga Garden in San Francisco, CA. In 2017, she studied with Judith Hanson Lasater, PhD, PT, completing both Level 1 and 2 of Relax and Renew®, Restorative Yoga teacher training courses, accumulating 60 contact hours with Judith and another 20 non-contact hours in assignments reviewed by Judith. In 2018, she continued to study with Judith Hanson Lasater through various continuing education courses, accumulating hours of coursework in anatomy, kinesiology, philosophy and non-violent communication. In 2019, she completed the 100 Hour Art of Teaching course through the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco. Amanda's appetite for continued growth, studies, and practice has gained her the titles Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT500®), the highest designation provided by Yoga Alliance, Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher (RPYT®), and Continuing Education Provider (YACEP®).
At the beginning of 2016, Amanda was honored when asked to host an Online Workshop with Yoga Alliance, teaching yoga teachers across the globe on the subject of Sequencing and Teaching All Levels Classes. After a successful presentation she was asked to contribute educationally to Yoga Alliance as a Thought Leader, writing articles on the forefront of various yoga topics. This rekindled Amanda's love of writing which inspired her to start a blog. When wanting to create with her hands, she makes malas and yoga inspired jewelry.
In addition to being the Program Director and Lead Trainer for courses offered by Spira Yoga School, Amanda also uploads monthly, donation-based yoga videos on this website. You can catch Amanda in person at one of her studio classes at PureJoy Yoga + Wellness in Yuba City, or one of her workshops taught at various yoga venues in Northern California and posted here on her Yoga page. Amanda lives in a beautiful, rural town overlooking the Sutter Buttes with her fiance and their dog. It is with great honor and humility that she shares the gift of yoga.
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