About & Contact Details
Rachel Jackson
has been studying and practicing yoga for over 24 years and teaching for about 19 years. Her main teaching styles include Yin Meridian Meditation, Yoga Nidra Meditation, Slow Flow Vinyasa and a Therapeutic Approach to Hatha Yoga with focus on back breathing and a healthy spine. Her interest in yoga began as a teenager practicing Vinyasa Yoga of the Jivamukti Lineage. As her practice deepened, she began practicing Yin Meridian Meditation to balance out a vigorous vinyasa practice. It made such a difference in her practice and experience of yoga, that she took a training in this style in 2004 with teacher Tonya Zaloumis (original owner of Soma Yoga in Newport, RI). In 2006 she entered into the ashram of 7 Centers Yoga School in Sedona, AZ for a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Intensive. It was here she gained background in Kundalini yoga, Hatha Yoga, and the Shatkarmas (yogic cleanses) through the lineage of Swami Satyananda Saraswati. It was also here where she learned the basics of Ayurveda for supporting the yogic lifestyle. Since then, she’s gone on to study with Rama Jyoti Vernon (Co-founder of Yoga Journal) in applying the Yoga Sutras according to Patanjali, and with Sraddhasagra Hartung in Therapeutic approaches to yoga. Rachel went to massage school at the Northern Arizona Massage Therapy Institute graduating in 2007. She is a Licensed Massage Therapist, specializing in Traditional Thai massage, Shiatsu, and Reflexology. She has training in over 10 different modalities of massage and bodywork and often supplements these other techniques (such as myofascial release, craniosacral, tui na, cupping and moxibustion) into her work as needed. She has been a practicing Holistic Aromatherapist for the last 11 years, completing her Level 1 training/certification in 2014 and Level 2 in 2016. She has also completed training in the use of essential oils according to Traditional Chinese Medicine with David Crow along with a variety of other supplemental aromatherapy educational courses from a range of different schools, teachers and aromatherapy philosophies. She has studied medicinal aromatherapy for personal wellness for over 15 years and weaves this modality of healing into the rest of her work. Rachel has been offering specialty aromatherapy classes to educate and empower her students on their wellness journey for the past 6 years. She offers personalized aromatherapy consultations and rare and unique therapies with high quality therapeutic grade essential oils. Whether it be through yoga, massage or aromatherapy, Rachel aims to inspire everyone she meets to plant the seed for a positive change in their lives! It is her passion to support each unique individual she works with in remaining deeply rooted in their true nature and aligning with their Dharmic Self & Dharmic Life!
Zac Occhiline
has been studying and practicing yoga for over 27 years and teaching for the past 24. He was taught 3HO Kundalini yoga by Sraddhasagra Harthung and Anandasagra, founders of the 7 Centers Yoga Arts. They also introduced him to the lineage of Swami Satyanada Saraswati, which has its focus on a therapeutic style of hatha yoga, with deep roots in Tantric and Vedic traditions. Zac has also studied with Rama Jyoti Vernon, founder of Yoga Journal, and her approach towards breath, asana and meditation. Zac is a 500hr Certified Yoga Instructor, trained at the 7 Centers Yoga School, and was one of the core instructors for the 200hr Yoga Teacher Trainings there for over 6 years. He has taught sadhana, asana classes, vedic astrology classes, yogic cleanses, and counseled many students and clients over the years using the teachings of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras as a guide for life. Zac currently teaches with Sarah McLean as a core teacher in the Mclean Meditation Trainings teaching yoga as well as ethics according to the vedic yoga sutras. Zac's many years of diverse experience in his field, along with his love of nature, have given him a unique understanding of yoga and how to integrate it into all aspects of one’s life so that whoever he works with may become a more complete person.
Kat Cristofono
is our lovely assistant and operations manager here at YĀM Healing Arts. She has been supporting Rachel and the vision of YĀM Healing Arts in a variety of ways for over a year now. She has lived in the Verde Valley for 13 years with her husband and 2 children. She has worked as an occupational therapy assistant, serving children with disabilities and their families for 15 years. Her hobbies are hiking, riding, writing, gardening, kayaking and camping. She loves being in nature. She is currently working as a tutor for children with special needs. It is her passion to meet people where they are, to see them as whole and to walk with them through difficult times with compassion and care. Several years ago, she began a journey of self-discovery to learn better self care in a line of work that often can lead to self-neglect or overextending. She began studying yoga in September 2023 at Sedona Sol Yoga School of Vedic Studies with Ana Hansen and Melissa Camacho 200-hour teacher training where she was introduced to Hatha Yoga and Ayurveda through the lineage of Bihar, BKS Iyengar and S.N. Goenka. Through her studies she began to find balance in the care of herself and the care she offered to others. Zac Occhiline was a guest teacher and was instrumental in guiding her to practicing with Rachel at YĀM Healing arts.
She shares, “There is still much for me to learn, but every day I become more resilient, patient, and peaceful. Being a part of YĀM Healing Arts and working with Rachel has been a soft, steady light in my life. My hope is to bring my unique skills and perspective to support not only my community but also the YHA community in both subtle and profound ways. I am excited to see what our collaboration will look like as I continue to expand the ways I can support the growth and vision of YĀM Healing Arts.”
Contact
BUSINESS HOURS M-F 9-4PM -MST