Nicole Blackwood Yoga
10 Forbes St A1E 3L5 St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, Canada

Super excited to play with some fun options like this to open the front body, thighs, and groins tonight in Aligned Hatha at 7:40pm. For some, having their knee in this position while seated on the floor in Hero Pose (Virasana) isn’t possible. So we will explore this upright option with the assistance of some props. And if none of these work we will try something else! I have done this before without the chair but with the chair makes it so much more stable and possible for m...e to release. Thanks again to Barrie Risman for the inspiration in her weekly classes! Want to come play? Registration options at NicoleBlackwood.com/schedule-and-rates

So grateful to have this space to gather and for the lovely teachers and students who make it possible for yoga to be shared with EVERY BODY. Happy 5 years to us!

A gentle reminder as you scroll _ Image @jacquelinewhitney

This week is Canadian Infertility Awareness Week. Supporting your mental health is paramount at this time and it is really difficult to understand the depth of the struggle unless you’re experiencing it. But there are many out there who can relate if you wish to tell your story. _ My yoga and meditation practices bolstered my mental health during our struggles. I also have a safe circle of friends that I can confide in when I need to vent. _ If you’re having difficulty co...nceiving it’s so important to take care of your whole self. Body. Mind. Heart. _ And for those who know others who are struggling. Offer a listening ear over well meaning, but often not helpful, advice (unless you’re asked!). _ Repost @fertility_canada - Fertility challenges have a real and measurable impact on mental health. You're not imagining it - This is hard! But we are here to remind you that you are not alone. There are support groups out there, we offer them across the country in person/zoom and online options. Be gentle with yourself. There is help to get you through the roller-coaster of emotions fertility can lead to. How are you doing today? Speak out against the stigma of both fertility and mental health issues. Be loud and announce the struggles you are enduring on this journey. This Canadian Infertility Awareness Week we need everyone to " Hear Us" as we collectively raise our voices. We see you. We hear you. #FertilityFacts #TheMoreYouKnow #CIAW2021 #HearUsSpeakOut #OurPowerfulStory #fertilitymatters #infertilitysucks #InfertilitySupport #TTCJourney #LGBTQFamily #TransMom #TransDad #IVF #IUI #Clomid #Azoospermia

Something I’m reminding myself of again. I have a tendency to get caught up in doing all the things and then put my care on the back burner. We can’t be productive when we are worn down. The first step is awareness and then making a conscious effort to carve out self-care in my calendar. I’m also refreshing my routines so there’s more ease during the week.... What can you do to make your health and wellness a priority this week? Comment below or send me a DM to hold yourself accountable _ Image @shopsundae

Given the most recent update from public health including further restrictions for the St. John’s metro area, in-studio classes will be suspended effective imme...diately for the next two weeks at a minimum. All of our in-studio registered students will be provided the Zoom links for the online class. Thank you so much for your patience and kindness as we navigate these challenging times. It’s still our mission to hold space for you to nurture your body, mind, and heart even if it is virtually. Taking care of yourself is even more important this time and we’re so happy that we’re able to maintain a supportive virtual community. We look forward to gathering with you virtually. If you want to connect with your teacher or the other students before class, please turn on your camera and microphone and connect! Bring your mess, pets, kids, and household members. Maybe they will join in too :) If there is any way we can support you more at this time please reach out. Visit NicoleBlackwood.com to find out more about our classes.

I've been daydreaming lately of snorkeling in some warm Caribbean waters. It is my favorite thing to do in a tropical locale :) My hubby snagged this pic in St.Lucia in 2016. I was always grateful for having the ability and means to travel. This past year has made me appreciate it even more. Since we can't safely leave our not-so-tropical island right now, I have sunny destinations on my mind. Where's the first place you want to go to when we are free?!?!

