Rachel Wyatt
For as long as she can remember, Rachel has had a deep sense of ‘Calling’ in her life, a desire to be useful… to truly be of service in this world. Once in her teens, once in her twenties and once in her thirties, she faced what she calls a ‘dark night of the soul’: a death and rebirth experience. Heart breaking life events demanded her to face the unknown and move through a humbling season of dis-ease and loss leading her to embrace the spiritual purpose behind every challenge. These and ongoing transformational experiences inspire a deep faith in the Divine nature of the human experience and of all of Creation.
Before becoming a Yoga teacher Rachel was a performing artist and a clown in the circus. Her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Alberta gave her a physical practice to explore the body’s capacity to transform. As a performer, she discovered that it is possible to shift your inner state and even your character by changing your posture and your inner rhythm with clear intention. Her Clown training at the Quebec Circus School and with Jan Henderson and Francine Cote led her to work with world-class companies like Cirque Du Soleil. But more importantly, her Clown training allowed her to experience the body as a powerful conduit and amplifier of emotion. As a performing artist, Rachel came to a cross roads where she chose to take responsibility for deliberately directing her life’s influence to serve the highest good of ALL.
In 2003 Rachel traveled to Mysore, India to study Ashtanga Yoga with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. In 2009, she completed a 200hr teacher training in Ashtanga with Rameen Peyrow, in 2011: a 200hr teacher training in Anusara with Chris Chavez, as well as a Restorative teacher training with Chris Manansala. She studied Psychosomatic Therapy with Carole M. Friesen, and she is currently studying Spacial Dynamics with Jaimen McMillan. Rachel holds a Master of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Performance from UBC Okanagan: Thesis - “Room to Breathe: A Retreat for Educators”. She is the Artistic Director of The Carriage House Performance Troupe: a Collaborative Performing Arts Program (for boys & girls ages 7 to 12) at the Vernon Community Music School. Rachel sees marriage and family life as a spiritual practice: an invitation to be transformed by love. Her joyful husband and her magical daughter are her most inspiring teachers.