Rachel’s journey to yoga was the result of lifetime of performing classical music. Overuse injury and chronic illness necessitated a hiatus from her music career–at which point she decided to embrace yoga fully by pursuing intensive training. Soon, Rachel arrived at the Himalayan Institute, a center for yoga and holistic living, situated in the Pocono mountains of Pennsylvania. Rachel then stayed to complete to a year-long residency as writer on the editorial staff of Yoga International, the Institute’s award-winning magazine. While living at the Himalayan Institute, she took part in intense sadhana (spiritual practice) which included daily meditation, study of scripture and asana (yoga postures).

Upon the completion of her residency, Rachel relocated to the Philadelphia area where she teaches yoga in diverse settings. She also leads transformational workshops. In addition to her personal practice of hatha yoga and meditation, Rachel looks to the wisdom of the sages for inspiration–especially Patangali’s Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita. She has formally studied Sanskrit at the Himalayan Institute and Ayurveda, the natural healthcare method of India, with Ed Zadlo, D.Ay. Believing that we all have the ability to heal ourselves, both physically and emotionally, Rachel is particularly interested in the therapeutic applications of yoga. A Certified Yoga Therapist, she completed YogaLife Institute’s Comprehensive Yoga Therapy Training in 2014. Rachel enjoys teaching yoga to a variety of populations including those in recovery from mental illness, teenagers and seniors. She also specializes in teaching prenatal/postpartum women and supporting their growing families through yogic principles. Her career teaching yoga, Ayurveda and Reiki has only been enhanced by the birth of her son, born in April 2014.