Today, more than ever, wellness is at the forefront of societal discussions. From mental health to physical well-being, women are making significant strides in bringing about change, introducing innovative solutions, and setting new standards. Despite facing unique challenges, they break barriers, inspire communities, and are reshaping the very definition of health and wellness. In this series called women in wellness we are talking to women doctors, nurses, nutritionists, therapists, fitness trainers, researchers, health experts, coaches, and other wellness professionals to share their stories and insights. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Rachel Levine.
Rachel Levine is the founder and owner of Intuitively Wild, a lifestyle brand that helps people live a truly healthy life, one guided by authenticity and intuition with confidence and intention. As a Yoga Therapist, Herbalist, Human Design guide and writer, Rachel’s intention is always to help others deepen their sense of connection: to themselves, others and nature. She has studied with several experts in each of these modalities and is constantly deepening her knowledge.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?
In high school, I began to realize how I had been living my life. I was following the status quo and staying small in order to fit in, and it just wasn’t working. That was when I began to disconnect from others and rediscover who I truly was. While I felt isolated at the time, it was a turning point in my life. That is when I found yoga, my first love. At a young age I became immersed and obsessed with it. As soon as I could, I took my first teacher training and began teaching classes shortly after that. My love for yoga and spirituality took me all over the world and I’m so grateful for that time of discovery and exploration. However, the yoga world also took me deeper into my perfectionistic tendencies. I had struggled with an eating disorder when I was younger, and it started to resurface, gradually taking hold again. As I began my journey of recovery I had to begin to question everything about who I thought I was and what was important to me. My love and connection to yoga never wavered, but I did have to reform my relationship with it. Through this process I found myself craving new outlets to ground me. This is how I found Herbalism. Herbalism connected me deeply to nature in a way I never thought possible. While studying with my mentor in England, I learned about the power of herbs in healing and how seasonal living allows us to honor our natural cycles and energies. But there still felt like a part of the puzzle missing. This is when I dove into the system of Human Design. I learned about it years ago, but suddenly I could not get enough of it. Human Design provided a roadmap for authentic and aligned living that could support us all. Through my experiences, I was able to find a lifestyle that connected me to myself, nature and others authentically and intentionally. Suddenly, I found myself feeling more well, alive and truly happy than I ever was.
No matter what came my way, I always knew my path was unfolding in order to be able to create something to help others. Building my lifestyle brand, Intuitively Wild, is my offering to this world. It allows me to pursue my intention and purpose to help others reconnect to themselves.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?
The most interesting aspect in my career so far for me, is how my business has required me to confront my greatest fears in order to achieve my deepest desires. My comfort zone is to be very independent, always doing my own thing, on my own. However, my business has revealed to me that my purpose lies largely in connection, and that I am pulled to create ‘community.’ Similarly, my dreams for my business move forward when I am collaborating and connecting with others. Very rarely have I been able to manifest my intentions fully with my business unless I am out in the world, in connection and community. It has been so interesting to watch the development of my business require me to push past my comfort zone time and again in order to pursue my path. I have learned that our dreams ask us to lean into trust over everything else. If I let fear, doubt or external noise get in the way, it fogs my path. When I can trust my intuition, timing and energy over all else, I can stay connected to my path despite the discomfort and fear.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Honestly, the biggest mistake I’ve made is not being confident in myself and not unabashedly sharing my message. When I first started out, I noticed a common theme show up for me. I would keep myself quiet, small and hidden even though I wanted my business to be seen, known and impactful. I found myself holding back from sharing about my business, my offerings and my message because of fear. I assumed other people were already out there, way more qualified and established, who were doing it better than me. I didn’t want to take up space, be judged, be misunderstood… I was worried about being seen.
As I began to unpack this, I learned that in order to truly follow my path, I had to push up against my comfort zone. I learned I had to practice what I preach, trust my intuition above all else, and not let my fears get in the way. Owning an intuitively driven and intentionally designed business requires me to show up in full alignment with my values, and it requires me to remember the whole point, that this business is not about me, it’s about helping others live intuitively wild. The more I shifted focus from my own fears and to the purpose of Intuitively Wild, I was able to prioritize the actions it would take to get me there, no matter how scary or uncomfortable.
Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?
