As a child of the early Seventies, she was exposed to yoga as practiced in the suburbs by liberal young mothers in her neighborhood. They would show up for mid-morning coffee in their footless tights, over-sized sunglasses and groovy caftans praising  the  meditation and stretching techniques they had just experienced at YOGA.   Following the rise and fall of disco, the Reagan years, bi-level haircuts and more, she experienced her first yoga class at the New Jersey shore in 1998 following the birth of her daughter, and since then never looked back.  Rachael has studied and practiced with Manju Jois (Ashtanga), Pranati Pratap (Iyengar), Raji Thron (Yoga Synthesis), and Greg Nardi (Ashtanga). In summer 2003, she studied at Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute of New York City, (Eddie Stern). Rachael has attended workshops with Sri. K. Pattahbi Jois, Manju Jois and other inspiring teachers. In August 2006, she completed an Ashtanga Yoga teacher's training with Manju Jois. She holds a certification from Starseed, one of New Jersey's oldest yoga studios and is registered at the 500-hr level with Yoga Alliance.

Rachael became interested in reflexology while volunteering at the New York Open Center during the fall of 2001, and became certified there under the expert guidance of Wendy Coad, American Reflexology Certification Board Director. In the fall of 2002, she passed her boards for membership with the ARCB. She continues her education in reflexology through workshops and self-study.

In addition to the above, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Emerson College.   Before yoga found Rachael, she spent many years studying dance, especially ballet. Her passion and participation in the visual and performing arts is eternal. She has held professional positions in advertising, marketing, retail and human services.  Although she hails from Connecticut, she has always considered herself a native New Yorker and currently makes her home in Montclair, New Jersey with her daughter and pets.

"It's hard to be free but when it works, it's worth it." -Janis Joplin