We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rachael O’Brien a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Rachael, appreciate you joining us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

When I took my first yoga class in 2011, I immediately knew I wanted to be an instructor and studio owner—this felt like my calling. While all my friends went off to college, I took a different path. I dropped out, enrolled in a 200-hour yoga teacher training the next year, and began teaching at just 19 years old.

For years, yoga remained my passion and side hustle while I worked a mix of other jobs—after-school care, bartending, beach lifeguarding—you name it. I said yes to every yoga teaching opportunity, built a solid reputation, took on private clients, and formed relationships with others in the industry. I taught at over 30 different studios and gyms in 18 different states and 4 countries. I also traveled to train with as many teachers as I could, always looking to grow and learn more.
When I was 21, my dad asked, “Now that you’re not in college, what’s your plan?” I told him I wanted to be a yoga teacher. He knew I loved it and was good at it, but also recognized how financially unstable it could be. He encouraged me to apply for a local government job as a firefighter—where he worked—because it offered stability, benefits, and job security. Much less of a risky plan financially, even if it was physically risky.

I took his advice and became a firefighter and EMT. I was the first female in my department and served proudly for five years. While the work was rewarding, it never felt like my true purpose. I still taught yoga at the firehouse to my co-workers and around town—working in gyms, studios, and anywhere I could.

Then, one day after class, a student asked where she should take a local 200-hour yoga teacher training. When I said my teachers no longer offered one, she replied, “Why don’t you do it?” At the time, I thought only studio owners could lead teacher trainings, but with over a decade of teaching experience, I decided to look into it. I called Yoga Alliance, learned I could register a program even without a studio, and started developing my curriculum.

I had no idea if anyone would sign up for a $2,500 training with me. I had no studio platform to market from. But a friend offered me her art studio space for free, and I told myself—even if it’s just me and that one student—it’ll be worth it. I began marketing on my instagram and at my classes.

To my surprise, eight people signed up. Over the next 12 weeks, we built something magical. The work felt deeply aligned, joyful, and full of synchronicity. I knew then—this was what I was meant to do.

Then one night, during one of our scheduled training sessions, the local movie theater caught fire. It was a major incident, in a historic building and everyone was called in. I remember not wanting to go—not wanting to breathe in the smoke or put my body through that level of stress. I called in to goto work, and they said they had enough help. But it made me pause.
Firefighting requires full commitment and passion. And I realized, in that moment, they needed someone who truly wanted to be there—not someone with one foot out the door chasing another dream. Still, my mind pushed back: How will I pay my bills? Will people come to my classes? What about health insurance? It all felt too risky to leave a job I had worked towards for so long and many people wanted.

The next morning, I woke up with a stiff, frozen neck. Pain radiated down my side any time I tried to look over my right shoulder. Maybe I slept wrong—but I often teach about the mind-body connection and how the body can speak to us when something’s off. I looked up the metaphysical meaning of a stiff neck which was, “Being unable to see all of your options and paths.” I got chills.

So I prayed. I meditated. I asked for guidance. And I heard that old voice creep in—You’re too old to start over. You’re 29. You’ve made your choice. But I went to a yoga class and in meditation, I asked for a sign—any sign—about what to do. And a quote kept echoing in my mind:

“What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” – Mary Oliver.

I noted it, took a breath, and let it go. I brought my focus back to my breath and my body. When the teacher brought us out of meditation, she read a poem. That poem just happened to be The Summer Day by Mary Oliver, ending with the very same line:
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
I had tears in my eyes. That was the sign.

I put in my notice at the fire department a month later. I didn’t have a perfect plan, but I had clarity. I had trust. I knew it would be hard and scary—but I also knew I had to leap.
That leap led to the creation of True Light Yoga.

Rachael, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

True Light Yoga is a yoga studio located in Ocean City, New Jersey that offers yoga classes, boot camp-style fitness, workshops, teacher trainings, retreats, and community events. At the heart of everything we do are the three pillars of our studio: bliss, embodiment, and community.

Bliss
We believe that yoga should be joyful. At TLY, you might find yourself dancing during class or flowing to a themed playlist in our weekly offering, Heat, Sweat + Beats. We pride ourselves on creating an atmosphere where fun and spirituality coexist.
Yoga is an eight-limbed path, and the poses—or asanas—are just the third limb. The ultimate aim of yoga is samadhi, or bliss/enlightenment. We believe that bliss doesn’t have to be serious—it can come through laughter, play, music, or presence. Many students walk through our doors thinking yoga isn’t for them and a friend brought them for only one class, only to discover it’s more accessible—and more joyful—than they imagined and they do not want to live without it.

Embodiment
I first discovered yoga as a freshman in college, in the depths of an eating disorder and a pattern of self-destructive drinking. I was severely under-fueled, over-exercising, and ultimately injured my knee. Frustrated by my inability to exercise due to my injury my mom suggested I try a yoga class at the local JCC—and something shifted.
It was the first time I moved my body not to change it, but to listen to it. Yoga showed me that my body had wisdom. That I could befriend it. That movement could be healing and intuitive rather than punishing or performative.
This is a core value we bring into our classes, trainings, and retreats. At TLY, we focus on learning about your body—how it moves, how it speaks to you, how to honor it. You might be invited to move intuitively, try something brand new, or explore biomechanics in a way that helps you understand your body’s unique way of being. We teach beyond alignment cues of right vs. wrong —we teach presence, curiosity, and inner authority to honor your unique body + experience.
Our Yoga Teacher Trainings are built on that same philosophy. Rather than trying to mold you into a copy of us, we help you uncover your true voice as a teacher. We believe authenticity is what allows you to connect deeply and best serve others.

