Meditation is my longtime 20+ years reliable 'refuge'. I have been inspired by many teachers from all traditions, travelled to many retreats around the world, served as a managing staff member in retreat centers and since 2012, encouraged to step into a teaching role by my teacher Jaya Ashmore of Open Dharma.+ Began my meditation path in 1995, with attending weekly the Wellington Insight Meditation Group, New Zealand. + Attended countless multi day meditation retreats over the… Show more Meditation is my longtime 20+ years reliable 'refuge'. I have been inspired by many teachers from all traditions, travelled to many retreats around the world, served as a managing staff member in retreat centers and since 2012, encouraged to step into a teaching role by my teacher Jaya Ashmore of Open Dharma.+ Began my meditation path in 1995, with attending weekly the Wellington Insight Meditation Group, New Zealand. + Attended countless multi day meditation retreats over the next 21+ years;- New Zealand 1995 - 2005; many 1 day to 10 days with Sharda Rogell, Hugh Tennant, Jeremy Logan, Christopher Titmus, Martine and Stephen Batchelor, Gregory Kramer, and Stephen Archer (Thai Forrest Monk)- Vipassana /Insight Retreats, India and Europe 2005 - 2008; Several silent retreats 10 day to 6 weeks in length, with dif. teachers Norman Foster, Christopher Titmus, and Jaya Ashmore, Gemma Polo Pujol + Ajay Pal Singh of www.opendharma.org- France 2006, 2007, Yatra/Walking Retreat 16 days with Martin Alywood and Christopher Titmus- North India 2007, 6 week Silent Deep Rest Meditation retreat with Jaya Ashmore of Opendharma.org - France 2007 - Le Moulin Retreat Center. Served as Summer Kitchen Manager, (teacher Martin Alywood)- Spain 2007 - Deep Rest retreat 7 day with Jaya Ashmore/ Open Dharma- UK 2008: 7 day Movement Meditation retreat with Fanny Behrens & Colin Harrison.- USA 2008 - 2011 Lived and worked at Springwater Retreat Center for Meditation and Dialogue, Springwater, NY. + 2012, my husband Jay Stiler and I started a weekly meditation group in Soquel, California, to share the work of Meditation and Dialogue so precious to both of us.+ 2013 and 2014, I organized, and managed 3 retreats in Santa Cruz, CA for my meditation teachers Jaya Ashmore and Gemma Polo Pujol of Open Dharma.+ 2015, with Jay began offering Meditation Daylong events in Santa Cruz. + 2016, Organized first 5 day meditation retreat, and co-led a 2day non-residential meditation retreat. Show less

Amanda’s training in qigong has been predominantly in the tradition of Dayan Qigong, or Wild Goose Qigong, which she has been studying since 2009 with her teachers, Dr. Bingkun Hu and Marcy Reynolds. Her training is in a direct lineage with Yang Meijun. Wild Goose Qigong, of the Taoist Kunlun School is a Taoist Medical Qigong form with direct health benefits.Qigong, or “the practice of moving energy” is an ancient Chinese self-healing tradition that enriches your vitality and expands your… Show more Amanda’s training in qigong has been predominantly in the tradition of Dayan Qigong, or Wild Goose Qigong, which she has been studying since 2009 with her teachers, Dr. Bingkun Hu and Marcy Reynolds. Her training is in a direct lineage with Yang Meijun. Wild Goose Qigong, of the Taoist Kunlun School is a Taoist Medical Qigong form with direct health benefits.Qigong, or “the practice of moving energy” is an ancient Chinese self-healing tradition that enriches your vitality and expands your movement and intellectual capacity.+ Amanda began teaching QiGong at Springwater Retreat Center, from 2009 to 2011, during the daily exercise period of the 7 day silent retreats held every month, with up to 20 people. + In 2014, she began offering a weekly Qi gong class at a private fitness studio, Shelley's Fitness, in Soquel. + Expanded during 2015, when she was asked to instruct 20 Tara Redwood School teachers on their twice yearly retreat, and offer an evening class through "Creating Compassionate Cultures" at Tara Redwood School in Soquel. + In 2016, she regularly helped teach QiGong to ~25 participants, on a Road Scholar "Rejuvenation Retreat for Women", at Land of Medicine Buddha. Show less

Jin Shin Jyutsu is a gentle healing art based on ancient principles and understandings of Life Force energy and its movement through the physical body and universe. Originating from Japan, Jin Shin is a gentle form of bodywork with a powerful ability to restore and rejuvenate the body’s innate healing process, reduce the effects of stress, and promote optimal health and well-being. Its techniques and wisdom may be utilized for self-healing, or in one-on-one sessions with a trained… Show more Jin Shin Jyutsu is a gentle healing art based on ancient principles and understandings of Life Force energy and its movement through the physical body and universe. Originating from Japan, Jin Shin is a gentle form of bodywork with a powerful ability to restore and rejuvenate the body’s innate healing process, reduce the effects of stress, and promote optimal health and well-being. Its techniques and wisdom may be utilized for self-healing, or in one-on-one sessions with a trained practitioner.+ Amanda began offering Jin Shin Jyutsu sessions in 2009, as a relaxation and healing support to meditation practitioners on 7 day silent retreats, while living and working at Springwater Retreat Center.+ In 2012, Amanda and husband Jay moved to Santa Cruz, CA, where Amanda’s private practice in Soquel was established. She offers both - one-on-one treatment sessions and individual self-healing consultations.Praise:"Amanda is a skilled and gifted healer whose work is grounded in both intuitive wisdom and practical training.  She has a wonderfully peaceful and compassionate presence that makes me feel better just being around her.  And when she works, she creates a space in which subtle yet profound energetic shifts and healing become possible.  I felt a deep sense of peace, well-being, and integration after our session.  Also, the low energy level and lingering symptoms I had experienced for a week due to an illness improved dramatically."Kai Seidenburg, Santa Cruz,CA Show less

