Nicole's Story: A Journey of Healing and Transformation 

At the tender age of 15, I experienced the unimaginable loss of my beautiful father in a farm accident. In an instant, my family’s world was turned upside down. How does a 15-year-old girl in the year 2000 cope with such an overwhelming loss? Mental health awareness wasn’t as prevalent as today, and life seemed to continue, even though it no longer felt the same.

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Unfortunately, I couldn’t just move on. Grief and trauma took hold, wreaking havoc on my nervous system, and without the tools to support my mental and emotional well-being, I turned to reckless behaviours as a way to cope with the agony. The pain was too much, and by the time I was 18, my nervous system had had enough. I hit a breaking point—a crash that led me to recognise just how much I had been struggling over the years.

It wasn’t until I turned 24 that I found something that began to heal me in ways I never expected: Yoga.

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A Life-Changing Introduction to Yoga and Breathwork

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At 24, after relocating to the Gold Coast, I discovered a yoga studio close to home. They were offering an introduction to meditation and pranayama (breathwork), and I decided to give it a try. I walked into the class with an open heart, not knowing how profoundly it would impact me.​ When I walked out of that first class, I felt an inner stillness I had never experienced before—a sense of calm that instantly resonated in my nervous system. I was hooked. Day in and day out, I practised. Yoga became my anchor, helping me return to balance and calm my overactive mind. My nervous system began to find peace. My entire lifestyle shifted. I was finally on a path toward healing and well-being.

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The Ongoing Journey of Self-Healing

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Of course, the road wasn’t without its challenges. There have been rocky times, periods when I felt lost or unsure. But through the philosophy and tools yoga has given me, I was able to cope with the trauma, grief, and chronic anxiety I had carried with me for so long. Yoga became my life support, a practice that allowed me to find gratitude, patience, and compassion—even on the toughest days. It taught me to be gentle with myself and, most importantly, to find joy in the smallest things.

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Turning Passion into Purpose

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In 2015, I followed my passion and began my formal yoga studies. Over the years, I’ve found my niche in making yoga inclusive and accessible to all abilities. My love for yoga has led me to teach therapeutic yoga, particularly to those recovering from mental health challenges in hospital settings. This work is incredibly fulfilling and has deepened my understanding of how yoga can be used as a tool for mental and emotional healing.

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Integrating Yoga and Occupational Therapy

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My journey didn’t stop at yoga. It has led me to study Occupational Therapy, where I can continue helping others reconnect to their bodies, minds, and spirits. Yoga and Occupational Therapy have complemented each other perfectly in my mission to assist others in their healing journeys. I am forever grateful for the teachers and mentors who have guided me along the way—especially Maria Kirsten and Kristine Webber, who introduced me to the power of slow, mindful yoga. Their teachings have had a profound influence on my practice and the way I now share yoga with others.

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A Personal Invitation

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If you’re reading this and feeling called to explore yoga, I invite you to join me on this journey. There’s no one-size-fits-all path to healing, but I truly believe that yoga can offer a sense of peace, purpose, and connection to both the body and mind. Whether you’re facing grief, anxiety, or simply seeking balance, yoga can support you on your path—just as it has supported me.

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