Allow me to offer my extensive experience in…
The current state of any society is a direct reflection of its educational system. In order to substantially transform a society, first its system of education must evolve.
Holistic Curriculum Development provides alternative ways of raising and educating children, keeping not only their academics and creativity, but also their overall wellbeing in mind.
With over 150 months experience living, studying, doing sadhana and seva in India, Nikol is able to give talks (online and in-person), where she can share her experience bridging the cultures of East and West.
You don’t plan India, India plans you… with 20+ years experience navigating the most beautifully orchestrated chaos, surrender to the flow of #IncredibleIndia with this bi-lingual (Hindi/English) videshi as your guide.
Sadhana Guidance through a decolonizing lens.
While Honoring the Roots of Yoga (the wisdom traditions of the Indian Himalayan Yogis), bring traditional hatha yoga, meditation and Ayurveda into your daily life without compromising your involvement in the world.
Transform your working from home into #theyogicoffice, by transforming your workspace one asana at a time.
Decolonizing Yoga and Honoring the Tradition: for Modern Yoga Practitioners and Teachers, Yoga Studios and Wellness Centers.
Offering on-site or remote consulting: guidance for start-up endeavors within the Wellness sector.
*manage and promote your wellness business as holistically as your practice
*make your life as inclusive, as you want your social media to display.
Making Media that Matters: authentic, inspirational, and viral messages with integrity… Copy Writing & Editing, Photography, Video and Music Production. I got you covered!
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
2024 |
(21 Day) Outdoor Educator / Trip Leader India Course Backpacking / Treking / Camping / Backgrountry living skills, includuing: Leave No Trace Ethics, Map-Compass-GPS Navigation, Risk Management, Teaching Methodologies. via NOLS - National Outdoor Leadership School / Nanda Devi Outdoor Leadership School (Uttarakhand, India) |
| (3 Day) Wilderness First Aid with via NOLS - National Outdoor Leadership School / Nanda Devi Outdoor Leadership School (Uttarakhand, India) | |
2023 |
(9hr) The Alchemy of Facilitation with Michelle C. Johnson, Tristan Katz, Stephanie Ghoston Paul, Rebby Kern and May Nicholson via Skill in Action (Online - USA) |
| (2hr) Creating Safer Spaces: Trans Inclusion in Yoga and Beyond, with Tristan Katz via Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health (Online - USA) | |
| (10 Day) Vipassana Meditation Course as taught by S.N. Goenka www.dhamma.org (Saranath, India) - SERVED | |
| (75hr / Sept. 2022 - April 2023) Skill in Action Continuing Education Program radicalizing wellness spaces through the intersection of yoga and social justice, with Michelle C. Johnson Skill in Action (Online - USA) | |
2022 |
(10 Day) Vipassana Meditation Course as taught by S.N. Goenka www.dhamma.org (Surkhet, Nepal) - SAT |
2021 |
(15hr) Digital Allyship Intensive with Monica Cadena, the people's digital strategist (Online - USA) |
2020 |
(5hr) Pathways to Sustainable Course Production with Monica Cadena and Sarah Lipsett via Off the Mat and into the World (Online - USA) |
| (2hr) Expand & Affirm: Creating Space for Trans Wellness with Marc Settembrino, M Camellia, Daniel Sannito, Rebby Kern, and Puja Titchkosky (Prince Puja) via Trans yoga Project (Online - USA) | |
| (2hr) Skill in Action Workshop for Studio Staff with Michelle C. Johnson, Skill in Action (Online - USA) | |
| (8hr) Dismantling Racism Training with Michelle C. Johnson, Skill in Action (Online - USA) | |
| (2hr) Your Movement Science is Racist Panel Discussion hosted by Jesal Parikh (Online - USA) | |
| (2hr) Elemental Actions Against Appropriaion with Susanna Barkataki via Off the Mat and into the World (Online - USA) | |
