Bio
Amanda Stokes
Bio
Amanda Stokes
Choosing to dive into the world of yoga was the best decision I’ve ever made! From someone who was quite clumsy with little to no spatial awareness, and limited emotional acuity, I’m thoroughly enjoying the progress I have made towards self understanding and self acceptance. It is all movement that ebbs and flows and I look forward to seeing where my practice and teaching takes me in the future!
With hopes of providing a space for others to openly explore their own yoga journey, I teach in an approachable, lighthearted manner and create intelligent sequences that are fun and engaging yet also challenging. Educating others on why we practice and how to do so safely, my classes emphasize body awareness, autonomy, and deeper inner listening, rather than forcing the body into a pose.
I give the sincerest gratitude to all of my teachers who have guided me to a greater depth and breadth of the practice and philosophy of yoga. Having completed my 200 HR Yoga Teacher Training at YogaSpace; I credit my initial teachers, Kathryn Beet and Patricia White, for sparking my interest and refining my skills. My love of yogic philosophy was inspired by the renowned Vedic philosopher, Hali Schwartz; who opened the door to a whole new (spiritual) world for me. Since then, I have trained in India, St. Lucia, Massachusetts, and Toronto. My newest obsessions for learning and teaching are Yin Yoga, and the intricate anatomical details of Annie Carpenter’s SMARTFlow.
I am a keen believer in the body’s ability to heal itself, and thus I am pleased to offer Yoga, Reiki, Thai Yoga Massage to assist you in your self discovery, healing and growth.
I graduated from the Spiritual Psychotherapy program at the Transformational Arts College and have a private psychotherapy practice seeing clients one on one. I believe therapy should be a collaborative and creative process that engages all aspects of the Self so that relief will be experienced on emotional, physical, and spiritual planes. My therapy clients are separate from my yoga clients, however my knowledge and experience are transferred between all modalities that I practice.
Styles of yoga: Hatha, Vinyasa, Power, Yin, Restorative, Trauma Sensitive Yoga, Yoga for Traumatic Brain Injury, and SUP (Stand-Up Paddleboard) Yoga.
View additional training here.
Photography courtesy of Nathan White.
quote
I disagree wholeheartedly with the old adage “No pain, No gain'“. My philosophy leans heavily in the direction of “If it feels good, do it” (if not, please don’t!). My classes emphasize body awareness and inner listening, not just attaining the perfect posture."
- Amanda Stokes
quote
I disagree wholeheartedly with the old adage “No pain, No gain'“. My philosophy leans heavily in the direction of “If it feels good, do it” (if not, please don’t!). My classes emphasize body awareness and inner listening, not just attaining the perfect posture."
- Amanda Stokes
Healing
Education and Training
Healing
Education and Training
My yoga/wellness education:
Advanced Reiki and Reiki Master certification, with Master trainer Leigh Whiting
Spiritual Psychotherapy Post Graduate Program, The Transformational Arts College
Yin Yoga Certification, 50 Hours, YYoga Toronto
Trauma Sensitive Yoga Training, 40 Hours, with Dave Emerson & Jenn Turner, Kripalu Yoga Center
LoveYourBrain Yoga for adults with Traumatic Brain Injury, LYB Foundation, http://www.loveyourbrain.com/
Reaching In, Reaching Out: Yoga for Youth. New Leaf Yoga, Toronto
Pre-Natal Yoga with Monica Voss, Esther Myers studio, Toronto.
Level I & II Thai Massage with Bahn Thai Spa, Toronto in association with Institute of Thai Massage, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Level I & II Reiki Energy Healing with Leigh Bowen, Windy Feather Healing, Toronto
Anatomy of the Shoulder, Master Class with Tiffany Cruikshank, Toronto
Personal journey: A month in Rishikesh, India, daily satsang with Mooji and Prem Baba on enlightenment and yoga philosophy. Yoga practice with internationally renowned guru, Yogrishi Vishvketu, at Anand Prakash Ashram as well as at the Swasti Yoga Shala with Hatha Master, Surinder Singh.
Other continued educational workshops include Anatomy Training with Leslie Kaminoff (author of Yoga Anatomy), Smart Flow Yoga online: Annie Carpenter, Compassionate Sequencing with Annie Carpenter in Toronto, Hands-On Adjustments with JP Tamblyn-Sabo, Yoga for Scoliosis with Andrea Peloso, Core Potential & Myofascial Release with Tiffany Cruikshank, Yoga Hour: Intelligent Sequencing with Darren Rhodes, Pranayama and Traditional Hatha Yoga with Samantha Maha, Power Flow and Inversions with Chris Duggan, Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire Workshop at Chopra Yoga, Intro to Thai Massage with Drew Hume of Navina , Yoga for Round Bodies with Tiina Veer, etc.
Words of Kindness working with me!
“You are a wonderful teacher and trainer! My background and training was in Vinyasa & Hatha yoga, so I came into the Yin teacher training with little knowledge of the practice but left with an abundance. You are a warm, welcoming and inclusive teacher. Your knowledge and passion for Yin is truly inspiring. I left the training feeling confident as a both a student and teacher.” - Kristina Valentini, Yin YTT at YYoga 2018
“Amanda and Ashley (MacEachern) led a rigorous and challenging yin yoga teacher training, exactly what I was looking for. They worked seamlessly as a team to cover the all the essential material. Great combination of theory and practice. I feel confident now adding yin yoga to my teaching repertoire.” - Ross Edmunds, Yin YTT at YYoga 2018
"Amanda is a playful, talented, kind and dedicated yoga teacher. Her unique and compassionate style awakens a passion for yoga in beginners and encourages more experienced students to grow in their practice. Amanda's teaching style centres and calms the mind while challenging the body. Peppered with understanding and humour her SUPYoga classes have converted me to being a lifelong fan!"
- Elizabeth Minshaw. London, UK (met in St. Lucia)
"Amanda is very patient, attentive and creative. She always challenges me with something new, while watching out for my personal needs." - Johnny Fay, The Tragically Hip, Toronto
"I had the privilege of being taught yoga by Amanda Stokes at The Body Holiday in St. Lucia, 2013. Having recovered well from lower back surgery I was in need of a yoga teacher who could help me progress both the strength and suppleness of my lower back. I found Amanda to be very attentive in guiding and assisting me to reach the confidence, strength and suppleness required in various beginner and intermediate yoga poses through the sessions. She has a warm and friendly style through which her focussed and knowledgeable foundations and experience of yoga are shared. At the end of the sessions I had a new found confidence in the strength of my back and a range of yoga poses and routines to perform. That I was able to partake in 'yoga on a stand up paddle board' in the ocean should give you some sense of the progress I made in a short amount of time! I highly recommend Amanda to anyone considering starting out in yoga and to those already well down the path. Namaste"
- Anthony W., Guernsey
"I am a 46 year old woman who hasn't exercised regularly in almost 20 years (I don't like gyms and I can't run due to knee injuries), so when a friend suggested I try yoga I was intrigued and intimidated. I finally gave it a try and luckily for me, Amanda was the instructor. She asked if there was anyone new to yoga and proceed to teach her hatha class in a way that someone completely new would be able to participate and also feel part of this new community. Her classes always have modifications for different levels of expertise - and in my case, levels of flexibility! And her soothing voice during savasanah always makes me relax...." - Liz Henriques, Toronto