Rachel believes that what is truly remarkable about yoga is that it tends to the body,
mind, and spirit. She came to yoga five years ago at the encouragement of her mother (mom knows best!) who saw Rachel struggling emotionally following a divorce. She found that yoga took her out of the stormy tidal waves and guided her to a safe tranquil harbor. Through her personal asana practice, Rachel experiences moments of beauty and grace and contentment. Taking a huge leap of faith, she up and quit her 9-5 cubicle job that she had held for over a decade and left her lifelong hometown of Detroit for California where she received her teacher training at YogaWorks. There, she became inspired by the philosophy of yoga to live a life of less suffering. She now finds herself in the dynamic city of Chicago with a new and joyful purpose. In her teaching, she hopes to create a space that allows others to find their own peace and grace. One definition of relaxed is ʻbeing free from tension and anxietyʼ – her practices offer this both physically, finding flexibility, and on an inner level, finding a sense of serenity. Rachel is drawn to the transitions between poses, creating unique flow sequences designed to create physical awareness, cultivate focus, and encourage a calm mind. For her, the poses are the journey, not the destination. Success is measured in the effort, not the outcome.
