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How Authenticity and Openness Made Yoga Girl an Instagram Icon

Breaking stereotypes, inspiring realness, and embracing imperfection through the journey of Yoga Girl on social media and beyond.

By Medha deb

Created on Oct 2, 2025

How Being Real Revolutionized Yoga Girl’s Instagram Journey

Rachel Brathen, widely known as Yoga Girl, has become an emblem of authenticity, self-acceptance, and revolutionized wellness on Instagram. Her journey from a picture-perfect yogi sharing idyllic sunsets and flawless poses to a full-spectrum storyteller with nearly two million followers demonstrates the power—and necessity—of vulnerability on social media. This article explores how breaking the mold, sharing the imperfect moments, and listening to her own intuition helped Yoga Girl build an engaged community and led to lasting personal growth.

Yoga’s Stereotypes and the Pressure to Present Perfection

There’s a persistent myth in the world of yoga, especially on social platforms: to be a ‘yoga teacher’ or a ‘yogi’ means living a life of perpetual green juice, handstands on exotic beaches, and spiritual enlightenment. For a long time, Brathen admits she contributed to this illusion. Her early Instagram feed was carefully curated—filled with sun-dappled yoga poses, moments of calm, and only the lightest touches of real life’s messier details.

Yoga on Instagram often only shows the ideal.
Stereotypes pressure practitioners to hide anything not ‘on brand’ for wellness.
Authenticity felt risky but necessary for growth and connection.

Yoga Girl’s initial approach mirrored much of the wellness industry—highlighting the sunny moments and glossing over the struggles. Yet, she began to sense a disconnect between what she posted and how she truly lived.

When Authenticity Became a Game-Changer

Brathen’s transformation began when she realized she wanted to share the full spectrum of her human experience. “I made an effort to share the glasses of wine, the chocolate, and the bad things—so that it was about life,” she explained. This willingness to post about tough days, indulgences, and emotional lows was a radical act in an arena dominated by aspirational content.

Openly posting about emotional struggles, doubt, and setbacks.
Highlighting real moments: celebrations and disappointments, health routines, and hangovers.
Disproving the myth that true yogis never falter or face hardship.

This pivot had immediate consequences—she lost about 100,000 followers almost instantly. However, Brathen saw this not as a setback, but a “good thing,” reflecting, “It cleaned up my community.” She noticed the people who left weren’t genuinely invested; they wanted a fantasy, not authenticity.

The Value of Losing Followers

She welcomed the shift, explaining that she always aimed to inspire people towards healing and self-love, not just to maintain a superficial following fixated on beach scenes or a ‘blonde yogi’ ideal. The loss of uninterested or disengaged followers opened space for a more devoted, supportive community—one where genuine interactions could flourish.

Self-acceptance became central—imperfection was now part of the message.
The community became more interactive and connected.
Quality of engagement replaced the pursuit of a high follower count.

Body Positivity, Balance, and Rejecting the Mold

Brathen’s openness resonated particularly within yoga circles where body pressure and wellness perfectionism still run rampant. Her message was clear: “It’s ok to be who you are. You don’t have to fit some mold to practice yoga.” She revealed that her life includes guilty pleasures, occasional overindulgence, and moments of messiness, challenging toxic expectations.

Normalizing setbacks and self-forgiveness has become a core value.
Yoga is for everyone: ‘normal’ bodies, imperfect people, and all lifestyles.

Yoga Girl’s Top Lessons on Authenticity and Living Well

1. Representation Matters: Yogis of All Shapes, Backgrounds, and Stories

One of Brathen’s most profound lessons for her followers is that yoga is not just for the picture perfect. Sharing her insecurities, struggles, and joys made her more relatable and accessible, demonstrating that yoga is for everyone—not just those who resemble magazine models.

Genuine stories foster a more inclusive wellness community.
Encourages participation by people who previously felt excluded.

2. Healing Starts with Self-Acceptance

Brathen’s journey models the importance of radical self-love: accepting your body, your desires, your emotions, and your mistakes. She not only preaches these values but lives them in real time with her followers.

Promotes showing up as your whole self.
Encourages healthy boundaries online and offline.
Invites people to release guilt over inconsistency or indulgence.

