Yoga With Nick

02/02/2026

On this cold day, it was so nice to be in a cozy and welcoming studio. It was an unexpected gift getting to substitute teach at Ishine. It was so nice to make new friends and see some familiar faces after being snowed in this past weekend. After class, I stayed and enjoyed a slow flow with Claudia, which was just what I needed. She offered a beautiful message and reminded us that we’re in the middle of winter, between the solstice and the spring equinox, which means the daylight will begin to get longer. Seeds are preparing to grow. This is a good time to find stillness and listen to your heart. Remain open to abundant new opportunities and unexpected surprises that delight you. For me, today that unexpected surprise was being at Ishine.
A reminder to affirm: “Today is going to be my peaceful day.”
Today, the walk for peace has entered day 100. May all beings live in peace.

01/31/2026

There’s a saying, “I close my eyes in order to see.” The meaning of this message is a reminder to be guided by the heart. On this snowy day, January 31, 2026, join me from your home on this mindfulness journey—using your body, breath, and mind to create a feeling of inner peace. Let’s affirm, “Everything turns out better than I expect,” and “May today be my peaceful day.”

01/25/2026

Join me for 12 minutes of mindfulness on this cold winter day. As many people stay inside, keeping warm and sharing time with family and friends, please be kind to yourself by limiting the amount of negative outside influences through news, social media, and radio. My heart goes out to all the people of Minnesota and to all citizens of our world who are suffering harm and violence needlessly.
Yoga wisdom explains harmony as a state of balance and interconnectedness, creating a unified whole where diverse elements work together in a harmonious way. May more people become a bridge toward peace for all. Yoga does not suggest staying quiet in the midst of conflict, but rather responding in truth to unite and help those who are suffering. So as you advocate for the citizens of our states, country, and the world, please consider allowing your responses and actions to be led with compassion and truthfulness to reduce suffering. There is a slogan that says, “Let it begin with me.”

01/24/2026

I stand with Minnesota. May more people awaken with love, peace, and harmony for all people. To overcome the cruelty happening on our streets in our country, we must unite in love. Our current Trump administration is instilling fear, worry, and doubt in our citizens and around the world. The antidote is kindness, love, and compassion.

Knowledge is power, and your best guidance will come from your heart. When seeking information, it is one’s duty to go to trusted sources to find the truth. I believe in spiritual wisdom, and this kind of wisdom does not promote hatred; instead, it provides peace and is instilled in freedom.

Right now, there is a Walk for Peace happening. Join the walk in spirit by living mindfully. For there to be world peace, we ourselves have to be peaceful.

01/24/2026

When school is out and your kid chooses to come to work with you, that’s a proud dad moment—and a perk that Ava was a big help with cleaning.
My message for Friday’s class was inspired by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s explanation of how an asana is meant to be practiced. Authentic yoga teachings say that yoga poses should not feel like torture. I shared with the students that in any pose, you should feel comfortable—as if you could settle there for 30 minutes without discomfort—experiencing the asana as a meditation and enjoying the connection to infinity.
As an add-on, I talked about the benefits of forgiveness for oneself and for others so that you can feel freedom. Forgiveness does not mean you condone another person’s actions; it means you love yourself enough to free yourself from harm—holding on to anger and resentment.
I wish everyone safety this weekend with the winter weather. In honor of the Walk for Peace, let’s affirm: “Today will be my peaceful day.”Walk for Peace The Art of Living

01/15/2026

The venerable monks stopping in Charlotte, NC was a moment to pause in peace and hope. You could feel the excitement of the community as they greeted the monks on their journey to Washington, DC. You could also feel their calm and peaceful demeanor with each step they took.

As the monks reached their resting point, with thousands of community members standing by, their leader Bhikkhu Pannakara began to speak about this mission and his hope that people will remember this walk long after it is complete. He shared that it is not enough to greet them for one day in your city—this alone will not bring lasting peace. We must carry this peace walk into our daily lives by walking this earth mindfully.

Here are a few takeaways I left this experience holding dear to my heart. The monk expressed the importance of being mindful of our breathing and honoring each breath we take. He encouraged us to begin doing one thing at a time and to quit multitasking so we can be more relaxed, reduce stress, and conserve energy. When we work, he asked, can we commit to pausing for one minute every hour and becoming aware of our breath? These short mindful moments can relieve anxiety.

He also asked the crowd to consider catching feelings of anger as they arise—closing your eyes, picturing something pleasant, and thinking of the words to your favorite song. He said this helps us respond with awareness rather than react, preventing feelings of resentment or guilt. He highlighted the importance of daily meditation and waking up each morning saying, “Today will be my peaceful day.”

This peace walk and message of mindfulness has struck a chord in my heart in the very best way. Thank you, Bhikkhu Pannakara, and all of the venerable monks for sharing your wisdom, love, and message of peace with the world.

01/09/2026

At the start of this week in class, I offered these words as an intention: “I trust that every detail of my life contributes to my success.” I asked my students to reinforce their belief in positive outcomes.
As the week unfolded, I shared three affirmations to begin each day: “I attract opportunities that elevate my life.” “This is going to be the best day ever.” and “I respond to life with joy, love, and gratitude.” This practice alone allows positive outcomes to flow to you.
I ended this week’s class with two questions: Who are you, and who do you want to be? (Not using labels—mother, father, brother, sister, friend, doctor, student, etc.) I was inviting the class to connect with who we truly are—the power that creates worlds.
When you begin to connect the dots of all that you are, you can say: I am water. I am air. I am ether. I am fire. I am space. This is what life truly is, and every soul is an extension of it. Feeling the essence of this may help deepen your resolve to view your life as a masterpiece of joy and radiant light.
So I left my students with this statement, inspired by my teacher, Esther Hicks: Don’t live reality—create it!
Much love to you all,
Your friend,
Nick

01/09/2026