Education
Master of Arts Degree, Yoga Therapy Studies, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA, USA
2007- 2009
Field School in Eastern European Cultural Studies, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
2001–2002
Bachelor of Arts Degree, English Literature, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC
2000–2002
Arts & Sciences Diploma in Classical Studies, Langara Community College, Vancouver, BC
1997-2000
Basic Counselling Skills Certificate Program, Vancouver Community College, Vancouver, BC
1996
Professional Experience
Business Owner
Founder & Director Fine Balance Yoga, Vancouver, BC 2004 – Present
Oversee day to day operations of a small, independent business responsible for facilitating therapeutic Yoga classes, conducting individual sessions with trauma survivors and training Yoga and health care professionals in trauma-informed Yoga theory and techniques.
Program Director & Coordinator
Program Coordinator, Langara College Continuing Studies, Yoga Programs, Vancouver, BC
2012 – Present
Plan, schedule, organize, and evaluate educational programs from start to finish. Prepare contracts and negotiate revisions and additions to curriculum. Hire and supervise faculty and support students.
Director of Teacher Training & Mentorship, Yoga Outreach, Vancouver, BC
2006 – Present
Responsible for the design, delivery and on-going development of trauma informed Yoga trainings for this non-profit organization which places volunteer Yoga teachers into social service organizations.
Program Director, Incorporating Yoga as a Trauma-informed Practice to Enhance Drug Treatment Outcomes for Justice Involved Youth, Yoga Outreach & the Department of Justice Canada, British Columbia
2017 – 2019
Developed a trauma-informed yoga program to be utilized in conjunction with drug treatment programs for youth involved in the justice system throughout BC. Delivered training to support staff at the partner agencies in using yoga-based practices in their work.
The Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addictions & Riverview Hospital, Provincial Health Services Authority, Burnaby/Coquitlam, BC
2010 – 2017
Designed and delivered a comprehensive Yoga therapy program for adults who have severe, complex and concurrent substance addiction and mental health disorders.
Yoga Therapist
Boreal Wellness Centre, Vancouver, BC
2019 – Present
Providing therapeutic Yoga programming and individual sessions to public safety personnel, first responders, military veterans, and civilians diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder within a 10-week Resilient LivingTM Trauma Day Treatment Program.
Deborah’s Gate, The Salvation Army, Vancouver, BC
2018– Present
Facilitating therapeutic Yoga programming serving international and domestic women who have been trafficked into situations of sexual and/or labour exploitation.
Tupper Nova Adolescent Psychiatric Day Treatment Program, The Vancouver School Board & Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver, BC
2018 – Present
Delivering therapeutic Yoga programming to youth who have serious mental health issues.
Onsite Detox & Transitional Housing Program, Vancouver Coastal Health & the Portland Hotel Society, Vancouver, BC
2007 – 2018
Conducting therapeutic Yoga programming to individuals in various stages of recovery who live with significant degrees of marginalization in the Downtown Eastside.
Curriculum Developer & Educator
Langara College Continuing Studies, Holistic Health Department, Vancouver, BC
2012 – Present
Instructor responsible for the design and delivery of the Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma and Resilience, Therapeutic Yoga for Pain Management and the Professional Practice and Mentorship Programs.
Vancouver School of Healing Arts, Yoga Therapist Training, Vancouver, BC
2012 – 2020
Faculty member and mentor responsible for the design and delivery of courses including Trauma Informed Yoga Therapy, An Introduction to Trauma Informed Yoga and The Therapeutic Alliance in Yoga Therapy.
Guest Lecturer, Post Secondary Institutions, Government & Non Profit Organizations, BC
2011 – Present
Delivering presentations and lectures in trauma informed Yoga theory and techniques since 2011 at City University, Adler University, Stenberg College, Copeman Health, Child and Youth Mental Health Services, the Ministry of Child and Family Development, the Vancouver Foundation, Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia, Cameray Youth and Family Services and the Dalai Lama Center for Peace & Education.
Ajna Yoga, Yoga Therapist Training, Victoria, BC
2010 – Present
Senior Instructor and mentor responsible for the design and delivery of courses including Yoga for Mental Health and Addiction, The Therapeutic Relationship and Yoga, Psychology and the Mind.
Research Associate
Expanding safe spaces: practices and perspectives of trauma and structural violence-informed care, the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine, Vancouver, BC
2019 – Present
Conducted interviews with experts from diverse professional backgrounds, with experiences of practicing trauma and structural violence-informed care in order to translate knowledge about these practices with a focus on women’s health services.
