Rachel Coppola is a yoga and meditation instructor with over two decades of experience. She first came to the practice while living in New York City and dancing on Broadway. Meditation provided (and continues to provide) the calm center within the busyness. Rachel’s guiding principle is the belief that “yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self” and it is through bearing gentle witness to all the realities of our being—the joys and the sorrows—that inner peace can be realized.
Rachel’s meditation classes draw from a wide range of philosophies, traditions, and teachings and she supports her students in building a practice that works for them. In Rachel’s yoga classes, she teaches people to understand their bodies better, to find what currently exists for them physically and mentally. Whether it’s the need to unwind from excess stress, build more strength and flexibility, heal from injury, change a habit, build energy or just have FUN. Self care is all one needs to find balance, good health and abundant happiness.
What is your bedtime ritual?
My bedtime routine shifts with my mood and my family schedule. However, it does often include a cup of chamomile tea, a little reading time and without fail, my heat pack. A yummy rice and bean filled sack that I heat up in the microwave and place under my back for warmth and relaxation. Once the book is down, I use my eye pillow for deeper relaxation and off to sleep I go.
In the last 5 years, what new belief, behavior or habit has most improved your sleep?
The last five years I have been even more dedicated to my meditation practice as well as restorative yoga. Slowing down the body and mind. I find it is a huge help for calm mind and body, therefore, it is a natural sleep aid.
If you have had a particularly challenging day and your normal bedtime routine isn’t enough for you to fall asleep, what do you try next?
If I wake in the middle of the night or my daily routine has negatively affected my sleep I do legs up the wall with an eye pillow in my quiet yoga room until I get sleepy (which doesn’t take long) and then I return or head to my bed.
Restorative yoga is amazing for ones sleep!
What purchase of $100 or less has improved your sleep the most?
Some of my Best Buy’s under $100 for sleep are my eye pillow and lemon balm tincture (which aids in sleeping solidly through the night).
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Rachel Coppola
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