Getting a positive atmosphere in the classroom is a lot easier when there’s proper energy flow, says interior designer and organizer Lynn Amiccuci.

For nearly 10 years, Amiccuci, a Rochester resident, has incorporated the ancient practice of feng shui into her decoration services.

Feng shui, which means wind and water in Chinese, is a system of arranging a room or even a building site to create a balance of energy.

When Amiccuci first began researching feng shui, she found, “I already had an intuitive style using that anyway,” she said.

Studying at the New England School of Feng Shui, Amiccuci perfected her understanding of the practice and said it transformed her business.

From kitchens to offices, Amiccuci said, “I make sure to talk to the people to know how they like to work or live and make it appropriate for them. It’s about feeling the energy.”

Extending her services to the classroom was a natural next step for Amiccuci.

“I want to make sure how teachers are working is more productive for them,” she said. “Teachers have a really hard job.”

With 20 or more kids in a class, each with a different energy, it’s important to create a comforting space, said Amiccuci.

The first thing she moves is the desks, arranging it so a teacher never has his or her back to the students. She follows by adjusting furniture and eliminating unnecessary materials.

“It’s a matter of simplifying the classroom,” said Amiccuci.

While much of her focus is on the teacher, Amiccuci wants her classroom overhauls to create a more productive space for kids as well.

“Sometimes teachers and students feel defeated and overwhelmed,” she said. “I’m hoping once students come in, a better energy and feel in schools might adjust attitudes, too.”

After Amiccuci applied feng shui to her room, art teacher Phyllis Corrado said she noticed a difference right away.

Corrado, now retired from Sippican School, was 28 years into her profession when Amiccuci reorganized her room.

“It was the best thing I did for my room in the 35 years I was teaching. I think students were more receptive to my teaching because of the placement of everything,” she said.

Corrado, who also employed Amiccuci to feng shui her home, said teachers and parents frequently let out an involuntary “aaahhh” when they entered her room and told her how calming the room felt.

After the “face lift” Corrado said, “Things were all placed where I could flow and move around the student’s desks. I never changed it.”

Amiccuci has applied feng shui to a number of classrooms in the area since Corrado’s and said she continues to see positive results.

“They don’t empower themselves. I truly believe in empowering people.”

To contact Lynn Amiccuci, call 508-789-4979 or email at lamicucci@vernancedesigns.com.