Hi, I’m Nic
I began my Yoga journey at 17yrs old, I was a gymnast from 5yrs old, was super flexible, loved being upside down ~ so early on I felt like ‘I did Yoga really good’ ;-) Whilst the physicaI side of Yoga drew me in there was an underlying spiritual curiosity. I spent 13 yrs exploring Yoga and Meditation with some incredible and diverse teachers, going to Ashrams, practicing various styles Iyengar, Ashtanga and Bikram. There was so much to learn and experience.
When I turned 30 in 2004 I decided it was time to study and found the perfect Teacher Training for me with the Yogalates Academy. It combined Yoga with Pilates, the anatomy and functional movement was thorough (I was already a massage therapist and this was right up my nerdy alley), it challenged the stabilisers in my already too flexible imbalanced body … and I got to live in Byron Bay for a year. I was surprised to learn I was a ‘reverse breather’ and had terrible posture. I was compensating in every way possible in movement (perhaps due to combination of hyper-mobility and a super-determined mind). I had no stability in my joints nor core strength. I’d known pain since I was born, I was just used to it. I always thought “I was really good at the poses”…..and with most activities I attempted. I thought pain was just meant to be endured.
I had never given any thought to ‘HOW’ I did the poses, nor that I could do anything about the pain I was in, nor wondered HOW I breathed, because I just did. This immersion was a game changer, I spent the entire year starting from scratch with my body and my breath.
The training taught me Yoga is so much more than the postures and stretching. It’s integrating feeling present and connected into our everyday lives. I teach breath awareness in both mindful movement and in stillness to find your Yoga (or ‘union’). In mastering our breath we get to ‘know’ our mind, we can discern from thoughts, fears and ego, allowing connection with our true nature. Making our choices from here creates more of what we love, we are less impacted by the external and know more intimately the internal.
Having supported 1000s of clients over 20+years as a Yoga Teacher and Bodywork Therapist I have witnessed to be true that 85% of us do not breathe well. HOW WE BREATHE REALLY MATTERS. I still cannot understand why it’s so undervalued as it influences our every system in the body including heart rate, digestion, nervous system, our postural alignment, core support and pelvic floor!
Breathing well will positively impact EVERY SINGLE ailment or condition you can name, even provide pain relief. I’ve learnt to breathe and move functionally and it has changed everything, including my mindset, life choices and experiences.
Since birth I had physical discomfort in many areas of my body; from hip dysplasia and wearing plaster casts and calipers until 4yrs old, scoliosis and lumbar spondilolysthesis, neck issues, frozen shoulder, numerous knee dislocations, digestive dysfunction and pelvic pain….with an underlying anxiousness of doubting who I was, how to fit in and how to do life. I’ve moved through these as well as painful injuries, surgeries, stress, grief and life’s challenges with immense gratitude that I know how to breathe well. Knowing how to adjust my breath has provided me with my health, inner-strength and self awareness. It’s ALL in the breath!
After my Teacher Training I spent 20yrs thinking I’d nailed it and loved living in my newly found strong, stabile body and mind. Until recently I turned 50 and felt into my peri-menopause journey. It has come with a few challenges to say the least including some old injuries revisiting, emotional rollercoaster of panic attacks and heavy depressive feels, muscle, pelvic floor tone and stability changing plus some old stories resurfacing with clearly suppressed emotions attached. Providing an opportunity to put into practice with fervor all that I have in my Yoga toolbox. Now a few years in with more energy, strength and a steadier mindset because of it. I feel like I am reaping the benefits of this transition, from improved discipline in caring for myself with food and strength training balanced with appropriate rest time, a loss of needing to people-please (that must have been draining!), a heightened sense of knowing (including an fabulous BS detector!).
Spending time on the mat cultivates peace + internal awareness so we make conscious choices, creating a healthy + purposeful life. From within we harness a resilience to support us no matter the challenges we face.
How can I support YOU? ~ in-person with classes, retreats or private session OR with my online studio membership (FREE Trial), let’s chat send me an email.
I hope to meet you soon.
Nic xx