We are excited to welcome Rachel Soon to the team!
Tell us about yourself! What are some things that your students might not know?
I’m Southeast Asian, born and raised in Singapore and have recently uprooted myself to move to the states! Off work, I read, explore the city, head to the beach for the sun and sea, visit museums and practice more yoga. I can say yoga is true love for me.
My current food obsessions are matcha, popcorn and almond butter. I am a little bit of an old soul, introspective by nature but also enjoy the occasional fun night out! Things can get pretty wild, but hey it’s not everyday you get to let your hair down.
How did you become interested in yoga?
At first, I was so bad at it that I had to come back to overcome it. And then witnessing the strength and flexibility gained through pure practice and hard work, being creative yet disciplined, made me come back to the mat again and again.
What sustained my interest was realizing the poses were never the end goals, but the mind state during the pose, transitioning in and out, moving through intelligent sequences and building self-awareness. There is so much to realize about oneself and it is a never ending journey. Life is a continuous evolution of expansion and contraction, and so as humans we continue to evolve.
Tell us about your yoga journey. What style did you start in and with whom do you study now?
I started with Hatha Vinyasa, and Power Flow and still love these styles to date. I have gone on to experiment various styles including Ashtanga, Bikram, Iyengar, Yin, Chair, Aerial, HIIT etc. I am currently practicing more meditation, bringing mindfulness practice to the physical asanas.
I’ve taught classes specific to Arm Balance and Inversion, conducted workshops in Backbends and Inversions, and facilitated yoga retreats within Southeast Asia. The practical experience of teaching with different students and working with different teachers has shaped and sharpened my teaching in ways that books cannot.
Describe your teaching style. What can folks expect when they attend your class?
Fun, dynamic, analytical. I like to be creative with my sequence and flows, but incorporate a form of system where it all ties in together. Pranayama (breath work) is key to my class, and core work? Always. My classes are known to be playful, tough, strong yet soft. I always provide options and adapt according to whoever that showed up for class.
I try to read the room best I can, but you never know! I also teach with heart and enjoy a bit of a laugh during class. I want to be fiercely me, and so I hold space to allow everyone to do the same. I remember the teachers that crossed my path who are nothing but authentic, true, and kind. They took down their walls by sharing their personal stories and challenges, and that touched me.
Any exciting projects or plans on the horizon?
I am toying with hosting a retreat abroad or weekend yoga getaway around the city.
Anything else you’d like to share with the Yoga Garden SF community?
I’m new to the city, only 3 months here. So share with me your favorite parts of the city, your go-to joints, things to do, hidden haunts, and all the goodies!
Thanks, Rachel! That’s all for now, you can learn more about her on Instagram @rachsoon or by checking out her bio here.