Meet Rachel
Founder & Creatrix of My Sacred Spine
Resident Priestess, Healer and Ordained Interfaith Minister of the River Valley Goddess Temple
Even as a child, Rachel was fascinated by the spiritual realms. A natural born Seeress and clairvoyant medium, Rachel is able to see and sense the energy fields of people, plants, buildings and animals. Quickly realizing that this was not the norm, she worked hard to squash herself into a more socially acceptable box. She denied her shamanic and psychic abilities for over a decade, and tried her best to conform. As a result, Rachel developed a severe scoliosis in her spine.
After being braced for five years as a child, she spent her adolescence in the confusion and fear that surrounds most structural spinal issues.
Just as her spine had many twists and turns, Rachel's path to alignment took a winding road back home to herself. She began her journey studying the physical body in depth with incredible teachers (Alison West, Deborah Wolk, Elise Browning-Miller, Witold Fitz-Simons, and Amy Matthews in NYC), and found freedom from physical pain. She received her RYT certification under Alison West, as well as additional Back Care and Rope Wall certifications through Yoga Union. Through dedicated self-practice and under the tutelage of her teachers, Rachel’s severe asymmetry has dramatically decreased, and her inner calling to spread this important work has become a reality.
Rachel has traveled the world, studying yoga, meditation, energy healing and Celtic shamanism. She has been lucky enough to apprentice with incredible Shamans and Priestesses like her dear friend and mentor Yukiko Amaya, and the women of the Priestess of Avalon traditions in Glastonbury, UK. Rachel has had the great honor of working with thousands of clients for over a decade, leading online programs and workshops internationally, and serving as an Ordained Interfaith Minister and Resident Priestess at the River Valley Goddess Temple where she holds bi-monthly Moon Ceremonies and yearlong Priest/ess Initiations within the Avalon Wheel of the Year tradition. While everyone's path to healing is unique, Rachel believes that the beloved souls who find their way to her door (or inbox) are not simply looking to realign their physical bodies. They show up curious, having followed a deeper sense of knowing that these issues are rooted in a misalignment of spirit. Reclaiming her path as a healer and guide has allowed Rachel to finally serve her clients as fully as she’s always known (deep down) was necessary.
During a Private Healing Session, Rachel holds sacred space with each client to co-create an individualized blueprint for your return to Wellness. Your session together will include alignment on all levels through the practices of Yoga/Meditation, energy clearing, ancestral healing and soul retrieval. You will enter ceremonial space to be in direct communication with your guides, ancestors, and highest self. It is truly her privilege to walk this lifetime with you, and she looks forward to supporting you on your Path to Wellness.
Blessed Be
Associate Teachers
Judy Rosquete
Yoga for Backcare/Scoliosis
Judy Rosquete has been apprenticing with Rachel Jesien for many years and continues to assist her workshops and ceremonies nationally. She works closely with international students in the online programs, as well as privately in-person and online. Judy’s multiple trainings and nearly two decades of experience, have helped her develop a compassionate and well-rounded teaching style.
She received her initial 200-hour certification from the International Sivananda Yoga and Vedanta Center, and also holds certifications in Therapeutic yoga with Cheri Clampett, and Prenatal with Mary Anne Barnes. After discovering she had scoliosis, she knew it was time to dive deep into the world of alignment and back health. She received her second 200-hour certification as well as a Backcare & Scoliosis certification under Alison West at Yoga Union. Today, Judy continues to support the global My Sacred Spine community by creating wonderful new content and guiding her clients to pain-free living!
