Exploring Life & Business with Nykole Alarcon of YogiKole

Today we’d like to introduce you to YogiKole.

Hi Nykole, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I am a Certified Yoga Instructor, but I also refer to myself as a Mindfulness Expert or a Stress-Reduction Specialist. The two latter terms come from how I view yoga as a healing tool after going through my own experiences with yoga.

I grew up in the foster care system and was eventually adopted by my aunt & uncle. There’s a lot I won’t speak about regarding my childhood, but this is where I started. Even before I officially knew what yoga was, I’ve always had this sense of awareness that gave me a level of insight & guidance for myself and to others. When I look back at how I handled certain traumatic experiences or coping mechanisms, I realize I was meditating without even knowing how to define meditation.

So while growing up, even going into college & post-college life, I continued to practice mindfulness in both mind & body. And although it may not have been consistent, I found peace in that practice.

It took me until the pandemic in 2020 to really align with what I wanted for myself long-term and how I wanted to impact the world — and that led me to become a certified yogi. So I do my work now in hopes to bring a level of both physical & mental awareness to the individuals open to beginning their neverending journey to peace.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In the previous question, I ended with the “neverending journey to peace” — it’s because I’ve definitely hit some speedbumps & continue to hit them even now.

I’m definitely not the perfect yogi. I’m not always at peace; I still curse; I still have mood swings; I still have bad days. But, even in all those trying moments, I can confidently say I’m still mindful — I am still completely aware of what I’m feeling, why I’m feeling how I am, and how to bounce back. Even physically – I’m not the most flexible; I don’t always stretch; I push myself too hard; I’m tired from other things I deal with in life. BUT, I am self-aware enough in my practice to give myself grace when I finally use my body in poses.

Everything I just said is why I like to refer to myself as a Mindfulness Expert — to guide other individuals in becoming more mindful of how they treat themselves mentally & physically every day because struggles are normal & we can overcome them.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
YogiKole LLC is officially established as a business in the state of Texas. YogiKole is the name I go by while providing health & wellness services.

My intentions are to improve the functional potential and the human experience — both mentally & physically, regardless of age/size/gender. I have clients as young as 10, who use meditation to guide their emotions. I have clients as old as 90 because it’s never too late to gain a sense of control over your body.

While I do offer private yoga instruction, my most requested service is what I call a Guided Stretch. In this service, a client is on a stretch table. I warm up their muscles with some light massage & activity. I then implement yoga by slowly stretching them into a variety of poses. Clients love this service because I communicate what I’m doing while I’m doing it, and it helps them create a sense of autonomy over their bodies all while building the confidence to start practicing yoga on their own.

Part of my own mission as a yogi is to help individuals conquer those mental barriers that prevent them from the physical practice of yoga — to help them gain the confidence & desire to move their bodies, gain strength, and stretch their range of motion. I feel like that’s what sets me apart from other yoga businesses. I really do feel like a teacher, not just someone telling people to follow my poses & breathe.

Honestly, the feedback on the work that I do reminds me that I’ve come as far as I have. It reminds me of how powerful I have been, and how powerful I will continue to be. That’s what I’m most proud of. My brand allows me to help people who might be feeling the same as I felt & sometimes still feel — distanced from their full mental & physical potential.

What do you think about happiness?
This is an interesting question because I’m a generally content person.

But things that really put a smile on my face —

1. My little family – my man & our baby girl. knowing that I make their lives easier, healthier, and joyful every day. Knowing that makes me happy because it means I’m doing something right.

2. Client feedback. The relief & relaxation that my clients feel even days after a session. I get teary-eyed from their feedback. It makes me happy because it makes me feel like I have a true purpose in this lifetime.

3. Food & water. Simple I know… but I LOVE water. I love baths. I love swimming. And I love drinking water. And foooood. I will try ANYthing, as long as I can pair it with rice. Food & water make me happy because they sustain me. And they give me the energy to continue to serve the first 2 things mentioned that make me happy.