About Amy McMillan
Welcome! I'm Amy & I run Breathe Calm Yoga & Mindfulness. I've been teaching in Guildford, Surrey since 2012. Yoga & mindfulness have changed my life & I enjoy sharing the benefits with others because I know the physical, mental & emotional changes these powerful practices can bring. I weave yoga & mindfulness together to improve clarity & to re-connect mind & body so that we can rediscover our natural calm & vitality. I have a particular interest in stress & anxiety management & my classes are nurturing & restorative.
I have a warm, gentle teaching style & I am able to design & adapt classes according to your individual needs. I offer modifications & encourage you to listen to your own body with kindness.
I completed my 350 hour Yoga Teaching Diploma at the Yoga Institute Sydney. My teacher, Michael DeManincor, studied with TKV Desikachar - one of the most respected teachers of classical yoga. I am also interested in other mindful, breath-centred approaches which encourage us to reconnect with the innate wisdom & healing capacity of the body. These include the work of Vanda Scaravelli & the Alexander Technique.
I trained to teach mindfulness with Mindfulness UK through their 200 hour foundation degree level teaching programme. A key element of this comprehensive training is developing compassion - a practice that I have found transformative, both personally & professionally. I have a well-established daily meditation practice & I am supervised by Bangor University trained teacher Karen Atkinson. Mindfulness UK are on the Mindfulness Network list of accredited teaching organisations & I am a registered practitioner with Be Mindful.
I also hold a PGCE & have 13 years of experience in education. I am qualified through the Mindfulness in Schools Project to deliver the "Paws b" mindfulness curriculum to 7 - 11 year olds. I've enjoyed delivering this curriculum to Year 5 at Guildford High School. I also run mindfulness & yoga workshops for children of all ages at other local schools.
I am an eternal student, committed to deepening my practice. I regularly attend workshops, retreats & master classes to deepen my knowledge further.
I have a passion for nature & for encouraging re-connection with the natural world. I donate to the wonderful organisation Tree Sisters on behalf of Breathe Calm students. Money raised goes towards planting trees to slow the rate of climate change. You can find more information on this vital project here.
I am a qualified physical & mental health first aider & I am fully insured.
I look forward to welcoming you to class!
Qualifications & Training
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Yoga Teaching Diploma at Yoga Institute Sydney - 2010 to 2012 (350 hr - certified by Yoga Australia)
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Level 4 Certificate Integrating Mindfulness & Compassion into Professional Practice - 2015 (200hr - accredited by CPCAB)
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"Paws b" Mindfulness in Schools teacher - 2016 (7-11 year olds)
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Post Graduate Certificate of Education & Qualified Teacher Status
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BA (Hons) - First Class, University of Surrey
Other
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Registered teacher with Be Mindful
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Registered Mindfulness in Schools Teacher
"The classes are calm & uplifting. Amy is constantly aware of the specific needs of each individual in the class. She also encourages everyone to become aware of the needs of their own bodies & tailor their practice accordingly, making it as gentle or as challenging as they need. Highly recommended."
H.G, Guildford