About Rachael Chung
MY JOURNEY
During my first yoga class in Hong Kong over twenty years ago, I experienced a profound sense of ‘coming home’ to myself. I went into the class feeling tired and stressed, after a busy day working as a lawyer, but by the end of it my body felt amazing, and I felt an unexpected sense of calm - I was hooked!
Since then my yoga practice has supported me through various stages of adult life: legal career, pregnancy, motherhood and the challenges of raising three kids (now teenagers)… At each stage of this journey yoga has been a source of nourishment, self-care and balance. At different times it has also been a source of revitalisation and energy; relaxation and stress-relief; overall well-being; core strengthening and physical fitness; preparation for childbirth; creative and intellectual inspiration; self-enquiry; deep rest and so much more.
I qualified as a yoga teacher in 2008 after 2 years of training and since then I’ve worked with students from all walks of life. I continue to love learning from them as well as from my teachers and my own practice as it unfolds.
Photo Emma Croman
WHAT YOGA MEANS TO ME
Yoga for me is about becoming present, working with the physical body to still the mind and create a space in which to explore our physical, emotional and spiritual selves.
In the process of this exploration of breath and movement I find myself feeling stronger and more connected to what is going on in my body, as well as to my ‘essential self’. Sometimes I focus on exploring ways of creating space and openness, and at other times I realise that what I need is to access deep rest in my practice. In this way yoga becomes a truly nourishing practice, an ongoing conversation with myself - a way to check-in and respond authentically to whatever is going on in my life physically, mentally and energetically.
MY TEACHING
My classes are primarily an exploration of how it feels to inhabit our unique body, interspersing moments of stillness with gentle flow. My teaching is influenced by different styles of yoga and I particularly enjoy incorporating restorative yoga and yoga nidra in my classes, enabling students to experience the often underrated benefits of deep rest.
For me, the perfect class has just the right balance between effort and relaxation; the class may be gentle or challenging, but the emphasis is always on paying attention to what feels right, and acknowledging that this may change each time we come onto the mat. I encourage you to turn inwards and listen to your own body rather than simply follow instructions, in this way you will learn how to connect to your inner wisdom and strength.
WHERE I TEACH
I teach group classes at Space Yoga Studio, and small groups and private sessions at home in our lovely spacious, light-filled front room. There is also a treatment room downstairs where my husband runs his osteopathy practice (www.pavilionosteopathy.co.uk) and there are other complementary therapists (currently a massage therapist and an acupuncturist) offering health and wellness treatments.
QUALIFICATIONS
BWY certified yoga teacher
Qualified with Distinction from The Yoga Academy (principal Simon Low) in 2008Yoga for BackCare teacher, certified in 2024 by the BackCare Foundation
CPE, LPC, College of Law, London 1994, 1995
Modern Languages MA Hons (Oxford University) 1993
INFLUENCES
Yin and Yang Yoga, Restorative, Scaravelli, Yoga Nidra, Nidra Restore, Embodied Relational Yoga Therapy, Yoga for BackCare, Mindful Flow, Ashtanga, somatic movement and mindfulness meditation practices.
“No-one is ever really taught by another, each of us has to teach himself. The external teacher offers only the suggestion, which arouses the internal teacher...”