3. Building an Engaged Community: More than Just Numbers

For Brathen, the magic of Instagram isn’t in the follower count, but in the quality of connection. She champions: “Having a real, honest, engaged audience over a mass of silent spectators.”

Meaningful dialogue and emotional support among followers.
Community-driven growth and learning.

The Power of Sharing Struggle, Not Just Success

Although many influencers may carefully curate their feeds to exclude hardships, Brathen intentionally chose to do the opposite. She discussed her struggles with anxiety, relationship rifts, and personal pain openly:

“I think wisdom comes from working through really hard moments.”
Honesty about suffering inspires others to talk about their own challenges.

This confessional approach demystifies the ‘yogi ideal’ and fosters real support networks, where followers feel empowered to share their own stories. For many, this move from aspirational to authentic transformed social media into a space of mutual healing.

Influencer Responsibility: Cleaning Up the Feed

Brathen touches on a little-discussed reality: women in wellness attract not just genuine fans, but also, inevitably, followers with less wholesome intentions. She embraced the loss of followers after becoming “more real,” knowing her mission was always to inspire—and not to perform. She encourages all influencers to consider the values their audience is truly attracted to and to actively foster a supportive, positive community.

Yoga Philosophy Meets Modern Self-Care

Brathen integrates yoga’s ancient tenets with modern self-care, advocating a holistic approach that values present-moment awareness, balance, and compassion over grind-culture perfectionism.

Yogic Principle	Application on Social Media
Aparigraha (Non-Grasping)	Letting go of the need for more followers, likes, or validation.
Satya (Truthfulness)	Being candid about struggles, success, and setbacks.
Santosha (Contentment)	Finding joy in the present, not perfection.
Tapas (Discipline)	Staying consistent with real, mindful sharing—even when vulnerable.

Her reflections emphasize that discipline in yoga isn’t just about pushing harder, but often about knowing when to step back and listen to your own needs. The true path requires tuning in—not tuning out the harder parts of the journey.

Integration of Self-Care and Sattva (Balance)

“We only have the discernment to figure out what we need if we’re checking in and turning inward,” Brathen shared. Meditation and yoga give us the space to sit with ourselves, listen, and truly heal.

Yoga Girl’s Advice for Navigating Social Media as a Modern Yogi

Embrace honesty: Show the full spectrum of your emojional life, not just the highlights.
Remember imperfection is powerful: Messy moments are what connect us.
Prioritize your wellbeing over pleasing the algorithm or amassing likes.
Be open-minded: Allow your feed—and your life—to evolve as your understanding grows.
Invite, don’t force: Attract followers who resonate with your message, not just your photos.

Work-Life Balance and Mental Health

Brathen openly discusses the importance of boundaries and digital detox. Her journey has been about finding balance between sharing online and protecting private moments, reminding followers that their self-care always comes first, both on and offline.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Does practicing yoga mean you have to be perfect or always positive?

A: Absolutely not. Yoga is about self-acceptance, and real growth comes from acknowledging and working through challenges, not pretending they don’t exist.

Q: Can being honest online reduce your follower count?

A: Yes, but those who stay are likely to be more engaged and genuine. Community quality matters more than numbers.

Q: How do I handle criticism or trolls on social media?

A: Maintain your principles, moderate your community when needed, and remember that not every comment requires a response. Keep your focus on your message and values.

Q: What if my life doesn’t look like a ‘typical’ yogi’s?

A: Yoga is universal and does not require a certain body shape, diet, or lifestyle. The practice is about personal growth and self-awareness, not external appearance.

Q: How can I start being more real on my own Instagram?

A: Start small—share honest thoughts, everyday struggles, and things that bring you joy or anxiety. Authenticity will attract a supportive, engaged community.

Inspirational Quotes from Yoga Girl

“Wisdom comes from working through really hard moments.”
“You don’t have to fit a mold to practice yoga.”
“It’s ok to be who you are.”

Conclusion: The Power of Realness in Modern Wellness

Yoga Girl’s journey is a beacon for anyone tempted to curate their life to perfection online. By bravely sharing her real story, Brathen has grown a community where healing, humor, and hope thrive alongside handstands and green juice. Her legacy is a reminder to all: realness is inspiring, self-love is radical, and there’s space for every messy, beautiful, imperfect story—on Instagram and in life.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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