Rachel Whaley

I have always been inspired, motivated and liberated by movement and how movement is the essence of life. At 20 years old, during a Contemporary Dance Degree, I created my first site specific work which explored the intersubjective experience of movement and how the quality of such awareness of motion could affect an audience. It was clear that an embodied experience of movement created a sense of natural ease in both a person moving with awareness and all living things around a person. I became interested in the therapeutic, social and emotional aspects of mindful awareness of movement and was on a quest to discover a healing way of enjoying movement, motion and reconnecting with the alignment within any body. Not just a perfectly aligned dancer body. But how, any body could access more joyous ways of living in their body, how people can experience more ease in their body and mind. Over the years, particularly alongside my trainings in yoga these concepts became enriched with experience and skills and I began to help to support others, through bodywork to look at how to encourage motion, alignment and breath in the body and reduce rigidity and stress. To be able to breathe, those full meaty breaths where we feel as though we are breathing and expanding into the whole of our body including our brain is a rare, joyous and liberating thing and doesn’t seem to happen in our days as much as it should! At 29 I began studying Shiatsu and Traditional Oriental Medicine which allowed me to develop my knowledge of anatomy and physiology and explore pathology and put into practice my understanding and development of the nervous system, connective tissue and how Shiatsu works to re-balance a persons inner landscape in a deeply profound and transformative way. Having graduated as a Shiatsu practitioner in 2017 I set up a clinic in Sheffield and have practiced regularly, alongside running yoga classes and gatherings in between having two children. Alongside my clinic and family commitments I have assisted with the Northern School of Shiatsu for 4 years and recently begun my teacher training with Carol Dean, beginning my journey towards teaching Shiatsu. Whilst running my practice I have undertaken CPD training with Suzanne Yates in Shiatsu for maternity, including the postnatal period and Shiatsu for Infants. I have assisted two labours and regularly support women and babies and children through periods of growth and change with Shiatsu and bodywork. I completed CPD training with Kindy Kaur in Central Channel Release Technique (2021 & 2025) and Conception Vessel and Hara work (2022) including Ampuku (Japanese Hara massage) and most recently Shin Tai Cranial Sutures training (2025). It is my aim to advocate for Shiatsu and continue to offer this transformative therapy. To be here for anyone to reach out who may be in need of support on this big journey of life. Movement, motion and alignment = Joy!