NICOLE OHME

My dear Global Yoga Community,

We all feel them, but not always properly acknowledge them – our ups and downs in life. Partly because we are spending most time of the day in our head and not in our body.

~ ~ ~

Honoring the natural wave of life and not resisting the downs is a philosophy often associated with embracing the ebb and flow of existence. It’s about acknowledging that life has its ups and downs, and each part of this cycle holds its own significance and purpose.
Here are a few inspirational thoughts on how to lead a more meaningful and fulfilled life.

Acceptance and Mindfulness 
Embrace the present moment, whether it’s a high or a low. Mindfulness encourages being aware of your thoughts and emotions without judgment. When you accept and observe your downs without resisting, you can better appreciate the natural course of life.

Resilience and Growth 
Viewing the downs as opportunities for growth helps build resilience. Challenges can teach valuable lessons and foster personal development, preparing you for the inevitable ups that follow. Every low point is a chance to learn, adapt, and become stronger.

Gratitude and Perspective 
Experiencing the downs allows you to truly appreciate the ups. Gratitude for the highs becomes more profound when you’ve experienced and overcome the lows. It’s all about gaining a broader perspective on life’s fluctuations and being thankful for the entire journey.

Balance and Harmony 
Understanding the natural rhythm of life helps you find balance and harmony within yourself and with the world around you. Just as nature has its seasons, life has its cycles, and finding peace within this understanding is key to navigating the journey.

Embracing Impermanence 
Recognize that nothing stays the same forever. Impermanence is a fundamental aspect of life. The downs, like the ups, are fleeting. Being mindful of this impermanence can help you ride the waves with a sense of equanimity.

Creativity and Inspiration 
The ebb and flow of life can inspire creativity and innovation. Some of the greatest works of art, literature, and inventions have been born out of challenging times. The downs can fuel your creativity and drive to make positive changes.

Connection and Empathy 
Experiencing the downs allows you to relate to others who are going through similar challenges. It deepens your empathy and compassion, fostering connections and a sense of community.

~ ~ ~

The more I resisted the natural wave and flow of my life, more pain and suffering I would experience. Changing my perspective, spending time in nature and moving my body help me to move stagnant energy. This way everything stays in a flow.

Monday 02.10.
Acceptance and Mindfulness 
Flow

Wednesday 04.10.
Resilience and Growth
Flow

Thursday 05.10.
Open Theme
Yogis Choice

Friday 06.10.
Gratitude and Perspective
Slow Flow

Monday 09.10.
Balance and Harmony
Flow

Wednesday 11.10.
Connection and Empathy
Slow Flow

Thursday 12.10.
Open Theme
Yogis Choice

Friday 13.10.
Embracing Impermanence
Flow

Let’s gracefully ride the waves together backed up and supported by our beautiful global community!

Love,

Nicole

My dear Global Yoga Community,

This is the translation for above:
“You don’t have to learn to endure more, you have to learn not to allow everything”

I am certain that the dog I chose, came into my life for reason. She is suppose to teach me something valuable and I believe that it is like this for everybody who has an animal. Just like people as well.
As you know I have worked on myself and with my dog on living more harmoniously side-by-side.
One thing I came up against over and over is:

SETTING BOUNDARIES

I can’t believe that it took me more than half of my life to fully comprehend the extend of these words. I slowly manage to do it and I can see and feel just a glimpse of how empowering and freeing this can be on all levels. This time I am determined to follow through with it.
The beauty of learning it with your dog is that it is non-verbal which makes it even more powerful, but also easier because of their conditional love. If you mess up you can start the next day fresh over again with them.

I was researching “Setting non-verbal boundaries” and was blown away by its actual simplicity and clarity. We have been here before – simple, but not easy! For me the key is that boundaries are set in an unemotional manner.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Setting non-verbal boundaries is a crucial aspect of communication and interpersonal relationships.
Non-verbal communication, including body language, facial expressions, and gestures, plays a significant role in conveying your boundaries and ensuring they are respected. Here’s how you can harness the power of setting non-verbal boundaries.

