Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Estapa.
Rachel, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I see my life divided into two parts: before and after More to Love. Virtually, all of my youth was spent on trying to change my body-type into something smaller and more graceful. Any wins I had were temporary; I struggled against my natural body’s weight which affected my self-confidence. Tired, I eventually gave up on the myth that because I was bigger, I was broken, and chose to flip the script, asking ‘what if I worked on loving the body I had, right now?’
This new attitude opened a whole world of possibility to me, and More to Love’s mission eventually emerged from it. I’ve spent years deeply committed to personal growth and professional training to help untangle the complex web of body-image so many of us experience. For nearly a decade, I’ve had a regular yoga practice which has supported my journey to body-acceptance and knew that with the right combination of education and community, this approach to well-being could reach many more.
But let’s face it: the typical “yoga body” doesn’t look like mine, so I felt called to change that perception. In 2015, I created More to Love Yoga as a way to help larger people feel connected and respected in their bodies, any size. Now, More to Love Yoga has a robust community of welcoming people committed to the personal and communal practice of yoga and body acceptance.
In late 2008, I lost my job due to the recession and found myself 23, unemployed and freaking out. But honestly, I wasn’t happy with the career path I moved into post-college so I took this period in my life as a major opportunity to focus on what I did want to peruse, which was something in the realm of coaching, teaching but in the personal-growth area.
I decided to skip grad school and got trained as a life coach in 2011. I started my own small side business helping 20-somethings navigate life. I’ve taken courses in mindfulness, meditation, positive psychology, leadership development, and I’ve worked with coaches on marketing, business plans, branding, social media use. And I went to one of the best yoga schools in the world on full scholarship. Essentially I created my OWN graduate program of how to make something out of myself. I am constantly learning and pushing myself.
So looking back: I have over 1,200 hours of professional training across coaching, yoga and other personal-professional development related fields. I have taught over 1,000 individuals since fall 2015 in yoga alone. And personally, I spend a bulk of my own time developing my skills, personal-growth, mindset, etc. via reading, writing, and learning new things that interest me.
Has it been a smooth road?
I believe struggles are lessons because if something is hard for you, likely, there is a big value held within it. For most of my life, I believed that to be happy, I had to be smaller in size – this led to a cycle of dieting and shame, which brought plenty of struggles along the way – on my body, mind and self-worth.
But in hiding was a gift, too.
When I decided it was time to shift my focus from hating to loving my body, I felt free. But a new set of issues arose – how do I do I stay focused to my new-found power in a world that focuses so much on thinness?
So far a while, I was alone in my mission of body-acceptance but in reality, this strengthened my voice, my work, and resolve. I learned that it’s powerful to forge your own path and fumble through it, rather than wait for someone else to give you permission. Self-direction and learning from struggle is something infuse into More to Love’s offerings – I provide the opportunity for people to learn how to listen, trust and be true to themselves.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with More to Love – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
More to Love Yoga puts a premium on helping you feel comfortable, capable and confident in your body and yoga practice. We blend lessons of body-acceptance and yoga so that you can learn how to make yoga poses work for your unique body. On top of that, More to Love is a community of people who value a welcoming and inspiring place to share yoga and meet new people.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I live in Somerville, grew up just north of Boston (in Lynn) but consider myself a Bostonian – which to me, means have a balance between knowing your roots, but going forward in progress. I love that Boston has a deep pride for its history and contributions, especially in the realm of leading the nation in innovative ways to increase well-being for more citizens. Though Boston does feel too tied to the traditional ways of things, I am always encouraged by how many small businesses and people emerge from our area. Dislike? Well, that even as a successful, well-educated and resourceful young professional, buying a home here is a real hardship (and I know I am very fortunate) and that makes it a difficult balance to love a city, but also, feel like it doesn’t want you to thrive here.
Contact Info:
- Address: Arts at the Armory
191 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02145 - Website: www.moretoloveyoga.com
- Email: rachel@moretolovewithrachel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelestapa/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoreToLoveWithRachel
Image Credit:
M. Davidson-Schapiro Photography
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