I had so much fun chatting with one of my favourite mentors and amazing teacher, Barrie Risman, last week about her upcoming course, The Triumphant Heart - Less...ons from the Bhagavad Gita on Yogic Living in Challenging Times, that she is co-teaching with her friend and scholar Prof. Bill Mahony. I believe it is part of my purpose and mission as a yoga teacher and studio owner to guide others towards bringing more of what they experience on their yoga mat into their lives. And the yogic teachings are a bridge to do just that. The three-week course starts tomorrow, February 1. We’re an affiliate for this course meaning that we receive a portion of the income if you register through us, thus supporting the Embody community. Find the details and sign-up here: https://www.barrierisman.com/a/42314/Uhh8EF3p Below are some timestamps to jump to a point of interest in the video. 0:00 - Why Barrie feels the teachings of yoga are there for us now more than ever and her inspiration for the course. 3:07 - Out of all of the yogic teachings, Barrie explains why Bhagavad Gita is supportive during times of crisis. 4:42 - Barrie talks about the format and Prof. Bill Mahony decades of personal experience and warmth in delivering the teachings. 6:00 - Nicole talks about how the Bhagavad Gita has supported her. Barrie shares how the yoga philosophy bridges what we gain in our physical practice into our lives. 8:30 - Nicole and Barrie talk about cultivating yogic virtues as householders and how the Bhagavad Gita helps us on the emotional level. 11:43 - Barrie provides a brief overview of the course. 14:00 - The importance of also including a physical practice to have an embodied experience of the teaching. 17:00 - Why reading, studying, and reflecting on yoga teachings is just as much a yoga practice as the physical postures. 19:33 - The importance of learning about these teachings guided by a teacher through the spoken word. 20:50 - Accessibility of the course for those who have no experience with yogic teachings. 22:45 - Why now more than ever we need to fortify our inner reserves and connect with others in this way. 26:05 - Nicole shares why it is so important for her to keep showing up for the Embody community. 27:33 - The course is a way for teachers to nourish themselves and bolster their teaching. @Barrie Risman

I'm so looking forward to chatting with Barrie about her upcoming course The Triumphant Heart: Lessons from the Bhagavad Gita on Yogic Living in Challenging Tim...es. Join us LIVE on Instagram at 2:30pm Newfoundland/1:00pm Eastern time. We will post the recording after if you cannot make it live. Each time I revisit the yogic teachings I learn something new and gain a fresh perspective. The Bhagavad Gita has particularly provided me with comfort and support during this time. Repost from @barrierisman: "The Triumphant Heart: Lessons from the Bhagavad Gita for Yogic Living in Challenging Times" February 1-21, 2021 When everything around you feels unsure and uncertain, where do you turn for stability? For comfort? For truth? The wisdom of yoga is here for us. More than that, it’s meant for times like this. Our yogic teachings are like a safe harbor in a stormy sea. They provide a refuge for the spirit, soothe our souls, and bring clarity to our minds and hearts. There’s never been a more critical time to unite our deepest truths and inner wisdom with the perspectives that can help us make sense of the collective and individual challenges of this remarkable era we are living through. This is why I’m thrilled to announce that Prof. Bill Mahony and I are teaming up once again to offer "The Triumphant Heart: Lessons from the Bhagavad Gita for Yogic Living in Challenging Times." Starting February 1 we’ll begin a 3-week dive into some of the core teachings of this text, and how we can apply them to our current challenges. Whether you’re new to yogic study or a seasoned contemplator, I’m confident that you’ll find precious and timely guidance in these exquisite teachings that have brought hope, resilience, and inspiration to countless seekers. _ We're an affiliate for this course meaning that we receive a portion of the income if you use our link to sign up. Registration is open now, find out all the details and reserve your virtual seat right here: https://www.barrierisman.com/a/42314/Uhh8EF3p #yogicteachings #bhagavadgita #livingyoga #yogiclife #yogaphilosophy

Mylo took first dibs on my legs over the chair set up. I made so with blocks and bolsters. He was too cute to move

A sweet reminder powerful one _ Repost @danica.gim You have so much strength inside of you! It doesn’t matter if it is recognized or not. It is available to you whenever you need it. Art & Words: @danica.gim... shop page @danicagimshop

