From Osteopath to Mindset Coach & Movement Teacher

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in the wellness, but not sure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Amy Slevin, a movement teacher and mindset coach. Trained as an osteopath, Amy knows how to work the body to improve pain and ailments. And as a mindset coach she's learned how to apply neuroplasticity to rewire the brain and improve overall health.

You seem to be such a multi-faceted business owner! Tell us about your different offerings?

Haha! Yes, I do offer lots of things! Primarily I help people work through their physical and mental injuries or illness, stress and frustrations (such as trauma, relationship dramas, grief, feeling unfulfilled or stuck in their life) and turn them into opportunities to create more meaningful lives. I do this mainly through a mental process called The Demartini Method which harnesses neuroplasticity to change how we think. It has had a profound effect on my life, as well as the lives of the people I work with. This is primarily online (thanks Covid!) but is actually great because it enables me to work with people all over the world.

As a life long movement lover, I offer movement classes called FlowMotion (recordings on my website) – there are dynamic and relaxed options, which combine movements from yoga with dance, martial arts, animal movements and mobility work, with an aim to enable people to enjoy moving their bodies in a light hearted way, to develop movement skills in a playful environment. Life can be so serious, so FlowMotion classes create a space for people to have a bit of fun, not worry about getting it wrong, and disconnect from the seriousness of their lives.

I qualified as an osteopath in 2012 but haven’t worked as one for many years.

What is flow motion, where did you come up with it?

FlowMotion started after I’d been teaching yoga for a few years and felt limited by the movement options available in yoga. I wanted to share my experiences of many movement disciplines such as dance, gymnastics and parkour (much of which comes from Martial Arts). There are so many wonderful ways of moving that can help people enjoy freedom of movement, develop adaptable and versatile bodies, with longevity. Plus, they feel really good.

A big part of FlowMotion is the playfulness and experimental nature of the classes – I like to give people autonomy to explore a movement in their own way. I was also influenced by research into movement, myofascia, the nervous system and how it influences our movement.

How did you start your career in movement + coaching and where do you want to take it?

It started after I qualified from Osteopathy but felt that movement was my way of helping people. I’d worked with a lot of chronic pain patients and felt frustrated that they weren’t making lasting improvement. I had a sense that if they changed how they moved, things would change for them… Later I realised that changing our movement sometimes only takes us so far, and we need to address any mental or emotional stressors that might be contributing to the pain. That, plus my own knee injury brought me to see that we really do need to treat the whole person, not just the sore bit.

I would love to take my coaching more around the world, offer talks and workshops where people can work through their injuries, pain or illness in a group setting and one-to-one – this is online too. I want to offer more retreats in stunning nature spots where we combine movement classes and mindset sessions. People can choose to focus on one more than another, or both! There are separate retreats for injured and non-injured groups. I want to help people to live fulfilled lives.

As a mindset coach and movement teacher, what's a typical workday like?

I’m not sure there is a typical day! I might see 1-2 movement clients per day and 2-3 mindset/rehab clients. Mindset sessions range between 90 mins and 4 hours to give people the best chance at making progress. I teach 4 public classes/week. I make sure I get my own movement practice in, which could be a parkour class, a bit of experimental FlowMotion movement in my studio, handstand practice or in summer… flying trapeze!

What tips would you give beginner yoga teachers + coaches on finding new clients?

Be you, be authentic. Share your message and focus on the problem you’re helping to solve, be client-focused. No one really cares about your life, your teachers and training. They want to know that you understand their problem and can help them with it.

Haha! Thanks! I like to entertain and be creative and I am naturally very playful, so I use social media as a creative outlet. I am aware that some of the messages I share can be pretty serious (dull, even!) so to make it more palatable I try to spice it up and make it playful I ask “what do I want people to get out of this and how can I say this in a way people will want to listen/engage with it?”

What personal practices/habits do you follow to make sure you show up for your students and clients?

Whenever I need motivation:

I remind myself of WHY I do what I do.
I look for all the ways in which working with these people is helping me fulfil my mission (of helping people live fun, fulfilled lives).

It’s bloody hard sometimes, and there’ll be so many moments when you’ll want to throw in the towel. Focus on your WHY, your reason for doing what you do.

Where can people find you online?

Here's my website, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share then email community@subkit.com, we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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