In this YouTube interview, Amanda Shayle engages with two of her students, who share heartfelt feedback about her training program. One student recounts discovering Amanda through Instagram, joining the online course during the pandemic, and overcoming a needle phobia, describing the experience as life‑changing. Both students emphasize the strong sense of community fostered by WhatsApp groups, noting friendships and even a marriage that originated from the course. Amanda reflects on the mentorship model she employs, likening it to ballet and martial‑arts teaching, where the teacher’s proudest moments are seeing students succeed. The conversation highlights the ongoing weekly replay sessions that reinforce learning and the personal, supportive atmosphere that defines Amanda’s teaching approach.
And I mean, you've worked with Sarah Braddon, you're doing your own thing. I love the hair! You weren't expecting, were you? Do you want to share anything about your experience training with me with everybody?
Oh, it's been life-changing. I have to say that you have changed my life and you brought me to London and you've just I moved house and I don't know, I just saw your needles on Instagram.
Is that how you found me?
Is it? Yeah, and then I saw this, this is beautiful, it's like artwork, and then I thought I really want to use this even though I had a needle phobia. This was just like a jewellery, and then I found out you're doing the course and And then the pandemic, and that was a blessing for me, that because I wouldn't have been able to do it coming to London. And, you know, but because that really allowed me to do it online to start with. And, um, yeah, met so many nice people and this real community.
And I think it's a community It makes such a difference, doesn't it, when there's a group?
You learn together. I know with my courses I have all these little mini WhatsApp groups.
I'm in all of them.
It's quite busy actually, but great friendships. In fact, if I think back years ago, I heard that a couple that were on my course got married.
Really? Yes!
I can't remember who they are.
They met on my course and got married.
Can you believe that? So I've definitely changed their lives, I think.
Yeah, but no, I mean, you've been an incredible contribution to my experience of teaching, to be honest. I mean, having had a ballet background— I was a dancer and martial artist, which is how I got into acupuncture in the first place— but the thing about a ballet teacher or martial arts teacher, they mentor you, they take you under their wing, and their proudest moment, especially in ballet, is to see your student go and join the Royal Ballet, you know, that's a proud moment. And I have such proud moments with you. And really what I'm trying to do here is just give everybody a flavour of what you've been having from me every week with the replays.