| (2hr) Decentering Whiteness from Wellness Panel Discussion hosted by Dianne Bondy (Online - USA) | |
| (6hr) The Yoga of Anti- Racism with Alicia Carlson & Verushka Gray via United We Om (Online - USA) | |
| (20hr) Race, Cultural Appropriation & Integrity with Kallie Schut, Rebel YogaTribe (Online - London, UK) | |
| (6hr) The Proven Framework for Teaching Yoga Online, with Kelly McHugh, Digital Yoga Academy (Online - London, UK) | |
| (200hr) Classical Ayurveda, Teacher Assistant with Dr. Alaknanda Puri, YogAnga Retreat at Santosh Puri Ashram (Haridwar, India) | |
2018 |
(2 day) Trauma Informed Yoga Teacher Training, with Anneke Lucas, founder of Liberation Prision Yoga, (New York City, USA) |
| (100hr) Classical Kundalini Teacher Training with Yogrishi Visvketu via Akhanda Yoga, (Rishikesh, India) | |
| (200hr) Classical Ayurveda, with Dr. Alaknanda Puri, YogAnga Retreat at Santosh Puri Ashram (Haridwar, India) | |
2017 |
(10 day) Vipassana Meditation Course as taught by S.N. Goenka www.dhamma.org (Hiroshpur, India) - SAT |
| (3 day) Waking Up Weekend – Graduate Intensive Training, via Institute of Self Actualization (Denver, USA) | |
| (100hr) Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, & Craniosacral Therapy Teacher Training with Cat Kabira (Costa Rica) | |
| (16 week) Elephant Academy: Mindful Social Media and Journalism Apprenticeship, via elephantJournal (Boulder, USA) | |
| (3 day) Waking Up Weekend, via Institute of Self Actualization (Denver, USA) | |
2015 |
(200hour Yoga Alliance Accredited, 1 month) Therapeutic Yoga Teacher Training with Mandakini Puri via YogAnga Retreat at Santosh Puri Ashram (Haridwar, India) |
| (8 day) Satipathana Vipassana (2nd level) Meditation Course as taught by S.N. Goenka www.dhamma.org (Dehradun, India) – SAT | |
2014 |
(500hour 3 months) Hatha Yoga Teacher Training with Ganga Puri via YogAnga Retreat at Santosh Puri Ashram (Haridwar, India) |
2013 |
(10 day) Vipassana Meditation Course as taught by S.N. Goenka www.dhamma.org (Dehradun, India) - SERVED (the entire month of October: two 10 day courses and one 3 day course) |
| (10 day) Vipassana Meditation Course as taught by S.N. Goenka www.dhamma.org (Dehradun, India) - SAT | |
2012 |
(10 day) Vipassana Meditation Course as taught by S.N. Goenka www.dhamma.org (Dharamshala, India) - SAT |
2011 |
(3 day) Need for Social Transformation, a Practical Approach, via Gandhi Smriti (Jammu & Kashmir, India) |
2010 |
(10 day) Practical Math Teaching Methodologies, Ashram Paryavaran Vidyalaya (Devprayag, India) |
| (10 day) Vipassana Meditation Course as taught by S.N. Goenka www.dhamma.org(Dehradun, India) - SAT | |
2009 |
Proposal Budgeting Workshop, Foundation Center (New York City, USA) |
| New Museum Development Workshop for Teachers, New Museum (New York City, USA) | |
2008 |
Web 2.0 Activist Case Studies, Not An Alternative (New York City) |
| Youth Views Teacher Training, Media Rights Watch, Paley Center for Media & POV (New York City, USA) | |
| New Museum Development Workshop for Teachers, New Museum (New York City, USA) |
NOTED EXPERIENCE IN NORTH INDIA
Over 150 months in seven trips: 2000-2001, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2010-2016, 2017-2018, 2019-and counting
• Several years Sanskrit grammar study with 85+ year old Sanyasi Sanskrit scholar, Narayan Giri Ji Maharaj & Ayurveda from original scriptures with Alaknanda Puri.
• Established and maintained a yogic lifestyle since January 2010: living in ashrams with sanyasis, staying in caves at pilgrimage places, living in a collaborative mindful community with over 25 people (ages 5-41), living with sadhana-partners as well as solo in a jungle hermitage, all within the foothills and high Indian Himalayas in both Garhwal and Kumaon regions, of rural Uttarakhand.
• Led group treks to pilgrimage sites, temples, caves and Himalayan glaciers.
