Over the past few months, my partner and I started a business called The Handywomen. We take on odd jobs—hanging shades, painting rooms, removing tile, fixing leaky faucets—and it has been so much fun! What’s interesting is that I didn’t even know I liked this work until last summer when we remodeled our garage apartment. We transformed an outdated, ugly, smelly space into something cozy, modern, and fresh.

Before that project, I didn’t know how to fix much of anything. But over the last year, I’ve learned how to drill, saw, design, and build—simply by showing up with a willingness to learn and fail. My partner, Nicole, who can truly do anything, has been teaching me these skills. More importantly, she models a foundational belief: she can do anything. She wasn’t born knowing how to fix and build; she just believed she could—and then did.

So, we took our skills, our beliefs, and our willingness—and we created a business. We are now booked out through November! It’s amazing, and we are so happy to be helping others while doing something that brings us joy.

None of this would have happened without a willingness to take a risk—a risk of our time, energy, resources, beliefs, and skills. We simply said YES to what felt good. And we are figuring out the business one day at a time, growing with each step.

We could have said no—because of the time commitment, the resources, or because we didn’t know enough. But what’s interesting about that? Where’s the growth in that? Growth only happens when you step over the edge of discomfort and just go for it.

We can do anything. ANYTHING.

I’m co-leading a trip to Peru in June, and I have no idea what it’s going to be like. I’ve never co-led a retreat in another country, and I’ve never been to Peru. I’m not quite sure what, where, or when yoga will be offered. But I trust that I’ll figure it out and co-create an amazing experience. I know I can do this—and make it beautiful. I am willing to fail, and I am willing to succeed. If I say no because I don’t have it all figured out, I miss out on the growth and learning. If I say yes, I expand my skills, confidence, and trust in myself.

I am willing to take the risk over and over again to become more and more me.

If the idea of a trip to Peru feels like a risk for you, ask yourself: what do you risk if you don’t go? What could shift in your life by saying YES? What growth, clarity, release, forgiveness, or strength awaits you?

Risk is scary, but it is also power. It’s where you meet yourself and discover your capacity to do anything.

Love,
Amanda

P.S. Scroll down to learn more about Peru and how you can join me in June 2026!

✨ Peru: A Journey into Shamanism✨

June 8 - 19 (Journey to Sacred Valley- 12 days).

June 19-25 ( Optional 4-day Salkantay Hike- 17 days total)

Virtual Information Session: November 6th at 6pm | RSVP Here

Join us on a 12-day pilgrimage to Peru’s Sacred Valley—a land steeped in ancestral wisdom, sacred mountains, and time-honored traditions. We begin at Hampina Wasi, a peaceful retreat center in Urubamba overlooking the majestic Andes. Here, we spend three days grounding through ceremony, and connection to the land.

From there, we travel to the renowned Willka T’ika Retreat Center, known for its vibrant chakra gardens and deeply nurturing energy. This sacred journey is designed for seekers—those called to spiritual exploration, personal transformation, and the Andean principle of ayni, or sacred reciprocity. Amanda Upton will offer yoga during this time.

Together, we will form an ayllu—a heart-centered community—and immerse ourselves in authentic Andean healing traditions passed down through generations. Guided by Marlinie, a traditional Paqo (Andean medicine woman), and Marianna Jacobs, a spiritual guide and energy practitioner, we’ll participate in Despacho ceremonies, Ñusta rituals, temple hikes, and offerings to Pachamama (Mother Earth) and the Apus (mountain spirits). Each sacred site carries its own energetic medicine for healing, release, and renewal.

For those called to deepen the experience, an optional 4-day Salkantay Trek follows the main journey—an awe-inspiring pilgrimage through glacier lakes, cloud forests, and high mountain passes. Also guided by Marianna, this extension offers an intimate and embodied communion with the sacred landscape.

This is more than a trip—it’s a return to wholeness. We welcome all who are ready to walk with reverence, connect deeply with local communities, and live in alignment with a paradigm of love, balance, and presence.

Highlights of the Journey:

• Learn from Marianna’s teachings on Andean cosmology, gaining a deeper understanding of the sacred connection between humans, nature, and the universe.

• Participate in traditional ceremonies led by Marlinie, including despacho offerings and energy cleansings that honor Pachamama (Mother Earth) and the wisdom of Andean spiritual traditions.

• Practice daily yoga and movement with Amanda Upton, who creates grounding, heart-centered sessions to support personal transformation and embodiment.

• Explore ancient ruins, lively markets, and traditional villages that bring the richness of Andean culture to life.

• Savor farm-to-table meals, connecting with the land and local communities through nourishing, seasonal foods.

• Deepen your inner journey with guided meditations, mindful hikes, and moments of quiet reflection in awe-inspiring natural landscapes.Whether seeking renewal, inspiration, or a path to transformation, this journey is your invitation to embrace the magic of the Sacred Valley and uncover a deeper connection to yourself and the world around you.

Review the Itinerary Here