Rachel works with her partner, Brooke Thomas out of New Haven Rolfing.
About Me
What I've learned
I graduated from the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration in Boulder, CO in 2009. Before that, I graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder with degrees in Sociology and Women's Studies.
I have always been fascinated by people, their intricacies, and that we are each made up of such different types of fibers yet possess common threads that hold us all together. As a child, one of my favorite pastimes was watching people. I wondered where they were going, who they were spending time with, what made them happy. My desire to know people at a deep level continues today. I feel grateful and honored to work with people at that level. In one sense, I feel like I'm on a jungle expedition; I'm the tour guide and my clients are the tourists. Together, we make adventures possible. Together, light shines on places in their bodies that they may have forgotten existed or we may find a place of peace in parts of their bodies that have been painful for years.
Other practices
When out of the Rolfing studio, I enjoy hiking, practicing yoga, skiing, kayaking, dancing, writing, camping, traveling and spending time with my family and friends. I recently returned to the East Coast after 10 years away; I lived, worked and'or studies in Boulder, Chicago and most recently, San Francisco. Over the last decase, Itraveled through 17 countries. But as Dorothy says, there's no place like home. So, I'm thrilled to be a part of New Haven's vibrant community and looking forward to many adventures throughout Connecticut.
How I found Rolfing
After backpacking in the mountains of Patagonia, Argentina, after almost a year of travel, I discovered Rolfing. The day I set foot on the trail in Patagonia, I sensed that something wasn't right in my body. I felt extreme pain in my neck and lower back. I could barely turn my head.Maybe it was from sleeping on so many bad hostel mattresses, carrying a heavy backpack, or eating poorly. I asked fellow backpackers if they knew of any bodywork that would help. Over and over, I heard them tell me about Rolfing.
When my travels ended, I moved to Chicago to work on the Obama presidential campaign. I also found a Rolfer. To my amazement, the sessions relieved my neck and lower back pain. The most surprising part was that my Rolfer spent sessions working not just the parts of my body that brought me to her, but other areas too. But each time I got off the table, I felt a tremendous improvement in my neck and lower back. It turns out all the connective tissue in your body is interrelated. As the 10 series progressed, I noticed that I moved through my daily life with more ease and grace. That feeling of a stiff, robotic-like body, I was all too familiar with was melting away. I felt more grounded and supported in my life. I felt relaxed.
After session 7, I walked along the shore of Lake Michigan in Chicago. Suddenly, a flash of clarity struck me like a lightning bolt of insight. I knew that Rolfing was the path I should follow.
Turns out, Rolfing intersects with many of my life interests: working with my hands, helping people feel more comfortable in their bodies (physically, emotionally, energetically), and combining science with creativity. But what fascinates me most about Rolfing is my love for people. Witnessing and being a part of my clients' process of transformation in their bodies is an absolute honor. I'm committed to this work because I care deeply about the people that I work with, including their health and wellbeing.
I believe in the positive benefits that Rolfing can bring about and I feel extremely fortunate to be able to offer it to others.
