Meet Amanda Montgomery of Mystic Meadows Yoga

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Montgomery

Hi Amanda, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born and raised in Fenton, Michigan, and grew up on Lake Shannon. I was a competitive swimmer for 17 years. In 2007, I attended Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, where I studied biology and swam on the national and collegiate teams.

After graduating, I moved back to Michigan and completed my first 200-hour yoga teacher training, which sparked my desire to travel and explore sustainable living. This led me to Belfast, Maine, where I lived on a farm that was 95% self-sustainable. While there, I taught yoga in town and continued my education in yoga.

After two years in Maine, I moved to New Zealand for six months, living at a yoga ashram, teaching yoga, and working at yoga festivals. From there, I traveled to India for further yoga training and education.

In 2017, I returned to Kirksville, Missouri, where my now-husband lived and worked as a biology professor at Truman State University. At the time, there were no yoga studios in town, so I taught yoga at various gyms and community centers.

In 2020, I developed a business plan to open a yoga studio and wellness center. We found the perfect building and purchased it in January 2021. After three months of renovations, we opened our doors, and the studio has been thriving ever since.

Our studio offers weekly classes, a 200-hour yoga teacher training program, workshops, and both local and international retreats. We also provide office space for other wellness practitioners, including massage therapists, Reiki practitioners, and sound healers.

BIO
I took my first yoga class in the spring of 2011, and I was hooked. In 2013 I found my first teacher, Donna Heiple (Good Karma Yoga Studio, Michigan), and completed my 200-hr teacher training in Raja Yoga (Ashtanga and Jivamukti inspired yoga). Shortly after, I moved to Belfast, Maine to experience sustainable farming; living with the land. I lived in Maine for two years, where I taught yoga and trained under Marianna Moll (Belfast Yoga Studio, Maine) in the “practice of precision”, Iyengar yoga. In the spring of 2015 I moved to New Zealand, where I lived at a yoga ashram and retreat center, Kawai Purapura. During my time at Kawai Purapura, I continued to teach and grow into my practice. My personal practice was enhanced spiritually and I was introduced to the practice of Vyayam Yoga. Six months later, I completed my 100-hr certification in Vyayam Yoga at Ganga Vatika in Rishikesh, India. In November, 2017, I completed a 100 hour vipassana meditation, taught by S.N. Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin in Indonesia. In August 2020, I completed a level 1 Kirtan Course with Mike Cohen, MA, founder of the Kirtan Leader Institute located in Boulder, Colorado. Most recently, I completed an 85-hr online Pregnancy Yoga Teacher Training with Lucia Seglie from Arhanta Yoga, which is an internationally recognized registered yoga school by Yoga Alliance.

At present, I live and teach yoga in Kirksville, Missouri. I have conducted many 200-hr teacher training courses where I invite students to explore the possibilities of yoga and enhance their knowledge and understanding of yoga. I use a variety of techniques including food management, meditation, and asana (physical) practice to unfold the unlimited potential of the mind and soul (energy within).

Training & Education
Bachelor of Science degree from Truman State University 2012
Certified 200-HR CYT in Raja Yoga from Donna Heiple 2013
Certified 100-HR Vyayam Yoga in Rishikesh India 2016
Completed 100-HR Vipassana Meditation in Indonesia 2017
Completed Level 1 Kirtan with Mike Cohen 2020
Certified Prenatal Yoga Instructor from Arhanta Yoga Online Academy 2021
Logged over 5,000 hours of teaching experience
Currently continuing education with Todd Tesen, E-500-HR RYT
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Amanda’s Athletic Background

I started swimming at the age of 8 and was a competitive swimmer for 17 years. I swam at the collegiate level at Truman State University from 2007-2011 and competed in the NCAA Division II Championships. In 2004, I showed the first signs of tendonitis in both shoulders. For 3 years I dedicated my time to physical therapy and personal training to learn how to strengthen the skeletal system and prevent injury. At the collegiate level I learned the benefits of cross training, where I learned how to strengthen the muscular system. Yoga came into my life after my swimming career was over. I didn’t realize the impact yoga could have had on my performance as a student-athlete, on many levels, which is one of the reasons why I am dedicated to sharing this practice with student-athletes. I have been studying the philosophy and methodology of yoga since earning my yoga teacher certification in 2013. With years of training, I have developed a deep understanding of technique and body awareness. I also understand the emotional rollercoaster most athletes experience. I am happy to share my experiences with students and I hope to support them on a physical, mental and emotional level.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have definitely been challenges, and there still are. I believe that’s just part of the entrepreneurial journey. In the very beginning, we had to get creative to secure a loan for the building. Renovations became a race against time, as we needed to start generating income quickly to cover the mortgage.

