Did I mention how incredibly fortunate and grateful I am to have Nicole Smith Levay as my somatic yoga therapist? Just back from one of my last of 10 sessions as a private client and feel so blessed. Today, we recalled my goals. We talked about the lessons learned. The conversation was sweet. Nicole is someone who is exceptional at her work. I couldn't have picked a better companion on this journey. She is wise, loving and caring. She sees me. What a gift!. read more

I had been in Survival Mode for so long that I became disconnected from my life. I no longer recognized myself, and I could not imagine a future beyond the day that I was trying to just get through. Knowing that major life changes needed to be made, but fearing a big leap into the unknown, I began practicing yoga. That practice led me to a couple of workshops that Nicole taught and those workshops led me to a six-month journey of re-engaging with my life, under Nicole's kind and patient guidance. Using a collaborative approach, Nicole started our sessions by having me create a vision for my life, beyond "what kind of life would I live if I won the Powerball". This is not an essay that languishes in my notebook, to be re-read occasionally: it is a detailed, living document for a life that I was able to begin creating and living immediately, using the resources and talents that I have, while planning and building the full life that I envision. Nicole incorporated kundalini-based yoga and meditation into my daily routine, helping to bring my awareness to how I react--mentally and physically--to experiences throughout my day. With this practice, I began to unwind decades of negative messaging that had left me frozen in place and falsely comforted by the stagnation that I had convinced myself was stability. Nicole challenged me every week to identify and take a step in the direction of the life that I envision. Some weeks those were baby steps and some weeks those were jumps, but each movement forward was celebrated and built upon. And some weeks I fell flat on my face, but Nicole was there to spot me as I picked myself up and dusted myself off. During the course of our sessions, the long-range parts of my vision suddenly scaled much larger than I had originally imagined, and took on a sense of urgency. Before working with Nicole, I likely would have dismissed this as impossible, and scrapped that part of my vision for something much more simple. Instead, these changes are evolving from my on-paper vision into a real plan. I am so grateful that Nicole appeared in my life at a time when I needed someone to help me clear away the old thoughts and patterns that were holding me back. She guided me beyond dreaming of a better life to building that life while I'm living it. Instead of allowing a fear of failure turn me to stone, I can't wait to see what I come up with next! read more

Nicole beautifully weaves her clarity as a yogi with her knowledge of somatics and her firm compassion for health, guiding her practice with a powerful intuitive flow. I am a complete novice to yoga practice. My first introduction was a workshop with Nicole, and afterwards, what was that I felt? Joy! Fully embracing her Virgo, Nicole is committed to using all resources at her disposal to facilitate your health. Plus, she exudes love. So grateful that our paths have aligned. Thank you, Nicole. read more

I started working with Nicole in January after a low back injury halted my dance career and crumbled my world. I was suffering from chronic pain, was unable to dance, and was extremely sad, angry, and frustrated. I didn't know how to cope with the physical or emotional trauma I was experiencing and I felt incredibly alone and hopeless. It was in that dark place that I was introduced to Nicole and made the best decision of my life - I signed up for a 10-week one-on-one Dream Building course with Nicole as my Life Coach. 10 weeks turned in to 6 months of healing, growth, and transformation! Unlike traditional therapy, Nicole's course forced me to take an active roll in changing my life. We had weekly phone sessions, I followed guided meditations, I listened to audiotapes, and I did tons of journaling, free writing, visioning, and goal setting. Our work focused on every aspect of my life - the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual - the goal being to better my whole self. Nicole was right there with me during every step of the process pushing me, challenging me, and offering her unwavering love, support, and encouragement! Thanks to Nicole's invested coaching, I am happier, healthier, and living a more amplified life! My mind is calm and at peace - I think and believe positive thoughts and radiate the energy I want to attract. My soul has faith in a universal higher power - I believe that there is a wonderful plan for my life and I embrace where I am on my journey. My life has a healthy balance between hard work, relaxation, and pleasure. My heart is filled with overwhelming gratitude. And I believe in myself and believe that I have the power to achieve all of my dreams. Working with Nicole has forever changed my life! I am so incredibly grateful for her support! read more

I was planning to celebrate my birthday/New Year's at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health this January, and while a different program initially caught my eye, I was so drawn to another program listing - "Rewrite Your Destiny: Yoga, Movement, and Meditation for Self-Discovery". I had never heard of Nicole or her practice(s) before, but somehow I just knew that I needed to enroll in this course. Wow, am I glad that I did. Nicole is so inspirational. Her blend of knowledge in Kundalini yoga, meditation, somatic psychology, and life coaching is outstanding. Each element is perfectly interwoven together, creating an uplifting, encouraging, and eye-opening experience. Nicole helped me realize my vision and discover new (and old!) values I have for myself. I left her 5-day program with tools that have helped me transform my life. I have the courage, commitment, and care to show up each and every day for the life I want to live. It has been nearly two months since the program, and certainly there are still ups and downs in the day-to-day human experience. But ultimately, I feel more centered, calm, and joyful about the journey ahead. If you have the opportunity and hear the calling, please join Nicole! She is a light! read more

Nicole and I met a few months ago and I completely fell in love with her practice. She's helped me cope with some personal issues as well as manage my stress level. I feel that I have more balanced my mind and body! Thank you! read more

