Meet Rachel Cassidy
Rachel Cassidy (she/her) has been teaching at HeartSpace Community Yoga for about a year. She is quick to sub when she can and was the driving force behind our Pride Event this year.
She has a calm and steady presence. She teaches the TGIF Community class at 5:30pm. (Offered at a sliding scale!) It is the way to end your week, letting go of anything tense that might linger through the weekend.
Keep scrolling to learn more about her and why she teaches yoga.
What kind of trainings/certificates do you have and when did you get them?
– 200-Hr Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher Training Certification from Yoga Farm Ithaca in 2020
– Teaching Trauma Informed Yoga Course with Lynn Fraser and Alyson Raskin at Yoga Farm Ithaca in 2023
– 5 Elements of Qigong Course with Jaya Lalita at Yoga Farm Ithaca in 2024
– Level 1 Qigong Teaching Authorization from the Quantum Qigong (TM) Program with Inspired Living in 2024
– Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED certification with the American Red Cross
– RYT® 200 Yoga Alliance Member
How long have you been teaching at HeartSpace?
About 1 year. I reconnected with HeartSpace last year by attending the Pride Yoga class and marching in the Albany Capital Pride parade with the studio. I started teaching with HeartSpace in July 2023, and had the opportunity to organize this year’s HeartSpace Pride Yoga class and participation in the parade. It felt like a great way to come full circle as a part of the HeartSpace Yoga community.
What’s your favorite style to practice for your personal practice? Do you have a favorite pose/meditation/pranayam?
Hatha Yoga with some Vinyasa flow.
I try to incorporate mindfulness concepts by encouraging students to remain as much as possible in the present moment during our class, and if they find their minds wandering to return their focus gently back to the breath or asana at hand.
Balance poses are great for keeping us in the present moment because they require our attention and focus, and for that reason tree pose is one of my favorites.
One of my favorite meditations is the Metta Meditation for Heart Healing & Expansion that I learned from instructors at Yoga Farm Ithaca.
“May I be free, May I be healthy, May I be free of suffering, May I be free from anxiety, May I live in peace, May my life be blessed with ease.”
Repeat again as you visualize others in your life, “May you be free, May you be healthy, May you be free of suffering, May you be free of anxiety, May your life be blessed with ease.”
Why did you decide to teach yoga?
I was drawn to complete the yoga teaching certification to deepen my own practice and because I am passionate about bringing the benefits of yoga and mindfulness to others through teaching. Yoga, mindfulness, and meditation have helped me greatly in my own life when dealing with challenging situations, stress, or anxiety. I hope my teaching may assist others in finding similar benefits in their own lives from an active yoga practice.
What is your favorite thing to do (aside from yoga)?
I consider myself a lifetime learner, and so really enjoy opportunities to learn about new things.
I enjoy hiking, bicycling, snowboarding, reading, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family, including my two dogs, Finnegan and Fiona.
Is there anything else you want to share about yourself?
I love teaching the 5:30pm TGIF Community Yoga class. This was the class I attended at HeartSpace before I became a yoga teacher. For me it was a fantastic way to end the work week and transition into the weekend with yoga.
Also, this donation-based community class is a wonderful effort to make yoga available and accessible. You may also see me as a substitute teacher for some of the other HeartSpace classes from time to time!
I have recently also become interested in Qigong and just completed Level 1 Qigong Teaching Authorization from the Quantum Qigong (TM) Program with Inspired Living.
I look forward to seeing where my yoga and qigong journey will lead!
