We are delighted to welcome Amanda Goodfellow to the Meditation Australia Board. After more than 25 years working in the corporate world, Amanda began her meditation teaching journey after nine years of personal practice, completing her first teacher training in 2018. She now runs Agile Mind, teaching meditation and mindfulness with a particular focus on bringing these practices into workplaces. A passionate retreat attendee, keynote speaker and TEDx presenter, Amanda brings a wealth of professional experience, a deep personal connection to meditation and a love of events and community. She is excited to contribute her skills to Meditation Australia.
Below, Amanda has answered a few questions so you can get to know her better.
Can you share a little about your meditation teaching journey?
I was not initially interested in teaching meditation, but I was keen to understand more about the process. After practising for about nine years, I completed my first teacher training course in 2018. Once I was qualified, I started to imagine bringing meditation and mindfulness into the corporate world, where I had spent 25 years working and knew it was greatly needed.
In my classes I mainly teach mindfulness meditation, but in my own practice I enjoy exploring meditation and spiritual practices in many different shapes and forms. I believe there is a common truth underlying all of them.
What does your personal meditation practice look like, and how has meditation influenced your life?
Meditation has influenced my life in profound ways. I, like many people, have a strong tendency to live in my head, and meditation has enabled me to gradually let go of that mode and connect more with my body. It has helped me feel safe enough to stop, listen and pay more attention to my inner voice. It has also become my livelihood through my business, Agile Mind, where I teach meditation and mindfulness.
I have a simple daily practice that keeps me steady, along with lots of mini practices that help me stay present and grounded when things get stressful. But my favourite thing of all is retreats. I’ve been on dozens of retreats and find them endlessly revealing. I’d love to do a year-long retreat one day.
What inspired you to join the Meditation Australia Board, and how do you hope to contribute to the organisation and the broader meditation community?
I attended the Meditation Australia conference in 2018 and absolutely loved it. I remember thinking how wonderful it would be to be part of the team one day, so joining the Board feels a little like a dream come true!
I have a background working in membership organisations and understand some of the unique opportunities and challenges they face. I’ll be bringing my skills and experience from my corporate career, as well as my love of events, to the Board.
I’d love to see meditation become more deeply embedded in healthcare, education and business, and to help Meditation Australia continue to grow its impact and reach.
Please share something about you.
In 2022, I gave a TEDx talk sharing a personal story about how mindfulness had transformed my life. I loved speaking so much that it led me to become a keynote speaker, and I now present at conferences on meditation, mindfulness and leadership. I never imagined that meditation would take me in this direction — and I’m so glad it did.