Amanda Freels is an Ayurvedic Health Counselor, somatic yoga therapist, and longtime student of the body, mind, and heart. Her passions in this work can be boiled down to practicing mindfulness in all that we do, tapping into the well of wisdom that lies within all of us, and ultimately, living in harmony with the world around us and within us—seeking alignment and coherence with the energy and love that radiates through and connects us all.

Amanda discovered yoga in 2012 and quickly experienced its transformative power firsthand. What began as a personal practice became a calling, leading her to leave behind her background in business, real estate, and sales to devote herself to the study and practice of holistic wellness. She completed her first 200-hour yoga teacher training in 2017 through Yoga One Charlotte. Since then, she has continued to deepen her education through more than 1,500 hours of yoga teacher training and nearly a decade of teaching experience, with studies spanning movement styles and yogic modalities including Baptiste Yoga, Budokon, and Yoga for 12 Step Recovery, as well as nearly 900 hours of study with Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, which uses yoga as a therapeutic tool for embodied awareness, self-inquiry, and meaningful change.

Over the past two years, Amanda has immersed herself in the study of Ayurveda through Shakti School, pursuing her Ayurvedic Health Counselor certification from 2024–2026. This deep study has expanded and enriched her understanding of health as a dynamic relationship between the unique body and mind of each individual and the way we dance with the forces of nature around us as we navigate toward true health and well-being.

After so many years of dedicated study, Amanda is ready to share what she has learned and discovered with her community. With love and intention, she introduces AnandaSoma—a sacred space where yoga therapy, somatics, nervous-system awareness, and mindfulness practices can integrate with the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda.

Here, we turn away from the idea that something within us needs to be “fixed,” or that we must strive toward some ideal of “perfection.” Instead, we learn to strengthen our connection to the wisdom within, so that we can become our own greatest teachers, wise sages, and navigators in a world that is always changing and flowing.

The approach is knowledge, yes, but also wisdom. These are skills and practices you can carry with you through the rest of your life, strengthening your relationship with your mind, body, and heart as you meet whatever the journey brings.