Exploring Life & Business with Rachel Wilson of Embodying the 12 Steps: Kundalini Yoga for Recovery

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Wilson.

Hi Rachel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have practiced yoga since I was 11 and so it has always been a big part of my self care and emotional and physical well being. I got sober in my early 30s, and a few years later discovered Kundalini Yoga. Both 12 Step programs, and Kundalini Yoga, were instrumental in my getting and staying sober, and so I decided to try to find a way to combine the two to help others. Embodying the 12 Steps was born in 2018, where I began offering KY12 workshops at yoga festivals, and then to lead groups of women through the 12 Steps using the practices of Kundalini Yoga in 2020. During that time, I was working on writing and refining a Workbook so that anyone could use the KY12 program, and expanded the focus beyond addiction, to help anyone in recovery from any kind of problem. The Workbook was published in 2021. Since then, I’ve continued to lead groups of women through the Journey through the 12 Steps program online, as well as offered the practices at various non profit recovery centers, and sober living homes and rehabs, in the northern Colorado area. I also work with people one on one, in person and on Zoom, helping them work through various problems and addictions using the combined practices of the 12 Steps and Kundalini Yoga.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not a smooth road! In January 2019, I had gathered a group of women in Longmont to take them through a Journey through the KY12 Steps. Then the pandemic hit, and I quickly had to pivot to offering the bimonthly groups on Zoom. Since then, I’ve been able to reach people all over the world. And the videos that I made of the online classes I was able to compile into a self paced course that anyone can use to take themselves through the KY12 program.
Another challenge was that a book was published in 2019 that accused the leader of Kundalini Yoga, who died in 2004, of abuse. I had never met him, so I wasn’t personally involved, but it was still devastating to learn of the harm he had caused, and everyone in the Kundalini community was very much impacted by those revelations. I had been just about to publish my Workbook when that information came out, so I really hesitated to publish anything related to Kundalini Yoga. After a lot of soul searching, I realized that I could still help others using my own experience and the tools of Kundalini Yoga, and so I removed his name and quotes from the Workbook, and went ahead and published it. I’m so glad I did, as I know the Workbook and the program have helped many many people.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Embodying the 12 Steps: Kundalini Yoga for Recovery?
I work with individuals and groups to help them embody their recovery using the tools of the 12 Steps and Kundalini Yoga. Kundalini Yoga includes yoga sets, breath work practices, meditations, mantras and affirmations, guided visualization, work with the chakras and numerology, and more. The Workbook I created (both paper and electronic versions are available on Amazon) takes you through each of the 12 Steps and offers these practices to support your journey, as well as journaling prompts, lifestyle suggestions, and an alternative view of each of the 12 Steps. I also created a self paced video course that takes you through all 12 Steps. And every year, I offer a guided Journey through the 12 Steps for Women on Zoom. I am available to support clients in recovery centers, rehabs, hospitals, and any other program that works with addiction. I keep my rates and courses very affordable, and I do offer sliding scale and pro bono services as well. I’ve also written several blogs for my website, and guest blogs for other publications. You can find everything at: https://www.ky12step.com.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
My mission: To share the practical wisdom of the 12 Steps with yoga practitioners, and to bring Kundalini yoga sets, meditations, and lifestyle ideas to people in 12 Step programs or in recovery from addiction, dysfunctional behavior, health issues, or difficult relationships. This program helps people in recovery learn to use their body in the recovery process, as well as facilitates a safe and supportive community for yogis in recovery.

Pricing:

• Workbook: EBook: $15
• Workbook: Print: $18
• Video Course: $150

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ky12step.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KY12Step