Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki Rae Bose.
Hi Nikki, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
This is always a shocking one for folx–I used to be a molecular biologist. I was also teaching yoga in the evenings, and I felt a clear difference. My day job was a stable choice made up by my mind, and the other was my heart’s path. Well, over some years, my heart spoke louder and louder until I decided to quit my full-time gig at the lab and continue my yogic studies in India, followed by a 5-month travel.
Throughout this time, I deepened my connection to the other limbs of yoga. I find there’s a huge emphasis on the physical here in the West, but what cracked me open was learning the sutras (philosophy), pranayama (breathwork), and dharana (different concentration practices that we call meditation).
I ALSO found that going to 1000 temples and visiting every tourist site was starting to get old and feel exploitive during my travels, so I felt called towards community service. I made it a point to get to know locals, wherever I was, and ask THEM, “How do you think I could help out around here?” WHOA, if yoga is union, then let me tell you, those invitations to service broke down barriers of separation.
This was the birth of reUnify yoga.
I wanted to not only honor and reunify the different limbs of the practice but also connect people through community and service.
The seeds were planted, and it started with a small traveling donation-based class, from which I donated 50% of my profits to one of the places I used to volunteer at in Myanmar. Now, reUnify has evolved into a community-based studio here in our hippy town of Ocean Beach. We have membership models that we call “Seva,” from which we give to different non-profit organizations. We organize volunteer trips down to Mexico. Most importantly, reUnify just feels like family. I feel so grateful to be held in the arms of this place that was just an idea 5 years ago.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Well… after less than a year of being open, I was sending an email out to our members that we had to temporarily close our doors due to COVID, so I’d say it’s been far from smooth. Now, I look back fondly on that time. I was hustling in that little studio, pumping out a full digital yoga schedule, then we proceeded to hunt for outdoor spaces all over OB to practice in once that was allowed. It ended up being such medicine to practice in person together, even if it was 6 feet apart, during times of such isolation and uncertainty.
As you know, we’re big fans of reUnify yoga. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
reUnify is more than a yoga studio. I’ve built lifelong connections in this space. We surf together, dance together, go on community service trips together, laugh AND cry in each other’s arms, the whole gamet of life experiences. I’d like to think one of the things we specialize in, is staying true to the original teachings and traditions of the practice of yoga, while weaving in authenticity. Each teacher is free to express themselves in whatever way feels good for them, oftentimes sharing their own personal stories or lessons. This allows for an environment that respects the lineage of yoga and the gifts it has given us while fostering a sense of connection between student & teacher rather than any form of illusory hierarchy. Expect philosophy, breathwork, a free space to adapt the practice as you need to, but also strong sources of guidance, with more than half the staff having 10+ years of teaching experience.
I’d say our strongest offerings are COMMUNITY and PHILOSOPHY. Life has its ups and downs, so to have a community that you can fall back on, or celebrate with, is KEY.
It also helps to continuously tap into knowledge that reminds you of who you really are. The philosophy or teachings many of our instructors share give ya that nudge in the right direction if you’re feeling a little lost along the way. Hey, many of us teachers are just sharing what we need to hear ourselves, so we’re all in this together, you know?
Lastly, we’ve built a hub for yogic education. We offer multiple trainings per year– 200 hr. Yoga Teacher Training, Prenatal Yoga, Yoga Nidra, MANY different styles of workshops. We’re even launching our first 300-hour training this August, with a focus on Breathwork, Meditation, Philosophy, and Adaptability of the practice. It also includes a retreat to Mexico, ouuUUUuuu, and we’re STOKED on it.
We just want to get that word out that
1) there’s a yoga family here with a down-to-earth vibe
2) we offer TONS of education if you want to dive deeper into the practice of yoga and all of its offerings 3) There’s a new student deal 2 weeks for $30; come check us out! Don’t let finances be the thing that stops you; we want yoga to be accessible to everyone and anyone, so connect with us, and we always figure out a way to provide in whatever ways we can.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Come through to one of our community events– There’s a monthly Chai & Vibe, a FREE weekly community meditation and chai hour, and all kinds of goodness. If ya wanna support us, of course, sign up for a Seva membership so we can continue to grow and also donate to non-profits each financial quarter. OR… Join one of our trainings (maybe the 300 hr. YTT this summer–woop woop!) because the more humans that dive deeper into this practice, the more open-hearted our day-to-day interactions will be.
If you have a similar vision of helping others and creating community, find us on Instagram @reunifyyoga, and let’s make some magic happen.
Pricing:
- 2 weeks for $30 New student deal
- $111 for Seva Membership
- $108 for Regular Membership
- $3800 for first 11 spots of 300 hr YTT (retreat included!)
- FREE Saturday AM Community Class and Thursday AM Meditation
Contact Info:
- Website: www.reunifyyoga.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/reunifyyoga
- Facebook: facebook.com/reunifyyoga
- Youtube: youtube.com/reunifyyoga
Image Credits
Troels Haahr Graugaard
Abigail McHugh
