Alice Nicolai
Alice's Bikram yoga journey began in 2001 out of sheer curiosity. She had heard about it in the media and was ready to balance years of working out in the gym with weights with some serious hot, sweaty stretching! She fell in love with the discipline and focus of the practice. After 5 years of being a student, and referring everyone she knew to take this yoga, she realized she had a calling to teach it. Being a yoga teacher seemed like a great complement to her profession in the health field as a registered dietitian. Alice completed Bikram’s Teacher Training in Fall 2006 in Los Angeles—the last training held at the old Headquarters. She enjoys teaching yoga as much as she enjoys taking class. Witnessing students working hard in class is so inspiring, she is energized by their hard work, and turns around and gives that energy right back to the students—it is a wonderful feeling! This practice has helped her overcome years of anxiety. It was challenging in the early years of her practice, when she felt like she could not stay in the room. However, with time, consistency of practice, and patience with herself, she has come so far. No one can really realize the other benefits one receives besides the obvious…the flexibility, strength, balance, coordination, etc…until you become a regular practitioner. Once that happens, a door opens to a whole new you. You will learn about yourself and the art of self-acceptance, or if there are things you would like to change, those will come into play, as well. So come inside the hot room, Bikram’s Torture Chamber, as he so lovingly calls it, and see what’s in store for you. Guarantee if you keep coming to class, you will gain much more than flexible hamstrings! In addition to yoga, Alice still enjoys all the other elements of a fitness regime, which includes weight lifting (she earned her Pro Card in Fitness with the WBFF in 2011), fitness classes like bootcamps, spin, Zumba, swimming, walking and jogging with her 2 boxers, and spending time with her family. She loves cooking and wants more time to do it! She always makes time for a little bit of chocolate in her life -- she considers that a priority! At one point in her career, she worked part time and was able to teach much more yoga at many studios around town, but now working full time, she keeps it close to home only on the weekends in Folsom and Granite Bay, California. Her favorite pose has always been Half Tortoise. She craves the stretch to her spine, arms, and shoulders, by this time in class…putting everything back in alignment! Her wish for students when they take a class is to feel empowered, strong, and at peace with themselves and others. Learning to love yourself more and more each class, and to have more compassion towards others with wherever they are in their journey…we all have different ones, and that’s OK.
Enjoy that 90 minute gift you give yourself every time you step on that mat!
Namaste.