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ontheinside2

@ontheinside2

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We empower women to change their story.
*serving in: OR, MO, NE, WY, NJ, VA, Australia.

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Studying and teaching since 1998, teaching yoga was just enough to live on, not quite enough to give from. So over these decades I’ve taken on other work—work I’ve loved and from which I’ve learned—to earn enough to be able to give. I’ve worn many hats, and have always felt very much the student of work, life, of my mistakes and successes equally.

Over the last couple years I’ve created the Hold Nothing Foundation to directly support the causes I’ve loved for years, so that as I teach and write, I give.

To celebrate my 56th birthday this fall, I’ll be offering sessions by donation to give to the causes that have touched my life, and spend focused creative time together.

@ontheinside2
@everymothercounts
@freefoodkitchen
@dhammapasava
@womenforwomen
@girls_on_fire_leaders

Our first Hold Nothing Creative Gathering happens September 1st and 2nd—two days, two hourlong sessions during which we’ll create together. I’ll offer prompts and a talk; we’ll work together in supportive virtual space to lend our energy to these causes. Comment “gather” and I’ll send your link to join me at 11am Eastern; donations of literally any amount accepted.

Image: @thedjpierce thank you 🙏🏼

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The Hold Nothing Foundation 501(c)(3) has come to life; I’ve always dreamed of a foundation to support various causes benefiting women and children. Our first Creative Gathering happens virtually, September 1st and 2nd. Bring your project. Your writing. Your art. I’ll bring a few readings and some silence and we will create together.

Comment ‘gather’ and I’ll send you the link.

Causes we support:
@girls_on_fire_leaders
@ontheinside2
@freefoodkitchen
@womenforwomen
@everymomcounts

And more to come.

Nobody will be turned away for lack of funds.

Comment ‘gather’ and check your DMs for details.

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Exciting news! Our website just got a refresh.

Over the past year, we’ve had the opportunity to work on so many meaningful projects, and it felt like the right time to give our online home a refresh too.

We’re excited to finally share some recent work, celebrate the incredible organizations and partners we’ve collaborated with, and introduce a fresh new look for SIDE Studio.

A huge thank you to all of our clients and partners for trusting us with your stories and your brands. We can’t wait to keep creating together.

Take a look around and let us know what you think!

🌸 Link in bio

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Wyoming Women’s Center- where we have taught the youth and adult offenders since 2021.
Every year, On The Inside travels to our out of state prison facilities twice p/year to lead in person workshops.

This week, we taught workshops on REPAIR
in 3 states
in rooms full of women
holding
heartbreak
families
loss
addiction
and each other.

On Tuesday, we turn 6 years old!

It’s hard to believe how an idea
turned program
turned non-profit
turned from 1 state into 6 states
2 continents
turned into a Dream Team
of women I get to work with
and call friends
exists.

Every day is a challenge
Every day is another chance to learn how to adapt
Every day we show up-
flawed
full
open.

We try and take this photo every year-
somehow today
as we jumped, laughed, and fell into frame
I thought-
this.
this is it.

#prisonarts #makeart #play #showup #community ontheinside

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Missouri today ❤️

Some of our gals will never walk free again. How do you come to terms with that? Some of our gals have 28 days and tell us exactly what they will be doing when they get out. Some are still searching for the light and climbing out of all the darkness. Some of these women have taken our class series multiple times and come play every time we come to play in person.

We show up. We ask the deep questions. We play hard. We paint. Today, our work focused on repair. Not easy work, but necessary work to move forward. After each class, Caroline and I reflect, sharpen our tools for what to change or do differently next time, or say “ah yes that worked!” It’s a practice of listening, of playing, of believing. I love these women. They make me a better human by knowing them & by golly how they teach me about resilience over and over and over again.

#prisonwork #rehabilitation #prisonarts @ontheside

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On The Inside is excited to partner with Pride in Numbers because we believe that stories save us, and that all stories deserve to be told.

