Life & Work with Nichole Brown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nichole Brown.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I found yoga when I was in middle school struggling with my body image and feeling extremely insecure. Yoga quickly became a safe space for me to not only unravel my emotions, but also reconnect to my body in a non – aesthetic way. In the beginning of 2020 my mental health was struggling. I quit my service industry job and began work at a corporate 9am-5pm; this was the first time I would have a predictable and consistent work schedule and because of this schedule I was able to take a 200hr Yoga Teacher Training. In the fall of 2021 my anxiety had gotten so bad at work that I was having panic attacks and even popped a blood vessel in my eye from crying so much. I decided to quit my corporate job and go all in on yoga. I completed two additional trainings post 200hr -one on how to adapt the practice of yoga for individuals with mental and physical disabilities and the other on psychologically sensitive + trauma informed teaching. I started teaching at local studios, restaurants, shops and even online – feeling inspired to make the practice of yoga more approachable and inclusive.

I’ve been teaching full time for over 3 years now and it is something I am deeply grateful for. This year I’ve even had the opportunity to collaborate with the amazing Susanna Barkataki – a teacher and educator I deeply admire – on her new app Yoke Yoga! I am also leading my first “out of the city” Yoga retreat in June 2025 on the Southwest side of Michigan that I can’t wait to host! I’m feeling very supported by the yoga community and extremely grateful for the opportunity to hold space for others and grow together.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s definitely been a rollercoaster of an adventure. I quit my job and dove into all the information I had just been given during each training – letting it sink in and applying it to my own practice. I got a lot of great opportunities from my mentor, Rhiannon Kirby, and the yoga studio where I had done my initial 200hr training at – both helped me find my voice and teaching style. My partner has also been extremely supportive and encouraging during this process. He even helped support me financially as my savings started to dwindle in the beginning. 

Outside of the struggle to be a confident teacher and feel comfortable guiding classes, there is also the battle of convincing people that they CAN do yoga. So many times people believe that they need to look a certain way to practice or have a certain level of flexibility to begin – but yoga is an ancient practice that was intended to be accessible for all. You don’t need anything more than your breath and the desire to practice to benefit. I’ve learned so much from teachers like Zahabiyah Yamasaki, Susanna Barkataki, Divya Bala, Jivana Heyman, Jacoby Ballard and all the amazing instructors on Yoke. Finding teachers who truly believe yoga is for everyone and offer practices that reflect that has been so healing and inspiring. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a trauma informed, non performative, accessible yoga teacher. I guide classes with invitational style teaching – everything is optional, ALWAYS. I provide pose variations and modifications along the way of every public class, so that everyone can have a similar experience and find what works best for them.

I feel most proud that whenever I scan the room while teaching I can see a wide variety of body types, identities, experience levels and abilities. I feel honored to be trusted to guide people through such vulnerable practices. And I think that sets me apart as a teacher. I’m not worried about how close to the floor you can get when in a standing forward fold or how seamlessly you can move through a sequence – I care much more on how it feels when you practice. Can you breathe comfortably? Where can you find ease? What sensations are you noticing, if any? The physical practice of yoga is about exploration and observation for me; relearning how to listen to your body so you can better advocate for it.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I define success as how content you are in your life and how impactful your relationships with others are.

Pricing:

• Private sessions: sliding scale $40 – $100/hr
• Corporate Yoga in person : $150/session
• Corporate Yoga online: $50 / 30 minutes, $75/ hr
• Virtual yoga on Sundays via Yoke Yoga app: free
• Virtual live classes: pay what you can

Contact Info:

• Website: neecolaaayoga.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neecolaaayoga/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Neecolaaa-Yoga/100070124972254/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nichole-brown-2a934a193/

Image Credits
Rachel Brown Julie Dietz Azuree Holloway <br>