"The Happy Back Training with Rachel was an incredibly valuable experience. It has
given me more confidence teaching my classes, knowing that I can safely instruct
students who come to me with back pain. I was able to start using Rachel’s
therapeutic sequences immediately in my classes and my students are very happy!
Thanks Rachel!"
- Julia Chen, RYT San Diego, CA
"I was completely impressed with the Happy Back program. It is a well-structured
curriculum that provides a highly dynamic learning environment and prepares
students well for the challenges of assessing, treating, and instructing clients on the
health and management of their spine. As a physical therapist new to the
therapeutic aspects of yoga, I felt it was highly valuable, very applicable, and
tremendously thought provoking. Rachel is superb, her teaching is outstanding,
entertaining, relevant, and genuinely instructive. How lucky we are to do what we
love. Take this class. Two thumbs up!"
-Barbara Shirts, PT San Diego, CA
“Rachel is a teacher’s teacher. As a seasoned physical therapist and healthy back
expert, she brings a broad base of knowledge and the confidence that comes from
experience, to every injury and interaction. Her gentle way and healing hands have
helped me manage my back issues and her full and purposeful life inspire me to live
my life mindfully.”
-Shauna MacKay, BPE, RYT-500 San Diego, CA
“As a health care professional, Rachel brings in-depth knowledge and insight to her
teaching that is an invaluable benefit to her students. Her expertise regarding
musculoskeletal mechanics and pathology, combined with her compassionate
instinct as a healer, form the perfect union of precision and tenderness. It was my
privilege to study with Rachel and I gained an enhanced expertise and skill in yoga
therapy, anatomy and kinesiology. This training is essential for any yoga teacher
seeking a deeper knowledge of how to safely and competently guide students with
injuries and joint problems safely through their yoga practices.”
-Ingrid Yang, author of Hatha Yoga Asanas, yoga teacher, and medical student
Chicago, IL
” After the very first time I used Rachel’s instruction to free up the shoulders and
neck several of my students said they felt relief from persistent and long term
tension and pressure. The simplicity of the poses made them useful for each and
every student with a minimum of adjustment, which is great for a relatively large
class. It works like magic. ”
-Aliza Herbst, Yoga Teacher Jerusalem, Israel
“Rachel’s workshops combine sound scientifically-based knowledge with the
wisdom of Yoga. Rachel is an eloquent speaker, a natural teacher and a gifted
healer. I felt like I learned more than I expected to learn in an experiential way and
had a lot of fun doing it.”
-Christine Carr, MSPT, COMT, RYT Denver, CO
“Rachel Krentzman is a widely trusted practitioner who combines scientific
knowledge with yogic intuition to provide a full complement of treatments for the
back, neck and shoulder. As a “patient” with scoliosis I can attest to the skill with
which she examines the spine, hips and shoulders, and prescribes appropriate
exercises to release tightness and relieve pain. As a yoga instructor who learned so
much from her weekend long workshop, I deeply appreciate the detailed anatomical
knowledge her training as a physical therapist has given her. Rachel also has a rich
background as a Purna Yoga teacher and possesses natural sympathy and kindness
toward students. No wonder she is so respected in San Diego!”
-Anne Marie Welsh, Ph.D., RYT Writer, Editor and Founder of the Saraswati Way
La Jolla, CA
“Krentzman’s Yoga for a Happy Back DVD is a wonderful support for students
looking for a solid, therapeutic sequence to practice at home. Research has
demonstrated such a tool increases ongoing participation in a home asana practice.
The DVD is laid out in a logical sequence, using three models of varying
ability/mobility in order to clearly demonstrate adaptations and modifications of
the asana. The two camera views give the viewer a well-lit perspective of alignment,
support and body placement. Divided by type of asana, each section can be part of
the entire series or stand alone as a shorter practice. It was particularly nice to have
a narration with a solid, professional tone and no dreamy, elongated “yoga voice”.
Careful detail is given to the use of props and other supports without impeding the
series progression. Especially noteworthy is the care taken to walk the student back
out of the asana safely where so often the viewer in other DVD’s is left to find their
way out. Next time someone you know is complaining of back pain, send them to a
qualified yoga instructor and suggest they pick up Yoga for a Happy Back to find
their way home to freedom of movement again!”
-Matthew J. Taylor, PT, PhD, ERYT, Past president of the board of directors of the
International Association of Yoga Therapists; founder of the Matthew J. Taylor
Institute of Scottsdale, AZ. www.DrofYoga.com Scottsdale, AZ
“As a power vinyasa yoga teacher, the yoga that I teach is very dynamic and often
flows from pose to pose in a “one breath, one movement" sequence. Taking Rachel’s
Happy Back Training enhanced my skills as a power yoga instructor: sharpening my
skills of giving proper alignment in the most comprehensible terms, knowing
excellent modifications for those who require it, better understanding of the fine
details of anatomy, and an increased awareness of how to address the needs of
practitioners recovering from injuries ranging from pain in the joints to the back to
the neck.
Rachel’s class is interactive, organized, fun, and filled with hands on techniques that
we practiced on one another. We were given fantastic sequences to use in our
teaching for specific issues. The training has been invaluable to me as both a teacher
and a practitioner of yoga.”
-Sherilyn Mandelbaum, Yoga Instructor and Owner of Your Yoga Ra’anana, Israel
"The wisdom and expertise shared by Jaimie and Rachel has been such a tremendous
gift. In these ten days, my personal practice has shifted to become much safer,
smarter, and sustainable. In my group classes and private sessions, I feel much more
well-equipped to offer modifications and sequences for specific spinal ailments."
"The Yoga for a Happy Back Teacher Training has allowed me to better integrate my
yoga therapy knowledge into my osteopathic medical practice. I gained new insights
into the therapeutic application of functional anatomy principles through yoga
asanas. I will be bringing many of these techniques back to my practice. I know my
new knowledge will be of great benefit to my patients!"
-Laura Sobiek DO, San Diego 2015
"I now know the anatomical reasons why I teach certain poses. I understand how I
can better help my students. And I am now my own testimonial of how Happy
Back can heal the body and soul since in just 10 days I have been able to make
enough progress physically where I can squat beyond a 90° bend in my knees.
And I have learned so much about myself and what I can work on in order to lead
a happier life. Basically I'm more in tune, than ever, about what causes me stress
and what flares my injuries. Thank you for this life changing experience!"