The Big Yogi

My wife and I wanted to learn techniques to lower our stress and the basics of yoga so Nick had everything we were looking for. With stress coaching he helped us to become more aware and taught us techniques to reduce stress and get out of the fight or flight response. During our private yoga sessions he was able to read our energy and adjust the session to give us exactly what both of us needed. Nick is genuine, patient, flexible, and humble. I highly recommend Nick for any service he offers now or in the future.

I’ve done all sorts of work with Nick, from yoga sessions to coaching/​meditation to some fitness classes. Oddly enough, I met him for the first time at a bar, not in his work setting, but even before I started working with him, I could tell he was a really unique and wonderful person.
Once I started actually working with him, I started to see even more how special he is at what he does. He’s as good as it gets, and he «gets it». He’s authentic, honest, caring and real with you, and in our sessions together, he has helped me make some important realizations and effective changes. Nick is a compassionate listener, and you can tell he’s really there with you, engaged in what you’re saying. He really has a heart for helping people, whether he’s listening quietly and making gentle suggestions or challenging you and pushing you to do better (both in a physical sense through yoga/​fitness or in coaching sessions). I’ve seen a big transformation though my work with Nick and I owe him many thanks. Highly recommended if you want to take an amazing yoga class or fitness class, or if you need some stress management and guidance in your life.

I have taken about 10 classes with Nick over the last few months and I must say he has been one of the most effective teachers for me. He has such a depth of knowledge for yoga and movement and he’s always willing to share whatever he can to help you on your journey.
I look forward to taking more classes with him at yoga garden! Thanks Nick!

Nick is a great teacher, coach, yoga instructor, and drill sergeant. I’ve practiced yoga and participated in his small group training — he’s hands down the best teacher. Even if you’ve been doing squats, push-​ups, downward dogs, etc. for years, Nick will show you how to do all those things even better. You will learn the proper form for workouts (in yoga and strength training) and you’ll appreciate his kind demeanor and positive energy.
Anyone from marathon runners to folks new to fitness will enjoy working out with Nick. He’s a great listener and knows modifications for every workout. And if you’re someone who works out quite a bit, he will find ways to push you.
My favorite things about working out with Nick is that he is very honest and will solicit your feedback on how he did as a teacher that day.
I promise, you won’t regret working out with Nick.

looking for a personal trainer to get your ass in shape? look no further. nick aka the big yogi is awesome. he is a great balance of pushing you to your limits but not being mean about it, motivating you, and looking out for your all-​around health including stress level, diet (my most hated part of trying to get healthy), and physical/​cardio-​vascular strength. he has a diverse skill set with the yoga plus physical training plus stress coaching so you can get a lot out of your sessions. he is really flexible with your needs and will come to your house for those who have home gyms or a good set-​up for working out at your house. perfect for harried always-​working yuppies with a stressful day job and not enough time for work-​outs.

I have been working directly one-​on-​one with Nick for the past month for meditation, time and stress management techniques. He is a great listener and a great teacher.
He is kind, calming, and really knows his stuff. He has shown me many tools that I can use from the beginning, middle, and the end of my day. Tips that I will have with me forever. It’s been a great experience thus far and in each session I am learning something new. No wonder he’s so awesome and calm.
He is flexible and no pushy. Give him a shot and you will not be let down.

All of the five star reviews are spot on. He is a great teacher that provides a challenging class while focusing on the breath and proper alignment. I always leave his class feeling I have learned more about life, yoga, and myself. Highly recommend his classes!

I met Nick by taking his yoga for athlete classes at Wheel House in Embarcadero 1 center and just one of the things I immediately liked about him was his gentle energy and happy demeanor. He made me feel comfortable to be practicing yoga even though it is hard to focus with his good looks and all. But hey, yoga teaches us to acknowledge the distraction yet stay focused on our breath and asana, right?!
His sequences are challenging and flow nicely. He opens the body gradually and I like how he focuses on all aspects of the body and not just one specific area. I have learned a lot from going to his classes this past year and I always know I will walk away from his classes feeling enlivened and refreshed.
He has definitely become one of my favorite bay area teachers and I highly recommend that anyone who has a sincere love of yoga and wants to deepen their practice should check out his style of teaching. You will be happy you did:)

Have been doing yoga and training with Nick for a few months now, and he’s fantastic! Highly recommended. Great feedback, great energy, very friendly while still having the ability to push the work.
Anyone looking to up their yoga or fitness should definitely reach out to Nick.

One look at this guy and you make think: Basketball Player? GQ Model? Think again! Yoga Teacher.
Nick or commonly referred to as The Big Yogi has a great presence that is noticed immediately. He is always smiling and enthusiastic and he brings this energy with him into the room 100%.
As a teacher, he blends several important aspects of Yoga into his classes to give a good balance of breath work, challenging postures, philosophy and meditation. His classes will have you get into your body and have you gain new insights about yourself and your practice.
Nick provides a supportive and encouraging environment for his students to find new limits and push their boundaries of what they know to be possible. The markings of a good teacher.
I highly encourage anybody curious about what Nick has to offer, to seek him out and take a class from him. You’ll soon know what I’m talking about…

Nick is a great yoga teacher! I took his class at Wheelhouse and loved it. Im a little hesitant when taking a class from a new teacher but I had fun and it was a great workout. Im hooked! I was sore (but in a good way) all the next day. Nick is very attentive to his class. He asked us what areas we wanted to target in the beginning of class (for me it was hip openers!) and he made sure to cater the class to what we wanted. My hips were definitely open after all those pigeons poses lol. Anyway, he’s a great teacher and I will definitely keep taking his classes! Namaste Nick!

