WELCOME TO Elements Yoga
at Kali Collective

​Hello, my name is Amanda Ruffner.  Thank you for taking the time to visit my webpage.  I'd like to share a little about myself and the path that led me to yoga.  I’m a native Idahoan, born and raised in Nampa, and I’ve spent my life in Treasure Valley. I’m also a mother of teenage twins, and my journey with yoga began many years ago.

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Before becoming pregnant with twins, my only experience with yoga was practicing Bikram yoga classes. At the time, I enjoyed the physical challenge and the way the practice made me feel, but I didn’t yet understand the deeper connection between breath, mindfulness, and nervous system regulation.  That understanding came later during the early years of motherhood, while raising twins, one of whom has profound autism and complex medical needs for survival, requiring full-time care and support. In the midst of the physical and emotional demands of caregiving and sleepless nights, I instinctively began using breathwork to calm and regulate my nervous system. It wasn’t until later that I realized these grounding techniques were rooted in yoga.

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After experiencing firsthand how deeply these practices supported my mental and physical well-being, I felt called to deepen my understanding through teacher training. What began as one training quickly grew into a passion for continued learning. Since then, I’ve immersed myself in a variety of trainings and yoga styles, continually expanding my knowledge and weaving different techniques and approaches into my classes.

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My intention is to create a welcoming, fun, and supportive space where students can reconnect with themselves through movement and breath, no matter where they are in their journey.

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I am a RYT-200 certified yoga instructor with extensive training across multiple styles, including Hot Power Yoga with an Ashtanga foundation, Rocket Yoga (based on the Ashtanga Primary Series), Hot Vinyasa, Yin Yoga, and Myofascial Release. My education includes training and coursework with Carmen Aguilar, along with continued anatomy study through Jason Crandall. This diverse background allows me to blend strength, mobility, functional anatomy, and mindful stillness into a well-rounded, intelligent practice.

I have a deep passion for yoga because I know firsthand that these poses do not come easily for most people. Through my own experience and ongoing study, I’ve learned how to thoughtfully integrate the techniques needed to access more advanced postures while honoring individual physical limitations. My approach emphasizes safety, awareness, and intelligent progression, helping students build strength, mobility, and confidence in a way that feels both attainable and empowering.