Greetings, Reader!
I have some big news to share: Lotus Yoga & Integrative Health is now Lotus Embodied Healing!
On the outside, it may seem like a small shift, but on the inside it feels like I'm becoming who I was always meant to be. Letting go of the words yoga and integrative health feels a little scary because they've been part of me for so long, but the emergence of embodied healing feels magical, as if a sculptor has removed the bits of stone that don't belong to reveal what is inherent within.
It's a little ironic that removing the word yoga from my business name is actually a very yogic thing to do. The ancient teachings say that we already have everything we need within to fulfill our purpose. Yoga doesn't transform us into something new; it is the process of our own true nature revealing itself.
What's been revealed to me in the process of shedding this old skin is that I am truly a depth practitioner. I'm the person who will walk through the fire with you, who will support you in facing your demons, and will help you find your way back home to yourself.
There is a sacred Buddhist mantra, Om Mani Padme Hum, that means "The jewel is in the lotus." It is said that it contains the essence of all of the Buddha's teachings, embodying the truth that pain is part of life, but suffering can be alleviated through presence, compassion, and wisdom.
The lotus flower's roots grow out of dark, murky mud at the bottom of a pond. The lotus must travel a great distance through the muck before it reaches the surface and can turn its petals to the sun. Without the mud, we don’t get the beautiful bloom, or, as Thich Nhat Hanh wrote, “No mud, no lotus.”
I've worn a lotus necklace every day for the past 15 years to remind me that the only way out is through, or, as Rumi wrote, "The cure for pain is in the pain."
Like the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum says: the clarity, peace, and freedom from suffering we spend our lives seeking isn't found by escaping our mud, but by turning towards it wholeheartedly and courageously.
When suffering, anxiety, or pain flare up, our default instinct is to seek protection. We attempt to outrun the discomfort through hustle, control it through perfectionism, or numb it out entirely. But these protective strategies are profoundly disembodied.
In my experience, you can't heal what you are unwilling to feel, and much of our pain and suffering comes from turning away from ourselves when we most need our own compassion and support.
Embodiment is the radical choice to trade protection for presence; to stay in the muck, trusting that it will reveal the gem.
Embodiment teaches us that we do not need to fix, hide, or erase our pain to be whole. When we choose to stay present and to turn towards our suffering, our relationship with our pain transforms. True healing arises not when we pretend the mud isn't there, but when we build the internal capacity to stay present without running away from our pain.
When we meet our pain with presence rather than defensiveness and resistance, the nervous system finally receives the message it has been waiting for: It is safe to be here.
This fundamental truth is the guiding heart of my practice, and it is why I am so excited to share this purposeful evolution with you.
While Lotus Yoga & Integrative Health laid a beautiful foundation for our community, Lotus Embodied Healing is more attuned to the deep, specialized work we do together every day. Through CranioSacral Therapy, SomatoEmotional Release, Neurosomatic Coaching, and Contemplative Practices, my focus remains entirely on providing the support you need to travel through the pain and messiness of life, transforming suffering through wisdom, compassion, and presence.
Everything else remains exactly the same: my location and contact info, your upcoming appointments, and my commitment to your care.
Thank you for trusting me to walk alongside you as you return home to yourself. It is truly an honor to be on this journey with you.
In love and solidarity,
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Rachel
Doctor of Physical Therapy & Integrative Pain Specialist
Rewire your nervous system and break the cycles of chronic pain, depletion, burnout, and overwhelm so you can be fully present for what matters most in your life.
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PS: Need support? Click here to book a free consultation with me.
August 15th: FREE CranioSacral Therapy at Shelburne Day
Meet me at the Shelburne Farmer's Market on Saturday, August 15th. I'll be offering free mini-CranioSacral sessions from 9 am - 2 pm to celebrate Shelburne Day (and Lotus' 4th birthday) and I'd love to see you!
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Submit a Question
Have a question you'd love answered or a topic you'd like to learn more about? Anonymously submit your questions and musings to me and I'll respond in a future newsletter, workshop, or maybe even a podcast!
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