Rachel Brathen

Rachel Brathen was born in Sweden on October 5, 1988. After completing her secondary education, she moved to Costa Rica, where she resided for three years and deepened her engagement with yoga. It was during this period that she became an early proponent of stand-up paddleboard yoga, commencing instruction in this practice in 2009. Her work in this area established her as a notable figure in the yoga community, contributing to the expansion of yoga practices beyond traditional studio settings. This foundational experience in Costa Rica marked the beginning of her career in yoga instruction and set the stage for her future professional endeavors. Rachel Brathen transitioned from a yoga instructor to a prominent figure in the wellness industry. In 2015, her book, “Yoga Girl,” became a New York Times best-seller, further elevating her public profile and popularizing the phrase “Yoga every damn day.” She subsequently founded Island Yoga Aruba, a yoga studio, and oneOeight, a yoga video service which secured over $100,000 in 24 hours on Kickstarter. Brathen also co-founded the non-profit organization 109 World. Her career progression included the launch of a podcast in March 2017, which achieved placement on the iTunes charts. By 2017, Forbes recognized her as an important social media influencer in the fitness category, noting her ability to command significant fees for social media engagements, such as $25,000 per Instagram post. In 2019, she published her autobiography, “To love and let go: a memoir of love, loss, and gratitude,” detailing her personal and professional journey. More recently, the Yoga Girl® membership platform officially closed, signaling a new phase for her brand, while emphasizing the continuation of the community she established.