Owner & Founder, RYT 200, Special Educator

Amanda stepped onto the yoga mat after being diagnosed with arthritis in her early twenties. Although she turned to yoga for its physical benefits, it became a path to alleviating teacher burnout and developing inner peace. A consistent yoga practice allowed her to navigate the ups and downs of teaching special education with awareness and ease. During the transition to post-pandemic teaching, Amanda witnessed the challenges her students had with navigating anxiety and regulating emotions. She began to emphasize mindfulness and playful learning experiences to help meet her students' needs. Amanda was amazed by her students’ progress with identifying emotions, advocating needs, solving conflict, following directions, completing non-preferred tasks, and controlling impulses. Her students became some of her best teachers and inspired her to create Breathe & Play Wellness after teaching special education in Montgomery County Public Schools for 10 years. Amanda believes that children of all abilities can grow into successful and kind adults by prioritizing wellness and community.