People often think World Muse was born from activism and inspiration but the truth is, it was born from shame and fear. Amanda Stuemer spent many years working with troubled young women in an attempt to release the shame she felt around her own troubled teenage years.
“When I gave birth to my own daughter, I was filled with fear that I would pass down that shame to her. I knew I had to take some action to break that chain.” Amanda began by doing transformational work with Off The Mat Into The World. Once she realized her potential for creating positive change in her life, she wanted to help others do the same. So, she set out to create a curriculum that would utilize yoga, creativity, and service to help young women develop self-awareness, self-expression, and self-worth. Those were the qualities that she had developed to become a catalyst for change in her own life.
Amanda started out by driving around to local schools with a basket of yoga mats and some art supplies in her trunk. Over the past 6 years, the programming has grown to include in-school, after-school, and summer camps for girls and workshops, retreats, and a conference for women. Two years ago, World Muse started a program that offers small seed grants and mentoring to women and girls who are ready to create their own social change projects.
“I love seeing women and girls realize their potential to create positive change, not only in their personal lives, but also in their communities and in the world. Each one of us has that potential. Many of us just need some tools, time, and inspiration to cultivate it. ~ Amanda Stuemer
World Muse is based in Oregon but their reach is global. They’ve supported women-led projects in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Congo, Uganda, and in other U.S. states like California and Michigan.
Why Bhakti Chai loves this project
Bhakti Chai is all about celebrating female empowerment. Amanda is dedicated to helping women “connect to their own inner awesomeness” — their inner muse — and we want to be part of her journey. Amanda says, “Life is a journey. My travel essentials are love, light and chardonnay.” Need we say more?