Catherine 'Cat' Murcek
Yoga for Backcare/Scoliosis
Catherine 'Cat' Murcek, C-IAYT has been focused on guiding students through the therapeutic powers of yoga for over a decade. What began as a journey to manage and heal her own chronic pain--resulting from intensive dance training with a scoliotic body--turned into a path of helping others to do the same. She has been assisting for and apprenticing with Rachel for over 5 years in classes and workshops around the northeast. Her 200-hr certification with Yogaworks under Natasha Rizopoulos gave her a strong anatomical foundation to build on with her 300-hr Masters program certification with Alison West at Yoga Union. She has studied Yoga for Backcare and Scoliosis in depth under Alison West, Deborah Wolk, and Elise Browning Miller, in addition to Alexander Technique for yoga teachers with Witold Fitz-Simon. She has shadowed under the well-known physiatrist, Dr. Loren Fishman, and is also certified in Yoga Tune Up (R). Cat combines her love for teaching and travel by leading workshops and retreats in the US and abroad.
ARCHANA EDMOND
Reiki Healing
Archana was born in South India into an deeply spiritual family. From a very young age, she yearned to help and serve the lesser privileged, strove for equality, and characteristically, was a very intuitive person, connected to Source.
Archana moved to the United States at the age of 21 for graduate school. It was here that she discovered her calling for Reiki(certified in Reiki I & II), and also ventured into muscle testing, which immensely helped those she worked on and also herself. Her intuitive nature only advanced through these new fields on which she embarked. During long meditation sessions, she frequently hears and sees visions – reviving the gift from her childhood that had been silenced over time. By calming her mind while practicing Reiki, she has been able to nurture and therefore coax this intuitive knowing back into the present. Archana has finally found the way back to herself and now loves to offer her energetic gifts to all those who seek them.
VIVIAN DOAN
Integrative Health & Nutrition
Vivian is an Integrative Health Practitioner and creator of SCOLIOFITNESS™️, a program that incorporates fitness + nutrition + mindset practices to help empower those with scoliosis rebuild strength and confidence in their bodies. Her SCOLIOFITNESS™️ program is based on her personal journey as well as her knowledge in physical therapy, yoga for scoliosis, and corrective exercise. She teaches exercises, yoga, and everyday techniques to address not just the physical, but also the emotional and mental aspects of living with scoliosis. Additionally, as an Integrative Health Practitioner, she combines functional medicine and ancient wisdom from Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine to provide a holistic and integrative approach to optimize individual health and balance. Her goal is to help you live longer, stronger... whether that means helping you increase energy, sleep better, overcome your digestive issues, lose weight, or just improve overall well-being.
YUKIKO AMAYA
Energy Healer, Shamanka, & Priestess of Avalon
Yukiko Amaya is a Transformational Wisdom Holder and founder of My Goddess Path. She is passionate about fully embracing the unique life path and potential of each one and loves to guide and accompany her students and private clients to that spaciousness. Much of her work for the past 40 years or so has been at the confluence of embodiment, energy, connection with Earth and consciousness. There, we become Radiant and Empowered, connected to All and yet singular. Our bodies are an amazing gateway to that wisdom, magic and aliveness. Yukiko is a mentor, healer, teacher, shaman, yogi, dancer, Priestess of Avalon and Priestess of Goddess. She teaches and leads transformational workshops and sacred journeys all over the world.
Guest Teachers
Kayla Harley
Gyrokinesis
Kayla Harley is a Certified GYROKINESISⓇ Instructor, Optimal Life Breath Pathologist and Energy Healer helping dancers, athletes and everyday movers alike improve their quality of movement, using breath integration, increase joint mobility for injury prevention, increase gain and agility to prevent injury. She is an International Practitioner and among the forerunners in the International Association for Blacks in Dance Next GEN. She believes firmly that the body has the power to heal itself through actively listening and diligent response. The work that she does is exploratory and includes Shamanic practices that naturally generate a sense of connection to the DIVINE from the inner-being, outward. She is a testimony of her own healing through this technique as a Chronic Facial Pain Warrior.She has taught for corporate settings, international festivals and conferences. Her Health/Wellness brand, Beebodi is both a journey of her personal life and testament through healing and naturopathy as well as a guide to creating a personalized wellness plan and regimen for others.