Meet Brianna Amendola | Yoga Teacher & Exercise Physiologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brianna Amendola and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brianna, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
From my experience, nothing monumental has come out of staying in my comfort zone. Every step I’ve taken to get where I’m at now was somewhat of a blind leap of faith from a deep place of self-trust. I truly believe no one ever feels 100% ready, and what I’ve gathered from all the entrepreneurs, creatives, professionals, and people I look up to is you have to do the thing that scares you most to get to the next level of your life. The mind and body crave safety, which is natural and good! But, sometimes this need for safety gets in the way of really beautiful life and learning experiences. The mind is always building up walls and stories to keep us safe and avoid the unfamiliar. Once we become mindful of why the mind is doing this, we can work on moving through limiting beliefs and start taking risks that have the possibility of bringing us closer to our authentic self and lead a fulfilling life! Moving across the country alone, building a life where I knew no one, letting go of relationships, applying for and landing jobs/opportunities I thought I wasn’t qualified enough for, all of these big scary leaps into the unknown have been some of the most challenging yet best decisions I’ve ever made. Risk-taking is necessary for a soul-filling life and something I will never back away from.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve known I wanted to be in the wellness field since I was 13. I’m currently an Exercise Physiologist and Health Coach for a Telehealth company in Boulder, and also a yoga teacher and personal trainer. I think the human body and mind are the most fascinating things. I want others to learn the monumental impact treating their mind and body well has on their quality of life. I think so many are unaware of how truly incredible they are capable of feeling! My approach is rooted in holistic and integrative health. I fuse my knowledge of exercise physiology, yoga, and nervous system work to offer a whole-being approach to clients and students I work with. Individuals come to me who are looking for a different approach to health and fitness. Often clients of mine have struggled with chronic health conditions and stress, and are looking for a new approach to optimal wellness that traditional approaches may have not been able to achieve for them. I offer 1:1 health coaching and personal training opportunities to work with me in person or virtually. I currently teach weekly yoga classes and often hold free or donation-based yoga classes and workshops outdoors or within studios around Denver and Boulder. Nature is one of the best medicines, so I always try to incorporate nature into my therapeutic teachings. I also believe knowledge is power, I enjoy spreading free educational health and wellness resources on social media. Another passion of mine not many people know about is my love for writing. I’ve been writing poetry for years and built a following on one of my social media platforms where I showcase my work. When I first shared my work I had no idea it would reach and resonate with so many people. My goal is to release a poetry book and see it on the shelf of my favorite book store in Denver, Tattered Cover.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The PERFECT day would be: Breakfast at Just Be Kitchen, the owner Jen is an angel for making a safe place for people like me to eat with dietary restrictions! Then we would explore the Santa Fe Art District to see beautiful murals and unique art within the galleries and museums. Grace Noel Art (https://gracenoel.art/) is one of my favorite artists you’ll see around Sante Fe Art District. For a mid-day pick-me-up and energy boost, we’d go grab donuts from Parlor donuts which has the best gluten-free and vegan donuts ever! After that, we would go to one of my favorite yoga studios, The River Yoga, and take a class by Lisa Parente (@lisamarie_parente) . Her offerings are magical, I wish everyone could experience one of her classes. That evening we’d hit up Avanti Food and Beverage and grab some drinks while we wait for our dinner reservations at Linger. Then, we’d head over to RiNo for drinks and dancing at Beacon RiNo, the art and vibe in Beacon are amazing!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My friends and family! They always hype me up at my best and hold and support me at my worst. I would not be where I am today without their unconditonal love and support. I’m also endlessly thankful for the teachers, practioners, therapists, etc who showed me how to nourish my mind and body and practice self compassion through all seasons of life. Seeing what they’ve done for me just further solidified my love for holistic wellness and why I dove head first into this field and sharing these therpuetic modalities with other.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balancingwithbri/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannaamendola/

Image Credits
Skye @SkyeRandi Toni Lemma @Toni.behindthelens