The Awakened Recovery Team

“Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It's a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.” — Pema Chödrön

Chelsea Rappel, Somatic Therapist

Hi, my name is Chelsea Rappel (SEP, C-IAYT). I’m the founder of Awakened Recovery, and a gratefully sober person in longterm recovery. In my early life, I felt extremely uncomfortable in my own skin, and mistrusted my body and heart. To manage the pain, I turned to everyone else for approval and comfort, and later to alcohol, drugs and bulimia. Depression, anxiety, and shame colored my world. Little did I know that beneath all of these symptoms was a nervous system stuck in a trauma response. So when I joined my first yoga class in 2006, I never expected that this very body I had learned not to trust would be the entry point to more connection, comfort, and freedom.

Ever since that first yoga class, I have been on a journey to support my own embodied healing, and to help others do the same. My integrative approach draws from my extensive training in Yoga Therapy, Somatic Experiencing (tm), Drug & Alcohol Counseling, and Buddhist Psychology. Based on the revolutionary idea that the body keeps the score, my trauma informed, nervous system-based interventions -- such as awareness exercises and mindful movement -- gently guide you back into your body. The aim is to restore balance, safely integrate challenging experiences, and build lasting resilience for sustained recovery. In addition to my therapeutic work, I am a devoted wife and bunny mom, and love dancing and rock climbing! I look forward to the opportunity to support you.

Beth Foley, Yoga Therapist

Hi there, I’m Beth. And yoga was the catalyst for my sobriety.

I wandered into my first yoga class in rural Ohio nearly 15 years ago. It was here that the seed was planted, gently placed in a corner of my being that wouldn’t see light or water for many years—but it was there, patiently waiting for the right time to grow. That time came in my mid-twenties when I began questioning how my life was unfolding. I wasn’t feeling fulfilled in my career, I was constantly experiencing health setbacks, and I had a very unhealthy relationship with drugs and alcohol.

Beneath it all, I was yearning for more purpose, meaning, and connection. I found that through yoga and began immersing myself in all of the ancient teachings and practices I could hold. It was here that the rebirthing process began, slowly and gently transforming my unwanted patterns and shining the light of awareness into my darkest corners. And of course, that meant questioning why I was using drugs and alcohol to cope with my pain. This questioning occurred through mental inquiry, but more so through learning to listen to the wisdom within and truly understanding how I was holding emotional pain in my body. This ultimately led me to a path of sobriety, for which I am eternally grateful, and also to a radical shift in my life purpose-- a new call to share these skills and teachings with my community.

So here I am, a certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT), honored and excited for the opportunity to support you on your recovery journey. You can learn more about me and my work here.