We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nicole Panko a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Nicole, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
For me, creativity is not something I’ve ever had to work to keep alive. I am constantly bubbling with new ideas and different things to try within my business. The hardest part is deciding which ideas are worth pursuing and which ones to let go of.
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?
My story started back when I was 18. As a freshman in college, I was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease Scleroderma. I spent a lot of my time at appointments and receiving treatments that year. I was put on a high dose of steroids and inflammation-reducing medications. I battled with flare-ups and periods of remission on and off for the next several years. Fast-forward to my early 30’s when I was pregnant with my first baby- I read all the pregnancy books that tell what you can and cannot do and what you should and should not eat. What stood out to me most was when I learned that I should swap out my facial skincare products to something with less chemicals. I had never even thought about what was actually in the products that I was continuously putting on my body. I had always assumed that if it was on the store shelf, then it must be safe. That is what led me to start questioning the idea that if certain things weren’t safe during pregnancy, then maybe they weren’t safe at all.
Over the next several years, I found myself being drawn towards more natural and homeopathic remedies and taking a more holistic approach to wellness. I started reading book after book on topics related to health and wellness. I began to see naturopathic practitioners, doing acupuncture, hypnotherapy, energy healing, taking supplements and herbs, moving my body, and just exploring alternative methods of healing. I felt like I had opened the flood gates to the whole new world of clean-living.
Around that same time, I also found myself more drawn to Pilates. I had done a class here and there but most of my experience had been with yoga. I fell in love with the mind, body connection and the concept of enhancing movement to experience the benefits in daily life. I then enrolled myself in teacher training in order to pass along the gift of Pilates to others.
I found myself sharing my new-found passions and knowledge with friends and family, so I then realized I needed to expand beyond my inner circle. The pieces fell into place, and I created a wellness sanctuary for mindful fitness, personal growth, and meaningful connections.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, the most impactful thing that helped me along my journey was trusting my gut. Following my intuition and letting my internal nudges guide me along the way is what led me to where I am. When I found myself curious about something, I followed the nudge and learned more. I did that over and over and just kept building my knowledge base and eventually my business. I encourage everyone to do the same and truly become a life-long learner. Always stay curious and never stop learning new things. You never know where it might just take you.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
We are always looking to collaborate with practitioners + healers in the health and wellness industry. We have a dedicated page on our website called The Collective which serves as a resource guide for individuals looking to dive deeper into a particular area of health and wellbeing. We hold events and workshops with our Collective members and look to them for support in their area of expertise.
If you are interested in hosting an event or workshop at Ember, please reach out! We are always looking to expand our network and learn about new modalities in the wellness realm.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.emberwellnessstudio.com
- Instagram: ember.wellness
- Facebook: Ember Wellness Studio
- Other: Podcast – The Edit Podcast by Ember Wellness Studio
Image Credits
Mandy Williams, Kenzie Keune
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
