THE CONVERSATION
WITH
RACHEL RICHARDS
YOGA AND BREATHWORK EXPERT AND OUR TEACHER AT THYME IN THE COTSWOLD MARCH 2026
Let’s talk about stress - the kind that lives in your shoulders and doesn’t leave. How do we deal with it?
Real wellness feels quiet, steady, and sustainable. It’s not about doing more - it’s about coming back to yourself and tuning into your intuition. I like to use the word “wellbeing” rather than wellness, because it is a way of being (rather than “doing”)… it’s about living your life with more presence and less pressure. As human beings, our natural energetic state (when our body, mind and soul are in balance) is actually one of wellbeing, abundance and joy…yet the distractions, pressures and stresses in our modern lives often pull us away from this natural state of homeostasis.For me, wellbeing is about feeling safe in your body, calm in your mind and being able to breathe fully. This comes from nervous system care, self-trust, and choosing practices that support you ‘consistently’, not perfectly.
Right now, wellness feels louder than ever. What does ‘real’ wellness actually look like?
So many women are carrying stress in their bodies without even realising it - tight shoulders, clenched jaws, shallow breathing. It’s like the body is constantly bracing. Often it’s not just physical tension, it’s emotional weight too - the pressure to hold everything together. That’s why I focus so much on breathwork and gentle movement, because they help people feel safe enough to soften. We naturally spend so much of our lives in our heads - planning, solving, thinking, worrying (which inevitably takes us out of our presence); My aim is to help people come into their bodies through somatic practices and help them shift the tension and stress that so often gets stuck in our bodies.Acupressure and different modalities can help this shift too. It is about finding a blend of simple and accessible solutions that work for you.
Yoga began as a way for me to come out of my head and into my body—a space where I could slow down, breathe, and truly listen. Over time, it revealed itself as so much more than movement. Yoga and breathwork became a path back to myself and gently transformed the lens through which I see and experience everything. Through this practice, I learned how to meet life with greater presence, compassion, and trust; Allowing peace and contentment to arise not from external circumstances, but from within. This deep shift inspired me to share these practices with others, leading me to become a yoga and breathwork teacher and the founder of Wild Willow Wellbeing. It brings me profound joy to support others in reconnecting with their bodies, cultivating resilience, and accessing their own innate capacity for healing and inner peace.
You began life in Corporate Law - what then drew you to yoga?
What’s your idea of a perfect 10-minute practice?
My teaching is gentle, grounded and welcoming to all. I love weaving together breathwork, mindful alignment and meditation so people leave feeling both energised and calmer in their nervous system. I encourage people to explore the poses in their own bodies using the breath as a tool; Rather than finding the “perfect pose” - it’s more about awareness, connection and coming back to centre. I love both vinyasa flow and restorative yin; from the dynamic movement and strength of flow to the deep surrender and stillness of yin.
Something simple and achievable - especially on busy days. A perfect 10 minutes might look like:
* 2 minutes of grounding breathwork (like 4-5-6 breath)
* 5 minutes of gentle movement to open the spine and hips
* 3 minutes of stillness or a short meditation
It doesn’t need to be intense - the goal is to reconnect, regulate, and reset.
We are lucky enough to have you teaching at our Thyme retreat in the Cotswolds. How would you describe your teaching style?
Yoga has taught me how to listen - to my body, my breath, my intuition and my boundaries. Yoga reminds me that life is a constant learning journey, and every experience has something to teach us. Being fully present in each moment helps me to let go of expectations/ outcomes and instead open up to new possibilities and find contentment in the journey. Yoga has helped me soften the inner pressure and to recognise that our own energy is sacred. I now surround myself with people, places, things that give me JOY and fill me up, fill my cup. Who reciprocate with their own unique beauty.
What is the biggest shift yoga has taught you?
“Conscious Connected Breathwork is a technique where we breathe in a continuous, connected rhythm - without pausing between inhale and exhale. It can create a profound shift in how we feel physically, emotionally and energetically, and helps people access clarity, release emotional blockages and find a deeper connection to themselves.”
RACHEL RICHARDS
What does breathwork and sound healing do for you personally?
Breathwork can support you with stress, anxiety, emotional release, nervous system regulation, self-discovery and reconnecting to your intuition. It can feel like you’re creating space inside yourself - and once you create space, things can begin to move and change.