Body Language
Posture: Maintain an assertive and upright posture to signal confidence and self-assurance.
Eye Contact: Establish and maintain appropriate eye contact to convey attentiveness and seriousness about your boundaries.
Personal Space: Demonstrate your boundaries by managing your personal space and not allowing encroachment without consent.

Facial Expressions
Firmness: Use a firm and composed facial expression to convey the seriousness of your boundaries.
Disapproval: Express disapproval or discomfort through your facial expressions to signal when someone has crossed a boundary.

Gestures:
Palm Up/Palm Down: Use palm-up gestures to welcome appropriate interaction and palm-down gestures to indicate a stop or boundary.
Gesture at a Distance: Use appropriate hand gestures to indicate the desired distance or space you want to maintain.

Voice Tone and Volume
Firm Tone: Speak in a firm and clear tone to assert your boundaries without being aggressive.
Appropriate Volume: Adjust your voice volume to match the situation, emphasizing your boundaries when needed.

Consistency
Ensure that your non-verbal communication aligns with your verbal communication and remains consistent across various situations.

Awareness:
Be mindful of others’ non-verbal cues and respect their boundaries as well.
Pay attention to how people respond to your non-verbal cues and adjust them if needed to effectively convey your boundaries.

Practice Self-Awareness:
Understand your own body language and the messages it conveys. Practice using non-verbal cues consciously to communicate your boundaries effectively.

Empowerment and Confidence:
Cultivate self-confidence and empowerment, as these qualities will naturally reflect in your non-verbal communication, reinforcing your boundaries.

Remember, setting non-verbal boundaries is about communicating your needs and limits effectively without necessarily using words. It’s a powerful tool to ensure your boundaries are respected and to maintain healthy relationships.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Who new that the body language one would be the hardest for me! I know if I manage to get my dog to respect me fully, all other areas of my life will be influenced and changed.

Monday 18.09.
Set an Intension
Flow

Wednesday 20.09.
Set an Intension
Slow Flow

Thursday 21.09.
Open Theme
Yogis Choice

Friday 22.09.
Set an Intension
Flow

Monday 25.09.
Intension on Self-Boundary
Slow Flow

Wednesday 27.09.
Intension on Self-Boundary
Flow

Thursday 28.09.
Open Theme
Yogis Choice

Friday 29.09.
Intension on Self-Boundary
Flow

I hope this is an inspiration for you, unless I am the only one who has issues with setting healthy boundaries! 🙂

Love,

Nicole

My dear Global Yoga Community,

I arrived back home from my trip, but I am still continuing my inner journey. I have been and will be as honest and authentic as possible with you while I am taking you with me on that journey.
The video from the Human Garage was presented to us to watch. Following questions were raised to reflect and share our answers to:

“What is your biggest takeaway from this story of helping people?
Do you help people without them asking?
Do you try to help people when they aren’t ready or willing to help them-self?
If yes, what have you learned?”

This video left a big impression on me and maybe it will have an effect on you as well.

This is what I shared back then:
I have tried to help my family and people around me all my life without them asking for it and was seldom heard. Somehow I felt it is my obligation to help my family, but my mother is one of the victim behavior individuals and hearing this gives me the reinsurance that it has nothing to do with me nor can I help.
I always had a hard time asking for help that’s maybe one of the reasons why I wanted to help other’s without being asked.
Listening to this powerful interview I will be even more aware of it and more likely will ask for help myself now 🙏 

It comes natural to me, wanting to help or be of help. Since I saw this interview I did conscious changes to come out of this habitual pattern of trying to help no matter what. I also started to ask for help myself. I don’t know what has been more challenging 😅

Monday 04.09.
Listen to Help
Slow Flow

Wednesday 06.09.
What do you need
Flow

Thursday 07.09.
Open Theme
Yogis Choice

Friday 08.09.
What do you need
Flow

Monday 11.09.
What do you need
Flow

Wednesday 13.09.
What do you need
Flow

Thursday 14.09.
Open Theme
Yogis Choice

Friday 15.09.
What do you need
Slow Flow

Glad we have a safe and loving community where we can ask for and be of help!

