Embodied Practice

I am a graduate of Shiva Rea's renowned Prana Flow teacher training program and have been studying closely with her since 2006.    The roots of all my asana teachings flow along the veins of this lineage.   Most years, I travel to CVN Kalari, in Thiruvananthapuram, Southern India to continue my traditional studies in Kalarippayat.

Alongside this, I have completed thousands of hours of study in the practice of Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Restorative, Yin, Therapeutics, Axis Syllabus, Anatomy, Philosophy, Sanskrit, Mahayana and Vajrayana Meditation, Ayurveda, Thai Yoga Massage, Yogic history, and Social Justice. I have recently finished training to be a Pilates Reformer teacher and offer weekly drop-in classes and support a wide range of private clients in therapeutic practice. I have a passion for teaching pre and post-natal yoga, and supporting my clients as a birth doula.  

Academic Practice

I was awarded a scholarship to SOAS, University of London and completed a postgraduate diploma in Asian Art in 2022 with distinction. My research centred on Hindu-Buddhist art and the ways it interacts with yoga culture. My research included

  • The ways architecture and sculpture supported tantric rituals and yogic practices the 9th-century circular yogini temples at Bheraghat and Hirapur, India

  • The Bahr Al Hayat - the first illustrated manuscript of hatha yoga produced by Emperor Jahangir 1602-1605

  • The ninth-century Dong Duong Buddhist monastery of central Vietnam and it’s iconographical and architectural connections to India and China

  • The evolution of Durga Mahisasuramardini iconography in Central and Eastern Java from the tenth to the fourteenth century.

In 2019 I also completed the Yoga Studies Summer Program at the University of London with leading researchers on from the Hatha Yoga Project, including Dr James Mallinson, Dr Jason Birch, Dr Mark Singleton and other luminaries. My research paper outlined the connections of pre-modern practices of tapas, and the influence it had on the development of medieval Hatha Yoga. I continue to pursue my academic studies part-time with Seth Powell of Yogic Studies, and Sanskrit with Dr Antonia Ruppel.

Consulting and Business Development Practice

I work as a consultant for Core Essence, a vertically integrated design consultancy firm that specialises in creative solutions for the luxury hospitality and wellness market. My roles include place-specific geographical and historical research, competitive analysis and strategic market positioning, narrative storytelling to capture brand authenticity, wellness amenity design (spa, hydrothermal, gym, outdoor wellness and meditation spaces) and creative wellness programming.

Professional Resume

  • 2001-2003: Tour Guide, Travel Indochina, Vietnam, China, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand

  • 2004 - 2009: Founder, Breathing Room Yoga in Saigon, Vietnam

  • 2010 - present: Founder, Nicky Poole Yoga, Toronto

  • 2010 - 2017: Manager, Teacher Training Director of 889 Yoga, Toronto

  • 2017 - 2020: Co-owner, Teacher Training Co-Director of Octopus Garden Yoga, Toronto

  • 2020-present: Consultant, Core Essence Design, Toronto + Madrid

  • 2020 - present: Co-Founder Leelapod

  • 2023- present: Pilates reformer instructor, Muse Movement, Toronto

To get to know me even better, please click here


No group photos because we were all too relaxed to organize or even think of such things. The combination of impeccable hospitality from @bloomholisticretreat and the magical coming together of a group of wonderful humans made this a retreat to reme
Savasana ❄️ This has become a very special yoga practice for me. This was my third winter weekend @bloomholisticretreat doing this practice in nature. It gets better every time. The experience itself, requires a natural, spontaneous arising of y
Traveling with teenagers. . . . #therockies #teenagers #familyphotos #enthusiasm
Having the best time @skilouise and @sunshinevillage. 15 cm of fresh fluffy powder on Wednesday, it was an absolutely unreal day. A couple more days here then home to Toronto this weekend. True story: When I was at University in New Zealand most o
Sharing some curvy vaulted visuals that are helping me on a current underground spa project I’m working on with @coreessence. 😍 . . . #underground #vault #hydrothermalspa #rituals #bathing #design
Finalizing details for my retreat @bloomholisticretreat March 24-26. I know, I know…. post-pandemic we all wait until the last minute to register for anything but, I need a couple more guests to join me for this to be a viable retreat. Please