In the realm of personal transformation, Amy Schmidt stands as a beacon of empowerment, guiding individuals to navigate their pain points and reclaim their narratives. As a Boundaries Empowerment Coach, her mission has always been to illuminate the path toward self-empowerment and resilience. However, little did she know that amidst her noble endeavor, a profound revelation awaited her—one that would redefine her understanding of boundaries and self-love. Amy found herself grappling with a personal struggle that remained veiled from her awareness—boundaries. It was a realization that struck her unexpectedly, akin to a key turning in a long-forgotten lock, revealing a treasure trove of understanding and self-love that had eluded her grasp. In this exclusive interview, Amy Schmidt invites us into her transformative journey of boundary mastery and self-discovery, shedding light on the profound lessons she’s learned and the wisdom she imparts to those seeking liberation from self-imposed limitations. Join Mystic Mag as we delve into the depths of empowerment with a visionary coach who found her greatest strength in embracing her boundaries.
How has your upbringing in Los Angeles shaped your approach as a Boundaries Empowerment coach, especially in a city known for its diversity and fast-paced lifestyle?
You become very used to your little pockets in LA, and you become very accustomed to nurturing friendships based on reciprocal gestures such as “Will you come to me so I don’t have to drive to you?” and “Will you come to my neighborhood, and can I get to your neighborhood with as little trouble as possible?” I think that this partially transactional nature can be interesting when nurturing friendships and also when working on internal boundaries. Questions arise like, “Do I have the energy?” or “Do I have the energetic capital to go from my home in Santa Monica to a party in Koreatown or to attend an engagement in Echo Park?” You really have to nurture that aspect of yourself, especially if you have a limited amount of energy to work with, like I do—I have chronic fatigue, and have had it my entire life. So, it’s been a significant journey in terms of understanding my boundaries, limitations, and discerning what I can say yes to while still remaining true to myself, and what I can say no to while still feeling authentic to my desire to help people. Understanding that “no” is a powerful word, particularly in a city like LA, known for its people-pleasing and traffic.
I’m also glad you mentioned diversity. I grew up in a Jewish community in LA, and Judaism, especially within that context, is very family-oriented, with many family events. Understanding that family is integral to my life, I realize that a significant portion of my energy is devoted to that aspect. I have to carve out time for it, and then allocate the rest to work and other commitments. My community deserves this part of my life, and it is non-negotiable—it deserves my devotion.
Tarot reading, Reiki, sound healing—your toolkit is quite diverse. How do you integrate these practices into your coaching sessions, and what benefits have you observed for your clients?
One thing I want to focus on in terms of Reiki is how interesting it is that many people have heard the word, but don’t really know what Reiki is and that it can actually be used to work with people from afar. For example, I conduct virtual Reiki sessions with people all over the world. I’ve worked with individuals in Australia and Canada, and what’s truly magical about this is that it gives me a profound sense of where people are energetically. It allows me to gauge their receptivity and discern what they truly need. Despite people often saying yes to many things and wanting to please others, Reiki serves as a valuable tool for me to tune into their true energetic state. It helps me identify what I need to delve deeper into and what I should leave alone.
Tarot is also amazing because of the synchronicity that arises from pulling different cards at different moments. Countless times, clients have expressed astonishment at the parallels between the cards and events in their lives. This synchronicity is fascinating and often provides profound insights.
As for sound healing, it’s been a wild journey that found me during the pandemic lockdown. I began practicing with bowls I had purchased just before 2020 with the intention of using them for events. However, when everything shut down, I started practicing for myself in my living room. I offered free online meditation sessions through Instagram and Facebook to anyone interested in joining me. It was a way for me to practice and improve my skills, and it turned out to be magical. People simply wanted to feel better, and the sessions resonated with them.
Now, looking at all these modalities together as a toolkit, I realize how organic it all feels. Each aspect reflects where people are energetically and emotionally, allowing me to meet my clients where they are in their journey.
What type of services do you offer?
I offer tarot readings, which is where I started. Tarot is a great love of my life; I adore it immensely. Additionally, I offer Reiki sessions, both in person and remotely. If you’re in LA, you can come to me for these services. I also provide breathwork and sound healing sessions. If people are interested in a virtual breathwork class with me, I can customize it to their preferences, whether they want to feel activated or more sedated and calm. My goal with every session is to help people feel calmer in their bodies.
Coaching is another service I provide, and it’s my way of integrating all these different practices to offer clients a comprehensive experience. Through coaching, I aim to help people experience real change over the course of a three-month container, where they can witness progress week by week.
Breathwork is gaining recognition for its therapeutic benefits. How do you use breathwork in your coaching practice, and what impact does it have on your clients’ self-awareness and growth?
Well, first of all, I often notice with my clients that during our meetings, they’ll express uncertainty, saying things like, “I don’t know what to do. I have this option, and I have that option.” Many times, it becomes overly cerebral, and they believe it’s solely a mental decision they have to make. In those moments, I intervene and say, “Stop. Put your feet on the ground. Close your eyes. Let the breath fill up your belly. Breathe in through your mouth, allowing as much air as possible to enter. Then, hold that breath at the top and exhale slowly.” We repeat this process several times to help them ground themselves and be present.
Once we’re fully present in our bodies, decision-making becomes clearer. Our bodies often know what we need before our minds catch up, as our minds tend to overthink and double-think. Breathwork enables us to return to the present moment, facilitating authentic, true decisions that benefit both ourselves and those around us.
What motivates you the most as a Boundaries Empowerment coach, and how do you continue to grow and evolve in your practice?
I think what motivates me the most is reflecting on the challenges I’ve faced, and differentiating between my story (the things that have happened in my life) and my narrative (the things I tell myself about my life). I’ve been through some difficult situations, like realizing I was being taken advantage of and understanding the need to break free from certain harmful dynamics. Throughout my childhood, I was a people pleaser because I struggled to make friends. What really fuels me is recognizing, especially as I speak with women, that women in particular are often conditioned to be “ride or die” friends. There’s this societal expectation for women to stand by their friends no matter what, but this can lead to awful and codependent friendships. I experienced this firsthand, on numerous occasions. It wasn’t until I found myself in a dangerous living situation with a mentally and emotionally abusive best friend that I realized I was caught in a toxic cycle.
As I share my story with more women, I realize I’m not alone. Many women face similar challenges due to societal conditioning. This motivates me to help people establish healthy boundaries. Another motivation stems from the misuse of the word “boundaries” as a weapon. Some people twist the concept of boundaries to manipulate others, which I find upsetting and dangerous. My goal is to promote the understanding that boundaries are essential for self-care and well-being, not tools for abuse.
Additionally, drawing from my Jewish background, I’ve found setting boundaries for myself to be crucial, especially in recent months. I’ve had to be strict with myself to protect my mental health from harmful external influences. There’s a lot of dangerous rhetoric out there, and I need to maintain boundaries with social media and certain individuals to safeguard my well-being and be as effective as possible for my clients. Encouraging others to prioritize their mental health and establish healthy boundaries is what drives me forward.
