Anthony Fontana on Creating Transformational Yoga Retreats

Yoga gave me tools to regulate my nervous system and reconnect with my own voice. It helped me move through depression and burnout and tune in to something deeper. What started as physical practice quickly became a lifeline.

A Practice That Went Deeper

As I stayed with the practice, I didn't just become stronger or more flexible, I became more aware. Yoga became a dojo for my soul. It helped me breathe into discomfort, confront perfectionism, and reconnect with my emotions. The lessons I learned on the mat started showing up in the rest of my life. I wasn't just teaching yoga—I was living it.

That pull led me to pursue deeper training. I completed my 500-hour certification, earned E-RYT 500 and YACEP status, and began to study beyond movement: vipassana meditation, Ashtanga, and mindfulness all became part of my foundation.

Merging Therapy with the Practice

Eventually, yoga began to integrate naturally into my therapy and coaching work. I studied with Breathing Deeply Yoga to become a certified yoga therapist and trained in Somatic Experiencing and TRE. These tools helped me support clients on a deeper level—whether they were performers, creatives, couples, or individuals navigating trauma and life transitions. Yoga became my framework for healing, not just something I taught. It showed up in every space I worked in. And it became clear that this wasn’t about choosing between yoga and psychotherapy. The real power was in the integration.

Two Branches, One Mission

My business started with my own transformation. From there, I rebranded my international voice studio into AMF Peak Performance and created Surfside Therapy. One focused on peak performance coaching and mentorship for creatives and yoga teachers. The other on psychotherapy integrated with somatic and yogic tools. Both branches gave me space to bring people into their bodies, their voice, and their potential.

Along the way, I kept expanding my skills—breathwork, reiki, flexibility coaching, functional mobility, yoga for martial artists. The goal was never just to collect certifications but to serve more fully and hold space in more multidimensional ways.

Creating Experiences That Transform

I've taught across Southern California—from large fitness studios to luxury resorts to intimate community spaces. Those varied environments shaped how I show up as a teacher.

But whether it's a power flow or a slow, grounded practice, my intention is always the same: to help students build inner trust. I use tools from therapy and coaching inside the yoga room-—like emotional attunement, somatic awareness, and nervous system safety.

I also mentor other yoga teachers, encouraging them to lead from their embodied truth—not just scripts or cues. Now, I'm working on Surfside Wellness Collective, where retreats will bring all of these worlds together: yoga, healing, coaching, and connection.

Lessons I've Learned

The biggest shift for me came when I stopped pushing for speed and started moving with alignment. In business and in practice, the most powerful work often comes after the pause—not the hustle.

I've learned to check in with my nervous system. If I'm grounded, my teaching flows. If I'm in survival mode, the work suffers. Some of my best sessions and classes happen when I drop into my heart and trust that's enough.

Running a yoga business will stretch you in all the ways. But if you keep listening to your body and your truth, it'll keep evolving into something even more aligned.

My Message to Founders

Forget formulas. Your story is your edge. Your weirdness is your brand. Your lived experience is your expertise.

Don't be afraid to start messy. One of the best things a mentor ever told me was, “Give yourself permission to suck for the first year.” That freedom helped me grow.

You'll face imposter syndrome. You'll compare yourself. You'll question your path. But when your work comes from a real place, it resonates. Keep going. Your presence matters. Your voice is needed.

Business Takeaways from Inner-Led Strategy

Grow from intuition, not urgency. Build something you actually want to live inside of.

Regulate to Lead

Your nervous system teaches before your words ever do. Lead from a calm, grounded place.

Brand Through Embodiment

Marketing starts with how you move, teach, and hold space. Embodiment is the real brand.

Expand With Purpose

You don't need to niche down if your offerings connect. Layer your skills in service of real transformation.

Pause = Progress

Rest isn't falling behind. It's where your best ideas often find you.

At , we don't just share inspiring stories — we break down what makes yoga businesses succeed. By learning directly from real founders and entrepreneurs, we extract actionable lessons and proven strategies you can apply, so you can avoid common mistakes, feel more confident, grow faster, and make bold choices with clarity.