My name is Amanda Lawford, and yoga was not something I discovered casually, it became the bridge that carried me from pain into purpose.

 

In my twenties, I was living my dream, performing as a professional dancer, eight shows a week, immersed in movement and creativity. But behind the curtain, my body was struggling. Years of intense performance combined with scoliosis left me with chronic back pain, and the pressure of the stage started to bring performance anxiety.

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I needed more than physical conditioning. I needed a way to heal, from the inside out.

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That’s when yoga entered my life.

What began as a search for pain relief became a profound turning point. Yoga strengthened my body, yes, but more importantly, it transformed my relationship with my mind. Through breath, movement, and mindfulness, I learned how to regulate stress, steady my nervous system, and build the emotional resilience required not only to perform, but to live well.

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Navigating Cancer with the Support of Yoga and Mindfulness

Years later, life asked even more of me.

When I was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer, yoga and meditation became essential companions through treatment and uncertainty. These practices supported me through immense physical and emotional change, helped calm anxiety, and allowed me to reconnect with a sense of peace, purpose, and inner strength during one of the most challenging chapters of my life.

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Alongside training yoga teachers, I also work one-to-one with private clients, developing personalised wellbeing programmes tailored to their individual needs and goals. Working alongside the guidance of their treating healthcare professionals, I support people experiencing chronic health conditions, fatigue, persistent pain, stress, anxiety, sleep difficulties, and reduced mobility through yoga, meditation, Yoga Nidra, breathwork, mindfulness, and restorative practices. My aim is to help people feel supported, build confidence, and develop practical tools that empower them to navigate life's challenges with greater calm, resilience, and a sense of control.

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Today, at 53, I feel stronger, steadier, and more grounded than ever before. Yoga and meditation continue to be daily sources of balance, joy, and gratitude, not because life is easy, but because I have tools that support me through it.

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I’m deeply passionate about supporting teachers, and those who feel called to teach, to share this work in a way that feels grounded, confident, and truly aligned.

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There is such a need right now for practices that offer calm, clarity, and inner support, and I believe we need more teachers who feel equipped to hold that space with care and integrity.

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With over 20 years of international teaching experience and more than 2,000 hours of training, I bring together embodied practice, evidence-informed teaching, and a genuine commitment to supporting you on your path, so you can confidently support others.

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I hold specialist certifications in:

• Chair Yoga

• Yin Yoga

• Restorative Yoga

• Children’s Yoga

• Yoga Nidra

• Meditation & Mindfulness

• Breathwork & Pranayama

• Pilates Instructor Training

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I’m also a registered Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP) and hold a Master’s Degree in Dance Technique Pedagogy, as well as a Postgraduate Certificate in Creative Industries.

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How I Support You

Through Inspire Movement Coaching Online Academy, I provide personalised wellbeing support for private clients as well as accessible, flexible, and affordable online yoga teacher training and continuing education.

Whether you are looking to improve your own health and wellbeing or are beginning your teaching journey, my role is to guide, support, and empower you with evidence-informed practices that are trauma-aware, nervous-system informed, and grounded in lived experience.

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