REFERENCES
Nancy Kocis, Nurse Manager & Head Nurse; St. Francis Hospital; Roslyn, New York
It is my absolute pleasure to recommend Amy Elias as a Mind-Body Medicine Wellness Educator and Motivational Speaker.
She presented a program for our operating room nurses & staff on ways to manage stress levels in healthier manners by using breathing techniques, meditation, yoga, massage, sleeping habits and eating healthy. It was truly rewarding to see all the nurses focusing on self care & strategies for overcoming stress so that they can better care for their patients. Many of our nurses & staff were so inspired by her presentation that they voiced an interest in incorporating more wellness topics throughout the year.
Amy is an articulate, professional and compassionate individual. Her love for helping others is evident in the way she carries herself and evident by observing her interaction with her audience. She is engaging, inspirational and I ,too, learned tips and tricks from her presentation. I honestly believe that anyone who is interested in learning more about self-care and wellness would benefit from experiencing a 'Ms. Elias’ presentation.
Finally, my staff was so inspired by Amy’s presentation, that we have asked her to return for Nurses’ Week this Spring to share with our entire nursing staff more useful tips on how to live a healthier and less stressed life, both at home and work..
Dwight De Risi, MD; Co-Founder & President, Lean on Me Breast Cancer Network
I am a co-founder and president of Lean on Me Breast Cancer Network Inc. We have been in existence since May of 2000. Amy has been a facilitator at Lean on Me Breast Cancer Network Inc., a non profit breast cancer support organization. She has presented many workshops in the past years at our Wellness Retreat Programs. Her very confident, pleasant, knowledgeable presentations have contributed to the success of our retreats. Amy’s varied topics seem to attract most of our patients who attend these retreats, to sign up for her workshops.
The conclusion of each retreat has a questionnaire to be filled out by those who attend. The patients who attend her sessions always have very positive responses to her presentations. She is very professional and whatever she talks about is always uplifting, fun and full of useful information, leaving all her participants happy and thankful.
As a presenter and a friend, Amy is a wonderful addition to any program she has participated in for our organization. She is certainly a highlight at the retreat and her session slots fill up very quickly. We look forward to having her come back each year.
Dr. Anael Alston, Assistant Commissioner, of New York State Education Department. Educator. Writer. Advocate.
It is with great pleasure that I write this letter regarding the professionalism, dedication, and integrity of Ms. Amy Elias. I first met Ms. Elias in the summer of 2005 when I was appointed as middle school principal in Glen Cove, NY. Ms. Elias was a dedicated parent and community activist for all of the students and faculty. Always selfless in sharing her knowledge and expertise to help students and staff find better ways to manage stress, make win/win choices, and find the quiet spaces during the day to relax.
During my seven years as principal Ms. Elias worked with the in-school suspension children to give them additional tools to connect with people and adults in authority as well as to learn the art and practice of evaluation their experiences ---she was wildly successful. The students were eager, willing and bale to connect positively, self esteem rose up in those six weeks, and students tended to have less infractions after working with Amy. . Ms. Elias took the challenge to prove how mind-body approach to education and wellbeing has positive outcomes.
This was indeed a “win/win”.
Additionally, Ms. Elias helped us plan our annual Faculty Day each year before school opens. Ms. Elias did a half-day workshop and speech with our professional staff. Her topics included Inspiring Children, Living a Life That Really Matters; Happiness is an Inside Job, Peer-to-Peer Interaction with Colleagues. These workshops were very valuable and helped us create a dramatic change in school culture and academic achievement.
Over the years that I have worked with her, Ms. Elias has excelled in the area of teaching, leading, and learning. She has taken on the challenges of helping people see better and do better with tireless efforts and a refusal to allow people to get anything less than they deserve in their life - the best. Finally, Ms. Elias has demonstrated strong leadership in a collaborative style that often “wins people over”. Over the years we’ve worked together, Ms. Elias has proven herself to be a competent and capable professional. She approaches each opportunity with the eagerness and passion that the best of any profession has and has the unique gift of connecting with parents.
As an accomplished educational leader and administrator, I recognize the need for quality professionals to seek opportunities that would best utilize their skill sets. I enthusiastically recommend Ms. Amy Elias for the professional services that she offers. She will no doubt be an extraordinary asset to any learning organization.
Dr. Ted Cannone, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction, Garden City UFSD
I had the good fortune to attend Garden City Public School's Parent University. This annual event is held at Garden City High School and is run by the PTA to help community members become aware of important trends in education, parenting, and community building. Th e presenters are chosen with great care, and the attendees are often very impressed by their experiences. . Amy Elias's session "Mindfulness-Awareness, Peace, Positive Change." was one such session.
