Hello family, friends, and community.

I'm happy to share that I got accepted into the competitive Yoga Teacher Training program with All Yoga in Nusa Lembongan Bali! I will be doing my 200 hr YTT through Yoga Alliance Org. where I will be able to teach anywhere in the world!

With your support you'd be helping me live safely and comfortably in Bali for 30 days. All donations I receive will go towards the cost of living, travel expenses, and food/travel insurance.

My training starts Sept. 4th 2018 and I'm raising money to cover the following:

* The outstanding $2800 USD teacher training tuition

* $100 travel insurance

*$360 spending money for dinner/group activities/emergencies


If every friend and family contributes, I'd reach my goal in no time!
Whether it's  $ 50, $20, $5, or $1... I am extremely grateful for any amount. ** Donations can be made to me directly if you want to make a gift of support. This campaign is flexibly funded, i.e. I receive all funds pledged during the campaign, regardless of whether the fundraising goal is met. I am working 3 + jobs including housesitting, pet sitting, and housecleaning  ( yes, scrubbing toilets)...to reach my goal and also serve my community. I appreciate any support and help you are able to offer! This means the world to me to have this incredible opportunity and people that believe in my calling as a yoga trauma sensitive teacher.


MY STORY



There was a little girl, let's call her " little miss sunshine". She was a bright light for everyone around her. Always positive, having a big smile on her face, cheering people up when they were sad, and giggling with her stuffed animals at her tea parties she hosted. She always loved to help others feel better. She had a wild imagination and enjoyed telling stories about a beautiful princess that had a garden that she nurtured and cared for. She had a lot of love in her heart, believing that she could be anything and have anything she wanted.

That little girl was me. You see, I was an army brat that grew up moving more times that I could count on my fingers and toes. My Dad remarried after my Mom left when I was 3 years old, and I had to move to a new area, adapt and accept this new woman and marriage. Having no say in the matter. Little did I know that this woman was severely abused when she was a young girl, and never healed from that pain, so her anger and resentment spilled over onto me, being extremely violent and physically abusive towards my brother and I. Countless times I can remember her dragging me to the car threatening to get my stomach pumped after I had some candy before she put dinner on the table. Telling me I should know better. Sometimes being told that I need to sit in my room and go without dinner because I was misbehaving. I was slapped and hit when asked to tell the truth. This emotional, and physical abuse went on for about 2 years! It was traumatizing. Through this, I only learned what conditional love was. If you are good and behave well, you will be rewarded. If you disobey, then you are punished! So I always had to make sure I was following her " rules" even if my intuition was telling me it was wrong. I wasn't allowed to speak my truth. 

I share this story because I only knew what conditional love was,  and how I needed,  also WHO I needed to be in order to receive love. Not at all understanding what self love was.

I went through an extremely dark time of confusion and struggle to understand the true meaning. Through the following years I developed a certain identity and believed that I needed to follow rules in order to get love from others. Especially my parents. What I call " Fear Based Love". I became so lost and out of control. I didn't have any real purpose and did not feel loved for who I really was. So I ran away and lived on my own at 17. Then depression and severe anxiety took a toll on my emotional and physical health. I worked jobs that were just helping me survive and put food on the table. I kept getting sick, and ended up in the hospital for panic attacks. Moving yet again, from place to place trying to find a sense of belonging and true authentic connection. I honestly had more jobs and more addresses than I could count! My life was chaotic without any direction. It was difficult to make, and keep genuine friendships because I didn't love myself, or know how to even be a real friend.  I was strictly in survival mode.  This lasted for 5 years! 

It wasn't until I hit rock bottom, and started going within myself, for my soul's journey listening to what my heart was screaming! SELF LOVE IS NOT SELFISH. It is vital for a happy, fulfilling life. And to build lasting connections with others. After some time of doing spiritual searching and inner work by listening closely to my intuition, by silencing my mind, the answers came.  The HEAVENS opened!

I found my calling and life purpose! Yoga has not only played a huge role in helping me get back to healthy, it literally saved my life during a time of great anxiety and personal struggle. I know yoga can do the same for others which is why I want to become a yoga teacher. In applying for this program, I'm taking a huge leap of faith and trusting that the money for this training will be found somehow, even if that means launching a GoFundMe page and asking everyone I know to help :)


WHAT I  PLAN TO DO  AFTER I COMPLETE TEACHER TRAINING


I plan to take my certification  and lock arms with a yoga studio or wellness center that is in alignment with my core values and mission to teach women how to use their intution, unlock their soul purpose, connect with their body and heal their past trauma, whether it be emotionally, or physically. My deepest desire is to empower women to live their greatest version of themselves unapologetically.  Lead and facilitate healing/transformation retreats.

I believe that my personal life experience through my own struggle, hardships, and radical self - love discovery will allow me to be a greater impact as a yoga teacher who has overcome her fears,  stepped into her soul purpose, and able to shine that bright light again! 

Ultimately my big dream is to have a Feed Your Soul Divine Empowerment Wellness Center,  " FROM TRAUMA TO TRANSFORMATION '' where women can have a safe space to share their struggles, be supported,  learn tools on how to overcome, strengthen, and be a bright light light for others on their soul's journey. Learn  how yoga and mindfulness can heal, and transform you from the inside out! 


I hope you can be a part of my story and journey. Once I earn my teaching certification I would be happy to share my yoga experience with you in the form of in-person or video classes. Thank you in advance from the bottom of my heart for your support!  

BLESSINGS to you,

Nichole