Hello friends!
It’s been my honor to serve my community in so many ways over the past 22 years. My service has come through studying with advanced and senior level teachers from all over the world. I consider myself a yogi, Ayurvedic inspired chef, and outdoors enthusiast. It was early in my life when I started dealing with alopecia (I was 5), an autoimmune disorder that results in hair loss. The initial way I learned to feel confident in my body was through the physical movement of running. I was not super athletically minded growing up, but there was something about running that felt really good in my body. It let me be outside, moving through nature and so connected to my body and breath at the same time.
So, I started running longer distances and began training for marathons. As a devoted runner, I decided to try yoga out as a way to supplement my marathon training. No big deal… just a little stretching. Well it became so much more for me really quickly. Almost immediately, I recognized that the time spent on the mat and with others in the yoga community were invaluable aspects of my life and I committed to a daily practice. My yoga practice began in Santa Barbara, California in 1999 and has taken me all over the world to continue my studies. I’m so grateful to all the teachers that have guided me on my path to healing body, mind, and spirit.
I use yoga (physical postures, breathing practices, and meditation), as a tool to help students find their own personal way to heal and find strength in their unique bodies. My overall intention for each yoga class is to create an environment where one is able to discover something new about themselves through physical movement, connection to their breath, and accessible meditation practices.
An essential part of going deeper into the yoga practice is to find daily routines and habits that support everyday wellness. I also specialize in walking people through accessible ways to create those habits. Making sure that they fit with where someone is in their life at the current moment. One doesn't have to do an overhaul of their life to feel better. It takes just small changes to see huge benefits and my programs will give one the tools to do that. All of my daily lifestyle programs are designed with a lens of Functional Medicine and Ayurveda. I have studied in both fields extensively and am currently in the Principles of Ayurveda Program at the California College of Ayurveda with plans of completing the doctorate program by 2024.
I see food as medicine and that’s how I approach my teachings around food and nutrition. I have been cooking since I was a child and have the fondest childhood memories of being in the kitchen with my mother. My mother taught me so much about appreciating the food I’m consuming and making it taste really good. When I cook, I try to make sure all my food is made with clean sustainably sourced ingredients. There is special attention to increasing digestion for each meal. Through my recipes, I hope to guide one towards feeling really good in their body and find a sense of appreciation for what they are eating.
Another focus of mine is researching Integrative Medicine and Palliative Care. I’ve dedicated over 12 years to implementing and managing clinical research at large academic medical centers. It’s important to me to create a bridge between western and eastern medicine.
I look forward to guiding you on this path of health and healing.
Namaste,
Nicole
