If you've ever felt like the world moves too fast, your mind won’t slow down, or you don’t quite fit in—this is for you. Yoga isn't an exercise regime for me—it offers a wealth of tools and techniques to support you in everyday life, and I want to share that with you.
Hi, I’m Nicci—mid-40s, happily married, a mum of two, and a yoga lover since 1998. If you've been following me for a while, you might have noticed some changes in my journey. And if you're new here—welcome! Let me share a little about how yoga has shaped my life and why I teach the way I do.
A Life-Changing Diagnosis
In 2022, overwhelmed and burnt out, I made the big decision to leave my career as a Primary School Teacher. This led me on a path of healing—figuring out who I am; immersing myself in yoga philosophy, training, and practice; learning how to run my own business; and—most importantly—finding the confidence to live my life without fear of judgment. This process of change and self-study kept highlighting certain lifelong challenges, channeling my focus toward researching neurodivergence.
In July 2024, I was diagnosed with Combined ADHD. While I’m still processing what that means for me, so much about my life now makes sense—why I left teaching, why I struggled in certain environments, and why yoga has always been my anchor.
Yoga: My Lifelong Anchor
I first discovered yoga in my late teens and have returned to it time and again. It is a gentle, grounding practice that helps me navigate life’s challenges. Over the years, my yoga practice has evolved from attending a weekly class to become physically fit and flexible, to incorporating this ancient wisdom into my daily life to be happy, healthy, calm, and at peace. Looking back, it makes perfect sense why yoga has been my constant companion—it provides the stability, self-awareness, and nervous system regulation that my brain naturally craves.
I have cultivated an accessible toolkit including:
Journaling at night to slow my racing thoughts and help me sleep.
Breathing techniques to calm anxiety and manage my instinct to escape certain situations (hello, flight response).
Meditation to help me observe my thoughts rather than be consumed by them.
Asana (yoga poses) to ease tension, release stuck emotions, connect with my body, and realign my energy.
These small but powerful "tools" helped me in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time. Now, after my diagnosis and further study, I see why yoga is especially beneficial for neurodivergent minds. Living with ADHD often means feeling overwhelmed by the constant stream of thoughts, struggling with emotional regulation, and battling a nervous system that seems to be in a perpetual state of fight-or-flight.
Yoga offers something incredibly valuable: a sense of safety, structure, and self-acceptance that can be life-changing. The rhythmic flow of breath and movement creates a natural anchor, helping to calm an overstimulated mind and bring awareness back to the present moment. The predictability of yoga sequences can be soothing, providing a much-needed sense of stability in a world that often feels chaotic. Meditation and mindfulness practices within yoga teach us how to observe our thoughts without getting caught up in them, reducing the mental overwhelm that so many neurodivergent people experience.
Perhaps most importantly, yoga fosters self-compassion. Instead of feeling the pressure to keep up, to mask struggles, or to conform to external expectations, yoga invites us to simply be. It provides a space where we can meet ourselves exactly as we are—without judgment, without comparison, and with an open heart. For someone who has spent years feeling "too much" or "not enough," this shift in perspective is profoundly healing.
This is why I teach yoga in the way that I do—accessible, adaptable, and free from rigid expectations. Whether it’s chair yoga, Yin, or gentle Hatha, my classes are about creating a space where people feel safe, supported, and seen. Because I know firsthand how life-changing it can be when yoga meets you where you are.
Making Yoga Accessible for Every Body & Mind
I recently watched an interview between two inspirational yoga teachers (Laura Green Yoga and Kim Pierpoint) about supporting students with ADHD in yoga classes. Until recently, I hadn’t consciously considered how I accommodate neurodivergence in my teaching. But listening to their advice made me realise—I naturally create a safe, welcoming space where students can feel at ease, just as they are.
Recognising different teaching and learning styles, sensory sensitivity, and offering mindful guidance allows for individual needs to be explored without expectation or judgment. I want more people to know that yoga can be for them.
My First Yoga Class: A Turning Point
I still remember my first yoga class at 18. My Granny encouraged me to go, and I found a class in my local leisure centre. I spent most of the session watching my reflection, checking if I was making the “right shapes,” and comparing myself to others. But when I closed my eyes, turned my focus inwards, and let my body move with my breath, I found something deeper—a way to exist outside of my overactive mind, and a glimpse of a world of compassion, spirituality, and discovering my true nature.
At the end of that class, I lay in savasana, resisting the urge to fidget and think about what I could have for dinner when I got home. But with a guided visualisation, I was invited back into the moment, into a state of stillness in my body and mind, and quite unannounced, tears silently trickled into my ears. A wave of emotion was released, set free by the combination of movement, breath, and awareness. It was a deeply moving, transformative hour—and I was hooked.
My Yoga Journey
Over the years, I’ve trained with many incredible teachers and explored various styles to develop a practice that truly reflects who I am. My qualifications include:
2004 – Inner Healing School of Yoga (200hr Yoga Teacher Training)
2020 – Path of Yoga (200hr Yoga Teacher Training)
2022 – Yin Yoga with Laura Green
Current – Subtle Yoga / The Science of Slow with Kristine @Subtle Yoga
For years, I thought I had to look a certain way to be accepted as a yoga teacher, that I had to change so that I could become a yoga teacher. However, yoga has taught me to accept, embrace, and love who I am, to see that I don’t need to change. So now I teach yoga "just as I am," and I hope others can also stop believing they need to change and start loving and embracing who they already are.
Yoga is for You—Yes, You!
So many people say to me: “I can’t do yoga.”
If your idea of yoga is spending 90 minutes in extreme poses whilst wearing trendy leggings and a crop top, followed by silent meditation in an intimidating void of judgment… no wonder it feels unapproachable!
But yoga isn’t about having a specific body-type or achieving a picture-perfect pose. It is so much more than a physical practice. It's about tuning into what you need and aligning what you think, feel and do. The physical practice is like a key, unlocking a world of self-enquiry and exploration, a place to evolve and connect with who we truly are beyond the material world. Combining asana practice with small, simple yoga-inspired habits can make a profound difference in your daily life.
Join Me on the Mat (or Chair!)
If you’re curious to explore yoga in a way that feels safe, supportive, and right for you, I’d love to welcome you to a class.
I offer:
✔️ Beginners-Only Yoga
✔️ Chair Yoga
✔️ Yin Yoga
✔️ Gentle Hatha Yoga
✔️ Private sessions 1:1
✔️ Retreats, workshops, and events
📍 Locations: Newton Abbot & Kingsteignton
💻 Online classes coming soon!
Ready to give yoga a try? Click below and let’s find the right class for you.
You don’t have to be flexible, fit, or experienced to begin—just bring your curiosity and an open mind. Join me and discover how yoga can support you.
With gratitude,
Nicci x
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