Rachel Kukielka

I first came to yoga in high school, often joining classes because my dad taught and it felt good to stretch after long days of dance and other activities. At the time, I didn’t realize how much I needed a space where I could let go of perfectionism and constant comparison. So much of my life revolved around achievement and performance, and I carried that pressure into my body without noticing how heavy it had become. Yoga was the first place where I felt permission to slow down, breathe, and move without needing to be the best at anything.

As my practice deepened, yoga became a steady way to release old patterns and reconnect with myself. It helped me shift from striving to listening, from pushing to being present. I learned how grounding it feels to move with intention, how calming it is to follow the breath, and how empowering it can be to meet myself exactly where I am. These shifts supported me on and off the mat, bringing more steadiness into my daily life and helping me move through all of my commitments with a greater sense of ease. Yoga became the place where I could reset, find clarity, and return to myself.

I teach because I want students to feel the same sense of relief and possibility that yoga gave me. My classes are designed to support real needs that show up on the mat, whether that’s stress, tension, overwhelm, or simply the desire for a quiet reset. I build thoughtful, accessible sequences that support strength, mobility, and ease, using clear cueing, purposeful pacing, and inclusive options so students can explore movement in a way that feels safe and empowering.

Yoga was the first place where I felt permission to slow down, breathe, and move without needing to be the best at anything.

I currently teach Inner Fire Flow and Slow Flow, and I also enjoy teaching Power Flow. My training emphasizes sequencing, alignment, and supportive cueing, and yoga has become an important counterbalance to the structure of my analytical 9-to-5. Running is a big part of my life as well, and yoga offers the recovery, grounding, and intuitive movement that help me stay balanced and connected.

When I’m not teaching or practicing, I enjoy creative projects and spending time outdoors around Wisconsin.