What can breathwork help with?
For me, breathwork and sound healing are such powerful tools to enable you to change your vibration and therefore bring your heart and mind into coherence.
Breathwork opens the pathways of your body, allowing energy to flow freely, while sound frequencies amplify healing by reaching deep into your being. Together, they create a profound resonance that balances your body, calms your mind, and nurtures your soul.
Here are some benefits that often last far beyond the session you take for yourself:
Calms mental chatter and brings clarity to your thoughts
Enhances focus and emotional resilience
Helps release suppressed emotions, offering deep mental and emotional relief
Relieves physical tension and stress by reducing cortisol levels
Improves circulation and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and self-healing
Balances the body’s energy field (vibration of the cells and organs)
Creates a sense of inner harmony, helping you feel more connected to your purpose and intuition
Raises your vibrational frequency, promoting a sense of peace, joy, and alignment with universal energy
What does “Breakthrough Breath” mean to you?
Breakthrough breath is about moving beyond what the mind thinks is possible - and letting the body and breath guide you toward what you’re ready to release. It is a very profound experience and has been described by clients as like 6 months of therapy in one session!!
“When you own your breath, nobody can steal your peace.”
ANON
What are you most looking forward to about leading the yoga and breathwork at the most beautiful hotel Thyme in the glorious Cotswolds?
Lots - but many don’t know that our hips in particular are not just physical joints, but emotional and energetic storage centres. From a yogic perspective, the hips are closely connected to the sacral chakra (Svadhisthana) - the energy centre associated with creativity, emotions, relationships, and even our sense of self-expression.
Many of us unknowingly hold unprocessed emotions, past traumas, and stress in the hips. Tightness in this area can symbolise resistance to change, fear of vulnerability, or suppressed emotions. When we practice hip openers, we’re not just improving physical flexibility - we’re also creating space for emotional release and energetic flow.
Beyond the spiritual, our hips are central to mobility, balance, and posture. As we age, maintaining hip mobility becomes crucial for preventing stiffness, pain, and injuries. Healthy hips mean greater ease in walking, sitting, and standing. They support the lower back and knees as well.
But the good news is that you don’t need to spend hours on your yoga mat to care for your hips. Simple, regular stretches and movements can release tension, improve mobility, and help clear emotional blockages.
What particular movements in yoga do you feel help clients the most?
There’s something incredibly powerful about women gathering to move, rest, nourish, connect, and rebalance-particularly when surrounded by nature. I can’t wait to be there.
"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you." - Anne Lamott.
THE CONVERSATION-Muses, Inspiration & Reflections
CLAIRE VERO
After building the award-winning skincare brand Aurelia, Claire Vero found herself burnt out and craving space to breathe. A life-changing retreat helped her reset — and inspired her to create The Collective: a series of transformative wellness retreats designed for brilliantly busy women.
SUSANNAH TAYLOR
Since forever, Susannah Taylor has been a guiding and trusted voice in the world of beauty and wellbeing. We absolutely love her soulful newsletter, The Glow Gazette, and her inspiring podcast series, Ways to Feel More Human-a journey into discovering what helps us thrive as human beings. physically, mentally, creatively, socially, and spiritually.
TARA LEE
Meet the exceptional first guest teacher of The Collective—the wonderful Tara. Beyond being an incredible teacher, it’s Tara’s energy and presence that instantly create connection. She has guided hundreds of students over the years, bringing deep care and expertise to every practice.
CLARE RICHARDSON
One of the most respected and sought after names in the fashion industry, Clare Richardson has had a long and successful career as a stylist and tastemaker working with brands such as Hermes, Balenciaga and Calvin Klein.
RHIAN TRUMAN
At The Collective, our retreats are all about pressing pause—reviving the body, rebalancing the mind, and reigniting the soul.
Having recently served as resident facialist at SOHO farmhouse and set to start her next residency at Marbella Club, we are in for a treat as Rhian joins our Menorcan retreat 22nd-25th October.
GABRIELLE ANAND
We asked Gabrielle Anand, a gifted sound practitioner based in Mallorca, to share her insights on sound therapy and the modalities she teaches.
Gabrielle will guide us through deeply intuitive sessions that combine somatic therapy, EFT tapping, quantum healing, meditation, and sound during our Menorcan retreat
