"I'm excited to be working with students on a larger scale," Nicole said. "One of my intentions is to provide a place for them to escape the realities of their days while getting healthy emotionally, physically and spiritually."

Nicole's parents were influential in getting her entire family to practice Bikram Yoga. She's practiced a total of 11 years, beginning when she was a teen and continuing throughout college, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Computer Information Systems and played college-level golf.

"Over the years that I practiced I had different studio owners tell me to go to training — I always had it in the back of my mind," Nicole says. "So when I graduated and didn't want to go into my field of study... I went to LA." She's now been teaching for just over a year in addition to her studio management responsibilities.

A native of Scottsdale, Nicole has taught around the Valley, including the Scottsdale studio and some work at the Phoenix Studio, in addition to the Bikram Yoga Institute.

When asked, most students will joke that Savasana is their favorite position. Nicole says the same, but quite seriously. "Savasana is where the benefits happen," she exclaims. "A tip: Be still, keep your eyes still and let go. You can't force your mind and body to relax... you eventually learn to surrender."

When not practicing yoga, Nicole suffers from a shoulder injury that causes shooting pains down her arm and into her leg.

"When I am practicing on a regular basis... I'm pain free," Nicole says.