439 Butler St, Saugatuck
Rachel Bertrand
Rachel started her yoga journey in 2016. Always interested and passionate about the body, mind, spirit connection. She took a leap of faith into yoga teacher training after feeling the nudge to lean in and say YES! The yoga journey has transformed her from the inside out and continues to do so as she expands her learning and training to include being a Master Reiki teacher and practitioner.
As a Certified Yoga Teacher (CYT-250hr) as well as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Rachel understands the importance of breathwork and meditation to calm and regulate the nervous system. She weaves into her yoga classes somatic healing practices tuning into your body’s inner wisdom—less about perfect poses and more about feeling, sensing, and healing from the inside out. She blends traditional hatha yoga with somatics—a movement therapy focused on increasing bodily awareness. It helps retrain your brain and body to move more mindfully and release tension stored in muscles and fascia. Most importantly, Rachel loves moving and breathing on her mat with the Satya community. She looks forward to greeting you with a warm smile at one of her classes.
How did you find yoga? What does it mean to you?
Yoga found me at a time when I was seeking refuge — a way to reconnect with myself amidst life’s demands. Over the years, my mat has become my sanctuary. It’s where I come home to my breath, my body, my truth. Yoga helps me remember who I am beneath the noise — a spiritual being in constant evolution. It’s both a safe space and a playful one, where I can meet myself with honesty, curiosity, and compassion.
If you could teach people one thing through yoga, what would it be?
That you are already enough, just as you are. In every class, I hope to offer a space where students feel truly seen — where they can breathe into the places that stretch them and remember their own light. Whether it’s through a smile, a name spoken aloud, or an intention set from the heart, I guide students toward inner awareness and self-acceptance that often surprises them — and stays with them.
How does the Satya Yoga community impact you?
I’m still finding my way into this new community after relocating from Illinois, and Satya feels like a place where I can root down and be nourished. I know the power of a yoga home — a space where familiar faces greet you, hold space for your unfolding, and remind you you’re not alone. That sense of belonging is something I cherish and hope to co-create here.
What’s something that would surprise people about you?
I’m a marathon runner — and a Boston Qualifier! I ran the Boston Marathon in April 2024, a journey filled with healing, injury, perseverance, and deep self-love. That experience, like yoga, taught me the art of surrender — of meeting discomfort with breath and finding joy on the other side of fear.
How long have you been practicing yoga?
I’ve been practicing consistently for over 10 years, and teaching for more than 8. Yoga continues to meet me in every season of life — offering strength when I need it, stillness when I crave it, and space to simply be.
Where did you receive your training and when?
I’ve taught in a variety of sacred spaces — from vineyards to driveways, churches to community studios. Most recently, I taught at Peak Yoga in Illinois, Healing Heart, and here in Michigan at the Lavender Farmhouse with Satya. I’m also a Master Reiki teacher and a full-time mental health therapist, which deeply informs my approach to holding space.
What are some signature things about your classes?
My classes blend slow intentional flow with just enough challenge to surprise you — to make you smile and breathe a little deeper. I often invite students to share their name and a word of gratitude at the start of class, creating a warm, connected container. Expect gentle breathwork, heart-centered intention, chakra healing inspiration, and a strong emphasis on kindness — toward self and others. Always inclusive, always real.