Love,

Nicole

My dear Global Yoga Community,

As you know I arrived back in Spain a few days ago. I am proud of myself to have overcome my fear of driving. I drove the last 1500 km with “bad” breaks and learned to drive pro-active instead of reactive which turns out to be a good skill 😉
With me I brought a suitcase that I had stored a long time ago in Switzerland. Not knowing what was all in there anymore, I opened it up already back in Switzerland. A big emotional wave hit me and I started crying. The suitcase is filled with video tapes from my dance performances – from rock’n’roll dancing over stage performances to my collaborations with artists. There are lots of photos and news paper articles covering my whole life of passion for movement that continued to be my life thread till now.

It took me a while to figure out what is so overwhelming and is touching so deeply. Partly it is the pain I feel knowing that I haven’t given myself enough credit for all that I have done in my life and accomplish on my own. And the other part is looking at photos of myself when I was young and seeing the passion that radiates out of me beyond my eyes. Feeling that unwavering determination and intuition I had about what I needed to do and the deep trust in life even if I didn’t know what would be there for me next.

The reason why I am sharing with you my inner most self is that I want to inspire you to do the same. Have a look at your past and see how far you have come and maybe what you have “lost” on the way. To encourage you to tap back into it. It is never too late to live your passion or/and fulfill your life purpose.

My safe place was always when I was moving my body. Then intuition hits and I feel safe in and with the unknown. Encountering my past this way, encourages me to love myself more, find more self-worth and tap back into my intuition in all other areas of my life. Leading me away from fear to freedom and trust in my future.

Today is my birthday. I was never big on celebrating it, but for the first time I can feel deep gratitude for what was, what is and what will be. I will sit down in front of my past stored in suitcase and cherish myself and my life.

Monday 21.08.
Trust your body
Flow

Wednesday 23.08.
Cherishing
Slow Flow

Thursday 24.08.
Open Theme
Yogis Choice

Friday 25.08.
Joy of Movement
Flow

What is your purpose in life?

Love,

Nicole

My dear Global Yoga Community,

I felt the urge to change the way I address my blog 🙂
You are not random yogis and yoginis that do online yoga together. You are Yoga! You made it happen that we can feel, care for and support each other despite the hurdle of being online. Starting out not knowing each other you all opened your heart to each other and anyone joining this community after.

This community provides a sense of belonging, understanding, and connection that is hard to find in our fast-paced and often disconnected society.

The digital age has brought about many conveniences and for us it bridged the gap of isolation and offers a sense of connection even if we are geographically distant. Emotional support, positive Energy and gratefulness helped us through a time of social isolation and continues to be some of the core values of this community.

Being part of this global yoga community where I can share my passion, support others, and receive support has lead me to a sense of fulfillment and purpose in my life.

In a world where divisions and polarizations often dominate, it is heartwarming to be with people that focus on commonalities and understanding which promote unity and empathy. We created a space where everybody can be their authentic self, find encouragement, and contribute positively to each other’s lives.

Last but not least, your openness to new experiences and approaches was a safe ground for me to evolve and explore my teaching and to grow as a teacher.