• Attended; hosted camps; distributed cameras, photos and videos; as well as documented women’s initiation rites into Juna Akhara (sanyasi order of Hindu monks and nuns) at the Kumbh Mela (largest gathering in the world) in Allahabad (2001, 2007, 2013, 2019), Ujjain (2004, 2016), and Haridwar (2010)
PUBLIC DISCOURSES
2023 – Skill in Action 75 hour online course, guest presenter – Ardhanārishwar, Swara Yoga & Queering Yoga
2019 – Shakti Panel at the Rishikesh International Film Festival (Rishikesh, India)
Shakti, Feminism Rising and Gender Identity with in the context of Ardhanārīśvar
2018 – Goddess Panel at the Rishikesh International Film Festival (Rishikesh, India)
Ardhanārīśvar & Queering Yoga: Stories of Gender Equality and Feminism within Ashram Life
Hours of Yoga Teacher Training Certificates
…and I still refuse to register myself
SPECIALTIES
Sādhāna:
Traditional seven limbed Hatha Yoga system: Śatkarma (seasonal and daily cleansing and detoxes), āsana (postures), mudrā (gestures for connecting one’s individual prāṇic flow with the universal or cosmic force), pratyāhār (concentration towards removal of disturbance from sensory input), prāṇāyāma (expansion of the breath and prāṇa / vital energy), meditation (uninterrupted blissful flow of prāṇic energy), and ultimate samādhi (complete balance of the mind in all situations); Sūkṣma Vyāyām (subtle pranic exercises); Vipassana Meditation (as taught by S.N. Goenka); Yogic / Sanātan Dharmic / Buddhist Philosophy; Karma Yoga (seva – selfless service towards others, without concern or attachment to the fruits of one’s labor); Svadhāya (independent study and introspective study of the self).
Pedagogy:
Holistic Curriculum Development for co-learners of all ages, including Mindful Media Literacy. Authored Yoga Teacher Training Manuals (Hatha Yoga, Therapeutic Yoga, Sūkṣma Vyāyām, Ayurveda, Marmas, and Beginner’s Sanskrit).
Creative Multimedia:
Camera (video and still photography); Sound Recording / Mixing, Music Production & Sound Design (Ableton Live); Video Editing (Final Cut Pro Studio & Adobe Premiere); Web & Social Media (CSS, HTML, XML, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Mailchimp, WordPress set up and Theme Tweaks, SEO); Photo Retouching / Brochure, Book and Magazine Layout / Graphic & Print Design (Adobe CC Photoshop & InDesign)
– consulting, guiding and teaching all of the above
LANGUAGES:
• simultaneous translation in the field • subtitling for video • typing Hindi, Sanskrit and IAST English Transliteration • creating bi-lingual content for education materials
EXPERIENCE
* March 2014 – onwards (onsite and remotely) – YogAnga Retreat, Santosh Puri Ashram – RYS www.yoganga.org (Haridwar, India)
Ayurveda Certificate Course Assistant, Fundraising Developer, Web & Social Media Manager, Sādhana Curriculum Developer, Haṭha Yoga & Prāṇayām Teacher, Hindi / English Translator, Travel Guide and Guest Liaison
• Devise fundraising strategy and successfully crowd-sourced over 150,000 Euros to date.
• Develope marketing strategies, maintaining website, Facebook page and digital newsletter.
• Produce brochures, posters, and books (including curriculum guides for Hatha Yoga Teacher Training and Ayurveda courses, as well as a Sanskrit Reader, ashram lineage mantra collection, kirtan song book and general guest information handbook).
• Devise systems for and trained others to handle course registration, course / teacher evaluation, and certificate distribution.
• Maintain archive of lecture audio recordings, as well as general event photographs and videos.
• Author curriculum and ashram profile for entry on Yoga Alliance website.
• Assist in ashram kitchen (mindful cooking), garden and general upkeep of rooms and spaces.
*April 2015 – ongoing – Taptkund Mahadev Mandir (Kumaon Himalayas, Uttarakhand, India)
Temple / Ashram Mahant
• Maintain temple / ashram / garden complex (fire ceremonies, kirtans, etc.)
• Teach yoga (āsana, prāṇāyāma and meditation) to local children, youth and young adults, both on site, as well as in nearby government primary schools
• Establish partnerships with local schools and community leaders.
• Lead riverside cleanup campaigns and discussions around sustainability of the nature through recycling and trash maintenance in rural environments without government or private support.
