“I have been and still am a seeker, but I have ceased to question stars and books; I have begun to listen to the teachings my blood whispers to me.”
Workshops
I have been privileged to deliver a wide range of workshops at retreats and studios around the world, guiding groups from all walks of life to discover yoga therapy, mindfulness, breathwork and embodied creative expression.
My experience as a lecturer for The Minded Institute has shaped the way in which I hold space, delivering in-depth academic knowledge in a way that is both accessible and easy to digest. I strive to facilitate workshops with a down to earth ease that resonates with participants, guiding them towards embodied wisdom rather than just knowledge for the thinking mind.
”Rachel’s Yoga for Anxiety workshop is definitely one of the best workshops I have ever been to! It was incredibly thorough and well-designed. As a psychological research student, I struggled with anxiety myself. Rachel gave a very intensive literature review about anxiety and its mechanisms, followed by research-based and individualised practical tools, as well as how yoga can be integrated in anxiety management. I strongly suggest you study with Rachel—you will definitely be fascinated by how much knowledge and work she has put into her research, and how amazing and supportive she is for people. Rachel, with her own experience and intensive study, will give you a yoga workshop with rock-solid evidence-based science and practical yoga tools for you and your students.”
- Dung, Vietnam
Want to book me for a workshop either online, at your studio or for your organisation?
Together, we can curate a workshop that suits the needs of your particular group. Below are some examples of workshops I have previously led.
Yoga Therapy for Stress & Anxiety
Stress and anxiety are both physical and mental experiences, common to all human beings. The strong mind-body connection underlying stress and anxiety is precisely why yoga is such an effective tool, both in treating short-term symptoms and preventing recurrence in the long-term. This workshop will equip you with a deep understanding of the physiology of stress and anxiety, along with evidence-based practices to ease your mind and calm your body, no matter what kind of challenges you are faced with.
Finding Balance With Breath
Breath is the only autonomic process that we can control voluntarily, giving us a unique key to unlock the nervous system. From lowering blood pressure to improving digestion, breath can positively influence a wide range of systems in the body, as well as having a profound effect on our state of mind. This workshop provides an understanding of how the breath impacts the nervous system, along with breathing practices to calm, to energise and to find balance. You will come away with the confidence to put these simple tools into practice for improved mental and physical health.
Mindfulness For Modern Living
Mindfulness has become a buzzword of the modern world, but what does it really mean? In this workshop, we explore mindfulness beyond meditation, introducing practical tools which can easily be integrated into daily life. Modern living has become particularly challenging in recent times, but these practices offer a variety of ways to ease your mind and calm your body no matter what life throws at you. You can expect to learn simple, effective and evidence-based mindfulness skills to keep in your back-pocket for improved health and wellbeing.
Reflective Journaling & Creative Writing
These two distinct workshops follow a similar process; tapping into stillness, silence and the somatic sphere before allowing a stream of consciousness to pour onto page. Themes are used to gently coax forth inner reflections, whilst creative writing prompts help to tap into our innate well of creativity. Whether you are already a dedicated wordsmith or completely new to writing, these workshops will help guide you towards embodied creative expression.
Connect & Reflect
A sangha-style session, in which group process is facilitated around a central theme such as acceptance, resistance, change, self-doubt, shame or resilience. Weaving together personal reflection, somatic awareness and discussion, these workshops have been likened to group therapy. They touch into a sense of shared humanness and connection that often brings profound relief, and with it, the realisation that we are never alone in what we feel.
Dance & Be Danced
Starting with silliness to shake off the seriousness and get out of the thinking mind, these sessions will guide you toward intuitive movement, embodied expression and deep somatic awareness. Inspired by Gabrielle Roth and the 5Rhythms movement, the bottom line of this workshop is that you don’t need to be a dancer to let yourself be danced.
4-Week Introduction to Mindfulness
In this 4-week course, we explore the roots, physiology, psychology and practical application of mindfulness. Each week begins with a talk on a different topic, followed by a mindfulness practice and discussion around how to weave mindfulness into daily life. With handouts of information to take home and digest, this course aims to help you live with more clarity and peace of mind in the long-term.
8-Week Yoga Therapy For The Mind Course
A comprehensive and evidence-based program for anyone looking to reduce stress, anxiety and/or depression. The course combines specific yoga therapy techniques with research from the fields of psychotherapy and neuroscience to enhance functioning of the nervous system, improve well-being, bolster self-awareness and reduce rumination. During each weekly session, we explore how the mind, body and brain work together from a scientific perspective, and you will learn how to use practices that will promote well-being in all these aspects of yourself.