Meet Rachel Brodeur: Yoga teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rachel Brodeur and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachel, what’s your definition for success?
I define success as the outcome of undertaking the blessings and hardships in my life. In society, there’s a tendency to look at success as the outcome of monetary value, materialism, or social rankings of an individual. I look at success as the undertaking of feeling deeply human, and restoring what grounds me to my purpose. I’ve learned that, for me, letting go of images of projected success and allowing myself to explore the images of success that attune to who I am has made all the difference. 

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business is to empower others through the practice of yoga. My other half, Rita, is the sound healer who supports others in healing through vibrations and meditation. Together we form BeYin, an online educational space for yogis. What sets us apart from others is our desire to work with individuals and meet them where they are at. We teach the young, the old, the injured, the pregnant, the post pregnant yogis because we believe that everyone deserves to be in our space. Our unique blend of yoga and sound healing creates a beautiful balance of yin and Yang. We got to where we are at business-wise because of our integrity to stay small. We don’t believe it’s easy, but we believe that small changes over time in small numbers have the ability to reproduce big change. We’ve learned lessons like how to stay true to our work, to not compare ourselves to others.’ We want the world to know that we are here for the long haul. We aren’t here for fame, or clout. We are here to build a community of yogis who feel like each time they come to class they are coming to a place they can call their second home.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, I have moved around a bit since the pandemic. But, I can do this for LA, Bend, and Boston! If my bestie was with me in LA, I would take them to my favorite food spots. Monty’s, Burger Lords, Donut Friend, Kitchen Mouse. I would take them to the SRFS to see Yogananda’s beautiful space. I would take them to my favorite comedy spots- Dynasty Typewriter and the Comedy Store. I would of course take them to the beaches and the trails. If my bestie came to Bend, OR, I would immediately take them to the trails, where there are waterfalls, beautiful animals, and rivers. I would take them to Toasty, to Lively Up Yourself, to Rooted Down Kitchen, to the DoughNut. We would walk into the center of town and go into all the cute shoppes. We would walk to Old Mill and see the murals. We would go to all the micro brews in town. If my bestie came to Boston, we would go to the historical spots first- the common, the gardens, Faneuil Hall, the freedom trail. We would take the train to Cambridge for their food spots. We would go to the best yoga classes. We would go to the games, and mingle with the Bostonians. We would go to the wine bars and museums.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would be no where without the people who have surrounded me since day 1- my parents. I feel the blessings of their love every single day. They have stuck with me through my brightest and darkest times. Even today, they give me the support I need without a single doubt that their efforts are growing me into the person I need to become. My sister and my brother have guided me along the way through their examples. My sister is compassionate, strong, and so smart. My brother is witty, caring, and grounded. My mentors in life have inspired me to become the yoga teacher I am today. Renee and Caitlyn, who still teach me yoga today, are the giants whose shoulders I stand on. I respect them so much for their wisdom and integrity in the yoga world. The teachers I’ve studied with along the way, who have expanded me into new realms of yoga and self study, always have a special place in my heart. My friends near and far… who have believed in me and fought for me to believe in myself. My cousin Brandon who has kept me in his prayers for a long time and who is building out a place for us to partner up and heal communities. My sister in another life, Rita. My partner in healing. The level of talent she has is insane, and the amount of wisdom she carries and teaches me has empowered me to become who I am today. She is my best friend in this life. My students. Without them, I’d have no one to pass along the wisdom that has been shared with me. I am so grateful for their trust in me. I see them grow and it gives me the courage to keep growing. God. Shoutout to God for all the blessings and the hardships that have molded me and strengthened me. My purpose is to serve the God within us all as a way to thank God for this life.

Website: Beyinproject.com
Instagram: Rachelbyoga and be__yin

Image Credits
Josh Fogel Photography