Ms. Elias's two sessions at Parent University were filled to capacity with community members and faculty alike. She provided an informative overview of the history and effects of the mindfulness movement and led participants through a series of exercises designed to hep place oneself in the moment, let stress fall away, and carry those practice's into daily life. .I also listened closely to the comments made by other participants. Particularly striking were people's remarks on how well Ms. Elias explained mindfulness practices and the ways in which she made mindfulness relevant and dispelled their concerns or skepticism. Ms. Elias's great knowledge, soothing persona, and professional demeanor enabled her to relate to a diverse group of people in meaningful and personal ways.
In my twenty-one years in education, I have attended many workshops, seminars, and lectures. Ms. Elias's work ranks very high in my experience with group presenters. She was keenly attuned to the needs of her audience, took pains to make the experience pertinent and meaningful, and responded with thoughtful, direct answers. I am very happy to recommend Ms. Elias as a presenter to any organization that wants to learn more about mindfulness and the benefits it can bring
Janice Winter, Entrepreneur in Luxury Brand Market
“Working with Amy will change your life! She has a rare gift of being able to bring all her disciplines together in an exceptionally cohesive and very individualized approach to her clients. She is a remarkably caring and giving person who works with a 360 degree view of a person, as a healer, psychologist, teacher ,yogi, and friend. Simply put…Amy is a “life coach” … the wind beneath your wings!”
Ron Cohen, MD- ‘The Mindful Psychiatrist’
"Amy lives a life of mindfulness, presence and awareness. All of her teaching, caring, consulting and coaching arise organically from this solid foundation. Both personally and professionally I have benefited profoundly from Amy’s wisdom, insight, compassion, and understanding. Whether it be in the domains of Mind-Body Health, Food as Medicine, awareness of the power of words, thoughts and deeds, or Yoga practice, Amy is always kind, generous, and clear in her guidance and sharing. She has been instrumental in my development of a strong, robust daily mindful meditation practice. Amy’s focus on “Rebranding from the inside out” continues to be foundational to the development of my professional practice as The Mindful Psychiatrist and a Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) workshop facilitator. With deep gratitude and appreciation, I recommend Amy to all who wish to learn and experience “How to create the life you love from your deepest desires made manifest by emotional connection”
Dr. Maurice Aiken, Florida Practice Of Podiatry
"Real, Raw, and Rowdy with Amy is that place of deep down honesty. That place that I landed when I dug deep into the mud of my inner emotions to find the things that drive me to act the way that I do. It’s that place where all of the outer wrappings of glitter and show are stripped away leaving only the real me; a place with nothing to hide behind. It’s a very private place that sometimes isn’t fun to visit. It’s a place of undercurrents and rip-tides that is constantly in play affecting my every response. I have to understand that place in order to grow and to be able to manage the fears that reside within. Amy has an excellent approach in giving me the tools and the road map to get me there. She then taught me how to navigate those fears and the resulting behavior that often kept me sub optimal in both my honesty with myself and my decision making—those actions that adversely affected my overall success every day. Having a true understanding of that place and learning how to manage is nothing less than an amazing and a cathartic introspective experience that brought me a huge step closer to being the optimal and true me.”
Dominique DeLeon, Global Creative Director at Google Creative Works Filmmaker + Writer + Strategist
"We all have something in our lives that feels like it's standing in our way, blocking us, keeping us from living the life we want to live. I truly believe that. When I first met Amy, I was in such a rut, and we hit it off right away. Amy is the rare person that takes genuine interest in who you are from top to bottom and connects with you on a personal and professional level to understand the entirety of your needs and the things that might be holding you back. She's generous with her time, her talents and her insight, and I would recommend her to anyone."
Jane G. Stevens, Esq. Entertainment Law
“Amy taught yoga at my former law firm. Undaunted by the corporate environment, she led classes of yoginis comprised of support staff, associates, and partners, infusing each class with the most wonderful mix of laughter, compassion, alignment, and all around juiciness and creating a bonding experience for all who participated.”
Hilary White, WLNY-TV
"From the moment you meet Amy, you feel a genuine connection with her spirit, and a willingness to understand, inspire, and make things happen!”
Hadassah Chapter Yashar and Jacqueline Harounian, Esq.
"In early 2016, I invited Amy to do a yoga / mindfulness presentation to the Yashar group of women lawyers and judges. She was gracious enough to donate her time to our non-profit group. Amy spoke to our group about proper breathing techniques and relieving stress. She led the group through a series of stretches and relaxation exercises. The feedback I received from the group was extremely positive. I would not hesitate to recommend Amy to other groups and individuals."
Thank you.
Joan Tibaldi, Psychotherapist/Social Worker
"Amy is a gifted practitioner and amazing yoga instructor/coach. Her background and experience bring a depth to her work that enhance the student/client relationship. She is as comfortable leading a class of yoga students as she is providing a wellness/team building experience for a group of corporate executives. If you are looking for someone to provide you personally or your business with an EXPERIENCE, I highly recommend Amy. You won’t be disappointed. Simply put, and there is nothing simple about Amy ... She Is Mother Earth!”