Monday 14.08.
Meditative Repetition
Flow

Wednesday 16.08.
Three Breaths
Flow

Friday 18.08.
Heart – Lung – Dance
Organ Flow

Monday 21.08.
Going with the flow
Flow

Wednesday 23.08.
Grounding
Slow Flow

Thursday 24.08.
Open Theme
Yogis Choice

Friday 25.08.
Going with the flow
Flow

I am grateful beyond words for this beautiful community! 🙂

Love,

Nicole

My dear Yogis and Yoginis,

This is probably the most personal blog I have written so far.
A friend of mine, I visited near Hamburg said that I am on my own created “Way of St. James”. Obviously I was not walking from Spain all the way to Denmark and back, but maybe being by yourself driving that distance and visiting the past can have a similar result.
I have been doing my FM’s (Fascial Maneuvers from the Human Garage) during my travel and did some live teaching on the way in Denmark, Switzerland and Germany which was a great experience.

The whole last week I have been reflecting on all the people I re-met on my trip and how even the perception people had of me changed this time. I also got a stronger sense of who still belongs in my life and knowing where I don’t belong. So all sorts of shifts happening while being loyal to my process and FM’s 😉

Today I took all my courage to ask questions in the Lifestyle Artist meeting we had. Even though I can perform/dance on stage and teach with confidence classes when it comes to speaking up in meeting I get super nervous. I went for a walk with my dog after the meeting and thinking about what Garry (Founder HG) said about the need for my to open up my heart and allow myself to receive.

Thinking about it made me realize that my heart has always been wide open to “god and the world” so stay. Yes, I had my share of being deeply hurt, so that a friend of mine even said “your heart is way to open, I want to close it a bit up for you”. I never did, but I did fail to open it up to myself. The self-judgment, feeling of never being good enough, shame, guilt, negative self-talk that were repeated habits/patterns taught in childhood by my family. All of this prevented me from loving myself. I never saw it as clear as now.
I guess I haven’t even been able to allow myself to receive love fully or believe that someone could love all of me. The feeling of unworthiness I was able to cover up nicely my whole life by loving others even more. Being taught putting yourself first is selfish wasn’t helpful in the whole process either.
So I guess learning to love myself is on the top of my list now 🙂

Monday 07.08.
Pelvis Awareness
Slow Flow

Wednesday 09.08.
What do you need to learn
Flow

Thursday 10.08.
Open Theme
Yogis Choice

Friday 11.08.
What do you need to learn
Flow

I am grateful that I can always share my authentic self with you!

Love,

Nicole

My dear Yogis and Yoginis,

I have been I week back in my “home town” and will have one more. Over all these years since I left I have come back and even lived here for a few years and never felt at ease.
Actually the contrary, a lot of resentment, sadness and other negativ feelings that I just couldn’t shake off.
I know it sounds weird and you probably can’t hear it anymore, but I do feel I have to give the credit to the Human Garage.
The shift that the fascial work created in me are subtle and at the same time profound.

I can see the beauty of Bad Harzburg like others do and feel a healthy detachment now.
In the past I was not able to enjoy my walk with my new dog around the area, because of the memories of my beloved dog I had to let go of here. The sadness is not anymore pulling at my heart so heavily and overpowering the deep gratitude I feel for the time I was allowed to spend with my beautiful soul mate.

My situation with my parents over my life time has been anything else than ideal and peaceful. For the first time I could meet them open hearted without judgment or fear to get emotionally slapped. I choose where I comment on and where to be quiet without the negativ feeling rising up. I don’t feel the need to protect myself from them anymore, because of the peace I feel inside.

I have been teaching a fascial maneuver and restorative yoga workshop this weekend. The people that joint, I used to teach rehabilitation classes and yoga to. They asked me if I don’t want to come back. As flattering as it is to be asked and appreciated, after all I still wouldn’t want to live here again. But I leaned by now – never say never!

I learn to really listen more to myself and act accordingly. There is still the constant pull to satisfy other people and their needs before mine, but each time I choose myself instead it feels like a win. Giving myself the love and attention first will have a ripple effect on all the people around me.

Monday 24.07.
What do you need
Flow

Wednesday 26.07.
What do you need
Flow

Friday 28.07.
Full attention on yourself
Slow Flow

Monday 31.07.
What do you need
Flow

Wednesday 02.08.
One Love
Slow Flow

Thursday 03.08.
Open Theme
Yogis Choice

Friday 04.08.
What do you need
Flow

Thank you for accompanying me on my journey!

