Written and photographed by Russ Benning
@russbenningphotography https://russbenningphotography.com/
Long term readers will know that I have a habit of learning a little something from each of my interviewed guests, varied as they may be. It’s been an interesting and enjoyable experience to reflect on each individuals story and perspective.
Learning comes in so many forms and this month I had the opportunity to meet with someone who is teaching our kids some really important fundamentals that arguably have been lacking in the west for too long. Important for all ages, in this writers opinion, having them taught at a young age is paramount.
Allow me to introduce Wide Bay local, Amy Klupp, a former real estate professional turned children’s wellness coach, who is revolutionising how young people approach mental health and emotional resilience through her innovative new business and program, ‘Rise and Shine Kids Coaching.’
Born and raised in Maryborough before settling in Hervey Bay fifteen years ago, Klupp’s life took an unexpected turn in 2020 when tragedy struck close to home. She lost an extended family member to suicide due to high school bullying, which became a catalyst for change that would reshape her entire career trajectory.
“Oh my God, I need to help young people learn that it’s okay to talk, regulate their emotions, and build resilience,” she realised in that pivotal moment.
Rather than making an abrupt career change, Klupp thoughtfully transitioned, maintaining her real estate position while pursuing counselling studies. She gained valuable experience working with Lifeline, Australia’s crisis counselling service, and took on administrative roles in the mental health sector. Currently, she serves as a full-time Triage Officer at a trauma response company while building and nurturing her passion project, Rise and Shine Kids Coaching.
What sets Amy’s approach apart is her deliberate choice to frame her service as ‘coaching’ rather than counselling. “There’s a stigma attached to ‘counselling’ that can lead to more bullying for kids who need help,” she explains.
We chat about this and how important it is for both making it seem more accessible, but also shifting the context. I mention how professional athletes have coaches at each stage of their career—not to say there was something ‘wrong’ with them, just that to improve, it’s important to have someone help with the process.
The sports coach analogy resonates particularly well—coaches being there to enhance performance, not fix problems. In her words, “Confidence is just like learning a sport… you have to practice something every day to get better and better or stronger and stronger.”
I could feel the passion in the way she spoke, and noticed the clarity with which she explained what she does. A real sense of purpose and determination was reflected in her tone, relaying the message that this is important and will be successful.
Her program uniquely combines yoga, counselling techniques (disguised as conversation), and mindfulness practices in an eight-week curriculum. “With the breathing and the meditating, grounding yourself, the slow, calm, controlled movements. It’s perfect,” Klupp enthuses. “And if I could incorporate yoga with counselling into these classes, that’s just gold for helping kids with positive thoughts, mindfulness, being in touch with their bodies.”
Each session follows a carefully structured yet flexible format, beginning with the weekly topic discussions and affirmations, followed by a short yoga practice and guided meditation and concluding with, journaling and goal setting. She introduces each of these mediums and explains the importance of each.
These are all tools that I, and many others I know have found or picked up along their journey, much later in life. I’m excited by the possibility of having these as elementary staples in the future.
The program caters to both group sessions and one-on-one coaching, recognising that different children thrive in different settings.
Currently focusing on upper primary school students, with high school students accommodated in individual sessions, Amy has ambitious plans to integrate her program into regular school curricula. Her vision includes ten-week programs aligned with school terms and opportunities to address whole school assemblies.
What’s particularly refreshing about Klupp’s approach is her commitment to continuous learning. “I’m still learning myself,” she admits candidly. She’s constantly exploring new applications of yoga for children with diverse needs, including those with ADHD, autism, and specific health requirements. She is a fully qualified counsellor and is continuing her studies into Behavioural Science as well as continually adding relevant qualifications to her professional toolkit.
A core principle of her teaching centres around emotional resilience. She emphasises that while we can’t control how others treat us, we can control how it affects us and how we respond. This philosophy extends beyond just helping victims of bullying.
We have a judgement free discussion about what makes a bully to begin with. Usually there is a deep hurt or insecurity that leads such people to act out in these disruptive ways. “Exactly right, some of these kids that create trouble, you don’t know what they’re going home to,” she notes, highlighting the ripple effect her work can have throughout families and communities.
Around this part of the conversation she mentions that some of the breathing techniques can be done anywhere, anytime, and can quickly and drastically calm a person’s state. “Someone could be giving you a dirty look across a classroom and you could calm yourself with the breathing.” These techniques can be invaluable and of course shared with loved ones.
No stranger to the industry, I was surprised to hear her program was so new to this field—having completed just one term and currently in her second—Amy’s passion and expertise shine through in every aspect of her program. She takes pride in differentiating her approach from traditional counselling methods, focusing on making sessions fun, engaging, and accessible while maintaining an open-door policy for deeper conversations when needed. She makes that last point quite vehemently, making note that she will always tell a group; “I am here if anyone needs to talk to me about anything in particular.”
Looking toward the future, Klupp dreams of transitioning this from a part-time venture to her full-time career. Her message is clear and powerful, emphasised in two main points she consistently shares with her students: “We all have the power to be who we want to be,” and the reassuring reminder that school, while both crucial and challenging, is temporary and not the epitome of their entire life.
Amy Klupp’s journey from real estate agent to children’s wellness coach demonstrates how personal tragedy can transform into purpose-driven action. Through ‘Rise and Shine Kids Coaching,’ she’s not just teaching yoga or mindfulness; she’s empowering the next generation with tools for emotional resilience, self-awareness, and personal growth. In doing so, she’s helping to create a more empathetic, understanding, and mentally healthy community, one child at a time.
Learning takes on so many forms and it’s exciting to see people like Amy taking the charge and innovating in such an important space.
To reach Amy or to learn more, head to riseandshinekidscoaching.com.au or find her on Instagram and Facebook of the same name.