We’re thrilled to share insights from a heartfelt conversation with Amanda Kloots. Amanda, a former Broadway dancer, fitness entrepreneur, and star of CBS’s talk show The Talk, joins Boss Mom founder Dana Malstaff to discuss life, challenges, and the power of self-care. If you’re juggling parenting, career, and personal dreams, Amanda’s journey provides practical self-care ideas (here’s one of my favorite self care practices) and inspiration to stay grounded and fulfilled.
Let’s dive into Amanda’s journey—from a Broadway stage to a business of her own! Amanda spent nearly two decades performing on Broadway, and she loved it. But life threw her a curveball when her marriage ended and her show closed around the same time. Rather than letting that stop her, Amanda took a huge leap in this pivotal moment. She combined her passion for fitness with her entrepreneurial spirit and launched jump-rope workout classes. That single step turned into a thriving business! Amanda’s story is proof that, even in tough times, we can find a new direction that brings out the best in us.
Takeaway? When life shakes things up, it might be the perfect time to dive into something you love and see where it can take you.
Amanda and Dana are big believers in self-care as more than just a luxury—it’s a foundation for everything else. Amanda, with her background as a dancer and fitness pro, makes self-care a daily priority. For her, it’s about staying mentally and physically balanced. She says even little things, like getting a massage or taking a few minutes for downtime, can make all the difference.
Self-Care Tip: Try adding small wellness rituals to your routine. Whether it’s five minutes of quiet time or a little pampering, these small acts can keep you feeling your best.
Amanda’s first real experience with mental health came after her divorce, a challenging time that led her to lean into mental wellness practices. But it wasn’t until the pandemic that she really focused on mental health in a big way. Now, Amanda prioritizes things like meditation and daily check-ins with herself, seeing it as a way to stay grounded and strong.
Mental Health Tip: Checking in with yourself can be as simple as journaling for a few minutes, taking a walk, or practicing mindfulness. These little practices add up and can make a huge difference in how you feel.
As a single mom to her son, Elvis, Amanda gets real about the juggling act of work and parenting. She says motherhood is full of surprises and has its ups and downs. Even though she’d always dreamed of staying home full-time, she’s found herself working multiple jobs. Still, she’s intentional about setting aside time to recharge so she can show up fully for Elvis.
Self-Care for Moms: Amanda shows us that taking care of ourselves doesn’t mean we’re taking anything away from our families. A few small pockets of “me-time” can make a world of difference in our energy and presence.
When the pandemic hit, Amanda’s fitness business evolved from in-person classes to an app-based model. Moving online allowed her to reach clients worldwide and freed up more time for herself and her family. Amanda realized that self-care also means building a work-life setup that’s sustainable.
Scalable Self-Care Idea: Whether you’re running a business or managing a household, see if there are ways to streamline tasks. Creating ease in your daily routine can be a powerful form of self-care.
On top of her fitness and wellness routines, Amanda is a big fan of supplements, especially as a brand ambassador for Swanson W/I/O. She loves how they help her with energy, focus, sleep, and relaxation. Her motto? “Self-care isn’t self-centered.” For Amanda, supplements are an easy way to support her busy lifestyle.
Wellness Tip: If you’re curious about adding a little boost to your wellness routine, try incorporating a supplement to support your current needs, whether it’s for energy, stress, or sleep.
Amanda and Dana both believe in self-care without guilt. Amanda remembers valuable advice from a friend who told her to put herself and her relationship first to be the best mom she can be. Now, she focuses on filling her own cup so she can fully show up for her son and everyone else in her life.
Practical Self-Care Tip: Even if it’s just 10 minutes a day, carve out a little time for yourself. It’s not selfish—it’s necessary for a balanced, happy life.
When she’s not working out or spending time with Elvis, Amanda is writing, producing, and dreaming up new creative projects in TV and film. She loves having creative outlets outside of motherhood, finding fulfillment in projects that are just for her. Amanda’s story is a reminder that pursuing passions beyond parenting can bring so much joy.
Inspiration for Moms: Don’t be afraid to chase your passions outside of parenting. It’s a way to add even more fulfillment to your life and bring new energy into everything you do.
Amanda’s journey shows us that resilience, creativity, and self-care are essential to both personal and professional success. Whether you’re a working mom, a stay-at-home parent, or someone juggling all kinds of roles, Amanda’s story proves that self-care is doable and totally worth it. Little steps every day can create big, lasting changes.
Want more self-care inspiration? Follow Amanda on Instagram at @AmandaKloots for fitness, wellness, and parenting tips. And for more empowering content on balancing work and family life, subscribe to the Boss Mom blog, where we support moms nurturing their dreams and families alike!
An Ohio native, Amanda brings her infectious and inspirational attitude to everything that she does. A former Broadway dancer and Radio City Rockette, Amanda performed on a variety of stages, film and tv productions for over seventeen years.
Amanda’s love of dance and fitness led her to work and lead classes at one of New York’s premiere fitness studios with regularly sold out classes teaching upwards of 12 hours a day. Amanda developed the jump rope method after years of trying different ways to stay in great shape. She fell in love with the jump rope after discovering it’s the quickest, most effective way to get a full body workout, and spent years creating ways to use it for more than just jumping. In 2016, Amanda decided to focus full time on her AK! Fitness brand – her signature classes featured jump ropes and dance mixed with cross training to create a unique full body workout.
In addition to the AK! Fitness brand, Amanda and her sister Anna launched the apparel company Hooray For® that celebrates positivity and donates proceeds to non-profit organizations worldwide. Amanda’s first memoir, co-written with her sister, was released in June 2021 and is set to become a movie. The title, “Live Your Life”, tells of her ninety five day struggle and love story with her husband Nick Cordero. Most recently, Amanda wrote, executive produced, and starred in the CBS holiday movie “Fit for Christmas” in December 2022.
Kloots currently resides in Los Angeles with her son, Elvis.
Find Amanda on Instagram @amandakloots
Find Swanson W/I/O on Instagram @live.wio
