Nicole Belica

Being embodied and present are how I live my life. When I found yoga, I soon discovered it was the perfect blend of integrating the body and the mind. I felt strongly that everyone deserved access to the powerful practice of yoga, and that's when my teaching journey began.

I am so very grateful for all the teachers in my life and all the wisdom they have shared over the years. I first fell in love with yoga at a small gym in Seoul, South Korea, even when the Ashtanga-based teacher could barely speak English and my Korean was minimal. I could feel the power of the practice, which landed me in yoga teacher training. Veronica Rottman and her work centered around nervous system regulation and somatics are constant teachings I incorporate both on and off the mat. I learned so much from Ashley Turner, with a 500 RYT focus on the neuroscience behind yoga and meditation. Other teachers beyond yoga include Jill Miller, Katy Bowman, and Susanna Soberg (to name a few). Great thinkers that always get my wheels turning are Carl Jung and Brene Brown. Each day offers a new lesson, and I'm so grateful for these brilliant humans.

I strive to weave together the principles of yoga philosophy, breath work, functional movement, and mindfulness into every class and offering. I blend technical precision with intuitive flow, add in some humor, a balance of strength and ease ... with the hope that everyone leaves class feeling embodied, empowered,d and alive.

Retreats are a beautiful way to explore and connect. As you discover new places and cultures, you get to connect on a deeper level - to yourself, to community, and to the world. You grow and expand in ways that you could have never thought possible.

I don't necessarily have a favorite pose I like to teach, but rather I love the moment when I see practitioners experience joy ... It shows up at different moments for different people, but that's where the magic of yoga happens.

The heart of my practice includes breath work and meditation. I get a little bit more interpretive with the "asana" (physical) component of yoga in a playful way. Some days it looks like a classic triangle/down dog, etc, while on other days it includes playing tennis to lifting weights.

Some of my favorites thus far include: Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, and Spain. I'm looking forward to discovering Peru (it's been high up on my list)!