We’re proud to partner with Pride in Numbers – a community-led, statewide research project by and for Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ people across Oregon. Through an online survey, storytelling sessions and a Community Art Project, Pride in Numbers is creating a powerful portrait of Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ life in Oregon.

Take the survey or learn more about participation at prideinnumbers.org by May 31st.

#PrideInNumbersOregon #OurVoicesOurFuture #OurStoriesBelong #CommunityResearch

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This week in our Tuesday prison yoga class-

What do you see when you look up?

Here’s a smattering of things that were said aloud:

God
Hope
An open sky, and a changing one
An owl diving for me (me!)
Stars
Clouds
Calm
Infinite beauty and awe
Chem trails
Fluorescent lights
Frustration
Family, reunification, afterlife
Beauty in the trees

I spoke to our ability to look again, to change our perspective and our direction, and how we practice that on the mat and in our lives. In life, we aren’t in rehearsal, we are living the real thing. In our yoga practice, we practice, practice, practice not for perfection but for how we hope to show up when the world is upside down. And we remember how strong we are, how fragile, how humble.

Today, teaching a group of health professionals outside of prison facilities how and why we do this work. Removing walls that might separate us from them and embracing difference as power.

Oh, and pssst, one of my students releases this week, one next week, and another the following week. Imagine walking free after living behind bars…

This past year @ontheinside2 started offering a 200 hour yoga certification in partnership with @yogapearl to women that were once incarcerated, co-led by @elenabrower and I. It’s been one of the greatest gifts of my life.

These women are READY so ready to rejoin their families, recreate their lives, and give back to our communities. You’ll find them in our outside classes @ontheinside2 come take a class, be in community, and see what all the growth and learning is really all about.

#ontheinside #community #love #movement #nofilter

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51 women on the callout for yoga in prison this week.
Again, more students than we have mats for. More bodies to squeeze in the room- so we wiggle and shift and slide over and find pockets of carpet to practice on.

Keep it simple.
Open and close.
Rise and fall.
That is the way this week.
Repetition serves us all.
A reminder for how rituals begin.

On the outside, in our 200 hour yoga certification with @ontheinside2 and @yogapearl for women who were formerly incarcerated, another deep, grounded flow is led today.

On December 31 these students will be newly certified teachers. More community practices coming dear friends! A gift to witness each of their growth during this year.

At the end of practice inside prison this week, a new student says to me, “Thank you for coming here” and I say, “I come for you and for myself, I need this too.”

The real gift is in how we show up for each other, moment to moment.

#nofilter #yoga #prisonpractice #play #yogateacher

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48 students on the callout for class this week in prison.
Even more arrive to be added to the list for next week.
More students than mats, so we make do with being on the carpet. Who needs a mat anyway…

2 of them ask to have my braid.

1 birthday in the room, she picks her favorite poses and I string them together in a flow for us. She calls each one out as we arrive at it.

On the outside, students are graduating from our first 200 hour yoga certification.

1 of these students leads her first hourlong practice this week, and it is so wonderful I cry throughout. At her leadership, and at how much she has grown.

I keep practicing. This week I teach more about moving from madness to gladness. And yes, that is a practice we need to repeat.

In prison, my student who is having a birthday takes her socks off before leaving my room. It’s raining out, and she says with glee, “Nikki, my gift to myself today, is putting my feet in the puddles and feeling the rain on my toes.” I want to burst into tears, but I say, “Go, go, don’t wait for me. Go get in it.”

If I could bring you all inside with me, I’d store you in my pockets and you would be wowed. Instead, these little glimpses of the work at play.

#ontheinside #community #yoga #play #movement

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#GivingTuesday is a movement dedicated to acts of kindness and generosity by uplifting those around us and across the world. We are spotlighting organizations that people in our community are involved with through volunteering, donations or other means of support.

To learn more about these inspiring organizations & opportunities to donate or get involved, check out their profiles tagged below. Happy GivingTuesday!

@cityharvestnyc
@ontheinside2
@orphankittenproject
@ghettorescue
@givingtuesday

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