Rebecca Childress

Rebecca (Becca) began her yoga teacher training journey with YogaFit in January 2013. She is an Army veteran who also served 12 years in law enforcement as a deputy sheriff before returning to the military community in February 2009 as a civilian in a counseling program at Marine Corps Base Quantico and later at Headquarters Marine Corps. In her work teaching anger and stress management and other life skill classes she began to take note of the many articles, research papers and personal testimonies pointing to yoga as a way to assist in easing the pain of post traumatic stress (PTS), addictions, anger, and other life stressors which ultimately led her to the teacher training journey. In addition to completing requirements for her 200 RYT, Rebecca has also completed over 140 hours of additional trauma informed training with the YogaFit for Warriors program. Additional trainings including Emotional and Physical Trauma; Yoga for Mood Balancing; Addiction and Recovery; and YogaFit Warriors Kids (childhood trauma). She is also trained as a facilitator for Coping With Work and Family Stress, Century Anger Management and many other life skill classes. Rebecca is a facilitator for the national non-profit A Window Between Worlds whose mission is to help address trauma through art and self-expression. She is a certified Wellness Coach and Sleep Coach and is currently studying towards 500 RYT with YogaFit. She was recently accepted into the YogaFit Apprentice Program in December 2018. Rebecca has offered yoga classes to service members participating in services for substance abuse; male service members participating in programs for domestic abuse; service members and family members seeking additional stress management tools for grief and loss, PTS and general stress. She works with female survivors (both adults and teens) of domestic violence and sexual assault both in the military and civilian community in partnership with local non-profit organizations (Empowerhouse) offering services for survivors. She has formed a strong partnership with her local chapter of Team Red White and Blue (Team RWB) which is a national non-profit enriching the lives of veterans through physical and social activity. Together with a local yoga studio in Fredericksburg, Virginia (Dragonfly Yoga) a free weekly class is offered for the local military community with a focus on stress management and relaxation. She has blogged about her experience in offering yoga to the military community for YogaFit. In addition to her strong focus on supporting military and trauma survivors she also takes some time to be playful in her teaching. She has offered yoga for Redskins players and community children for NFL Play 60 which is the National Football League's campaign to encourage kids to be active for 60 minutes a day in order to reverse the trend of childhood obesity and has offered yoga for local youth travel soccer clubs. She has written teaching scripts for Harry Potter and Star Wars themed classes to bring yogis of all generations together. Although now a suburb dweller, she is a West Virginia native and coal miner's daughter so she appreciates opportunities for fresh air and time to connect with nature. When not practicing yoga she loves to run - a hobby since her childhood. She's ran numerous half marathons and in 2018 decided to train for her first full marathon choosing the 43rd Marine Corps Marathon in DC. She credits yoga to training and finishing the marathon strong, happy, healthy and with no injuries. She is married to Justin who is also an Army veteran and they are parents to Luke and Blake. When not teaching or practicing yoga or running you can often catch her on the sidelines of travel or high school soccer games cheering on her sons. The Childress Family also opens their home to a number of four legged friends. Her yoga philosophy is simple - yoga is for EVERY body - allow it to be a part of your body, mind and soul journey. Namaste.