Community
From the moment you walk into our big, open space, you’ll be met with warmth—smiles, conversation, and a sense of belonging. We are a community that sees you and welcomes you exactly as you are.
In her book, “How to Be the Love you Seek” Dr. Nicole Le Parra writes that our body is wired to connect with others. Our body’s nervous system communicates with other people’s nervous systems through electrical hormonal and energetic signals that we can’t see but only feel. At TLY, we’ve created a space where those signals say: You’re safe. You belong. You’re not alone.
In a world where disconnection and mental health struggles are rising, we believe that this practice—and this community—can be a powerful antidote. Our mission is to help people return to themselves, regulate their nervous systems, and live more joyfully.
Everyone who stays with us long enough walks away knowing that they’re part of something—that they matter, and they’re more equipped to navigate life’s stressors.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I truly believe there’s something powerful about slowly building your reputation—being patient, putting in your time, and gaining experience—especially in the fitness and wellness industry.
By the time I opened True Light Yoga, I had already been teaching in the area for over 12 years. That foundation gave me confidence in my skillset and a clear understanding of what I was offering. Too often, I’ve seen people get certified and open a studio just a year or two later. But when you’re still developing yourself as a teacher or coach, your business often doesn’t know what it wants to be yet either.
I’m grateful that when people walked into True Light Yoga on opening day, I was a 30-year-old woman with over a decade of experience—not the 19-year-old dreamer just starting out. I’d had time to learn from so many different people, settings, and styles. I had put in my time and earned respect and support from other teachers in the area. I bring in more experienced teachers and physical therapists for our community to learn from. I am comfortable with saying “I don’t know” when I don’t. I think that builds a sense of trust with our clients. I have also taught in over 18 states and 4 countries, took trainings in Vinyasa Yoga, Ayurveda, Acrovinyasa, Leadership, and more. I’m currently enrolled in trainings on Chromatic Yoga, biomechanics, and yogic philosophy. I believe in being an eternal student and will never stop learning as long as I am teaching. I’ve studied Ashtanga, gone on retreats, and worked in more than 30 gyms and studios. From all of these work experiences, I collected the best parts of all of these—and poured that into the creation of the studio I’d always dreamed of. That time and experience, I think, helped build real trust and a strong reputation in the community.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

For me, brand loyalty is built through authenticity, not just aesthetics. More important than fonts or colors (though those can be fun) is simply being who you are.
Since opening, I’ve had lots of people—employees, clients, friends, family—offer advice on what I “should” do. It made me laugh, so I even started keeping a note on my phone. I’ve heard everything from “you should add Pilates and weights,” to “make classes shorter,” “make the room hotter,” and even “remove that lamp—it’s in your feng shui relationship corner and you’ll end up alone forever!” (Yes, really.)
So often, studios lean toward whatever’s trendy: all-white walls, generic decor, whatever’s current at HomeGoods or on Instagram. But at TLY, we’re committed to something deeper. The studio is called True Light Yoga because authenticity is at the heart of everything we do. And that’s what builds trust—when people walk in and feel that you’re real. They sense it right away.
Another thing that’s been key to staying connected with clients is our in-person offerings. While there’s a big push for digital content and online spaces, I know what works best for me—and for many of my students—is being in the room together. Moving. Breathing. Sharing space and stories. The depth of connection that happens face-to-face is irreplaceable, and we try to create as many opportunities as possible for that kind of presence and real-time energy exchange.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.truelightyoga.org
• Instagram: @true_light_yoga_ @rachaelobyoga_
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=true%20light%20yoga
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rachaelobyoga
• Other: https://www.google.com/search?q=true+light+yoga&sca_esv=d4acbba8fa1ce30c&sxsrf=AE3TifOrWutno6odcjjuK5t4GyT6A6hgYQ%3A1753122921348&source=hp&ei=aYh-aJe5E_f-ptQP-Kvd0Qg&iflsig=AOw8s4IAAAAAaH6WeU7yUyhbilP5cPr7PxWM84L895VE&ved=0ahUKEwjXkeTny86OAxV3v4kEHfhVN4oQ4dUDCBo&uact=5&oq=true+light+yoga&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6Ig90cnVlIGxpZ2h0IHlvZ2EyChAjGIAEGCcYigUyChAjGIAEGCcYigUyDhAuGIAEGMcBGI4FGK8BMgYQABgWGB4yBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeMgYQABgWGB4yBhAAGBYYHjICECYyCBAAGIAEGKIESJwQUABY2A5wAHgAkAECmAG3AqAB1hKqAQcyLjUuNC4yuAEDyAEA-AEBmAILoAKfDsICERAuGIAEGLEDGNEDGIMBGMcBwgILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwHCAgsQLhiABBixAxiDAcICDhAuGIAEGLEDGIMBGIoFwgIQEAAYgAQYsQMYQxiDARiKBcICEBAuGIAEGLEDGEMYgwEYigXCAhMQLhiABBixAxjRAxhDGMcBGIoFwgIKEAAYgAQYQxiKBcICDhAAGIAEGLEDGIMBGIoFwgIWEC4YgAQYsQMY0QMYQxiDARjHARiKBcICDRAAGIAEGLEDGEMYigXCAhYQLhiABBixAxjRAxhDGMcBGMkDGIoFwgILEAAYgAQYkgMYigXCAggQLhiABBixA8ICCBAAGIAEGLEDwgIOEC4YgAQYsQMY0QMYxwHCAg4QLhiABBixAxjUAhjlBMICCxAuGIAEGMcBGK8BwgIFEAAYgASYAwDiAwUSATEgQJIHBTIuNS40oAeAvgGyBwUyLjUuNLgHnw7CBwUwLjQuN8gHJQ&sclient=gws-wiz

Image Credits

Photographers
Nat G Photos , Shawn Zappo Photography, Ben Hale Photography