Rachel Rhada
Growing up, I felt disconnected from my body. Movement didn’t come naturally and I was klutzy. I struggled with body image, disordered eating, and a deep sense of not feeling at home in myself. I’ve also always been what I now call an “accidental rebel”— unable to quietly follow the expected path, questioning things that didn’t feel right to me. I discovered yoga through online practice, where for the first time movement felt supportive rather than something to endure to be fit. A friend later brought me to my first studio class in 2008, and I reluctantly went with her. Within a month I was practicing daily in studio, finding steadiness, grace, rhythm, and connection I hadn’t ever experienced before.
Since then, yoga has woven in and out of my life through pregnancy, motherhood, injury, grief, and major life transitions. Over time, I stopped trying to fit into prescribed ways of being and began listening more closely to what felt true. What once looked like rule breaking or a problem with authority, I came to understand was really a lifelong practice of returning to myself.
I am a mother first, and that shapes everything about how I move through the world. After leaving my full-time job without a clear plan, I stepped into teacher training at RCY with Cindy Boulter in September 2025 with the support of my family, this community, and — with the training ending on my 40th birthday— a nudge from the universe. Around the same time, I was also invited into teaching Deep Water Fitness—an experience that felt like a natural extension of my new path before me— movement anchored in support, awareness, and long term wellness.
I focus on clarity, presence, fluidity, and grounding. My classes are not about performance or perfection— they are about meeting yourself where you are and exploring your body, breath, and your Self. I create a space and flow that feels accessible, intuitive, and authentic, where people can show up fully as themselves, reconnect, and move in ways that feel sustainable in all seasons of life. What I offer you is what I have found through yoga— a steady return to yourself— and we might have a few laughs, and even break a few rules along the way.