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Want to explore Downward Facing Dog with me?! If so, check out the video above! After browsing a few images of Downward Facing Dog on Google, you will likely notice the following: the perfect upside down “V” shape, heels fully pressed into the mat, straight legs and arms, and a completely straight back. Well, my first attempt at this posture looked NOTHING like this! My back was rounded, my heels were lifted, my knees were bent, I had no clue what my shoulders were doing, and

You can explore Mountain Pose with me on the Yoga with Rachel YouTube channel! In 2012, I embarked on my very first backpacking adventure across several European countries. The one place that I traveled to was Innsbruck, Austria. I recall being in awe at how picturesque this city was. Snow-capped mountains surrounded the city, and the water was crystal clear. It was truly breathtaking! I had a strong inclination to climb the mountain in order to view the city from a new persp

Explore Butterfly Pose with me today on the Yoga with Rachel YouTube channel! There is a significant amount of symbolism surrounding butterflies. Some may view butterflies as a symbol of hope, change, life, transformation, new beginnings, rebirth, renewal, etc. We begin to see butterflies during Spring. This is when our surroundings begin to transform and come back to life. There is this new energy in the air that feels almost tangible. A new beginning. A fresh start. Wheneve

I have a bit of a “love-hate” relationship with Plank Pose. I love that I feel strong, powerful and stable in this posture. However, I am not a huge fan of holding this posture for more than a few seconds. With that being said, my experiences in this pose has taught me a great deal about myself in relation to how I respond to life’s many challenges. After about 10 seconds of being in plank, my body starts to tremble. At 15 seconds, my mind begins to speak to me. My mind says,

Explore Tree Pose with me on Yoga with Rachel today! Trees are an integral part of our ecosystem. They release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide. Trees are a food source for many organisms across the globe. Trees offer a home to many species and its materials can be used to create shelter. Trees have been around for millions of years. They have evolved and adapted to ensure their survival. Trees are absolutely resilient! With that being said, trees are not indestructible. Tr

Curious about Extended Child's Pose? Check out my video on this posture above! Child’s Pose is typically regarded as a “resting posture.” I have also heard yoga instructors state that this is a pose of surrender, a time for inner reflection, and a posture that can calm the nervous system. With that being said, I know quite a few individuals who would argue that this posture is anything but relaxing. I found this fascinating, as I personally find quite a bit of ease in Extende

Curious about Warrior III? You can explore this pose with me on the Yoga with Rachel YouTube channel! What words come to mind when you see Warrior III? Perhaps strength, stability, challenge, power, balance, vulnerability, fear, empowerment, uncertainty, etc. My first attempt with this pose was a frustrating one. I wanted to achieve the end result right away. I fell out of Warrior III numerous times, engaged in negative self-talk, and wanted to give up. I had an “aha” moment

Explore Easy Pose with me by visiting the Yoga with Rachel YouTube channel! Sukha translates to “ease” or “bliss” and asana translates to “posture” or “seat.” Thus, sukhasana translates to “easy seat pose” or just "easy pose." My first experience with sukhasana was one of excitement. I can recall thinking, “YUP, I got this!” I sat down on my mat in a cross-legged position. I allowed my hands to rest gently on my thighs. I lengthened through my back body, looped my shoulders

My yogic journey started approximately three years ago. At this time, I was suffering from chronic neck and shoulder tension. My research...

Stay rooted in the present! No, I am not a time traveler. Although that would be really cool! I was reminded of the importance of living...

Letting go of comparisons! Comparing myself to others is a habit that has been with me since my childhood. Thinking back, I used to...

Letting go of my perfectionist tendencies. My perfectionism stems from my early years. Society and other socializing agents have directly...