• Teach basic guitar and harmonium, digital photography and English, privately to local youth.
• Maintain a community library and learning center (with plans for expansion into a bigger space).
• Host guests for transformative sādhana retreats
*June 2022 – Saraswati Shishu Mandir Primary School (Saling, Bageshwar Dist. Uttarakhand, India)
Teaching Staff Trainer
• Offered various classroom management techniques to encourage maximum students engagement
• Guided teaching staff through a series of practical activities for teaching English that work with / enhance the current government syllabus and books.
• Gave guidance how to maintain a Bi-lingual classroom and curriculum.
*May – June 2018 – Pinewood International School (Kapkot, Bageshwar Dist. Uttarakhand, India)
Teaching Staff Trainer
• Conducted teacher and classroom management assessment
• Facilitated team building and staff bonding activities, including talking circles sharing personal stories of struggle and triumph.
• Guided teaching staff through a series of practical scenarios to encourage changing the set up of their classroom, from desks and chairs in rows with the teacher in the front to sitting in a circle on the floor among the students.
• Guided teaching staff through a series of practical activities which they could utilize in the class room, especially for teaching English.
• Gave guidance how to maintain a Bi-lingual classroom and curriculum.
*March – April 2019, June – Aug. 2016, June 2011 – Nov. 2012 (on site) – otherwise offering developmental support remotely – Space For Nurturing Creativity, Shyamavan www.sncshyamavan.org (Guptakashi, India)
Resident Teacher, Outreach & Development Associate
• Shared responsibilities in raising & mentoring children & young adults in a communal household of more than 25 people, in a rural village in the Garhwal Himalayas, including meditation and bhajan (music) sessions.
• Aside from our daily life, revolving around ‘śruti’ (Listening), ‘śvādhyāya’ (Study of Self), ‘samvād’ (Dialouge) and ‘samikṣa’ (Critique Sessions), which are the foundations of our Holistic Education methodology, regularly participated in and organized discussion forums, camps and workshops with other youth, teachers & activists interested in education as a means for social change.
• Setup & administer website
• Setup & co-administer Facebook page
• Write grant – project proposals & collaborate in devising fundraising and program expansion strategies.
• Designed letterhead, brochures & Powerpoint presentations (bilingual Hindi / English)
• Wrote successful proposal, granting permission from the local school board director to expand scope, through implementing our curriculum and alternative teaching methodologies in surrounding local government primary schools, through initiating a partnership program.
• Guided young adults in producing their own curriculum materials to be used in school partnership program.
• Guided young adults in devising and maintaining personal professional resumes.
• Taught Yoga, Swimming, English, Creative Writing, Arts & Crafts, Photography, Computers
• Photograph & Video activities & events; guided others to do the same.
• Participate in general household upkeep, including organic farming, composting and carpentry.
*Dec. 2010 – May 2011 – Ashram Paryavaran Vidyalaya [Ashram Environmental School] (Devprayag, Uttarakhand, India)
Resident Teacher, Curriculum Development & Outreach Associate
• Member of mindful community nestled in the Indian Himalayas in Garhwal region, Uttarakhand, where we live, meditate, farm, trek, make music and run a school (of over 100 students) together.
• Taught English, Arts & Crafts, Computers & Multimedia to both students (K-8th) and teachers.
• Photograph & Video activities, trainings & events; including a series of Practical Math training videos.
• Designed, developed & co-administer website http://apvschool.org / trained other staff members to update it.
• Setup & co-administer Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/APVcommunity
*March – Nov. 2017 • Undermountain Hospitality, Race Brook Lodge www.rblodge.com (Sheffield, MA, USA)
Vibe Control: Wellness Facilitator, Web, Social Media & Print Marketing Manager, Photographer, Front Desk Receptionist, Community Farmer, Housekeeper, and Event Maintenance Staff.
• Taught Hatha Yoga, Prāṇāyāma & Mindfulness Meditation, both for corporate retreats, as well as individuals and small groups of Lodge guests. • Further developed and maintained website, Instagram, Facebook, Mailchimp newsletters.
• Managed Facebook Live streaming of Down County Social Club concerts.
• Produced weekly print and web advertisements for local newspapers and online magazines.