What we need most in this world is true, deep connection: to ourselves, others and nature. That’s why all of our offerings at Intuitively Wild are rooted in the intention for connection.
Intuitively Wild allows us to explore, discover and uncover how to become and show up as our most authentic selves; and then commit to this truth with unwavering vulnerability and strength. Intuitively Wild helps us all create a life that is so deeply rooted in who we are, that no matter what comes our way, we can always take care of ourselves and return back to our center.
Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.
1 . Rituals vs Routines - Words hold so much power. To me, routine is associated with rigidity, control and discipline. Moving through life on autopilot and simply going through the motions; which is totally fine and necessary at times. Rituals, however, are about intention. Rituals are intentional, purposeful, and personalized. They are done with presence and purpose in mind and therefore bring us back to ourselves and what we truly need. I believe we can all benefit from more rituals over routines in our life. More intentional action versus autopilot living.
2 . Devotion vs Discipline - Again, another example of the power and energy behind a word. I was long praised for my discipline, when it was that very discipline that was harming me. Now, I have shifted my focus to what I am ‘devoted’ to. Discipline also holds the energy of force, control, rigidity and perfectionism. In fact, the definition of discipline is “the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience.” Devotion, on the other hand, is about pouring our energy into our values, what we care about, what our hearts desire. The definition of devotion is “love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause.” Just through these definitions you can see the difference. When we focus on taking action towards what we are devoted to, we do not have to worry about forcing ourselves to be disciplined.
3 . Intentions vs Goals - Another word our society has grown fond of is, goals. Especially as the New Year rolls around. We are told to always have goals, to always be aiming for greater external achievement and progress. This hyperfixation on goals undermines the deep sense of connection and fulfillment that comes from living a life guided by our intuition, authenticity, and purpose. Intentions, on the other hand, are actions based on our values, guided by our intuition, and aligned with our authenticity. Whether or not you are achieving your goals externally, your intentions keep you connected to yourself in each present moment.
4 . Focusing on how something feels over how it looks - Our society and culture, especially in the health and wellness world, tends to be aesthetically driven. We are given rules and steps to follow in order to achieve a certain health standard. But, more times than not, those rules and steps don’t work for us and if we were able to tune in to how our body was responding to these steps, we would notice that. However, we are told to follow other people’s guidelines versus our own body signals. When we connect back to our body and how it feels, we can decipher what does truly work for us, personally, and find our own steps towards health.
5 . Nourishment Assessments - In order to live in alignment with our values, we have to have clarity on, and connection, to what those values actually are. Nourishment Assessments are a journaling practice that help us create our core values, and then check in on how connected we feel in regards to each value or area of life. The simplest way to do this, is to look up a list of values online, and get grounded in what your top five are. Then, as a weekly, monthly, or yearly ritual, journal on your connection to each value. This will help you then create your intentions, take action with devotion, and stay connected to how your life is feeling for you, versus how it looks to others.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?
The movement for true self-understanding and acceptance. I believe so much disease and misalignment in our life comes from the pursuit of someone else’s version of health. When we are able to tap into who we truly are, what we truly need and want, and pursue that with confidence, we are led to the actions that are meant for us. Allowing us to align with OUR true embodiment of health.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?
-
You’re going to doubt yourself almost daily. It’s crucial to know and stay connected to your values and intentions.
-
If the path before you is clear, it’s probably not your own. Forge your own path, make your own rules.
-
Only follow advice that feels helpful for you. Leave the rest and quiet the noise.
-
You have to be your own biggest vision holder and supporter. Sometimes no one else is going to understand your dream. You can’t let that deter you.
-
With that being said, it is crucial to surround yourself with people that do believe in and support you.
Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?
I am extremely passionate about the importance of a strong and steady mental health. I believe mental health is a core pillar of health and wellness, and without it I don’t believe we can be truly well. I spent years transfixed by the goal of perfect health. I perfected my routine, my diet, my exercise schedule… only to end up the most unwell I have ever been. My pursuit of health almost killed me. On the outside everyone praised and encouraged my lifestyle, but appearances are only surface deep; what is happening in our minds is the true reality of the situation. My own mental health journey has allowed me to understand this truth and to prioritize supporting others to delve deeper into what they need to maintain their mental health.
What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?
intuitivelywild.com
Intuitively wild the podcast
Intuitively Wild on substack, instagram and youtube