The Big Yogi is one of the best Yoga Teacher’s out there.
He is great working with students of all levels and I would highly recommend him.
His classes and private sessions are both energizing and relaxing at the same time.
You can see that Nick (The Big Yogi) really puts his soul into each and every client and class.
What a gifted teacher with a great mindset.

I typically keep my fitness focus on a combination of weight-​lifting, plyometrics, and cardio. After a very active couple of months, I noticed that I had developed tightness and back issues that wouldn’t go away. I decided to look into yoga as a possible solution, and a few of my friends recommended Nick.
From moment one Nick was very welcoming and took great interest in my background reasons for coming into the class. He let me know that this would be a great help for loosening up the tightness in my muscles and back that I had been feeling while also building strength, and he couldn’t have been more right. After even just a few weeks of taking his class I noticed less pain in my back, better mobility and more strength in my core.
In addition, Nick is skilled at customizing to your level, anywhere from introductory breathing exercises to difficult inversions.
Overall, I would recommend Nick in a heartbeat for someone looking for a fun, challenging yoga class. You will not be disappointed.

Nick (The Big Yogi) is one of my favorite yoga instructors. His classes at Wheel House are really challenging, but I always leave class feeling calm. I was a beginner when I first started taking his yoga athlete classes 10 months ago and have progressed to taking his level 2 – 3 classes with arm balances at WH. He not only steps you through proper form, but also reminds you to stay present and relaxed in the poses.
During my first class I was surprised to see someone so tall teach yoga, but after seeing him stand on his head and do handstands, I realized I could do it. I really enjoy yoga now because Nick’s classes give you both a physical and mental workout; and at the same time they help to reduce stress.
Nick also taught me how to incorporate meditation into my busy schedule and it has helped me make some positive changes. He’s a great yoga instructor and coach, as well as a super nice guy.

You’ll find me in the gym 6 days a week and for me the word yoga used to be right up there with dreaded cardio. I thought of yoga as something trendy that people liked to say they did while they sipped on their non-​fat chai lattes at the farmers market.
Man was I wrong. Nick is great at his contemporary holistic approach to teaching yoga and applies it to multiple facets of your life. I thought that a session of yoga with nick would be a cakewalk and not nearly as demanding as traditional workout. He personalized and catered the session perfectly making sure I was pushed to my limits but still able to have a productive session.
I left feeling invigorated yet very calm and at peace. I think we all get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and this was a welcome escape from that.

I’m not a big fan of yoga. I find that whenever I go to classes, I always walk out feeling like I need more of a workout.
That is certainly NOT the case with Nick’s classes. When I first took his class, I did not know what to expect. I just heard from other people that he was a very talented yoga instructor, so I went.
I am so glad I did, because his workout was a great combination of stretching and strength, just the way I like it. You do not need to be a phenomenal athlete to enjoy this class, and you don’t need to be an experienced yogi either.
Only asks is that you show up willing to do your best, and by allowing him to guide you through the experience, you feel tired, refreshed and energized all the same time.
Add to that the fact that Nick is an incredibly nice guy, and gives you a great amount of individual attention to help you through the experience.
There’s no doubt that you will love your experience with Nick, he is a gem and a rock star at the same time.

I enjoy Yoga now because of The Big Yogi. From his calming presence, to the confidence he instills in me, my body has changed dramatically. My flexibility and core strength is the best it’s ever been and that has everything to do with my sessions with him. I highly recommend The Big Yogi (Nick), he is great at what he does.

Nick is awesome. I’m addicted to the yoga athlete class. It’s the right combination of «kick your ass» and «calm.» I consider myself an athlete, so I need a challenge and that class leaves my body buzzing with exertion. I’ve taken a few friends to the class who have never liked yoga, because they think yoga its either too slow or too easy as a person who regularly does marathons and cross fit workouts, they all have come out challenged and wanting more. That’s what I look for in a teacher and that is what Nick offers.

Nick is the best! He really cares about his students, and can accommodate students of all levels. I am a beginner, and I never felt uncomfortable in his class. He also focuses a lot on breathing and connecting your body and mind, which I found especially helpful and unique. Highly recommended!

I have been very impressed with the level of quality training I have received from Nick (The Big Yogi). We have been meeting weekly for almost two months and Nick has provided me with wellness and nutrition information, stress relief techniques and private yoga and fitness training.
He is genuine and I never feel that he is condescending. He works at the pace of my body and pushes me to excel at my goals. I cannot express how pleased I have been with his process. Nick offers a fresh perspective of experiencing Yoga, which is both meditative and challenging.