About
“I practice yoga because it makes me a better person and keeps me inspired to live the best life possible.”
Nikki discovered yoga at the age of 20, while a student at UC Santa Barbara. She had an epiphany in one of her college courses. She knew she was supposed to speak to people and to speak to people about what is most inspirational in life: spirituality. During this time, that personal insight seemed far -fetched. Anxiety, fear and insecurity were mounting and beginning to take over her life. She walked into her local yoga studio and found a sense of calm, peace and clarity after each class. She had no idea what was happening, but she knew it was good. It was definitely a relief from the nagging anxiety and uncertainty. From that day forward, yoga took center stage. It led her to India to study Ashtanga with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois for three months and upon returning she enrolled in yoga teacher training with Erich Schiffman and Sarah Powers.
Practice, study and teaching became a daily discipline and have remained a constant passion for Nikki ever since—more than 24 years later.
Evolution
In the early years, Asana was the main ingredient of Nikki’s practice. A daily, vigorous practice sustained her interest and provided the foundation for what was to come. Eventually, it was clear that the more subtle practices were required to deepen her knowledge, studies and satisfy her spiritual thirst. She wanted to know what the ancient texts said about the nature of human experience and the path of yoga. At this point, she found Rod Styker and the path of Tantra. This system of yoga integrates all the various threads of practice and includes all the subtle techniques of yoga: pranayama, mantra, meditation, Ayurveda, and so much more. She currently studies with Professor Vinod Nath, a yogi of the Khapar Dhari Nath yoga lineage. This family lineage dates back hundreds of years in India and includes tantra, dakini, mahavidya and bhairav tantra yoga.
Today
With more than 20 years of teaching experience, Nikki shares her love, knowledge and passion for yoga through daily classes, workshops, immersions and teacher trainings. Each class is a combination of asana, pranayama, meditation and additional yoga techniques to create the right alchemy for spiritual growth and insight. Her style and delivery is practical and applicable, making yoga accessible and useful for all. Yoga is so much more than poses or developing physical capacity, it’s a means of living a better life; A life of integrity, personal power, love, compassion, faith, goodness and reaching true potential.
Nikki lives in northern California with her husband and two daughters
Credentials
Nikki has more than 20 years teaching experience and has been leading 200 and 300-hour teaching trainings for more than 12 years. She is YA500hr E-RYT and was Director of Trainer Development for YogaWorks for more than 7 years where she supported and mentored teacher trainers. She leads intensives, immersions and workshop series in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. She contributes to Yoga International where you can find her articles and videos. She also contributes video content on www.yogaanytime.com. Nikki was a 2016 Athleta Ambassador for embodying the Power of She, was sponsored by Zobha, has presented at Yoga Journal conferences and was voted best yoga teacher by Marin Magazine 2016.
For me that answers is writ large with Nikki’s natural loving energy. She stands at the doorway before class, and greets each person as they enter the space, and each time it’s as if it was the first time. Such a sweet invitation to renew again, to be present again, in sacred right now. That isn’t something that’s taught, that comes from something that’s been lived.
In addition to all of the pose instructions about what to do in class, Nikki is also very skillful with what she doesn’t say, and when she doesn’t say it. She is naturally gifted in creating the space that comes from silence, allowing students to expand inwardly and outwardly to meet our own unique edges in our own unique way.
Nikki teaches what she herself is learning, the blending of asana practice, built upon the deeper foundations of yoga philosophy, and universal spiritual truths. Simply stated, it’s about heart energy, and Nikki demonstrates her deep connection there with her speech tone and cadence, and her consistently radiant accepting energy.
A million thank you’s to you Nikki!
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– Nikki