About Rachel Marie + Sleepy Santosha…

I am a yoga instructor who specializes in yoga for chronic illness. Although I am a Yoga for All and 200-Hour Uplifted Yoga certified yoga teacher, the classes I teach are largely inspired by my own firsthand experiences with chronic illness and my personal yoga practice. I have also received additional training on the Fascia System and am a certified reiki master.

I began teaching yoga professionally in 2015 and founded Sleepy Santosha in 2016 with the desire to provide classes for people like me who are living with chronic illness and other disabilities that may require something a little different than a traditional asana practice. I believe yoga should be an accessible practice for everyone! Because I know what it is like to live with chronic illness, I am able to create yoga classes that intuitively support the needs of someone who is experiencing chronic pain, fatigue, brain fog, etc. and many of my classes can be practiced in bed.

My motto: whatever you are capable of doing is worth doing! Even if that means your yoga practice is just lying in savasana and breathing into the spaces of your body that hurt.

The Sanskrit word santosha means contentment. It is one of the Niyamas in Patanjali's 8-limbed yoga, and I believe that it is the gateway to inner peace. This word has had a powerful impact on my life as I have struggled on and off with chronic illness, especially during the times when I was bedbound. Although I am in a much better state now than I once was, I do still have bad days when I don't feel well. I am learning that it is possible to choose contentment even when external circumstances are out of my control. Even when I am tired, even when I am in pain, I can choose to observe and experience the moment without judgment. I can choose to be fully present with myself and how I am feeling. I can allow what is to simply be what is. All the while knowing that nothing is permanent. That surrender, that acceptance, is contentment. It isn't something that just happens. It is a conscious choice, one that we must practice making every day. I've called my business Sleepy Santosha as a reminder to choose contentment and peace, especially when I am not feeling my best. 

Yoga has been a deeply healing practice for me, and it warms my heart so much to be able to share that experience with others and to see the profound impact yoga is having on their lives. During this time online, I have had the pleasure of connecting with thousands of Chronic Illness Warriors, and I am honored to be a part of their journey with yoga. My work has been featured on numerous websites, including Mind Body Green, The Mighty, Women.com, and more.

You can practice yoga with me for free on YouTube. I also provide a monthly membership program called Spoonie Yoga Studio that gives you yoga classes, meditations, yoga training plans and more that are all designed for people with chronic pain and chronic illness.

I’m now offering tarot readings and reiki sessions as well!

If you would like to work with me or just reach out to let me know how your practice is going, I would love to hear from you!