Meet Amy Meyer

We were lucky to catch up with Amy Meyer recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy, so great to have you on the platform. There’s so much we want to ask you, but let’s start with the topic of self-care. Do you do anything for self-care and if so, do you think it’s had a meaningful impact on your effectiveness?

My journey of self care began in 2013 when my youngest daughter was eight months old. I had one of those life defining moments where I knew something had to give. Having two children under two, married at the time, working full time at a marketing firm and building a photography business, with little support, I was beyond burnt out. I realized I had to model self care for my daughters and so began my journey into online fitness and helping other women learn how to prioritize their health and self care. As mothers, it is impossible to pour from an empty cup, and taking a few minutes a day to fill that cup is necessary to be the best mother possible.
Years ago, my self care practices included an at home workout, meal planning and prepping, finding a support and accountability group. I also read a lot of personal and spiritual development.
Through the years, I have integrated more self care practices to include meditation, yoga, journaling, breath work, writing, photography, getting out in nature, and leaning into gratitude and presence. I have learned and utilize holistic practices including somatic practices, a naturopath, and I receive regular chiropractic care.
When I went through my divorce in 2020, I am so grateful I had the tools to navigate through it. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever been through, but making sure I used the tools above, I was able to show up for my children.
Now as a single mom/only parent in the picture, I still wake before my kids and journal, meditate and do some sort of movement daily.
By learning how to prioritize my health and needs, it helps me create capacity to hold space and show up for my children, friends, family, my yoga students and my photography clients.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am a yoga teacher, empowerment coach, photographer, and author.

As a yoga teacher and empowerment coach, I host workshops and women’s circles. I have many virtual workshops, circles and coaching/empowerment online courses coming in the near future so I can expand my reach and community.

As a photographer, I offer lifestyle sessions that capture the real and the raw. Maternity and empowerment sessions are probably my favorites. There is nothing more powerful than a mother to be and a woman owning her authentic self. Of course, my favorite subjects are my daughters!

As an author, I have self published two books and two journals. I recently launched my Substack blog as “The Unbound Mama.” The blog is lighting me up right now! I am sharing from my heart musings, virtual workshops, meditations, and series that will help empower women to live their truths and learn to trust themselves fully. I just shared my first virtual workshop on Substack “7 Days to Serenity” and it is accessible to paid subscribers.

I like to say I’m a creative entrepreneur because I’m always learning new ways of doing things and I have an innate ability to turn something out of nothing, in many ways. I’m forever a student and love to learn new ways of doing things, I love to travel and I love to create and cultivate deep connections. With every venture I navigate, I lead with authenticity and believe that vulnerability creates connection. I am a storyteller at heart and I weave my stories into everything I do to create those connections. I also believe our bodies hold all the wisdom we need to know, we just have to slow down and tune in.

People have repeatedly asked me how I do all that I do (I also homeschool my two children as a single mom) and my response is always, “I just do. There is no other way.” Giving back and pouring into others is part of my path and it shows my clients and most importantly, my children how they too will be able to overcome anything life throws their way if they continue to trust and lead with heart.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I think being creative has given me the freedom and space to always figure things out and learn how to create something out of nothing. Whether it is with my mothering, my careers over the years, entrepreneurship, marriage, friendships, family, meals, exercising, writing and photography, I always figure things out.

I have always been determined and had a let’s do it mindset. When I set my mind to do something, I go after it. Once I’m in, I’m all in. And when I’m out, I’m out. I think having that mindset has served me well and the older I get, the more I lean into it because I don’t spend a lot of time wondering or questioning, I just jump.

Having a “I think I can” mindset…. when I was four years old, I was scared to go down the hallway in the apartment we lived in. I didn’t know it, but my mom was watching from the other end of the hall. She said she watched as I took a deep breath, started walking and repeated over and over again, “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.” That’s been my outlook my whole life.

One of the pivotal moments of my life was moving 500 miles away to Gatlinburg, Tennessee to complete my college (unpaid) internship. I had no idea where I was going to live, how I was going to pay my bills and quite literally went on a hope, a prayer and a credit card. It all worked out beautifully and messy at the same time, but I completed the internship, graduated and was offered a full time position. I often remind myself of that 23 year old when I’m trying to make a decision. Things always work out, even if we have no idea how.

Learning to trust myself no matter what has been a journey and it wasn’t until my mid 30s that I really figured out what that meant. I look back at all the times I knew something wasn’t “right” and how things fell apart even though all the signs were there. Now, I make sure to check in before I say yes, and before I say no. When we know, we know. Trust that.

Advice: Slow down, really ask yourself what you really want. Set a time and write it out. Read it back to yourself. Close your eyes and hold that vision. Feel where you feel it in your body. Trust what you feel. Trust yourself. Then if you aren’t living the life you really want, visualize and feel, ask yourself what inspired action you can take right now. Then do it. Repeat this process. Trust yourself and trust the process. You will never know if you don’t try. Make sure you are surrounding yourself with people who believe in themselves and believe in you. Find joy and presence in everything you do – get in the energy of doing, having and being all that your soul desires!

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

As a single mom/only parent and business owner, I have to be super intentional with my time and energy. When I get overwhelmed and feel I have no capacity to do one more thing, I slow down. Sometimes, I shut down, but I allow myself to do that if it’s possible. That means turning off my phone, the computer, the noise. It means a meditation, walk in nature, present time with my kids, creating, taking a different way home. I also always check in with my body because in my experience, we have to feel it to heal it. I give myself grace and allow myself to feel it. I remind myself that I am human and that it is okay to be human. How and where do I feel this emotion (overwhelm, etc) in my body? Breathe into it. What emotion comes up? Feel it. Ask myself what it is I need. Then I write or move or cry or scream. Whatever my body is asking for. That’s been huge for me. Allowing the feeling to move through and knowing the feeling is only temporary. Giving myself grace through the overwhelm. Trusting that I will know the next right step to take and that this too shall pass. Not feeling shame for feeling the way I feel. If the overwhelm is because I’ve overcommitted or not done enough, then I ask myself what is one action I can take right now to get closer to calm and peace? Then I do it. I can’t stress enough how important it is to have a safe space, whether that’s a friend or family or a therapist who can hold space for you during these times.

Advice: slow down to speed up. Life doesn’t stop, but I truly believe that life happens for us, not to us. Leaning in to that statement has helped me see things for what they will be.

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