• Produced brochures and other marketing materials for soliciting wedding and retreat clients.
• Produced weekly food and drink special menus for The Stagecoach Tavern, as well as concert posters for The Down County Social Club.
• Photographed rooms and spaces, as well as special events and retreats.
• Greeted and guided guests; handled online and phone bookings.
• Grew organic vegetables for The Stagecoach Tavern and residential staff.
• Cleaned and decorated guest rooms and event spaces.
• Set up sound and lighting equipment for weddings, concerts and other events.
* Dec. 2007 – Jan. 2010 • New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, Hamilton Fish Recreation Center (LES, NYC, USA) Computer Resource Center / RECYouth (Reel Education & Communication for Youth) Coordinator & Multimedia Teacher
• Coordinated Multimedia Education Program Development in a community based computer lab, maintaining facility of 10 iMAC G4s, 12 Dell PCs, printers, scanners, photography/digitalAV production equipment.
• Developed & Implemented Curriculum for elementary school aged youth (After School Program), teens (RECYouth multimedia program), adults & seniors learning computer basics, media literacy, multimedia skills, including: digital photography, stop motion & Flash animation, electronic music & video production, web & graphic design.
• Established and maintained partnerships with alternative education programs at City As School High School, Henry Street Settlement, New Museum, Rhizome and the MIX NYC “A Different Take” LGBT Video Production Program.
• Developed student assessment rubric tracking system, currently used by other RECYouth staff.
• Trained staff individually & through presenting at staff development workshops; managed interns.
• Authored DVDs, developed & maintained websites, created online galleries of studentsí productions.
• Co-produced multimedia showcase events, screenings and exhibits.
• Led Elementary and Middle School Students (in our After-School Program) to create a comic book about recycling, which got the attention of NYC Parks & Recreationís upper management, resulting in their providing our park with recycling bins and scheduling weekly pick-ups for the recyclables we collected around our park.
• Facilitated the production of student multimedia projects: over 35 videos, over 40 music tracks, several photography / graphic art portfolios and websites.
*July 2007 – Dec. 2007 • City Parks Foundation, Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center (Bronx, NYC, USA)
Yoga Teacher (After School Program)
• Transformed a gym full of rowdy underprivileged middle school aged children, into a group of calm and quiet, self-focused children, discovering and pushing the boundaries of their bodies and their breath through yoga and meditation.
*July 2007 – Dec. 2007 • City Parks Foundation, Hook Productions, Youth Technology Program (Brooklyn, NYC, USA)
Web Development Consultant & Teacher
• Developed Flash mp3 player and slideshows to showcase studentsí work online
• Taught basic HTML & CSS to Summer Youth Employment Program interns, enabling them to create their own profile pages.
*July 2005 – Dec. 2006 •City Parks Foundation, Hook Productions, Youth Technology Program (Brooklyn, NYC, USA)
Co-Coordinator / Video & New Media Teacher
• Developed multimedia curriculum & equipment base for startup youth media production house.
• Taught camera skills, video editing, graphic / web design to youth aged 13-18.
• Projects included: producing documentary shorts about Red Hook, Brooklyn: how the neighborhood is affected by waterfront redevelopment, gentrification and police brutality within the NYC Public Housing.
• Authored DVDs and developed website http://www.hookproductions.org to showcase student work.
• Gave outreach presentations at neighborhood schools and community organizations.
*February 2023 – ongoing • Yogama Berlin www.yogama.berlin (Berlin, Germany)
Online Hatha Yoga & Pranayam Guest Teacher
- Teach asana and pranayam classes via Zoom.
*February 2020 – Feburary 2021 • Cat Kabira Yoga www.catkabira.com (Bali, Indonesia)
Behind the Scenes: Web, Social Media & Print Marketing Manager, Administrative Assistant.
- Produced digital and print promotional and student course material for retreats and trainings.
- Scheduled posts to IG & FB page.
- Set up virtual yoga studio to begin migrating her trainings to online.
- Zoom Support during online sessions.
- Offered advise for and implemented restructuring website.
- Copy edited website content.
- Re-Organized categories and tags as well as adding SEO to older content on her website.
- Added meta data to videos on her YouTube page.
Media Production
Residential Yoga Sadhana & Seva Experiences to help bring balance to your life.
