We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicole Matthiesen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicole, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
There was less of a “thought process” behind starting my own business and more of a calling to do so. Back in 2014 I was working as a litigation consultant. when I was diagnosed with I.B.S. (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).

The doctor also told me IBS was incurable, and they weren’t really sure how to treat it.

I got home that afternoon and something in me just said, “No.” This was not how I was going to live the rest of my life. Part of me knew there had to be another way; that I still had the potential to heal. So I began exploring alternative medicine. And what I discovered was a healing tradition so profound, my entire life changed.

Ayurveda is the world’s oldest holistic healing system and sister science to yoga. I had vaguely heard about it from one of my yoga teachers and decided to do more research. As it happens, I was just 5 miles away from a school of Ayurveda. And this is where my journey began. As I started learning and embracing the Ayurvedic lifestyle, I noticed healing happening on many levels. I decided to get serious and worked with an Ayurvedic practitioner. And after about two years of following a disciplined Ayurvedic regimen, I felt better than I had in my entire life.

That “incurable” I.B.S.? I haven’t seen a sign of it since February 2017.

And that was just the start of the healing I received from Ayurveda:
A skin rash I’d had for three years disappeared.
The seasonal allergies I’d had all my life, gone.
The hormonal imbalances that created mood instability and cyclical depression for me since I was a teenager also went away.

Ultimately, life just got easier. More joyful. And best of all, it became clear to me that I needed to leave my litigation career and share this healing tradition with others to help them heal and thrive.

Today, my life’s mission is to help the overworked and overwhelmed create and stick to a healthier lifestyle and mindset, so they can thrive and shine personally and professionally, and live a life aligned with their true nature and purpose.

What should our readers know about your business?
NM Yoga + Wellness was established in 2017 and focuses on helping others heal, optimize their wellness on all levels and create more joyful and meaningful lives.

At the core of NM Yoga + Wellness are the traditional teachings of Ayurveda, yoga and Vedanta. These disciplines offer simple principles and practices for taking proper care of the mind, body, senses, spirit and emotions. They guide one into becoming a wholly integrated person so that they can more fully understand their true nature, unique gifts, and align with their personal dharma.

In addition, NM Yoga + Wellness teaches techniques from the cutting-edge science of behavior change to facilitate the cultivation of new habits and the release of the outdated personal patterns that no longer serve one’s future self. These techniques, along with a focus on fostering creativity, community, compassion and inner wisdom, helps individuals develop self-efficacy and confidence to manage life transitions and make healthier choices that last a lifetime.

This combination of the holistic healing of the east and modern research of the west offers a unique approach to creating healthier, happier humans.

Coming from the world of litigation, learning these new ways of thinking and being in the world was not easy. I was used to being an “expert,” but now I was a beginner and my ego really struggled with this for a while. Fortunately, the practices of yoga and vedanta are just what one needs to learn how to work with the ego.

In addition, though I was once someone who preferred to do everything on my own, during my healing and trainings I was a part of some great communities of like-minded people. Having the support of others was invaluable to my journey as I learned so much from others, and they found value in my experiences as well.

In fact, what I’ve discovered is that we learn and heal best in community, so this has become a value at NM Yoga + Wellness and our courses are designed to create meaningful and supportive communities as a way of accelerating everyone’s growth.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite parts of L.A. are the beaches, the beaches, the beaches. I’ve lived in a few coastal areas, and nothing beats the beauty and variety of the beaches here. Whether it’s a classic SoCal beach like Hermosa, the always interesting Venice boardwalk, or the caves, rocks and trees of Leo Carillo State Beach. We’ve got it all!

So I’d propose a different beach each day and stopping off for lunch at The Rose, Cafe Gratitude or Gjusta in Venice and dinner at Fishing with Dynamite in Manhattan Beach.

Or on the northern end a stop at Sun Organics for a delicious smoothie and dinner at Malibu Farm.

And if we needed a coastal break, I’d take my guest into the trails around Griffith Park for some great views of the city. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the guidance of Myra Lewin who is my Ayurvedic Practitioner, and who trained me to become an Ayurvedic Health Advisor and Yoga Instructor.

Website: www.nmyogawellness.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nmyogawellness

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolematthiesen/

Twitter: @nmyogawellness

Image Credits
Photos taken by Bernadette Marciniak

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