About Founder

Originally from Denver, Colorado, Rachel (aka Andrea Rachel) moved to Maine to study at Bowdoin College in 1993. After receiving a double major in International Relations and Spanish in 1997 she returned to Colorado and pursued an 8 year career in program development for several non-profit organizations like, The Denver Film Society and The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. During this time Rachel began seriously practicing yoga, having started by herself back in High School out of an Iyengar book.

In 2004 Rachel decided to quit her full time job to teach yoga and pursue her yoga business called, OmPass. OmPass was created with the intention of making yoga more accessible for people. Yoga changed her life and she had already witnessed it changing the lives of many others too.

Rachel attributes perseverance, patience and devotion to the success of OmPass which has appeared in top national magazines like, Health, More Magazine and Yoga Journal, and also earned a spot on the Today Show. Most recently Rachel's company was invited to produce the first ever yoga health festival in conjunction with a Democratic National Convention where she worked directly with the political and yoga savvy, Russell Simmons and Arianna Huffington. Rachel was also invited by Green Festivals in San Francisco 2008 to produce a collaborative Yoga Festival. Rachel is also the founder of Intuitive Yoga and Yoga in 30 seconds, simple yoga systems designed to help people better connect to their bodies. She has made several national appearances at yoga festivals and yoga studios, and on local news stations to discuss the benefits of yoga.

Rachel currently studies with advanced Iyengar instructor, Kevin Durkin, who has himself made many trips to India to study with the Iyengars, BKS and Geeta. Kevin has taught Rachel her most valuable yogic lessons involving those of yoga technique, philosophy, discipline, the mind-body-spirit connection and the acute precision of asana through strength and alignment over flexibility. Rachel has practiced yoga with over 20 nationally acclaimed instructors including, Gurmukh, Shiva Rea, Aadil Palkhivala, Seane Corne, Patricia Walden, David & Sharon Life, Saul David Ray, Duncan Wong, Maria Patella (Anusara) and many more...Most of all, Rachel is a full-time yoga student in and out of class, and continues to learn each day and be humbled by endless yogic teachings in life.

Rachel is a certified Hanna Kroeger holistic health practitioner and Health Intuitive. Her broader vision is to help empower others into creating their own health and together creating a healthy planet. She works with students individually, in group or corporate settings and travels nationally to present her Intuitive Yoga workshops and to consult for studios. She incorporates much of her Intuitive healing techniques into her yoga workshops in order to help people explore their boundaries of yoga, health and life... Rachel is currently in Patagonia, Arizona working with Elaina Love and Pure Joy Planet. She is also working at the Tree of Life Raw Rejuvenation Center where she has taught yoga and worked in the Raw Gourmet Cafe. She now works on marketing projects directly with the Tree Of Life General Manager. She also studies under Tree of Life director, author and Raw Food Pioneer, Rabbi Gabriel Cousens, MD - a student of Muktananda. Lastly, Rachel is also filming and directing a documentary, The Raw Natural.

"As I took class from Rachel I realized that I had been searching for someone like her for many years. Rachel and I went to work together and my body took on a dramatic change, my mind became more powerful than ever, we would get together and spend time perfecting poses and learning how to meditate. It was some of the very best time I have ever given myself! I thank you Rachel for all the teachings and the morning Chai Tea." Motenia Deauver - Denver Colorado

Email Rachel at rachel(@)ompassyoga{dot}com

2008 Photos Courtesy David Weihnacht