Nicole is truly a guiding light. She has awakened to her true soul's purpose of helping others find their true identities, apart from the personality traits and accomplishments we've all accumulated, adopted, and solidified into our own carefully crafted, albeit limiting, sense of Self. There is no doubt she is a magnificently gifted HEALER, and such a generous one that is acting our her dharma, and is truly able to provide the tools and the wisdom that will enable us to begin to heal ourselves. And then we are never the same, in the best way. I have experienced that my work with Nicole was so immensely transformative, first through her various online courses and later through the 12 weeks of personal life coaching, is because she has clearly been through the process herself. she has been where we all are. And yet through her years of study, practice, discipline, and allegiance to the lessons she teaches, she has elevated herself to a level of such immense compassion, understanding, wisdom, and leadership. She is able to shine her light on our own magnificence, our own talents and divine gifts... enabling us to begin a lifelong relationship with the guru within-our own inner guides-the teacher at the level of soul and universal spirit which once known, will change everything you thought or believed about yourself. I can attest to that. Suddenly, there is a space of infinite abundance around our old ideas of "who we are" and we come to realize that this abundance will reflect itself in the exterior world, once we have incorporated this key shift in perception: that we are spiritual beings having a human experience... that we are unlimited... that we are free through forgiveness, self-compassion and unconditional self-acceptance and love.....that the universe is benevolent and wants to see us to come into full realization and embodiment of our own inherent glory, our light...our Highest Selves...that we are and have always been in this together. I could go on and on about the ways in which Nicole has been an invaluable partner along my path, how my world has dramatically changed both on the outside and more crucially on the inside, and how much hope, faith, trust, empowerment, joy, intuition, and wisdom I have accrued during this process which I have now officially inherited as my own for the rest of my eternity, but my words cannot serve as any sort of shortcut to answer all of those existential mysteries that have captivated all mankind since the very beginning, including the meaning and purpose of Life, why we are here, what we are being called to do, who we are meant to be.... If you feel called to Nicole, I can assure you that SOMETHING deep within is longing to be heard and it is up to you to honor the yearning of your soul. It's probably time for you to learn what that impulse is, where that voice is coming from, and to begin to befriend it, trust it, lean into it, follow it. Honor it!! Nicole is a brilliant guide. Always uplifting, illuminating, extremely intelligent, she is a mentor, coach, and healer just oozing pure wisdom, compassion, and love... and she WILL reach you and touch you!!!! I promise, you will be changed. Your soul will be screaming thank you. Your aura will be glowing, and your eyes will sparkle with new life and clear optimism. You will experience natural bliss and bask in your own pure awareness. You will learn to be still and present. You will move towards finding PEACE. You will feel free. free from your mind, free from the mold others have put you in. You will begin to embody your truth and innate potential as you tap into your limitless creative power. You will experience glorious waves of GRATITUDE, most likely on the reg, and perhaps encounter unpredictable tears of joy. Lastly, others WILL call you out on all of the above. And that's love. that's what this world needs right now. read more

Nicole is the best. Her kundalini sessions were fun, informative, and drama free. Prior to meeting Nicole, yoga never was of interest to me. However, I became a believer about two minutes into the first session. What I enjoyed most about her class was the level of personalized experience. The goal was never to convert my fat-ass into the next lulu lemon toting hipster. Rather, it was to help me feel healthy, be aware of my body, and help me achieve the goals that I set as important. Nicole is professional, intelligent, easy going, fun, and 100% dedicated to her students. Go with your gut instinct and give her a shot. You won't regret it! read more

Beautiful yoga studio tucked away in the Jingletown arts district. Walking distance to Park Street bridge. Small class size with personal attention. I'm a beginner and the class I took was truly hard enough for students at all levels. I did not feel like a wimp for resting. Nicole encouraged me to listen to my body and made me feel welcome. I'll go back. read more

Nicole is one of the sweetest and kindest people I have ever worked with. Joining her retreat at Kripalu was one of the best things I ever did. I have taken with me many things including a love for and daily practice of Kundalini yoga. Nicole's guidance was essential to my understanding of kundalini Yoga. The journaling we did was very helpful in my self discovery and self improvement. Every morning Nicole led us through a wonderful yoga practice followed by kundalini yoga and chanting. This was life changing. My healing started taking place the first day we worked together. I could literally feel the energetic transformations taking place within me. The wisdom Nicole shared with me has changed my life forever. My outlook on life is completely different. I know I can do anything that is important for me, Marci. I am in tune with my emotions and know I can turn to music, dance, kundalini, etc. Thank you Nicole! So blessed to have worked with you. I hope I end up somewhere close in California one day so that I can come take a class with you! read more

Nicole has been a continually healing presence and source of insight and wisdom in my life since we met in 2008. I have taken her online 10 Day course, two of her Vision Based Living Courses and have attended her yoga classes. With her calm and nurturing manner, she made the seemingly intimidating world of Kundalini yoga accessible to me. I've since come to find Kundalini to be a life saver for me mentally and physically. I'm an acrobat, and learning how to channel my breath in movement through Nicole's teaching has helped me recover from muscle strains and get back to moving quicker. I have learned to see pain as a call to action for deeper self healing and not to "push through". I recommend Nicole and her offerings with highest confidence! read more