When things don’t go as planned… Happy Monday! I hope that you’re staying well! I’m back from vacation! I took about eight days off and made a conscious effort to disconnect from technology. Though I did spend a couple of hours checking in on the channel and updating my website, it felt wonderful to step away from tech and social media. Slowing down, embracing silence, and reconnecting with myself was so nourishing. Sean (my husband) and I planned a beach day during our break. The night...
19 days ago • 4 min read
Flowing with Life’s Rhythms Hi there! I hope that you had an amazing weekend, and I hope that your Monday is off to a great start! Before diving into today’s topic, I would like to share a few updates. Firstly, I released a Somatic Yoga for Emotional Release practice last Monday. You can join me on the mat using this link: https://youtu.be/tIF5kKRbIhg Feelings are like ocean waves, constantly rising, cresting, and receding throughout the day. It's said that emotions typically take about 90...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
The Giver’s Glow Hello! I hope that this letter finds you well! 🙂 I feel as if so much has happened since my last letter to you. It’s been an amazing couple of weeks, full of joy and laughter. I’ll start with our garden. If you’re new to this letter, my husband and I joined a community garden not too long ago (I have attached a couple of pictures of our garden at the end of this letter). We’ve planted chives, parsley, thyme, dill, two types of basil, cilantro, arugula, and spinach. Over the...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
It’s a Celebration! Happy Monday! How are you doing today? Maybe you take a moment or two to check-in with how you're feeling. Perhaps you observe your thoughts. Maybe you observe if there’s a sensation that’s calling your attention. What happens if you intentionally send your breath towards or to the sensation? Or maybe you decide to engage your senses, taking in sights, listening to the sounds in your space, observing your connection to the surface beneath you, and so on. Allow curiosity to...
2 months ago • 2 min read
The Body Speaks in Metaphors Hello dear friend 🙂 I hope that you’re doing well! A week ago, my husband (Sean) and I saw a play in Stratford. There’s something truly magical and captivating with live performances! Watching those actors bring their characters to life with their voices and body language, it’s just incredible. And how they manage to memorize all those lines is beyond me! It was an entertaining show that tested my ability to decipher Shakespearean English. Needless to say, I’m a...
2 months ago • 3 min read
The Link Between Hips and Emotions Hey there! I hope that this letter finds you well. 🙂 About two weeks ago, I explored a mindfulness practice with a group that I regularly meet with. The mindfulness practice was simple, yet very effective. I feel that it works best if someone else reads the following words aloud while you listen to the words. Another alternative is to record yourself saying the words and then listen to the recording. Kindly read through the practice before exploring it...
3 months ago • 5 min read
Stillness is a Powerful Practice “When you lose touch with inner stillness, you lose touch with yourself. When you lose touch with yourself, you lose touch with the world.” - Eckhart Tolle Hello dear friend! It is my hope that this letter finds you well! First off, thank you so much for being a part of the Yoga with Rachel community and for signing up for this letter. I’m excited to share that over the past month, our community has experienced more growth than ever! You have played an...
3 months ago • 5 min read
Why Somatics? Happy April 1st! March brought us quite the rollercoaster of weather, starting with unexpectedly warm temperatures followed by cold snap and snow! While it’s typical to expect cooler weather and snow in March, the warmth caught me by surprise. Adding to the surprises, Easter arrived earlier this year, which shifted our usual Easter celebrations to the end of March. March was definitely an interesting month! Okay, let’s kick off today’s newsletter with a couple of short...
4 months ago • 4 min read
Anxiety Can Be A Teacher Hey there! How are you? Spring is almost here! I’ve already seen buds on a few trees. I can see our hostas emerging from the soil in our garden. The Canadian geese and mallards are back. It’s like a breath of fresh air! It feels so soothing to my nervous system to see evidence of growth, renewal and expansion. As we welcome these seasonal changes, I’m curious: how does this time of year make you feel? What feelings, thoughts or emotions come to the surface? Our...
4 months ago • 3 min read