Rachel Smith (they/she) is a Licensed Massage Therapist and Integrated Prenatal and Perinatal Practitioner. They grew up on unceded Monacan territory known as Charlottesville, VA and have always felt deeply rooted in the community and in the land itself, particularly the Blue Ridge mountains. Smith attended the Virginia School of Massage and completed studies there in 2002. They went on to graduate from the University of Virginia with a degree in Studies in Women and Gender. Since their late teens, Smith has been involved in anti-violence work; they helped to found the Virginia Anti-Violence Project - an organization that addresses sexual violence, intimate partner violence and hate violence in the LGBTQ community. They also served on the state board of the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance for 6 years.

After having 2 (of their 3) children, Smith shifted the focus of their commitment to helping people in a more direct, hands-on way. Their own experience of birth helped change their relationship with their body; they knew after giving birth to their first child that the experience of being able to feel and trust into their body was transformative and life-changing. Given how challenging the prenatal and perinatal time can be, particularly for Black and Brown folx, LGBTQIA2S+ folx, neurodivergent folx and folx with disabilities, Smith knew they wanted to help other birthing parents feel supported and resourced around this tender time. They have been studying Prenatal and Perinatal Dynamics with Kate White since 2017 and have assisted in workshops and trainings she has held for participants coming from all over the world including Australia, Lebanon, Serbia, and California.

Smith offers in-person and zoom sessions that take a holistic, somatic, and trauma-informed approach to helping people address trauma and challenges in pursuit of living and loving their best lives.

Website: mindfulmassagecville.com

Prolyfyck Run Crew: https://prolyfyck.com/