During Mystic Meadows Yoga Studio’s first year, the main focus was on renovating the building and getting the doors open. I simply couldn’t have done it without the blood, sweat, and tears of my family and friends. Once the space was ready, the next challenge was bringing people in, especially with the virus that shall not be named. But I found a way to make it happen.

Since then, the ongoing struggle has been balancing work and life while navigating the inevitable feelings of burnout. They say if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life, but that’s simply not true. Passion makes you work even harder, and without boundaries, you risk resenting what you once loved.

Another challenge is juggling the many roles that come with running a business. I’m not just a yoga teacher, I’m also the accountant, marketing expert, advertiser, scheduler, receptionist, cleaner, and maintenance person. Wearing all these hats can be overwhelming, but it’s part of what keeps the studio running.

The wellness space is rented by practitioners, and that rental income helps cover the mortgage. However, it can be stressful when the space sits empty, which happens when practitioners move away, change careers, or shift directions in life.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Mystic Meadows Yoga envisions a healthy and happy lifestyle for people in their communities. We strive to inspire people to reconnect with themselves and explore an integrated approach to balanced living. Mystic Meadows Yoga is grounded in the original meaning of the Sanskrit word Prakriti as “nature, source” – everything is felt and experienced through the body, which is through nature. Prakriti is the creative energy where students unite with themselves through the body and move into a more natural state of being (i.e balanced, whole, happy). We offer a practice that cultivates love and happiness from within and in return, we plant seeds of happiness everywhere we go.

Mystic Meadows Yoga Studio offers weekly yoga classes, workshops, local and international retreats, and teacher training courses. We are the only registered yoga school in Kirksville, Missouri. The space features well-trained, certified instructors, progressive teaching methods, a non-competitive and encouraging atmosphere, and a beautiful facility. Mystic Meadows Yoga features a safe and ethical practice to support one’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual body.

Physical Body: People that are focused on physical wellness and may be drawn to the practice for physical fitness, supporting recovery from injury, surgery or an accident, improving balance, increasing flexibility and mobility in the skeletal system, strengthening the muscular system, developing stamina, and alleviating aches and pains.

Mental Body: People that may be focused on working through emotional stress and psychological challenges. They may be drawn to the practice to better understand the mind, learn how to control the mind and create new thought patterns.

Emotional Body: People that may be focused on emotional well-being. They may be drawn to the practice to process and release feelings such as anger, grief, sadness, uneasiness, stress, or fear.

Spiritual Body: People that may be looking for their path through life. They may be drawn to the practice to learn the traditions of uniting all aspects of themselves (body, mind, and spirit) with a higher power or spiritual force. You can believe in God or gods, or nothing at all. It’s a way of cultivating love (or wholeness) within and recognizing this love (or wholeness) everywhere.

Despite the challenges, I am incredibly proud of the community that has grown within Mystic Meadows Yoga Studio. This space has become so much more than just a place to practice yoga, it has brought people together in meaningful ways. The love and support shared here are truly special, creating a sense of connection that extends far beyond the mat.

Real people, real conversations, and real healing happen here. Deep discussions unfold, friendships are formed, and a sense of belonging is cultivated. It’s a place where people can show up exactly as they are, knowing they will be met with kindness, understanding, and encouragement. Watching this community grow and witnessing the impact yoga has had on so many lives is one of the most rewarding parts of this journey.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love Kirksville for its stunning countryside, where the land holds its beauty through every season. The sun shines most days, bringing warmth and light. I appreciate how connected people are to the outdoors and how the small-town community fosters a sense of closeness. Most of all, I love the way people support their friends and local businesses, creating a network of care and encouragement.

In a small town, trying something new (especially yoga) can feel intimidating. Some people worry they aren’t flexible or strong enough, while others feel self-conscious about being a beginner. There’s also the reality of small-town dynamics…showing up to a class and seeing someone you have history with can feel awkward.

But yoga is meant to be a space of personal growth, not perfection. It’s not about being the most flexible or having the best balance; it’s about showing up for yourself. And while small-town life means familiar faces, it also offers a unique opportunity, to practice letting go, finding peace within, and realizing that we’re all just doing our best. The yoga mat can be a place of transformation, not just physically but in the way we approach our relationships, our community, and ourselves.

Pricing:

• $85 monthly unlimited
• $80 for 10 classes
• $50 for 5 classes
• $14 drop-in

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mysticmeadowsyoga.com
• Instagram: @mysticmeadows_yogastudio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mysticmeadowsyoga
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-montgomery-b5a4832b/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mystic-meadows-yoga-kirksville