Earliest memory of hearing about yoga

A choreographer I worked with and deeply respected began to incorporate “yoga” into the warm-up of his jazz classes. He was a very stylized and different teacher—almost intuitive and such an artist. I remember thinking…why are we doing yoga, everything is turned in…how dumb…

 

A turning point, shift, evolution in your practice

After my 200-hour teacher training I decided to TRY and practice Ashtanga even though I was pretty certain I hated it. (I remember thinking, why would I want to practice WITHOUT music and without variation class to class!) I looked around at all my teachers I most respected, and they all practiced Ashtanga. Regularly. At that point I thought, I’ll give it a go for a couple days a week and see what happens…

 

When you knew you wanted to be a yoga teacher

After taking class from a few incredible yogis…Chappell Foote, Elise Gulan, James Brown. They had the knowledge. I was on that mat waiting for their cue, their instruction, their direction and I so desperately wanted to know what they knew and then impart it to everyone, but in my own voice.

 

If you weren’t a yoga teacher, you would be

a television or radio host, an interior designer, or an astronaut.

 

Birmingham, Alabama should be proud of its homegirl. Since completing our 500-Hour program, Nicole Sciacca has become an inspiring teacher whose classes are known for being fun, difficult and, yet, accessible. She is a Yoga Ambassador to Lululemon Athletica and will be featured on a video series on Yoga Journal’s website with YogaPoser Senior Faculty Alexandria Crow in January, 2012. She is a professional dancer, actress, spokesperson, as well as a registered yoga teacher, indoor cycling instructor as well as group fitness instructor. Though practicing for 12 years, after a serious back injury 6 years ago, Nicole had to find a way to maintain her health (and her sanity) after being extremely active her entire life. Yoga found her, and she has been doing her best to listen and learn ever since.

 

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“I saw progress and strength immediately when I started practicing–not to mention a lasting sense of calm. Right away, I was hooked. I used to be plagued with a tendency for self-deprecating thought patterns and a very self-critical eye. Not anymore. Yoga has elevated my awareness and compassion for myself.”