Michele Capobianco, Shore Thing Rentals
Amy is knowledgeable, caring, and tenacious. She will make sure you get it done!"
Dale Fitzgerald, Video Producer/Photographer
"Amy is wise. She participated in a video I made. Her soundbite was "everything you need is in your pocket."
Lillian Julien, Artist; Founder of COPE Foundation
“Thanks Amy for your generous heart. Your workshop 'Eat. Sleep. Move. Pray. Love.' has been so valuable in this time of pandemic to the COPE Foundation (Continuing Our Paths Eternally) and grieving families. I am grateful to have participated at a time when my anxiety has been heightened and stress has contributed to sleeplessness, migraines, and chronic pain. Your knowledge of nutrition and how and when we choose the foods we eat has been beneficial to raising my awareness of the correlation between foods, exercise, my mood, and sleep. This workshop experience created an opening and offered me tools in breath, meditation and relaxation to calm my body, mind and thoughts. You’ve expanded my heart with your thoughtful practice and nourished my soul with your wisdom.”
Rachel Tripi, Art Teacher; Manhasset Public Schools
"I’ve had the pleasure of working with Amy Elias in my art room setting on many occasions when she is covering for staff. as a guest teacher. She will often stay with the class and offer a helping hand as she is gifted and instrumental at attending to the individual needs of students when they are transitioning from one class to another. Care and concern for children going through something important to them, is on Ms. Elias’ list of priorities.
Ms. Elias is known to play soothing music, speak in a caring professional manner and shows compassion to children that require a need for their voice to be heard. As you can imagine, students walking into an art room or any room after recess, have some conflicts that need attention, compromise, a resolution or even just a 'heart to heart' discussion. I’ve seen Ms. Elias take on these issues, like a well-seasoned teacher with compassion and empathy.
A climate and school culture where children feel cared for, is so important and always has been. Ms. Elias brings that climate into the classes she is with, and into my art room. The day that I learned the care, calming and sincere character of Ms. Elias, was a day she stayed after hours, voluntarily, to help with mounting art for an outside exhibit. She overheard me expressing that the work needed to be mounted and carefully logged for the exhibit. She stayed, rolled up her sleeves, and diligently helped mount and prepare the students work. She even took time to hold pieces up and express how beautiful, painterly or artistic the individual pieces were and commented on the importance of children having the opportunity to express themselves through self-expression and visual art. I thought that was so kindhearted and reflective of her to say that.
I’d be delighted to sing the praises of Ms. Elias. I’ve only known her for a short time, but in the times I see her, she shows compassion and care to the children, and goes above and beyond to help meet the emotional needs of the students."
Diane Beardslee, Beardslee Ball Bearing Company
"I hired Amy for private yoga practice. Her knowledge and expertise helped me heal and manage my chronic back pain. Still, today I practice the yoga poses she taught me and I am grateful to Amy always.."
Celeste Gullo Agency: Allstate Insurance
"Amy is an extremely amazing life coach. She is caring and highly skilled in being able to ground you. When my emotions were as high as ever in my whole entire life, she brought me back to earth. She had empathy and compassion and truly made it possible to breathe. I highly recommend her for anyone looking for a yoga, relaxation therapist. We hugged a tree for the 1st time in my life and I will never forget the immediate impact of grounding I had with her and the tree. Life gets too emotional and when it does, don't be afraid to ask for help"
Jaime S.
"My husband, family and I have worked with Amy on personal growth, anger and patience issues, marital strengthening and family orientation issues. Amy’s open-minded approach allows us to see viewpoints from new perspectives, as well as address and achieve our personal wellness goals through her holistic and cognitive behavioral approach. Amy works with clients to help build a toolbox for optimal mental health. Regular appointments serve as a 'checks and balance' for her clients, as she holds patients accountable. She helps her patients continue on their path to success of being the greatest versions of themselves they can be. She has served as an optimal sounding board for our family and we continue to return to her services as needed."
Stella Shank, Executive Director; The Regency Assisted Living
Please accept this as a recommendation for the amazing Amy Elias. Amy has worked with our residents for over 5 years. Her skills included and not limited to being organized, timely, reliable, enthusiastic, entertaining, and fun. She maintains all levels of communication with all departments in order to maintain a professional workflow i.e. works with wellness when medical issues arise. Her programs show respect and honor for each resident's age, abilities, and are inclusive, no matter the limitations. Amy continues to use the emotional as well as physical healing modalities in all interactions with our residents. Her ability to connect to people is remarkable, especially those with memory impairments. Her programs are fun and interactive with a key to tap into all senses. Amy would be an asset to any community. Her love for seniors echoes beautifully. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.