Nikki Adkins

I started doing yoga here and there to stay in shape after I graduated from Missouri State University in 2004. It wasn’t until after my daughter was diagnosed with severe anaphylactic food allergies, asthma and eczema soon after she was born in 2006 that I began practicing yoga close to 6 times a week. I discovered not only what yoga could do for my body, but more importantly, for my mind and soul. It allowed time for myself so that I could relieve stress and anxiety. I found when I left the yoga room, I was calm and strong not just physically, but emotionally and mentally too. I was able to focus on making a clean, comfortable and healthy environment for my daughter and really appreciate my amazing husband rather than just being consumed by worry.

In addition to my 200 hour Sumits Hot Yoga Teacher Training in July of 2009 (shout out to my awesome hubby, parents and in-laws and Sumit Banerjee who helped make that happen) and 300 hour teacher training through Essential Yoga, I am grateful to have had and continue to have opportunities to train and take class from several of my teaching inspirations like Mackenzie Miller, Alex Crow, Dylan Werner, Bryan Kest, Kathryn Budig, Seane Corn and Patrick Beach. Yoga has allowed me to deepen my focus and embrace the many things my mind and body can do rather than looking at what it may not be able to do. It has broadened the reality that the path from point A to point B, whether that is from pose to pose or in life in general is unique and different and can only be discovered individually. As a yoga instructor, I constantly feel the urge to share the gift of yoga so that everyone can experience at least one of the many benefits that it has to offer.

In my spare time I enjoy being able to coach the MSU cheer team, spend time with my family, friends and dog (Bradley) and go to the lake. I am so grateful for everything that Yoga has brought into my life, and feel incredibly honored to be able to share it through teacher training with my best friend, Stephanie Lewis.