Hidden Gems: Meet Amy F. of Arizona Mobile Yoga

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy F.

Hi Amy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Before becoming a Certified Yoga Teacher, I earned a formal education (B.S.) in Biology & Psychology. Before that, I was a competitive artistic gymnast and a recreational gymnastics teacher. I have a pretty eclectic background, which makes me a more effective and informed yoga instructor. I completed a couple of years of graduate coursework in Clinical Psychology and Counseling Psychology, which led me to my yoga teaching journey. I was *burnt out* from school and life and not managing my stress well. I already live with chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and scoliosis. Added to those conditions, I realized how sensitive my body was/is and how easily psychological stress can convert into psychosomatic pain when psychological distress goes unaddressed. At first, it was just my back and neck, but then it spread to my jaw, shoulders, and hips, eventually to most of my body. I was carrying so much tension in my body and badly wanted to empower myself to manage the pain. I was tired of feeling like an unwell elderly person in my 20s, and I refused to resign to a life of limited activities to “not irritate” my condition.

Yoga has been the only way I have been able to effectively manage my chronic tension and pain, as well as build a mindfulness practice. I first started to regularly practice during COVID, as it was a tough time for me (as it was for many). When I had no one else and no other coping mechanisms, my yoga mat was always there waiting for me. I was quickly building a consistent routine, which became a critical activity.

However, I was also often dissatisfied with my practices, and that frustrated me because I knew the potential it had to benefit me. I was taking online classes, and many of the teachers were great, but I often hurt myself and felt worse than before I practiced. There were few mentions of modifications, nor letting people with certain conditions know that a pose may not be a good idea for them. After experiencing that discomfort, I looked for more “gentle” classes, but those were not engaging enough to feel better in my body.

Before deciding to take a break from graduate school for my health, I finally found the teacher that made everything click for me: Jason Crandell. It was so refreshing to have someone break down and explain why we were doing poses a certain way and provide a variety of modifications with a fair warning for any riskier poses. These classes perfectly balanced what I was looking for and needed. I was comfortably doing poses that I thought were off-limits for me – they weren’t; it was just that I had never seen anyone modify them to be safer or explained in a way that made sense to me! As months passed and I continued to take his classes, the hungrier I grew to know myself. I also knew that if I would invest the time, energy, and money into yoga teacher training, it had to be with him. It is so important to find a teacher who shares your values and how you view yoga.

I decided to leap a faith and start his Vinyasa yoga teacher training last year. It was an excellent program, and I earned my Certification as a Vinyasa Yoga Teacher in January 2023. In February, I also became Certified in Trauma-informed Yoga. I continue to meet with my cohort and Jason for mentorship.

It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been challenging, as I have been running the business myself on a minimal budget and business knowledge. I have had to learn many new yoga-related skills because I still need to hire others to do these tasks. There are a lot of yoga teachers out there, so I need to set myself apart from the crowd (in a genuine way) if I want to be successful. Like any new small business, I want to get the word out about who I am and what I offer.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Arizona Mobile Yoga?
I teach Vinyasa and Hatha yoga. My passion is working one-on-one with others, especially women and non-binary folx. I always create a safe, nonjudgmental container for others. I respect all beliefs and yogic philosophy – but you should expect little philosophy or metaphysical elements in my sessions. I primarily teach asana (physical yoga practice) and some pranayama (breathing exercises). My approach honors the traditional aspects of yoga and incorporates many more modern, evidence-based techniques borrowed from sports medicine, physical therapy, and the like. Additionally, I work from a trauma-informed lens.

I consider some of my “specialties” to be: yoga for beginners, yoga for women, yoga for tight and tense bodies (stress and tension), and yoga for a healthy spine and good posture. Whether you want to dive into a yoga practice for the first time or refine your existing practice, I would love to work with you.

I make private instruction convenient and comfortable by traveling to students in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Available formats are 1:1 private yoga instruction and semi-private yoga instruction (2-4 students), as well as small group workshops and class series (5-10 students, typically). Sessions are personalized and tailored to student’s unique goals, abilities, and bodies.

Private and semi-private yoga sessions are 60 minutes or 90 minutes and available as a single session, a 5 or 10-session Package, or as weekly or biweekly Membership. Memberships are the best value for those wanting a consistent, quality practice!

Bonuses that my private sessions include:

• 2 blocks & 1 strap (clean & sanitized) to borrow for any modifications.
• “Homework” assigned between sessions to reinforce the practice.
• Travel to the student’s location within 30 mi or 45-min of 85035.
• Packages & Memberships include an extra 15-min added to the initial session to go over goals, make a plan for moving forward, and I can answer any last-minute questions. We will periodically check in and revise these goals/plans during our time together, as needed.

I am also an advocate of the therapeutic use of plant medicine and other psychedelic substances for conditions like depression and pain management. I believe yoga (and art – I’m also an abstract artist!) are critical tools for preparing for and integrating these therapeutic sessions. I offer these support services before and after ketamine appointment(s), with the approval or support of the administering physician.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Virtual (everything) is here to stay! Virtual services are so valuable in many ways and incredibly valuable as a yoga teacher or practitioner. The pandemic taught a lot of people to have a backup plan for their business, and a critical element of those plans is to have virtual options in place for employees and customers.

Pricing:

• 60-min Private yoga session at student’s location: $100 (travel fee may apply)
• 90-min Private yoga session at student’s location: $125 (travel fee may apply)
• 60-min Semi-private yoga session at student’s location: starting at $150 (rate for 2 students; travel fee may apply)
• 5-session & 10-session packages available; Memberships available for weekly or biweekly sessions (best value!)
• Small Group Workshops & Class Series: varies; please inquire

Contact Info:

• Website: www.arizonamobileyoga.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/arizonamobileyoga
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/azmobileyoga
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/arizona-mobile-yoga/