An Origin Story
“Life sometimes brings enormous difficulties and challenges that seem just too hard to bear. But bear them you can, and bear the you will , and your life can have Purpose.”
Meet Natalie Rainer
M.S., RYT 200
Natalie is a community organizer, event manager, and yoga instructor based in Richmond, VA. In 2022 she survived and recovered from a fatal cycling crash, inspiring her to create Resiliency Yoga. Natalie hopes sharing her story of survival will inspire others to reimagine their own potential.
Community Organizer, Event Manager
As a native Richmonder and lover of people, Natalie believes her purpose in life is to serve our community. Over the past 15 years, she has worked to build accessible programming in her hometown. Natalie’s non-profit lineage includes the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, AARP Virginia, James River Association, Comfort Zone Camp, the Weinstein Jewish Community Center, Project Yoga Richmond, SwimRVA, and currently the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation.
Natalie studied Journalism at VCU, achieving her Master’s Degree in Strategic Public Relations from the Robertson School of Media and Culture in 2016. She is honored to apply her education in communications to increase public access to wellness and recreation programs in Richmond.
Her favorite aspect of working in the non-profit sector is the opportunity to collaborate with other passionate people. Working alongside community organizations like GRTC, Anna Julia Cooper School, Peter Paul Development Center, Church Hill Academy, the Alzheimer’s Association, Richmond Cycling Corps, etc has helped Natalie to build a deeper understanding of her fellow Richmonders.
Yoga Instructor, Wellness Coach
Natalie’s yoga journey began in 2009 when she stumbled into Sylvia Nofsinger’s Yoga/Pilates fusion class. Inspired to commit to a regular practice, Natalie attended classes at Project Yoga Richmond (PYR), Richmond’s only non-profit yoga studio at the time. Practicing with yogis of all backgrounds at PYR for several years deepened her curiosity. She completed her 200hr YTT in 2017 at Synergy Yoga Studio and subsequently stepping into the role of PYR’s Studio and Volunteer Manager. For the two years following, Natalie organized studio classes and large outdoor yoga events in Richmond, mobilizing a team of 75 volunteer yogis to increase access to yoga in the community. She continues to serve as an Ambassador for Project Yoga Richmond.
From 2019 to 2024 Natalie served as a programs manager for SwimRVA, working to dismantle systemic racism through swim programs Richmond’s East End. As a SwimRVA Wellness Coach she taught yoga and pilates classes, and offered personal Wellness Consultations.
Natalie offers a bi-weekly Yoga for Cyclists class at Blue Ridge Cyclery in Richmond. The proceeds from this class directly benefit Richmond Cycling Corps.
Athlete, Adventurer
During her upbringing, Natalie was deeply immersed in competitive swimming, training for 12 years with NOVA of Virginia Aquatics. She credits these years of intensity with teaching her self-discipline and the value of hard work.
Natalie moved to Hawai’i in 2016, diving into surfing and hiking as her hobbies of choice. Her favorite memories of living on the aina are filled with waterfall hikes, surfing by moonlight, Reggae shows at the Waikiki Shell, and swimming with wild dolphins on Oahu’s West Side.
After returning to the mainland, in 2018 Natalie took up mountain biking. By 2019 she was charging full steam ahead into triathlon, completing several sprint and Olympic distance races. She joined local race team RVA Racing in 2021, completing her first Ultra Endurance Marathon distance race with the Shenendoah Mountain 100k that year.
Natalie credits her sense of adventure and love of the outdoors to her bohemian, travel filled upbringing.
Traumatic Accident Survivor
On August 13, 2022, Natalie and her friend Jonah set out on an ill-fated sunrise road-bike ride. Just a few mins later at 7:30am, they were hit at high-speed by a drunk driver. Jonah was killed by the impact. Natalie sustained several life-threatening injuries and faced months of intensive recovery and rehabilitation.
By November she was back on the yoga mat and in the office full-time. By February she was cycling and swimming again, and by summer 2023 she was proud to have reached 90% Recovered.
Natalie shares her story of survival openly to increase public understanding of the impact traumatic injury. She hopes to inspire other people to stay positive and centered as they work through their own traumas.
Read More about Natalie’s story of survival and recovery here.
Watch VCU Trauma Center’s Shining Knight video about Natalie’s story on Youtube.