My teaching style is very open. I thrive off of questions and feedback so don't be afraid to tell me what you think. Sometimes Middle Eastern Dance movement is intimidating and I see my ladies get discouraged. I challenge everyone to overcome this fear of the unknown and work at it. The best way to improve is to keep coming and to have a positive attitude. Often society tells us that it is bad to have curves or to watch our curves shake... well in my class this means your workout is underway! The shimmy we do creates a whole body vibration that awakens all of the chakras and stimulates the brain.

I seek to inspire all of my students to have the confidence to hold themselves and move their bodies with strength, pride, gratitude, and graceful intention. While the movements involved in Shimmy Shape-Up are often foreign to the body, they are designed to challenge each student's proprioceptive awareness and to challenge each student's personal movement limitations. My goal is to have my students leave class feeling relaxed and invigorated.

Nikki has been a certified personal fitness trainer at SWERVE for the past six years.  She began her own training as a young competitive gymnast, and has studied and worked as a dancer for more years than she'd like to admit in this bio!  Because of her extensive background in fitness, athletics, and dance, Nikki has a great deal of first-hand experience with both rehabilitation and injury prevention.  She uses that experience, along with a healthy dose of intuition, to custom tailor workouts to her clients' needs, modifying exercises when necessary and offering a good variety of physically challenging, mentally stimulating exercises.  Along with injuries and other "special needs" that Nikki caters to, she has developed a reputation for being a specialist with pre and post natal clients.  In fact, some joke that the way to "get pregnant" is to start training with Nikki!! 

For those interested in a challenging (but fun!) workout, Nikki is offering the following packages for the new year:

- Ten Session Series $660 ($100 savings off the single-session price)

- Twenty Session Series $1,220 ($300 savings off the single-session price)

- Buddy Training 10 - Series $450/person (train with a friend and save $310)

                                                    (323) 893-6032

The Month of Love 2-day Writing Class

More on "NURTURING THE WRITER WITHIN" with Jody Hauber
 

Would you like to write your special Valentine a poem or heartfelt letter? Would you like to write a memoir of your life?  Essays about your passion for music, or cooking, or dogs?  Would you like to create the world's most interesting blog?

What could be a better time to take up the pen (or keyboard!) than the month dedicated to love?

Many people aspire to write but few know how to get started or keep going.  The creative process can be mysterious and intimidating. 

Where do ideas come from? 

How do we chisel stories out of our life experience?

How do we learn to be comfortable expressing deeply held feelings?

How do we stay focused and motivated and excited about our work? 

Nurturing the Writer Within is a two-weekend supportive workshop for those who want to write for personal or professional reasons. 

FORMAT:

The class will provide proven techniques to spark the imagination and instill confidence.  These will include: 

·      Brief opening lectures each week to provide an overview of the elements of story-telling-character, point of view, description, dialogue, narrative and plot-as well as an idea of where and how to begin.

·      Short, illustrative readings from relevant fiction or non-fiction.

·      In-class writing exercises.

·      In-class readings and discussions of student work (for those who want to participate).

·      A between-week "take home" assignment, and, at the end of the second week, a "take-away" assignment.