Rachel Bixby

By Kathi Edwards

BusinessRockford.com

What do you offer? Group yoga lessons, private yoga therapy sessions and craniosacral therapy sessions.

How many classes do you teach? Seven group lessons, plus private lessons.

What’s new at Lazy Dog? How long have you run it? I’ve run it for two years. I’m working with mothers and children with age-appropriate family yoga instruction. In one of my adult classes, I’m incorporating belly-dance fundamentals to help with rib mobility, pelvic mobility, core strength and fun. I would like to add pregnancy classes, chair yoga for people unable to get down on the floor, and sessions for people coping with learning disabilities.

Who could do your job? The basic level of yoga teacher training is 200 hours, as outlined by the Yoga Alliance, the governing body for the profession. However, it is not required by law, so many people teach without that level of training. The 500-hour level of training is intended for people who wish to work one-on-one with clients on health issues; it goes into much more depth and detail. My background is in physical therapy, which is a master’s-level degree. I am unique in that my education is in the Eastern and Western models of health. Additionally, you need to enjoy watching others grow and develop; monetary gain is secondary. To be effective, you also need to keep a personal growth practice to develop a quality of presence that gives others a sense of safety.

What led you to this field? Physical therapy led me to study holistic body work (craniosacral therapy), and a holistic lifestyle was a natural extension of that.

How can people interested in teaching yoga learn more? An Internet search is helpful. There are many ways to become certified, such as home study, with a few weekend intensives, serial weekend intensives or residential programs. A matching of personal philosophy is essential. Yoga styles differ quite a bit as far as physical intensity, focus on the nonphysical aspects of yoga, emphasis on precision and alignment, and emphasis on personal searching as opposed to following the guru’s directives.

Who should or should not take up yoga? Yoga is a technology that uses lifestyle practices to stabilize fluctuations of the mind, body and spirit to allow union, or perfect presence. In that sense, it is appropriate for anyone, regardless of physical ability. Much of yoga is not about body postures. Practically speaking, yoga can be helpful for anyone but destructive if done without respect for your personal limitations. Proper instruction, self-awareness and reflection are very important.

How long will it take to complete your certification, and what will that mean for you? My 500-hour certification will be complete in October. That will certify my training in working with therapeutic applications of yoga for health problems. I will then be able to award continuing-education credit to 200-hour teachers for their certification renewal.

How much do yoga classes cost? Group lessons are $15 to $20 in a health club-type facility or $35 to $50 in a private studio. Private sessions range from $50 to $80, depending on education and experience.

Other than this job, what was your favorite job and why? I enjoyed physical therapy in the clinical setting, but I like reaching more people and, in the long term, acute and subacute phases of healing.

What do you like best about your job? I am so privileged to be able to watch people go through personal transformations and witness reversals of patterns into a more open and fluid interaction with life.

You would never find me leaving this field to ... I would struggle to work in an environment in which I couldn’t use my creativity and continue to learn, regardless of the field.

The ideal workday: I would see a variety of clients throughout their life spans for restoration of vitality and function for specific complaints outlined as problematic. The clients would be ready to learn and follow through on recommendations.

The typical workday ... a mixture of group and private lessons. While the private lessons grow, my continuing practice of part-time physical therapy allows me the one-on-one interactions I enjoy.

A business needed in the region: A Whole Foods market.

The best way to unwind after work: A hot bath and some hot tea.

Staff writer Kathi Edwards may be reached at 815-987-1364 or kedwards@rrstar.com.