How do you want to feel? I’m letting these words guide my yoga practice more so than ever. So looking forward to getting back to teaching Aligned Hatha tonight at Embody Yoga & Wellness after our little break. This class is largely inspired by how I like to practice myself. ... I love playing with different movements within classical yoga postures to keep things fun and interesting for my brain and body. I love breaking down specific actions within a pose to dig deeper and experience something new each time. I love being intentional with my practice and cultivate qualities I want more of in my life. And I love sharing this with others. I don’t practice or preach having to look a certain way in a yoga pose. For me it is all about how you feel. It doesn’t have to be a choreographed dance of postures like you’re putting on a performance. I believe in moving in a way that nurtures how we want to feel. Allowing your body to be the guide. Not striving to look a certain way because you think this is what you need to do to practice yoga. I’d love for you to gather with us on Mondays at 7:40 pm for our 70 min practice. We have 2 studio spaces remaining and you can also join from home online. Details at NicoleBlackwood.com/schedule-and-rates. #yogaforeverybody #yogaforeveryone #yogaforall #adaptableyoga #alignmentbasedyoga #yoga #yogayyt #yogastjohns #onlineyoga #hathayoga #sustainableyoga

Looking for a last minute gifting for the yogi in your life? We have a variety of props available! Please DM for pricing and pickup scheduling.

I just came across this video I took when I was pregnant with my daughter on a very hot day in 2017. This 8-minute practice is a great way to release you spine and hips to embrace more space in your pregnant body. I’d love to support you on your journey to motherhood. Join me live from anywhere online! My 12-week Prenatal Yoga series starts this Monday, January 4th, 6-7:15PM. ... It includes movement, breathing, and stillness practices to support you during pregnancy and birth. Each week we also discuss a different educational topic to help prepare you for birth. Our in studio spaces have filled Embody Yoga & Wellness but you can join us online at the same time as the class is live-streamed. Classes are recorded so if you can’t make a class you can view on your own time. Plus as soon as you register you have access to previous class recordings so you can get started on your own right away. Details at NicoleBlackwood.com/prenatalyoga I also have a 40-minute prenatal yoga video available to all those who sign up for our email list at NicoleBlackwood.com #prenatalyoga #yyt #pregnancy #stjohns #newfoundland #prenatalyogateacher #prenatal

Just 1 in-studio space remaining in this 12-Week Series starting January 4. You can also join online from anywhere in Newfoundland (or the world!). _ Now more than ever we need to care for ourselves. Nurture your changing body, prepare your body for birth, and embrace your inner wisdom for birthing this baby into the world. _ Classes are recorded so if you can’t make a class you can view on your own time.... _ Plus as soon as you register you have access to previous class recordings so you can get started on your own right away. _ Details at NicoleBlackwood.com/prenatalyoga (link in bio). _ #prenatalyoga #yyt #pregnancy #stjohns #newfoundland #prenatalyogateacher See more

Happy 3rd Birthday to this ray of sunshine.

Loving our freshly stocked yoga props including bolsters, blocks, blankets, and straps! _ If there’s something you’re looking for send us a message and we will provide price, payment, and pickup details.

Strong. Spacious. Organized. Lucious. _ Allowing these words guide me into 2021. _ Not as a way to fix myself but to feel more loving and accepting of myself this moment in my life - body, mind, and heart.... _ What’s yours? _ Wishing you a 2021 that’s in alignment with how you want to feel See more

Any jaw clenchers out there? Here are some of my favourite movements when my jaw feels tight and I feel a tension headache creeping in. #yogaforeverybody #yogaforeveryone #yogaforall #accessibleyoga #adaptableyoga #alignmentbasedyoga #yoga #yogayyt #yogastjohns #onlineyoga #hathayoga #sustainableyoga

So excited to have our schedule and registration up for Winter & Spring 2021. Some classes have sold out in studio including my Mon, 6pm Prenatal yoga but you can still join line online. 5 spaces left in studio for my Monday 7:40pm Aligned Hatha class. Also join me online from anywhere!

When you’re practicing restorative yoga but can’t close your eyes because of the beauty outside _ This is my go to restorative pose lately. It’s comfortable to holding longer than legs up the wall and provides so much relief to an achy low back. _ What’s your favourite way to rest?

