Meet Amanda Armstrong

Amanda Armstrong is a mental & physical health coach and Founder of Rise As We. Helping people master their physical and mental health is her jam. As a certified coach with a MA in Kinesiology and 10+ years experience as a certified personal trainer and mental health coach, she helps others reclaim control of their lives using fitness, meditation, community, nervous system healing, and other research-supported lifestyle changes. She’s a 200hr certified yoga instructor as well as a prenatal and postpartum fitness specialist. Her goal with her coaching and programs is to put everything people need to reconnect to their body, rewire their mind, and reclaim their life all in one place!

Amanda will join us on February 17th for a session focused on meditation and yoga stretches tailored to all fitness levels. She will also be hosting an extensive Q&A following the session to anonymously answer any questions related to mental health and mindfulness. Learn more about Amanda’s career below.

1. How did you get started in your coaching career?

I started personal training when I was in college and have been doing it since. I was a collegiate track & field athlete, got my MA in Kinesiology with an emphasis in sport and exercise psychology. I love all things mental and physical health. After college I got a job at Google Headquarters in CA as a health specialist and personal trainer. There I not only worked with clients on their physical health, but was able to support their mental well-being as well. In 2015, I found myself in a dark place after some big life events. On the outside I put on a good face, but my anxiety and depression got pretty bad. I knew all the science behind lifestyle management, but couldn’t find the support from doctors, therapists, or other coaches that quite fit. This was when I found mindfulness and meditation -- this ultimately led me to yoga as well -- but I really struggled to find a place that gave mental and physical health and equal seat at the table. So, when I got to the other side of this struggle, I created that. I created the research based programs I so desperately needed during that time in my life. And finally in January of 2019, I spent a month in Bali getting my 200hr Yoga Teacher Training Certification through Zuna Yoga to be able to incorporate more of that into my life and programs. This is a long way of telling you that my coaching has evolved from being a personal trainer at a college gym to Google to founding my own company that provides programs that put fitness, mindfulness, and community all in one place.

2. What are your greatest accomplishments in your profession?

Getting a job at Google was incredible, but my business Rise As We and the work I do with women here is by far what I’m most proud of. I help women reclaim their lives.

3. What is your favorite thing about your profession?

I help women feel more confident and I get to turn strangers on the internet into family.

4. Tell us about Rise As We and the inspiration behind it.

I feel like I got into this a little above but with Rise As We I have a place to create the programs that I so desperately needed at certain times in my life. The “life coaching” world is kinda funky, everyone thinks they can be a coach but quality is hard to come by. I wanted to use my Masters Degree and over a decade of experience to bring research based programs out into the world -- especially for mental health. So many people think their only options are therapy or medication, and there’s definitely a time and place for both of those amazing resources, but there’s also SO MUCH SCIENCE and research out there showing the impact of certain lifestyle changes. The problem is there wasn’t any program to help you figure out the perfect fit for you. Mental health looks different for everyone, and so should the solution. I learned this first hand. So again, a huge inspiration for Rise As We and it’s programs are a result of my own experience. And I truly believe that there’s a program for everyone. If you’re struggling with anxiety or depression; our 1:1 program is your place. If you want to feel more confident, quiet the negative self talk, and connect to a supportive and intimate community -- then Life Coaching is your perfect fit. Are you super busy and just want quick effective daily workouts and meditation -- Rise Tribe is your jammmmm. I help women reconnect to their body, rewire their mind, and reclaim their lives.

5. What tips do you have for someone looking to get started with their journey into yoga and meditation?

Start small - 3 deep breaths every morning or free YouTube guided meditations. Meditation is just a time to intentionally practice being still and with yourself completely. It’s not about “clearing your mind” or reaching enlightenment, at least not for me, I take a much more practical approach to it. It’s intentional time to train your mind’s focus, just like you train your body in a gym -- you train your mind in meditation. It also physically heals parts of your brain damaged by stress, but that’s a conversation for another day! And with yoga, it’s about so much more than cool poses -- it’s about connecting your mind, body, and breath. So same advice, start small and know that simple movements, strung together with your breath, is yoga -- who cares if you can do the splits or hold a handstand. It’s about coming home to you, just start and quit comparing yourself to that person on instagram ;)

Learn more about Amanda and her fitness practices here on Instagram and her website https://riseaswe.com/ and check out your resident portal to RSVP for an exclusive fitness event!