Hello
I'm Rachel, yoga teacher and owner of Discovering Calm. I love sharing the benefits of yoga with children and adults with additional needs. I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to spend my days in SEND schools creating a calm and nurturing environment where everyone can feel safe to express themselves and build their confidence. In addition to my work in SEND schools I also work with private clients and teach a weekly Hatha Flow class at Creative Calm Yoga Studio.
I have practiced yoga for almost 20 years and often shared yoga sessions with the children I’ve taught in both in mainstream and SEND schools. In 2023 I decided it was time to leave my assistant head role and classroom teaching to combine my love of yoga and my passion for working with SEND children.
I completed my SEN yoga and wellbeing course with BEAM academy and was then very fortunate to spend some time in Sri Lanka with Middle Path Movement Yoga School completing my 200hr training in the most incredible setting. At each stage of my journey from classroom teacher to yoga teacher I have become more passionate about the holistic benefits of yoga for SEND children.
Before becoming a yoga teacher I was a dedicated Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) teacher for over 12 years. Much of my teaching career was spent supporting Autistic children with complex communication and sensory needs but I have worked with a wide variety of SEND children from 4-19 years old. I am passionate that all behaviour is communication and thrive on supporting the young people I work with to develop their communication skills as well as their emotional and physical regulation strategies.
Other things you might like to know about me I love walks in the countryside, going to the theatre, exploring new countries, eating good food, playing board games and spending time with my family and friends.