Love,

Nicole

My dear Yogis and Yoginis,

I am not sure if I traveled as far as I could, but I definitely didn’t live longer in one place than 4 years 😉
This trip has been very different for me though, because of not taking any airplanes.
It is just my dog and I having this extensive road trip over this summer to (re-) connect with old friends.

I never drove so relaxed my car over such a long period of time. I could stay calm even in aggravating situations. All of this that thanks to the Human Garage and there fabulous Fascial Maneuvers!
As I was taking a long walk with a friend up near Hamburg we talked about this 2 months trip as my personal “Way of St. James”.  I won’t return as the same person back to Spain. I think even my dog will have changed to certain extend.

I drove by now over 2000 km to see friends from different times of life and last week it went even as far back as 36 years. I reunited with around 25 Up With People family members and some came with their families.
At times I was very overwhelmed by being with so many people together from the morning till late at night. So much input, output and inspiration all at once. Sharing our stories, emotions and simply enjoying each others company. Being able to be our authentic self without judgment is priceless.
They asked me to teach a yoga class and I also shared twice the full body stress reset (Fascial Maneuver) with them. What a heart warming experience to be appreciated by this amazing bunch of people. Some of them received a yogassage from me which was a wonderful way for me to connect with them on an other level.

Saying good-bye is not my strength, but now after I left, I feel overjoyed by the richness and love I feel inside for my UWP Family and this wonderful opportunity to spend quality time together!

Monday 17.07.
Moving from the Heart
Slow Flow

Wednesday 19.07.
No Judgment
Flow

Thursday 20.07.
Open Theme
Yogis Choice

Friday 21.07.
Letting Love Lead
Flow

I can’t wait for our reunion in November in Marrakech!

Love,

Nicole

My dear Yogis and Yoginis,

As some of you know, I love traveling!
Going on a road trip on my own just with my dog evoked a mix of emotions, including fear and excitement.

Through the experience of the 28+ reset, I became emotionally more stable and are able to shift my perceptions a bit more easily. I know that shifting my perspective from fear to excitement can have a profound impact on how I experience the journey.

If you feel similar when you go on your vacation or a trip, here are a few reasons why changing fear into excitement can make a significant difference:

– Embracing the unknown: Traveling often involves encountering unfamiliar situations, cultures, and environments. While fear might make you hesitant or apprehensive, embracing the unknown with excitement allows you to approach new experiences with an open mind and a sense of curiosity.

– Overcoming personal barriers: Transforming fear into excitement can empower you to step outside of your comfort zone. By embracing the adventure, you can challenge yourself and grow as an individual. Traveling often presents opportunities for personal development and self-discovery.

– Creating positive memories: When you approach a trip with excitement, you’re more likely to focus on the positive aspects of the journey. This mindset can enhance your overall experience and help you create lasting memories. It allows you to fully immerse yourself in the adventure and appreciate the unique moments along the way.

– Embracing flexibility: Travel plans don’t always go as expected, and unexpected situations can arise. By shifting from fear to excitement, you can adopt a flexible mindset that enables you to adapt and make the most of any situation. Embracing the adventure with enthusiasm allows you to find joy and opportunity even in unexpected circumstances.

– Opening yourself to new possibilities: Fear often holds us back from trying new things or taking risks. However, by changing fear into excitement, you open yourself up to a world of possibilities. You might discover hidden gems, meet incredible people, or engage in activities that you would have otherwise missed out on.

I am sure it is nothing you haven’t heard before or didn’t know. Something it is just a good reminder!

I am embracing to feel a mix of emotions before going on this trip. I will consciously choose excitement over fear. Extending my personal journey into this travel experience that can become a truly transformative and fulfilling adventure!