In service as: + Part-time caregiver for aged teacher Toni Packer at her private residence, 2008-2010 + 2010-2011 Managed day to day Housekeeping for Springwater Retreat Center, oversee visiting volunteers, involved in all aspects of running the retreat center and retreats, (for up to 40 visitors at a time).+ Re-established Center vegetable garden and helped out with managing day to day running of center kitchen, regularly cook lunch for staff and visiting guests between retreat… Show more In service as: + Part-time caregiver for aged teacher Toni Packer at her private residence, 2008-2010 + 2010-2011 Managed day to day Housekeeping for Springwater Retreat Center, oversee visiting volunteers, involved in all aspects of running the retreat center and retreats, (for up to 40 visitors at a time).+ Re-established Center vegetable garden and helped out with managing day to day running of center kitchen, regularly cook lunch for staff and visiting guests between retreat times. + Kitchen Manager for several 7 day silent retreats. (Plan, shop, manage retreat jobs, oversee kitchen during retreat, and sometimes cook.) Show less

Worked for Elderly Care Agency, Oxford Aunts. Hired to live-in and care for elderly home bound client in Cirencester. Returned for approximately four x two month periods over this time. In between, travelled UK and Scotland, retreating, dancing, learning, discovering and being a tourist.

After recovering from major healing crisis and burnout from 10 years of corporate working, freelancing and private graphic design consultancy behind a computer. Letting go my life so far and moving into a new phase. Time to travel and explore and go deeper into my spiritual practices of meditation, dance, dialogue and being of service. Dec 2005 - Apr 2006 and Mar - May 2007 Travels to India+ Spent most time in Vipassana Meditation retreats, developing awareness of the nature of… Show more After recovering from major healing crisis and burnout from 10 years of corporate working, freelancing and private graphic design consultancy behind a computer. Letting go my life so far and moving into a new phase. Time to travel and explore and go deeper into my spiritual practices of meditation, dance, dialogue and being of service. Dec 2005 - Apr 2006 and Mar - May 2007 Travels to India+ Spent most time in Vipassana Meditation retreats, developing awareness of the nature of the 'Self', to expand ability to be compassionate, gain clarity, wisdom, inner strength and wellbeing+ Visit and meet sponsored child and experience the Indian culture and people Show less

+ Worked for several large organisations directly as a web designer such as the New Zealand Fire Service, MAF Quality Management.+ Various graphic and print design for IPMNZ, and New Zealand Ballet.+ Contracted to Springload Design Ltd, Oct 2000-2002, for graphic, web design and illustration work. + Contracted to CWA New Media, March 1996-April 1998 as graphic, and web designer.+ Moved to a home based office and focused mainly on my own clients. Built on word of mouth. A mix of… Show more + Worked for several large organisations directly as a web designer such as the New Zealand Fire Service, MAF Quality Management.+ Various graphic and print design for IPMNZ, and New Zealand Ballet.+ Contracted to Springload Design Ltd, Oct 2000-2002, for graphic, web design and illustration work. + Contracted to CWA New Media, March 1996-April 1998 as graphic, and web designer.+ Moved to a home based office and focused mainly on my own clients. Built on word of mouth. A mix of both graphic design for print and website. Oct 2002 - Dec 2005. Show less

+ Got interested in business and what makes people tick.+ Started out as Administration Assistant, helping with all day to day tasks of running a business from accounting, to correspondance and answering calls.+ Became a business partner within 1 year and worked in the Maygrove Team to build a successful organisation with a strong corporate client base. We consistently maintained a high standard of excellence and a focus on customer service to exceed clients' expectations.+… Show more + Got interested in business and what makes people tick.+ Started out as Administration Assistant, helping with all day to day tasks of running a business from accounting, to correspondance and answering calls.+ Became a business partner within 1 year and worked in the Maygrove Team to build a successful organisation with a strong corporate client base. We consistently maintained a high standard of excellence and a focus on customer service to exceed clients' expectations.+ Organised and managed training course logistics, including lay out and design of course workbooks, summary mindmaps and presentation visuals.+ Successfully sold and helped develop training in team-building, sales, customer service and presentation skills.+ Total enjoyment of working in a business that I believe added value to people - and they told us! Show less

Invited by Train the Trainers presenter Rich Allen, to attend Teenager summer residential programs called Supercamp, as a teamleader and presenter in training.