Rachel Bilski
Rachel Bilski started life in the countryside of northern England before natural curiosity whisked her away around the world. She began practicing yoga after a life-changing meditation retreat, and has since combined her passions for travel and yoga by attending intensive retreats and trainings throughout Europe and Asia.
Rachel is the manager of Yoga Pod Saigon and co-founder of Shanti Niwas, a yoga collaborative through which she holds yoga retreats in Portugal and teaches classes in Vietnam. Rachel takes a holistic and therapeutic approach to Yoga teaching, knowing that yoga holds many of the answers for life off the mat. You can follow her other musings on yoga, travel and life on the Shanti Niwas blog, Yoga Trade, Balance Garden orDaily Cup of Yoga.
Articles by Rachel Bilski
From Resistance to Acceptance and Resilience
Is resistance blocking you from accepting the present moment? Develop resilience and face life's challenges without becoming stuck.
Truth Through Hinduism's 6 Pramana
Awareness of the six pramanas is a vital step toward stilling the whirlpools of the mind. Learn how the mind functions through the lens of...
Cultivating Yoga Community During the Pandemic
The yoga community is built on compassion and connection. Remember that no matter what you are going through right now, you are not alone.
The Power to Transform Stress & Anxiety into Resilience
By bringing awareness to the physiological sensations of stress and anxiety, we can use yoga to transform adversity into resilience.
The Lost Art of Concentration
The never-ending disturbances caused by smart phones and technology necessitates the revival of one of life’s lost arts: concentration....
Chanting: Align With Life
By bringing a deep, internal vibration to our breath, we can harness its power to release physical tension and cultivate concentration.
The Power of Community in Yoga
When we surround ourselves with like-minded and uplifting people, our shared experience builds strength and encourages growth. Here's a...
How to Maintain Your Yoga Practice While Travelling
Have a trip coming up? Here are four tips to help you maintain your yoga practice no matter where in the world you're headed off to.
The Eighth Limb of Yoga: Samadhi
Samadhi, the last step in Patanjali's Eight Limbs of Yoga brings you to be so completely and utterly present, that your mind, body and...
The Sixth Limb of Yoga: Dharana
Dharana, the sixth limb of yoga, is the practice of maintaining focus on something, as a means of making the mind stable and binding body,...
The First Step of Yoga: Yama
The five Yamas provide social codes of conduct that are necessary for a true understanding of the spirit of yoga. Here's an introduction to...
Yoga & Relaxation: 3 Practices to Reset & Restore
Stress and tension are all too common in today's society. If you're feeling overworked, over-tired or overwhelmed, try these 3 yogic...
Meditation & Mindfulness: What's the Difference?
Mindfulness and meditation get a lot of attention, but what's the difference between these two practices? Here's what these two techniques...
Stress vs Self-Care: How to Elicit the Relaxation Response
Our bodies are equipped with an exceptional counterbalance to the toll of life’s stresses: the relaxation response. Here's how to trigger...
The Meaning of Moksha
To reach moksha all we need to do to find peace and purpose in this life is to remember that we are more than just a physical body. But how...
Dirgha Pranayama: An Introduction to Three-Part Breath
Feeling anxious, stressed or even just a little short of breath? Dirgha Pranayama, a simple, 3-part breathing technique can help you feel...
Namaste and Namaskar: Greeting the Divine
Palms together at heart centre, a bow of the head and a soft whisper of 'Namaste' or 'Namaskar.' Why do yogis greet each other this way?...
Mindful Consumption for a Joyful New Year
We can use mindfulness like a second skin to help protect ourselves from absorbing negative nutriments. Learn how to mindfully manifest a...
Is Your Chi Blocked?
Energy is driving force of all life, but it is delicately maintained. When your chi becomes blocked, your physical and mental state can...
Why We Twist in Yoga: The Benefits of This Simple Action
Twists are an integral part of yoga, but why do we do them? Read on to discover why twists are so good for you and how they help energize...
Suffering & Sweetness: Understanding Duhkha and Sukha to Deepen Your Practice
Understanding duhkha and sukha can help deepen your practice and help you learn to find contentment in the present moment.
Think Headstand Is Scary? 3 Tricks to Help Conquer Your Fears
Conquer your fear by learning about all of the benefits of headstand (and inversions), how to safely practice it and 3 tips to help you...
Satsang: Gather in the Company of Truth for an Uplifting Spiritual Practice
If your spiritual cup is feeling a little empty, you’re probably yearning for satsang. Learn what this Sanskrit word means and why it's...
Brahman and Maya: A Yogic Explanation of Reality Versus Non-Reality
Explore the concepts of Brahman and maya, as well as how yoga can be used as a tool to lift the veil of reality.
New to Yoga Teaching? Allow Me to Dispel 5 Common Doubts
It's normal to have doubts if you're new to teaching yoga. Here are five common ones addressed from a rational, positive perspective by a...
Cultivate Confidence in Your At-Home Practice With These Sequencing Tips + Template
Be inspired to create your own sequence with these tips and gain confidence in your at-home yoga practice.
We Must Ask the Deeper Questions
Explore curiosity, questioning and contemplation. And get practical advice on how to connect with your innate inquisitiveness.
Lost in Noise? Find Yourself in Silence and Reboot Your Connection With the World
Silence is a practical (and spiritual) means of improving well-being, finding clarity and re-engaging with the world around you.
A Call to Action: Karma Yoga's Origins and How to Practice This Selfless Lifestyle
Karma yoga is known as the yoga of selfless action. Delve deeper into its philosophy, origins, practices and some guidance on if it's the...
Know More About Jnana Yoga: The Path of Wisdom
Jnana yoga is the yogic path of wisdom, but maybe not in the sense you're thinking. Learn more about this classical school of yoga and...
Bhakti Yoga: How the Path of Devotion Connects Us in a Disconnected Modern World
Bhakti is one of yoga’s four main paths to self-realization. As the path of devotion, Bhakti yoga can help connect us to our community, to...
Dharana and Dhyana: Misconceptions of Meditation Explained
As much as the yogic concepts of dharana and dhyana seem so similar, so, too, are they different. Separating them as stages in a process,...
Q&A by Rachel Bilski
How do I use mala beads?
Most meditation practitioners use objects of concentration to help focus the mind on the present moment; whether breath, drishti or...
Can yoga help me reboot? How?
We’ve all heard that classic question when technology starts playing up; “have you tried switching it off and on again?”...
What should I do after I meditate?
With meditation, often comes clarity. Imagine shaking up a bottle of water that’s half full of sand; the constant motion creates a...
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