‘The body benefits from movement, the mind benefits from stillness’

3

Rachel Dunn photograph

MY STORY

My journey with yoga began back in 2006, when I went along with a friend to a Bikram Hot Yoga class – 90 minutes of Hatha yoga in a heated room. Although I found the class extremely challenging, I walked out afterwards knowing I had found something life changing. At the time, I worked for British Airways, so I was able to continue my Bikram practice at studios all over the world.

In my late teens, I suffered a very traumatic experience. Years later, I was still living with the effects of it. The healing effect the yoga practice had on both my mind and body was so profound that within 3 years of beginning my practice, I walked away from my career and went to the US, to train to become a certified teacher. On my return to the UK, I taught full time at various Bikram studios throughout the UK.

I fell pregnant with my first son in 2011 and this led me into practising pregnancy yoga. I credit my practice as playing a huge part in my healthy pregnancy and quick home birth. After the birth of my 2nd son in 2013 I began to explore other styles of yoga. I fell in love with Yin yoga, a mindful, slow practice where postures are held for much longer than in an active (yang) practice. I went on to train with Norman Blair, one of the UK’s leading Yin teachers and began teaching Yin Yoga alongside Bikram Yoga.

Since February 2017, I have been blessed to work for Help for Heroes at Tedworth house – a charity supporting serving and veteran members of the armed forces. I teach Yin yoga and iRest Yoga Nidra as part of their recovery programme. I have a great passion for working with people who have experienced and are living with trauma.

TRAINING & CERTIFICATION

April 2009
Palm Desert, California, USA
Over 500 hours training to become a certified Bikram Hot Yoga Teacher

August 2016
15 hours of Anatomy and Forest Yoga with Jambo Troung

September 2016
30 hours Yin Yoga Intensives with Norman Blair


October 2016
40 hours Forest Yoga Bodyworkers Training with Brian Campbell and Jambo Troung

February 2017
8 week Mindfulness course with Mindfulness Wiltshire

April 2017
Yogacampus: 12 hours Yoga Nidra Foundation with Uma Dinsmore

November 2017 – April 2018
12 hours mentoring over 5 months with Norman Blair


September 2018
32 hours iRest Yoga Nidra Level 1 Training with James Reeves

March 2019
20 hours Yin Yoga – The functional approach with Paul Grilley

Fully insured and First Aid certified

YOGA PRACTICES

Yin Yoga

Yin Yoga is a grounding and slower paced style of yoga, accessible to all regardless of injury. Postures are floor based and are held for between 3-5 minutes, sometimes longer. This is due to the nature of yin tissues, which lay closer to the centre of the body and are tighter and thicker in nature. These connective tissues are fascia, ligaments and tendons.

The purpose of these long holds is to apply moderate stress to the connective tissues to increase circulation to the joints, improve flexibility, and stimulate a free flow of energy through the meridians of the body, which can improve organ health and overall wellbeing.

Yin yoga incorporates mindfulness meditation, it teaches us to be present to sensations and to stay with them. It also teaches us a deeper sense of conscious awareness and is a great preparation for meditation.

For more information visit yinyoga.com.

To book a session contact me here.

iRest Yoga Nidra

iRest is a meditation practice based on the ancient tradition of Yoga Nidra and adapted to suit the conditions of modern life. When practiced regularly – a little and often – iRest enables you to meet each moment of your life with unshakable peace and wellbeing, no matter how challenging or difficult your situation.

iRest was developed by Dr. Richard Miller, a spiritual teacher, author, yogic scholar, researcher and clinical psychologist, who combined traditional yogic practice with Western psychology and neuroscience. Based on current studies with iRest in the US military, the Defense Centers of Excellence has approved iRest as a Complementary and Alternative Medicine warranting continuing research for its use in the treatment of PTSD. In addition, the U.S. Army Surgeon General has has listed Yoga Nidra (based on research with iRest) as a Tier 1 approach for addressing Pain Management in Military Care. iRest has been shown to be effective in scientific trials for conditions including chronic pain, sleep problems, depression and anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

iRest is simple to learn and easy to practice. It can be practiced by anyone, regardless of physical ability or experience with meditation. Once learned, iRest becomes a set of tools for life.

For more information visit iRest.org

To book a session contact me here.

SERVICES

Yin Yoga

One-to-one sessions
£50/hour
  • Small group and corporate classes available, prices on request.
  • Discount available for any serving or veteran members of the armed forces.
Book Yin Yoga

iRest Yoga Nidra

One-to-one sessions
£50/hour
  • Available in person or via skype/FaceTime. Discount available for any serving or veteran members of the armed forces.
Book iRest Yoga Nidra

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

From time to time I arrange classes and events, open to all. For more information and to reserve a place, please click on the event title and enter your details where indicated.

Date/Time Event
14/05/2021
12:15 pm - 1:45 pm 		Yin Yoga (PARKWOOD MEMBERS ONLY)
Parkwood Health & Fitness, Salisbury Wiltshire
21/05/2021
12:15 pm - 1:45 pm 		Yin Yoga (PARKWOOD MEMBERS ONLY)
Parkwood Health & Fitness, Salisbury Wiltshire
28/05/2021
12:15 pm - 1:45 pm 		Yin Yoga (PARKWOOD MEMBERS ONLY)
Parkwood Health & Fitness, Salisbury Wiltshire
04/06/2021
12:15 pm - 1:45 pm 		Yin Yoga (PARKWOOD MEMBERS ONLY)
Parkwood Health & Fitness, Salisbury Wiltshire
11/06/2021
12:15 pm - 1:45 pm 		Yin Yoga (PARKWOOD MEMBERS ONLY)
Parkwood Health & Fitness, Salisbury Wiltshire
18/06/2021
12:15 pm - 1:45 pm 		Yin Yoga (PARKWOOD MEMBERS ONLY)
Parkwood Health & Fitness, Salisbury Wiltshire
25/06/2021
12:15 pm - 1:45 pm 		Yin Yoga (PARKWOOD MEMBERS ONLY)
Parkwood Health & Fitness, Salisbury Wiltshire
02/07/2021
12:15 pm - 1:45 pm 		Yin Yoga (PARKWOOD MEMBERS ONLY)
Parkwood Health & Fitness, Salisbury Wiltshire
09/07/2021
12:15 pm - 1:45 pm 		Yin Yoga (PARKWOOD MEMBERS ONLY)
Parkwood Health & Fitness, Salisbury Wiltshire
16/07/2021
12:15 pm - 1:45 pm 		Yin Yoga (PARKWOOD MEMBERS ONLY)
Parkwood Health & Fitness, Salisbury Wiltshire

TESTIMONIALS

“Rachel knows that I, like many, was very sceptical of this when I first tried it and, to be honest, thought it was little better than mumbo-jumbo. How wrong I was. Since experiencing the benefits, I use it nearly every day. I can’t explain why it works, but now I don’t care why – because it does.”

Andy Shuttleworth (Veteran)

“After being in hospital in January with high blood pressure I have been doing everything I can to avoid medication. I was really pleased when I saw Rachel was running a Yin and iRest workshop last night and it was amazing. A full two hours of relaxation and stretching what better way to reduce stress and blood pressure!

Rachel always ensures her class are well looked after and will help on postures so we can get the maximum benefits. I look forward to the next class and keeping my blood pressure down!”

Gillian Geere

“Rachel is a natural and brilliant teacher.  She adapts what she teaches to the needs and abilities of her students and encourages you to go as far as you can, within the limitations of your abilities.

If you need to learn how to relax/sleep/chill, then try yoga Nidra and iRest.”