"It is RCDS that helped me recognize that after an extensive corporate career, I could reinvent myself and pursue a career in wellness teaching yoga."

René (RYT-200) is the owner and founder of Stone Bay Sol. She is a certified yoga teacher, specializing in Vinyasa Flow. She was first introduced to yoga in high school as a varsity athlete to complement and enhance her athletic performance. Her practice was on and off until five years ago when the traumatic and sudden loss of three loved ones followed by a divorce led her back to the mat. René has practiced at studios across the New York City area (Ta Yoga House, Bikram Yoga East Harlem, bodē nyc, Nueva Alma), and she completed her 200-hour teacher training at Hot Yoga Journeys in 2018.
René holds an undergraduate degree from Wellesley College and an MBA from Columbia Business School. She is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has served as an advisory board member for the Student Leadership Network. She has an extensive corporate background in strategy, marketing, and international business, and she has spent over 10 years on Wall Street. 

Is there something that you will always remember from your high school experience at RCDS?
The thing I remember most about high school at RCDS was just how multi-dimensional each and every one of the students was. We were all so different, with varying passions, interests, and callings. It was impressive to see classmates with hobbies ranging from dance, ice-skating, squash, debate, social justice causes, foreign affairs, musical theatre, and the arts—all of which were encouraged by teachers and administrators alike. It wasn’t lost on me that RCDS was a special place and that the support that I and other students received, even pursuing a broad range of interests, was uncommon, and I am grateful for it.   

Do you have a favorite teacher or class from your time at RCDS?
I have two! Ms. Margaret Callery, my Spanish teacher and advisor, holds a special place in my heart. As a teacher, she was firm, pushing all of her students to learn every possible conjugation of every verb under the sun, and refusing to explain or clarify anything in any language other than Spanish. It was painful at the time, but an exceptional and effective teaching approach. She also encouraged me to continue my Spanish studies beyond high school and was instrumental in my decision to double major in Latin American studies to complement my economics studies. 

Mr. Jon Rosenshein, my former English teacher, was also special to me. He was only a few years older than the students he taught, having graduated from RCDS just a few years prior. He was incredibly relatable, had a passion for teaching, and had a good heart. He was a good example of the RCDS motto, Not for Self, but for Service, and he demonstrated that through his commitment to serve at the The Storefront School in Harlem, where I also spent time as a volunteer in high school and throughout my college years.  

Are you still close to the friends you made while at RCDS?
Yes, absolutely! Joce, Vanessa, Melissa, Nicole, Lauren, Ellen, Ashley, Dave, Andrew, and more. Now thanks to social media, I’ve also been able to reconnect with some of my old teachers, my former principal, Mr. James Godfrey, and a host of other administrators. I am amazed that despite the different paths that we have all taken, our time at RCDS keeps us bonded.    

How did your time at RCDS shape or influence your college experience and your career today?
My time at RCDS allowed me to travel abroad with Ms. Mary Marcell and the choir, provided me a safe space to engage in healthy, challenging dialogue, and gave me the autonomy and confidence to know that I could, in fact, achieve whatever I set out to do in college and my professional career. That said, had it not been for the leadership and critical skills that were honed at RCDS and the broad range of experiences I was afforded, I would have been reluctant to pursue multiple high-profile international assignments right out of college. It is RCDS that helped me recognize that after an extensive corporate career, I could reinvent myself and pursue a career in wellness teaching yoga.  

Rye Country Day’s health and wellness initiative is committed to “the emotional, physical, social, and intellectual wellness of the members of our community.” As a yoga instructor in this field, what would you say about the importance of teaching our students today about leading a healthy and balanced life?
 
Bringing wellness and yogic principles into the school is an incredibly effective way of introducing mindfulness grounded in practice. It can be used to enhance kids’ social and emotional skills, such as the ability to identify, express, and regulate emotions—key skills for all ages, but particularly for children and young adults. Studies have shown—and I am living proof—that yoga and meditation exercises, including breathing practices, exercise, movement, drawing, journaling, concentration, relaxation, talk, and touch, can help reduce anxiety and depression, improve impulse control, and increase the mind-body connection. I am thrilled that RCDS has continued to support wellness initiatives and cultivate resources that maximize students’ resilience and support them in finding healthy ways to navigate life’s challenges.