For more than two decades, I've been on this rollercoaster called chronic illness. It all began with Type 1 Diabetes, and then psoriasis. Fast forward to 2021, and I finally received a diagnosis for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). In 2023 I was diagnosed with infertility and have been on the trying to conceive journey for 1.8 years.  

The younger Nicole spent entirely too many years pissed off at the health challenges I got dealt with and carrying a burden of shame I didn’t deserve. Injecting insulin in restrooms, being too embarrassed for people to see that I had T1D, and just pushing my emotions aside, allowing stress to consume me. Yeah, those were my coping strategies but they didn’t actually help me cope. Then came the burnout in my early twenties, the wake-up call that I couldn't keep going like this. It was time to figure out how to handle the stress, and resentment I had towards my illnesses.  

Enter breathwork, meditation, and mindfulness. These practices became my anchors, helping me navigate the messiness of living with chronic illness. Now, I'm a yoga, mindfulness, and meditation teacher on a mission to empower women with chronic illness with the tools and techniques that helped me kick chronic stress to the curb and break free from self-limiting beliefs. I do this because I know what it's like to face chronic illness without the right knowledge and support and how often the emotional toll of illness is overlooked by medical professionals. Through my work, I aim to be the support I wished for when I was younger —a guide for those navigating this roller coaster ride called chronic illness.