Meet Rachel Stroud | Co-Owner and Yoga Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rachel Stroud and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachel, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Overall, I am risk adverse. Risk is not comfortable for me, nor do I trust it. However, I do know that a certain amount of risk is necessary and healthy, and sometimes even crucial for moving forward in this beautiful and messy life.

In yoga, I always encourage what I call “healthy risk.” This means within a pose, can you move toward healthy risk in discomfort, strength, or sensation? There becomes a point where the student makes a choice to stay within their comfort zone or to take the healthy risk of moving out of it for the benefit of growth in their mind, body and spirit.

Call it silly or call it wise, but I am encouraged by the moon when it comes to taking risks. The meanings of the phases of the moon often align with risks I take or do not take.

I took a risk in building Buffalo + Sparrow Yoga Collective with my friend Cole, back in 2017 when Trauma-Sensitive Yoga was unknown by most people. The belief we had in the need for this offering overrode the fear of failing. We trusted that the benefits provided would be worth the risk of starting a niche business in the yoga world.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
HI! We are Cole Schlam and Rachel Stroud and together we founded an informed yoga business.

What’s in a name?….PURPOSE. A buffalo will instinctively face a storm and run toward it in order to get through it quicker and with less suffering. A cow, on the other hand, will instinctively run away from the storm and end up running in it, prolonging it’s suffering. “Be the buffalo”, as they say…..well this takes courage doesn’t it? It also takes community, guidance and protection. Here is where the sparrow representation becomes vital.
A sparrow offers protection, community, guidance, joy, hard work and triumph. The buffalo needs the sparrow in this representation of a trauma survivor in order to courageously and safely move through the storm. An unlikely pairing becomes destiny’s match and safer path to healing and transformation.
Welcome to Buffalo and Sparrow Yoga Collective!!! You are welcome, you belong and you are right where you are supposed to be.

What is Trauma-Sensitive Yoga?
Trauma and stress are held within the body, regardless of whether or not the trauma occurred to the body specifically. While talk therapy and medication have both proven to be beneficial, there seems to be a missing piece in the holistic healing and recovery process. This is where Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TSY) comes in and yoga as a whole, and where it has proven to further the release of held trauma. Complete, permanent & holistic healing must be addressed at the core, in the body where the trauma is physically residing in order for thorough release to occur. TSY aims to provide a safer place for survivors to develop a renewed relationship with their body.

A typical TSY class will be very gentle in nature. It requires no prior knowledge or experience of yoga. It places emphasis on body awareness and breath. It encourages tailored choice throughout the practice, giving the student opportunity for empowerment and control. A student is always encouraged to make their own adjustments and modifications so they feel the optimal amount of safety.

Trauma-sensitive yoga is NOT counseling. It is an adjunct treatment to counseling/talk-therapy and/or medications. It’s purpose is to address trauma where it starts and/or where it is trapped within the body and to renew the survivor’s safety within their own body.

Through our own experiences with yoga, we have been able to experience relief in trauma symptoms. We have also found it a great way to re-engage with our own body, heart and mind in a careful way.

TSY is for everyone, it’s perhaps more valid to say “people-informed yoga”! Trauma is a part of life, but we do not have to live with symptoms from our trauma.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Day 1: Hike at Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Eat lunch at The Corner Beet
Take the light rail to Union Station and walk around. Eat ice cream at The Milk Box IceCreamery
Settle back at home for tea by the fire

Day 2
Take a yoga class from one of the amazing instructors at Buffalo + Sparrow Yoga Collective
Eat at brunch as Sassafrass American Eatery
Attend a musical at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Have coffee at Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters
Have dinner in and watch Netflix

Day 3
Hike the Enchanted Forest trail in Golden
Walk along Clear Creek with hot tea from Cafe 13
Sit at the park and read
Have dinner at Tamayo in Denver

Day 4
Meditate from home online with Hemali at Buffalo + Sparrow Yoga
Spend hours at The Tattered Cover Book store exploring, reading and drinking coffee
Head over the The Denver Art Museum
Have dinner and cocktails at Williams & Graham

Day 5
Take a bike ride at Bear Creek Lake Park
Have a picnic lunch afterwards
Go to a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Day 6
Take a yoga class
Eat lunch at Orion Poke
Spend hour at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Dinner at Farmhouse Thai Eatery

Day 7
Take a Rebel Groove dance class with Laurel
Paddle board at Bear Creek Lake Park
Lunch at True Food Kitchen
Watch a movie at Esquire Theater
Read books at Kaladi Coffee Roasters
Eat dinner at North Italia

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Janine D’Annibale https://janinedanniballe.com/index.html

Janine is a psychologist, yoga instructor, expert witness in sexual assault cases, advocate and my mentor and friend.

Website: https://www.buffaloandsparrow.com

Instagram: @buffaloandsparrow

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BuffaloandSparrow

Youtube: @buffalosparrowyogacollecti3799

Image Credits
Christina Patsiokas – Green Lion Images