Niki Wikström is a mom of three and a Southern California native. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from UCLA and a MA in Psychology with a specialization in Consciousness, Spirituality, and Integrative Health. Niki is an Integrated Somatic Trauma Therapist, a registered yoga instructor, a certified meditation teacher and breathwork instructor, and she has worked in the field of fitness and embodied movement for over twenty years. Niki is a current lululemon Ambassador and uses her platform to introduce the intersection of yoga and western psychology to all individuals, specifically those who lack access.
Meet your Instructor
Niki Wikström
The Embodiment Path
The Intersection of Yoga & Psychology
The Embodiment Path was born out of my work in graduate school to explore the intersection of Yoga & Psychology. I found that the essence of both fields was a commitment to having a relationship with the body. Yoga (specifically in the West) has become increasingly disembodied. It is typically experienced as a pose-dominant practice with very little focus on breath, senses, or spirituality. Similarly, many psychology circles de-emphasize the critical importance of sensory feedback from the body as a critical aspect of well-being. This path is based in embodiment theory and presupposes that all psychological processes are influenced by the body.
The Embodiment Path highlights sensory feedback systems (proprioception, interoception, and exteroception), embodied practices (e.g.: breathwork, resourcing, and self-inquiry) embodied movement, and embodied spirituality as ways to deepen the connection to oneself. In this way, embodiment becomes a practice that uses the wisdom tradition of yoga as the method by which it is explored.
The Embodiment path is a curious exposition into the intersection of self and other, mind and body, and yoga and psychology.
Somatic Therapy + Yoga + Psychology =
A bio-psycho-social-spiritual model of health.
An intuitive and integrative approach to wellness. This path is not meant to be theoretical or philosophical.
It is meant to offer actionable practices to enhance well-being.
Breathwork
Both yoga philosophy and contemporary research highlight the importance of breathwork in self inquiry, embodied understanding, and physiological health. Therefore, both modern and wisdom tradition breath practices are critical components on the Embodiment Path.
Self-Inquiry
Chronicling and processing sensory data is an often-dismissed step on the path to healing. The Embodiment Path values the role of interpreting what arises during movement and practices. Self-inquiry may be verbal, written, or non-verbal.
Embodied Mindfulness & Contemplation
Research shows that mind-wandering may allow individuals to disentangle from repetitive or persistent thoughts. Even though this correlation seems antithetical to mindfulness, constructive mind-wandering may contribute to creativity. As such, the Embodiment Path interprets constructive mind-wandering as a form of contemplation that, ultimately, enhances mindfulness.
Embodied Spirituality
Embodied Spirituality is a lived experience of spirituality that is rooted in the body. It takes that which is outside of us and connects it viscerally.
Embodied Movement
The physical body offers opportunities- through anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics- to better understand oneself and their environment. Embodied Movement functions as a gateway into deepening relationship with the self. The Embodiment Path utilizes yoga postures as the primary physical practice however, mobility practices, intuitive movement, and rest practices are also resourced.
Somatic Practices
Somatic practices include a variety of techniques designed to increase body awareness. They differ from general movement in their focus on reflection which is designed to deepen relationship with the body. Somatic practices usually include interoceptive (awareness of the internal environment), proprioceptive (awareness of where the body is in space), and exteroceptive (awareness of the external environment) components. The Embodiment Path highlights the value of these implementations in whole-self-care.