In accordance with the revised requirements from the government for self-isolation after travel outside of the province and the increased number of cases within... the province, we have updated our operating guidelines. Students and teachers are expected to complete our COVID-19 Screening Assessment prior to attending classes at Embody Yoga & Wellness. This includes verifying that in the past 14 days you have not returned from travel or been in close contact with someone who has returned from travel outside of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Full details online. https://nicoleblackwood.com/covid19-guidelines/ Thanks to our dear students for their patience, understanding, and support at this time.

This is one of my favourite ways to relieve neck tension that is starting to creep into my head (hello tension headache!). I’m using a yoga tuneup ball in this video with a yoga block but you can use any type of small ball (like a tennis ball) and a few stacked books. Find that sweet spot at the base of your skull and hold and breathe. Do both sides _ Do you have a favourite way to ward off a tension headache when you feel it creeping in?

"I cannot thank you enough for everything you do, especially for continuing with online teaching when everything was shut down this spring. Prenatal yoga was so helpful with my physical and mental health during pregnancy and really helped create a sense of normalcy during the most isolating months at the beginning of the pandemic. The things you teach were immensely helpful with pregnancy, labour, and recovery, and I will be forever grateful for the connections I made with ot...her moms-to-be in class. You do amazing work!" - Lisa _ It warms my heart to know that I helped moms in some way during their pregnancy and birth. Especially so during this weird and wild time. _ We have one in-studio space @embodyyoganl opening up in Prenatal this Monday, November 23, 6-7:15pm for the last 3 weeks of the Fall session. Send a DM for more information. _ 12-Week Winter Session starts January 4 at the same time. We have 3 in-studio spaces left and also space online. _ Register at NicoleBlackwood.com/prenatal (link in bio). _ #prenatalyoga #pregnancy #onlineprenatalyoga #onlineyoga #pregnancy #prenatal See more

Oh how we miss teaching with a room full of students. But we are so happy that we are fully equipped to teach a small group in-studio while also livestreaming o...nline. Some of our students have gotten so used to online classes that they now prefer it over attending to the person. _ What do you prefer? Online or in-studio? Live or recorded? A combination? We'd love to hear :) See more

So grateful to have found this spinal release practice with @kayamindlin. I’m so enjoying the slow and deep practices of her SRY online studio but, in particular, these movements shown in the video (which actually take about 20 minutes to do) have been a lifesaver for my low back #spondylolysis and general sense of inner ease when our outer world is uneasy. I have already ended a class I taught with a taste of these movements and look forward to incorporating more of what I’m learning as it becomes more natural to me in my home practice _ #yogateacher #yogastudent #slowanddeep #onlineyoga #alwayslearning

Follow along for a fun way to use a strap in a Shoulder Halter to counteract rounded shoulders and open through the chest. _ Check out more shoulder opening stretches on the blog NicoleBlackwood.com/blog.

Yesterday, November 2nd, was World Fertility Day. A day established to highlight the importance of breaking the silence and taboo of fertility issues and to emp...ower people with knowledge on their parenthood journey. _ I’ve had many struggles in my own fertility journey and make an effort not to shy away from sharing my experience with those who are there to support me. I’m an advocate of establishing a safe circle including those that you can confide in. And also educating others when their advice is not helpful. _ I empower anyone who is struggling with conceiving to start sharing in a way that’s supportive, not draining. For some this may be one close friend to start. For others it may be their own IG page. _ Take the best care of yourself and know that you are growing as you wait _ #worldfertilityday #breakthesilenceoffertility #fertilitysupport #ivf #iui #yogatosupportfertility _ Image @morganharpernichols See more

2021 on my dining room table. Sooooo excited to DREAM BIG and make plans after the Planning Party with @theconnectedyogateacher and @amandamckinneyyoga. Loved the energy of this gathering! I’m so pumped to get started with planning for our studio @embodyyoganl and @yoga.to.support.fertility in-person and online offerings _ #yogateacher #yogastudio #yogaforeverybody #onlineyoga #entrpreneur #mompreneur

Wishing you ease and fun this weekend _ What is ONE thing you can do for more EASE this weekend? _ What is ONE thing you can do for FUN this weekend?... _ To hold myself accountable I’ll share mine here: EASE -> Restorative pelvic release practice (at least 20 minutes). FUN -> Play in the leaves with my daughter. _ What’s yours? Let me know below See more