Like always we can practice this already on our mat to change consciously your perception. How does your body feel when it moves into a state of fear/stress? What is the quality of the breath then? Can you change your perception?

Monday 26.06.
Feeling Grounded
Flow

Wednesday 28.06.
Open to New Possibilities
Flow

Thursday 06.07.
Open Theme
Yogis Choice

Friday 07.07.
Embracing All
Slow Flow

Monday 10.07.
Creating Memories
Flow

Wednesday 12.07.
Giving up Control
Slow Flow

I am taking you with me on the journey! 🙂

Love,

Nicole

My dear Yogis and Yoginis,

The 28Day Reset has come to and end but my journey with Human Garage feels like just started. Here are some more valuable facts that might be of interest to you as well.

Points of Contact
Have you ever walked in a dark room and the only point of contact you had was your feet on the floor? You can’t see where you’re going so your body tightens in fear that you might walk into something. Then all of a sudden you reach out your hand and touch a wall, your body calms down and feels safe. You now have three points of contact to navigate you through the room.

This concept is really important to understand when working with the human body. When your body is in water, under a weighted blanket or being hugged by someone close to you it feels safe. The more points of contact the safer the body feels. That’s because it has more information of where it is in space and no longer has to make calculations to stabilize and moderate movement while protecting itself from external stressors.

We’ve found it takes a minimum of three points of contact to create the feeling of safety in the body and began applying this theory in the clinical setting with three practitioners working on one client at a time: the body would relax and release faster without pain.

Exercise: If you want to test this theory: have a friend place one foot on top of yours, one hand on your arm and one on your chest. Close your eyes and feel your body. Have them slowly take away the hand on your chest and feel your body change. Then, have them put it back on. Repeat this a few times and feel how your body reacts to having three points of contact versus two. You may even experience a heighten sense of awareness because the body is no longer using its energy to protect itself.

The Fetal Position

In our study of the human body we analyzed and broke down human movement. We observed each zone and side of the body and how they move in counter rotation to the other. That means when we walk: one arm goes forwards while one goes backwards, the head goes one way and the torso goes to the other, one leg rotates inward while one rotates outward creating equal pressure distribution throughout the body with each step.

As the movements become more complex we see the body wind itself into different positions to generate force and create movement. This can be seen as a baseball pitcher winds his body into a standing fetal position and then explodes in forward motion throwing the ball at high speeds. This winding and utilization of the fetal position is one of the most powerful methods to generate explosive movement and transition from one state to another.

We began exploring the fetal position in therapy to understand what impacts it would have on healing. Lying on one side, we would instruct our clients to cross their legs and hug themself as we rolled them into a ball and had them breathe. To our surprise, deep emotional and physical trauma would come to the surface and release.

But is it really that surprising? We know the body has memory and that the highest point of growth in a humans life is during the first 9 months in the fetal position inside the mothers womb. So why wouldn’t the body enjoy this position? Why wouldn’t it trigger a memory and stimulate healing? These are all the questions we asked ourselves as began to create the Fascial Maneuvers. When doing Fascial Maneuvers one of the core principles is counter rotation and the fetal position with each position winding and rotating the body to create internal pressure and release.
~ Human Garage

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I am so grateful to have found the guys from the Human Garage. I found them at a very challenging time in my life and it felt like they have thrown me a life line just before I started to drown.
These all in all 40 days reset has shown me a new holistic way to heal. By approaching my emotions on a physical level I have become mentally and emotionally more stabil that I can heal myself on all levels. I know there are still so many more layers to unfold, but I feel that I am on the way to finally becoming “me” again.

Monday 19.06.
Focus Within
Blind Flow

Wednesday 21.06.
Embrace Yourself
3-Breath-Flow

Thursday 22.06.
Open Theme
Yogis Choice

Friday 23.06.
“Oiling” the Joints
Adding-on-Flow

I am happy to have you by my side as I continue my journey!

Love,

Nicole