About Amanda
I came to yoga therapy during a colossal life shake down. Every part of my life was disrupted and in crisis. Once the acute crisis passed, I could see that I didn’t want to put my life back the way it used to be. I wanted a better way that was more aligned with who I was and how I wanted to live.
I had practiced yoga for a long time but hesitated to commit to yoga therapy. Even after meeting my would-be teacher, I couldn’t imagine how 1:1 yoga could be worth the time, cost and the awkwardness of talking about how messed up everything was. But eventually, I took the leap and began the work. My mentor listened without judgment and offered honest, caring feedback. He designed a practice that was personal and meaningful for me to do on my own. This work, more than any other I had done, was the catalyst for incredible shifts in my life. Yoga put me in touch with the part of me that knew what steps to take and how to rebuild.
Relationships with my family improved, daily life was meaningful in new ways and I started to really like who and how I was in the world. These changes gave me the energy and the courage to continue and inspired me to train and study so I can offer this work to others.
Viniyoga is the primary lens that informs my personal practice and my teaching. This yoga lineage is for the householder - those of us who are living in communities, engaged in relationships, working, studying, parenting… basically all of us who are experiencing what it’s like to be a person while navigating the many choices and obligations of daily life. The teachings have so much to offer — in the short term, I’ve seen these practices be incredibly effective in shifting the body, prāṇa (energy flow),mind, patterns of behavior, and our emotions towards healing. In the long term, it’s possible to develop capacities and transform the way we participate in life in profound ways. Lucky for us, there are ancient texts like the yoga sūtras and the Bhagavad Gita that serve as our guidebooks along the path.
In addition to yoga, I’m a painter and ceramic artist. I love laughing and funny people, big skies, dirt, plants and bugs, karaoke, and dancing. I have a fabulous husband of 25+years and two kids — both daring young adults and trans folx. In case you were wondering, my dog, Oreo, is the best boy ever.
Deep gratitude to the students and colleagues who keep this stuff alive and to Sri T. Krishnamacharya, T.K.V. Desikachar and my long-time teacher and mentor, Chase Bossart for showing me the way.
Selected Studies and Certifications
Innermost Yoga, Founder - Innermost exists to support students who want to practice and learn viniyoga. Our platform is currently expanding to offer a range of educational workshops and trainings in addition to individual yoga therapy. (2014-present)
IAYT-certified yoga therapist - I have over 1,500 hours of yoga therapy training and extensive clinical experience working one-on-one with students in the tradition of Sri T. Krishnamacharya and Mr. T.K.V. Desikachar.
Lead Faculty, Yoga Well Institute Yoga Therapist Training program - This 4-year program is the best out there, delving deeply into personal transformation, professional development, the principles of practice, philosophical tenets, and Indian models of health and disease. I’m proud to be part of it alongside Chase Bossart and other esteemed teachers. This has been the culmination of 10 years of involvement with trainings - beginning as a student and then assisting in multiple programs. (2010 - present)
Personal Mentorship, Chase Bossart - Chase is the real deal. He’s a yoga scholar, teacher, practitioner and a wonderful example of yoga in action. I’m so grateful for his guidance and support for so many years as my teacher. (2014-2024)
Personal Mentorship, Paul Harvey - Paul was a student of Mr. T.K.V. Desikachar for over 25 years, and for the last 5 decades, has guided students on their own journey of learning and personal transformation. I’m grateful to have Paul as my guide. (2024-present)
Vedic Chant studies - Hymns from the Vedas were heard by ancient sages (Śruti) and the notes, pronunciation, and musicality of this original transmission are preserved through a long tradition of oral recitation. The practice brings careful listening, new patterns for using one’s voice and the experience of sacred sound moving through the body. I’ve learned chants from a number of teachers but my most in depth study was online with Ms. Shobana Srinivasan, director of Vedic Chant at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, Chennai, India (2015-2023)
Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras study - Word by word study of this marvelous text, with attention to the practical application to our modern life. Studies included chanting the sanskrit text. Chase Bossart (2012-2021)
YATNA (Yoga As Therapy North America) graduate. 3-year training program with Primary faculty: Chase Bossart, Dolphi Wertenbaker, MD, and Amy Wheeler, PhD (2014-17).
The Art of the Pulse In addition to my studies with Elizabeth Cunningham Bossart, I participated in the immersion program with Dr. Lad at the Ayurvedic Institute. We spent time gaining an understanding of the characteristics of pulse, from rate and rhythm to force and form and how to use the readings as diagnostic technique to assess a student’s doṣas. Vasant Lad (2018)
Experienced-Registered Yoga Teacher, 500 hour (E-RYT) and Continuing Education provider (YACEP) with Yoga Alliance I am a graduate of the 200-hour yoga teacher training program at Yoga Yoga (now closed). I went on to complete my 500-hour certification through Yoga Well Institute. I am qualified and registered through Yoga Alliance as an experienced yoga teacher, and have long exceeded the required 2,000 hours of yoga teaching experience. I am also a continuing ed provider through YA.
Non-violent Communication - with Dian Killian. NVC is an approach to enhanced communication, understanding, and connection based on the principles of nonviolence and humanistic psychology. It informs my teaching and how I communicate personally and professionally. (50+ training hours)