Nikki teaches mostly out of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, but is increasingly becoming recognized as one of the premier instructors in Yoga who incorporates Biblical beliefs. Nikki was featured as a guest instructor for Yahweh Yoga in Arizona, CorePower Yoga in Minneapolis and leads workshops at studios around the country specializing in Living Light – Inversions and Floating, Yogic and Biblical Studies, and Spiritual Activism through service based programs.
Nikki’s unique teaching style encourages students to flow in the current of grace while being presented with an intense physical challenge through power yoga postures and vinyasa flow in a heated studio. As students of Higher Power Yoga we move from self absorption to self realization, to God realization; thus transforming our self serving lives to selflessly serving others.
“I slept and dreamt that life was joy, I awoke and saw that life was service, I acted and behold, service was joy.” – Rabindranath Tagore
Nikki created the Karma Yoga Project, a service based program which gave students and yoga teachers in training the opportunity to serve others while partnering with non-profit organizations within their community. Nikki’s Karma Yoga Project has been running for over two years, partnering with such organizations as The Angel Foundation, The Bridge For Youth, Habitat for Humanity, Open Arms of MN, Catholic Charities, The Dorthy Day Foundation, Minneapolis Center For Families, Great Harvest Heartland, St. Paul Parks and Recreation, and People Serving People. Nikki donates her time and a portion of her proceeds from all yoga events to local and global charities as a contribution to improving the lives of those less fortunate. These include Woodland Hills Church, The Bridge For Youth, and World Vision.
What came before teaching Yoga?
Spirituality, music and movement have long been motivating passions in Nikki’s life. A native of MN, Nikki attended the University of WI, Eau Clarie, where she double majored in Kinesiology and Music, Vocal Performance. Nikki started writing music at the age of three and she continued this trend into her college years where she studied, sang and performed many roles in Opera. Nikki’s roles include Lauretta, in Gianni Schicchi, Clorinda, in La Cenerentola, Laurie from scenes of The Tender Land, Norina from scenes of Don Pasquale, and Pamina from scenes from Die Zauberflote. Nikki had the pleasure of performing as a solo artist at the O’Shaunessy Theatre St. Paul, MN and among other awards was the N.A.T.S. Regional Senior Women’s Division Vocal Soloist Champion. Nikki’s first job out of college was working as a Personal Trainer while studying Alexander Technique and yoga.
Nikki’s interests in bringing together music and spirituality led her to singing and songwriting where she then decided to pursue a career in the Christian Music Industry. Nikki performed at various music venues, coffee shop settings, churches, and benefit/fundraising events. After attending a Gospel Music Association songwriting competition with a cold and no singing voice, Nikki learned the meaning of worshipping God with your heart without competition, without performance, just being who she was. It was at this juncture that Nikki’s yoga practice began to manifest in her daily life and reach beyond the yoga mat. As the Spirit of God moved in Nikki’s life, Nikki found the joy in pursuing a life that served others. Her yoga teaching was an avenue where she could bring together her knowledge of movement and the physical body, share the spiritual spark alive in her, serve others through this amazing healing practice, all while grooving to the tunes of some inspiring songwriters!
Featured in publications?
YOGA + MEDIA
• Print Ad Talent for Center Point Energy “How flexible is your plan?” September 2007
• CorePower Yoga spokesperson for local television media featured on Fox 9 news in January of 2008
• Featured as Yoga Instructor for Periscope Ad Agency Fox 9 news special covering wellness programs in the workplace January 2008
• Featured as Yoga Instructor on front page of the Pioneer Press article “Watching your figure? So is your boss” discussing wellness plans in the workplace April 2008
• Featured in MPLS/ST.PAUL Magazine – Ad for Corepower Yoga & Spa August 2008
• Print Ad Talent for Target Corporation, Fitness Apparel June 2009
Teaching Certifications?
Nikki started her yoga journey 10 years ago at a Bikram Yoga studio in Minnesota. Since then, Nikki has gone on to study various types of yoga – CorePower Yoga, BudoKon, Astanga, Anusara, and Jivamukti. Nikki has had the honor of studying with master teachers such as Ana Forrest, Rusty Wells, Kancho Cameron Shayne, David Swenson, Richard Freeman, Seane Corn, Alanna Kaivalya and Christy Burnette. She has been blessed to learn from such beautiful and knowledgeable teachers, as well as from many other yoga teachers around the world.
Certified 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training CorePower Yoga
Certified Yoga Alliance Teacher (RYT) Yoga Alliance
Experienced Yoga Alliance Teacher (ERYT) Yoga Alliance
Christian Yoga Teacher Training (CCYT) Yahweh Yoga
Why Higher Power Yoga?
The creation of Higher Power Yoga Network has been a God led project, supported by family, friends, and two of the most wonderful and generous women in the marketing and advertising field in Minneapolis. Nikki hopes that the creation of this network will encourage others to continue to find their own experience of God in their yoga practice. Higher Power Yoga Network is a resource for people who would like to learn more about Biblical and Yogic studies through daily yoga devotions, retreats, workshops, and teacher training; a network that will ultimately inspire people to share their lives with others through acts of love and service.
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