5min with Amanda Graham

My name is Amanda, I am a yoga teacher and counselling psychotherapist educated to Masters level in Mental Health Psychology. For almost 3 decades I have been helping people with various mental health issues ranging from mild depression to life-limiting anxiety and addiction. In the past 15 years I have studied extensively the ancient practises of Hatha Yoga, Pranayama and Ayurveda – all of which I integrate into my practise and treatment of clients.

I spend most of my time between Abu Dhabi where my husband has worked for the past 8 years South West France where I have restored a petit chateau and created a therapeutic wellness centre that is used for yoga retreats, art therapy retreats, women’s self-empowerment retreats as well as hosting individuals, couples and families in a home environment to work together on improving physical and mental well-being.

One of the biggest assets of this centre is that we, as a team, truly understands cross-cultural challenges – living and working on different continents, moving families regularly and at the same time maintaining a practise of self-care. I personally have lived in Africa, Asia, the UAE and Europe in the past 3 decades. These experiences are valuable when it comes to educating and teaching yoga to my clients.

My own yoga journey followed on from a journey of self-exploration into the Buddhist teachings. I was looking for less stress, more care and a quietening of the mind. When I moved to Malaysia I was offered the opportunity to study one-on-one with 2 respected Indian Masters in the fields of yoga and ayurveda. The rest, as they say, is history. What I learned in 3 years was simply the beginning of what has been a life-changing path both in terms of what I can offer to help others and, how I, myself, can sustain a healthy life as I age.

I adore a Hatha Flow class with movement, both strong and slow but I equally adore teaching a combination of Yin, Restorative and Iyengar. I find my practise has developed with the needs of those I am teaching hence my continued passion for training myself and others. I am qualified to teach children and also adolescents – indeed my passion is working with adolescents and that usually involves yoga and ayurveda intertwined with regular psychotherapy.

My favourite quote – I have many but one we use here at Praana Wellness.

“Treat yourself, there is no-one more deserving!”

There simply is no better way to remind people to look after themselves.

5 top life tips!