Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Bell.
Amanda, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Yoga found me during my freshman year at Penn State.
At the time, my family was stationed in Germany with the military, so when I got to campus, I didn’t know a single person. During freshman orientation, I spotted a flyer for a yoga class hosted by the campus yoga club. I had a background in cheerleading, so I figured, why not?
We met once a week, and with each session, I fell a little more in love with the practice. Yoga became more than just movement—it helped me manage stress, make new friends, and eventually supported me through healing from an eating disorder.
After graduation, I moved to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and started working as a personal trainer at Gold’s Gym. But I knew my heart was in yoga. I signed up for a quick weekend certification to get my foot in the door and started teaching what I call “gym yoga.” About a year in, the gym owners approached me with an idea: they wanted to open a hot yoga studio and asked if I’d be interested in running it. I said yes on the spot.
With that, I dove into a full 200-hour certification in Brentwood, TN over the next two months. The studio we opened was Murfreesboro’s first hot yoga studio. I had never even taught in a traditional studio before, and now I was managing one. The imposter syndrome was very real, but I figured it out.
I hired a team, built the schedule, handled marketing, led classes, managed operations, and so much more! And somehow, it all worked. We created a vibrant, thriving community, and that studio remains one of my proudest accomplishments.
After four years at Gold’s Gym, I accepted a position managing the oldest and largest hot yoga studio in Nashville. I stayed there for another three years, learning and growing even more. And after seven years of running studios for others, I finally took the leap to open up my own space. . Alongside a few incredible partners, I opened Bend and Zen Hot Yoga Nashville (BZN).
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
On March 20, 2020, we temporarily closed our doors for what turned into a two-month pause. At the time, we were still in our infancy as a business. But even in those uncertain early days, our community showed up for us in big ways. Thanks to their support, we found a way to keep going even without in-person classes.
Like so many others, we pivoted quickly to virtual teaching. We led classes from our living rooms, backyards, and inside an empty studio that was once full of life. When we were finally able to reopen, restrictions limited us to just 15 students per class in a room that normally held 55. It was hard, but it was also a powerful reminder: we are never fully in control, but things still have a way of working out exactly as they’re meant to.
Now, almost six years later, Bend and Zen is home to a thriving, passionate community and a team of dedicated teachers who truly love what they do. We’re stronger and more grateful than ever.
Around the same time we had to shut down, there was also a tornado that came dangerously close to the studio. While it didn’t touch the studio, it was a little too close for comfort.
While it hasn’t been a completely smooth road, we have always come out on top!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We’ve created a space where people can show up exactly as they are. There’s no pressure to look a certain way, no expectation to “know what you’re doing.” We welcome everyone regardless of your background, your beliefs, or whether you’re wearing trendy yoga clothes.
What we do care about is:
Are you kind?
Are you open to trying?
Are you willing to play?
Because honestly, that’s what yoga is, it’s grown-up playtime. A chance to reconnect with your body and breath in a supportive, judgment-free space.
At BZN, we offer a wide range of classes including Hot Power Vinyasa, Slow Flow, Yin Yoga, Yoga + HIIT, Yoga Core, Yin/Yang, Hot 26, and more. We also host workshops on everything from arm balances and posture breakdowns to astrology, breathwork, cold plunges, attachment styles, and learning about the chakras.
To get everyone started, BZN offers a 2 weeks of unlimited Yoga New Client Special. This way people can test drive as many classes as they want before committing to a Class Package.
We also try to make yoga accessible to as many people as possible, which is why we also have 1 $10 Drop-In (Reg $30) class every day. They vary on style and time of day, to accommodate various schedules.
One thing that our community loves is our frozen lavender towels that we pass out at the end of every class! They are that little ice cold piece of Heaven at the end of a hot class.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I’ve lived in Nashville for almost 19 years, and have seen her GLOW UP!! I am a firm believer that a city that doesn’t grow, dies. So, I am probably one of the few locals who loves seeing all the cranes in the sky when I drive to work. It does break my heart when a local restaurant, bar, cafe, music venue or house I love closes or gets torn down, but that’s the price of progress.
I love that there is always something to do in Nashville no matter what day of the week, time of day or year. This city is ALIVE! You can be as bougee or budget friendly as you want and still have a very full Nashville experience.
Pricing:
- 2 weeks of Unlimited Yoga New Client Special
- Bend for 10 ($10 drop- in for select classes)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nashville.bendandzenhotyoga.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendandzennashville/