Vancouver Injection Drug User Study, British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC
2013 – 2016
Interviewed study participants for a longitudinal research project exploring the lived experiences of +4000 persons with a history of drug use, persons living with HIV and street entrenched youth. Data collection, entry and community outreach.
Jump Step Intervention Study, The University of British Columbia and The Mood Disorders Association of BC, Vancouver, BC
2015
Collaborated to deliver a 14-week program within a Group Medical Visit (GMV) setting designed to support people with depression to engage in regular physical activity.
The Imaginative Education Research Group (IERG), Simon Fraser University, Department of Education, Burnaby, BC
2002–2004
Conducted research into teaching pedagogy in a daycare in Romania serving underprivileged children under this group which was dedicated to showing how learners’ imaginations can be routinely engaged in everyday classrooms through storytelling.
Publications
The Yoga Service Council, Best Practices for Yoga for Addictions & Recovery, Co-Author
2019 – Present
Collaborating with Yoga therapists, teachers, researchers and clinicians to identify and author a book which highlights shared best practices for bringing Yoga into treatment settings.
The Breathe Network’s Trauma-Informed Toolkit Project, Contributing Author
2016
Authored a section on trauma informed Yoga for this educational resource for practitioners, survivors and anti-sexual violence organizations to enhance their work with survivors of sexual violence and trauma.
Conference Presentations
Northern Indigenous Parenting Conference, Prince George, BC
September 2019
First Responder Behavioural Health Services Canada Inc. Occupational Awareness Training for Clinicians, Level 2 Training, Surrey, BC
May/June 2019
BC Society of Transition Houses Annual Training Forum, Richmond, BC
October 2018
Dalai Lama Center for Peace & Education Heart-Mind Conference, Aldergrove, BC
February 2018
The Kiloby Radical Recovery Online Summit, USA
September 2017
The Annual Victoria Yoga Conference, Victoria, BC
February 2013 – 2017
17th Annual Canadian Energy Psychology Conference, Victoria, BC
August 2015
The Wellspring Conference, Vancouver, BC
October 2013
Professional Memberships
The Breathe Network Service provider, faculty and member since 2018.
The Center for Trauma & Embodiment at the Justice Resource Institute, Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator (TCTSY-F) Certified facilitator and member since 2017.
Bridge for Health Founding member since 2013.
The Yoga Alliance, Yoga Alliance Certified Continuing Education Provider (YACEP) Designated continuing education provider and member since 2007.
The International Association of Yoga Therapists, Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) Continuing education provider and member since 2005.
Continuing Education
Decolonize First: A Liberating Guide, Workbook &Webinar with Ta7talíya Michelle Nahanee, Squamish. Vancouver, BC
2020
Occupational Awareness Training for Therapists: Understanding First Responder Trauma, Levels 1 & 2, The BC Professional Fire Fighters Association and First Responder Health, Vancouver, BC
2019
Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator Professional Certification, the Trauma Centre at the Justice Resource Institute, Brookline, MA, USA
2017
San’yas online Indigenous Cultural Safety Training, Provincial Health Services Authority, BC
2017
New Frontiers in Trauma Treatment, the Justice Resource Institute of British Columbia, with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, New Westminster, BC
2013
Advanced Webinar in Complex Trauma & Dissociation with Janina Fisher, PhD, USA
2012 –2013
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Professional Training with John Kabat-Zinn, Mount Madonna, CA, USA
2006
Community Service
Purple Light Nights, Specialized Victim Assistance Program, Abbotsford Community Services
2020
Women Against Violence Against Women (WAVAW), Vancouver, BC
2007
The Kettle Friendship Society, Vancouver, BC
2002
Battered Women’s Support Services, Vancouver, BC
1995 – 1997
“Our clients struggle with a variety of complex mental health and addiction issues, behavioral problems and medical conditions. Nicole has put in a tremendous effort into the development and implementation of a program that meets the unique needs of our clients and enriched their overall treatment and recovery. Nicole works with caring and compassion on the complex issues of our clients providing creative solutions in an independent and effective manner. She has developed strong therapeutic relationships with the clients, and has been helpful in the development of treatment plans and provided quality Yoga Therapy for our centre. In my opinion, she is an excellent Yoga teacher and therapist and is dedicated to her professional work.”
Steven Henne, MA, RCC, Clinical Practice Lead, Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addictions