We had the good fortune of connecting with Amanda Nelson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amanda, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I believe risks are essential not only for ones career but someones personal growth in life. I am a huge believer that with big risk and change can come great reward and opportunity. The ability to see the world and YOUR world from a diverse angle and perspective is an important tool.. Most of my success comes from learning to be not only adaptable, but to strive and focus when met with significant change. Life experience is priceless and for certain careers is essential to have the upper hand in your field.

I have reinvented myself and my career countless times throughout my early foundation building. I believe every job and skill I have acquired has made me more valuable not only to my clients and customers but to myself and my happiness.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am so proud that I have established a career around the things that I truly believe in.

I started my career in retail at a young age and was on a fast track to retail management. Along the way I found yoga and mindfulness. Yoga and mindfulness quickly transformed my life and changed my recovery and mental health in ways I never knew was possible. I thrived in retail management once I found a company I loved working for that aligned with my outdoor ethics and values it was a hard decision to walk away from the path. I loved retail management because I LOVE people, and helping develop others in their skills and work. I realized after several years of practicing yoga my life needed to move in the direction of healing and I was terrified to figure out a way to work with something I love that isn’t necessarily as “safe” or immediately financially rewarding as a “9-5” career.

I took the chance and stepped down from the safe choice. I opened myself up to utilize everything I was good at to make it work. I took a beginner guiding job teaching people to climb and paddle board outside for my same retail company. I dove into yoga and mindfulness and found myself working in the addiction treatment field. Eventually my years of investing in aerial & pole classes took off and I started teaching circus arts. Fast Forward several years I am working in recovery and mental health industry ( my dream ) teaching yoga, reiki healing mindfulness, health and wellness, and getting clients outside and moving. I now still work at an aerial studio teaching pole, Lyra, contortion, I guide outside a hiking and yoga program I created with REI (my old retail company) and most exciting I have two business where I host aerial & yoga retreats. I even have a recovery podcast.

The lessons I have learned is use what you love and make it your life. You never know until you try. It’s not always easy but if it feels right, you’re probably headed in the right direction.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am a outdoor enthusiast, ocean loving, vegan so I have some specific loves! Urban Aerial Fitness my home aerial studio to get them upside down and out of their comfort zone feeling like a circus. I would take them to both Crystal Cove State Park (trails and ocean) as well as Joshua Tree to climb some granite, if we had the time two of my favorite places in California. All of the vegan food OC has to offer- donuts from The Donnuttery, breakfast burrito from El Zamarano. A pilates class at Tru Pilates in Dana Point Harbor, and a spiritual challenging yoga class at Pacific Ashtanga in San Juan. Seal Beach, CA my favorite OC city (besides Dana Point) where I grew up. All of my friends 🙂

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shout out for my success will have to be my clients and my students! I dedicate my success and career to every recovering client, yoga student, guiding participant, aerial/pole student and my retreat attendees. I am reminded every day why I do what I do. It is the vulnerable human that asks for energy healing, the brave client who travels across the US for treatment from their substance abuse addiction, the person who was inspired to try something new and walked into a pole room, the woman who has never hiked a day in their life but wants to learn how to be confident outside.

All of these humans remind me of me, where I came from, and how hard I wanted to work to find happiness and life fulfillment. We don’t celebrate or acknowledge the bravery it takes to make decision to change or try something new in our lives.

The reason I have taken all of the steps and continue to take more to be better and to further my work and career is watching others enjoy and thrive from the work I do.

Thank you!

Website: aerialdaydreamoc.com. / OnedayIdecided.com / Rootstocrownwellness.com

Instagram: Omanda_Patricia / Aerialdaydreamretreats / OnedayIdecided

Image Credits
@Clickingboom

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.