Meet Nicole Hensch

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nicole Hensch. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nicole below.

Hi Nicole, thank you for joining us today and sharing your experiences and acquired wisdom with us. Burnout is a huge topic these days and so we’d love to kick things off by discussing your thoughts on overcoming or avoiding burnout

As a Yoga instructor, many clients come to me because they feel burned out. It is a gentle reminder to take care of myself so I can show up for them. How can I guide them in relieving stress if I, myself, am stressed?
I recognize the warning signs of burnout in my own body and when I feel them pop up, I force myself to slow down a bit. Sometimes slowing down looks like rescheduling anything that is not urgent on my calendar, taking a Power Nap, turning on “do not disturb” for a bit or getting some gentle movement in. As an instructor, I see the power of breathing with movement every single day. I witness the shift in people’s bodies and stress levels. Even just coming into a simple Yoga posture and focusing on the breath or stepping outside for a walk can shift our nervous system.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I have been a Yoga instructor in the Grand Rapids area for 10 years. I have been teaching full time for the past year with a mission to create accessible Yoga classes/events that are safe and fun. No two days are the same for me in regards to teaching which I enjoy!

Some days involve teaching in corporate environments. Some days involve working with athletes of ALL ages at Phoenix Training where she leads a Yoga class or working with student athletes. Some days involve one-on-one sessions in homes or virtually. Some days involve cultivating small group events (think Bachelorette parties, book clubs, etc) or community events. Sometimes they involve all of the above!

I have always been a champion for small businesses and use Yoga as a way to grow community/drive traffic for select partners. We are taking a break for the summer but I love my monthly classes (that sell out quickly*) at Good Judy’s Juice shop, an amazing local business.

I like to think outside of the standard model of teaching which is typically in a Yoga studio and *only* in a Yoga studio. While teaching only in a Yoga studio, I was not reaching a diverse range of students. I love the variety of humans I meet in different environments and have been able to introduce many new students to Yoga that admittedly would not step into a Yoga studio for various reasons.

When I am not teaching, planning classes, making playlists or trying to sneak in my own Yoga practice, I enjoy travel (most recently to Albania with her partner), walking my dogs, and reading anything and everything.

You can connect with Nicole to learn more or connect about bringing Yoga to your work/team/group at @nicolehenschyoga on Instagram/Facebook or at www.nicolehenschyoga.com

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. Stay curious. I love to take workshops/trainings and continue learning new teaching skills/methods. I also love reading so reading is a great way to easily take in new info. Usually, I am reading one “non-Yoga” book and one Yoga/movement book at the same time to get a mix of fun and learning in small doses.

2. Network. I have experience in sales/marketing and that has been instrumental in building a business teaching Yoga.

3. Stop comparing yourself to others. This is the skill that is most challenging for me, especially with social media. I do not have a perfectly curated social media feed. I post randomly when I think of something to share and aside from two professional photo shoots over 10 years, my photos and videos are not professional.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I am always open to collaboration! I love bringing Yoga into the workplace- whether it is a regular thing or a one-time thing. There are so many benefits on the employee and employer side. I also love getting creative for events. I have held classes at breweries, champagne bars and juice shops. It is a fun way to get people into new spaces and enjoy movement while connecting with others.

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