I began my Yoga journey at 17yrs old, I was a gymnast from 5yrs old, super flexible, loved being upside down ~ so 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 going to Ashrams, practicing various styles Iyengar, Ashtanga and Bikram. There was so much to learn and experience.
I turned 30 in 2004 and decided to study, I found the perfect Teacher Training for me with the Yogalates Academy. It’s Yoga in it’s traditional teachings with a touch of physiotherapy-style Pilates. The anatomy and functional movement was thorough (already a massage therapist and this was right up my nerdy alley), it challenged the stabilisers in my already too flexible imbalanced body … plus 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 had always thought I was great at the poses, as with most activities I attempted. I’d known pain since I was born and thought it was meant to be endured.
I’d never given thought to ‘HOW’ I did the poses, nor 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.
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 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 ~ it influences every system in the body including heart rate, digestion, nervous system, our postural alignment, core support and pelvic floor!
Hi, I’m Nic
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; hip dysplasia had me in plaster casts and callipers until 4yrs old, perhaps leading to scoliosis and lumbar spondilolysthesis, neck issues, frozen shoulder, numerous knee dislocations, digestive dysfunction and pelvic pain….plus an underlying anxiousness of doubting who I was, how to fit in and how to do life. I’ve moved through these and so many more 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 like owning the dial to regulate your entire being, 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, stable body and mind. Recently I turned 50 and felt into my peri-menopause journey which came with a few challenges including inflammation and some old injuries revisiting, panic attacks and heavy depressive feels, lacking self-confidence, loss of muscle tone and pelvic-hip stability. Providing an opportunity to put into practice with fervor all that I have in my Yoga toolbox. I’m a few years along now and have more energy, strength and a steadier mindset because of it. I now feel like I’m reaping the benefits of this transition, from improved discipline in caring for myself with food and strength training balanced with appropriate rest time (didn’t really have a choice), a loss of needing to people-please (that must’ve been draining), a heightened sense of knowing (including a fabulous BS detector!)
We moved away from our home in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire (aka The Shire ;-) 4 years ago sailing along the east coast of Australia. We anchored in Yamba and never left, now having built our shed home and the beginnings of our self-sustainable living in the Northern Rivers region. I absolutely loving being out here in nature, growing my own produce and being amongst the wildlife in this beautiful land in Yaegl Country. I’m teaching classes and offering privates in Yamba and continue to run my retreats since 2005 in Sri Lanka, Bali and local NSW. My Breathe + Move with Nic online studio has been growing since 2019 with all that I have taught in-person for 20+years now available online.
How can I support YOU? in-person 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