Highland resident combines unique talents of canine training and yoga instruction
Highland resident Nicki Alexander, a canine trainer by day and yoga instructor by night, is now spending much of her time walking her three rescue dogs due to the coronavirus pandemic. Not at all what she had planned.
She was born Nov. 25, 1983, in Highland to Linda Alexander and became the little sister to Jayme, who was only 14 months her elder. As a result, they soon became playmates and tomboys who went worm hunting, collectors of lightening bugs and frolicking through the yard sprinkler.
Pringle’s potato chips were a favorite snack. One day while both tried at the same time to retrieve the last chips out of the familiar canister, their hands became stuck. Trying to free herself, Jayme was able to get her hand released, but not before receiving a serious slash to her wrist.
After a trip to the emergency room and several stitches, the makers of Pringles changed their can design to remove the aluminum circular edge and replace it with plastic; Nicki and Jayme received a year’s supply of the popular morsels.
Nicki graduated Highland High School in 2002, where she had been a cheerleader, played softball and had a penchant for English. Having an interest in radio, Nicki began working for St. Louis Broadcasting Center, 102.5, after graduation as a nighttime board operator for two years.
Realizing she had a keen desire to work with animals, she began studying at Southwestern Illinois College and then became a veterinarian technician for Dr. Lashley in Fairview Heights for the next three years. She assisted in surgeries and occasionally had to assist with the euthanasia of a pet. “That part killed my soul,” said Nicki, “and I knew I had to move on.”
In 2008 she moved to St. Louis and was hired by Kennelwood Pet Resorts, which boards, grooms and trains canines. Nicki had found her niche. After attending KPR’s training program, she officially became a dog trainer.
Nicki said no two dogs are alike and training one is 99 percent like educating a child.
“You start when they are young and create good habits with a schedule and rules,” counseled Nicki. “It’s never okay to hit a dog or be verbally harsh. They need positive structure over negative and you must learn to read your dog by paying attention to their body language, which reveals plenty. Dogs are far smarter than humans credit them.”
After 10-plus years, KPR opened an additional facility in Maryville and Nicki proceeded to become their head trainer. Still employed by KPR, Nicki moved back to Highland in 2017 and for fun, began to take boot camp classes. Her instructor encouraged her to also try yoga classes. Initially reluctant, ultimately Nicki agreed and discovered how rewarding she found the ancient practice to be.
Prama Institute and Wellness Center revealed the vibrant interest and research in the neuroscience community is demonstrating that the practices of meditation and yoga are profoundly transforming peoples’ bodies and minds.
A recent Scientific American article entitled the Neuroscience of Meditation explains how changes in the amount of brain tissue in key areas of the brain are associated with focused attention, emotional calm, compassion and overall stress reduction. These results are achieved by a variety of meditative approaches including focused attention on the breath, repetition of mantra, and mindfulness.
Studies reveal other physical benefits of yoga include increased flexibility, muscle strength, and tone, improved respiration, energy and vitality, maintaining a balanced metabolism, weight reduction, cardio and circulatory health improvements, improved athletic performance, and protection from injury.
Becoming a certified yoga instructor
So impressed was Nicki with the results or yoga, she completed a 200-hour course in 2017 and became a registered yoga instructor. She began teaching classes at Schuck Massage Therapy. Eventually they realized additional space was needed for both practices and Nicki branched out on her own by securing Suite B at 1105 Broadway in the latter part of January 2020.
For a while, she was as busy as she said her mother has always been.
“My mother is the hardest working woman I know,” said Nicki. “And she taught me to be the same way. My mother also taught me to treat everyone with the same dignity and respect ... she told me to always view myself as if I were on the bottom rung.”
So Nicki continued her dog training during the day and opened Balanced on Broadway conducting early evening classes for men, women, young and elderly in a variety of poses; some slow paced and others faster. Nicki emphasized one of the main skills is people learning to control their own breathing and being still and meditative is a learned practice.
“It’s not just about physical training and disciplines, but it also incorporates the spiritual aspect,” said Nicki. “Our minds and emotions can help rid our bodies of physical ailments.”
Missing yoga due to coronavirus
All was going smoothly until the COVID-19 outbreak and she, like so many others, had to close her doors in March until the nation heals. Nicki noted residents of Faith Countryside Home especially miss their weekly yoga classes and are anxious for “things to get back to normal.”
The past few weeks Nicki can be found going for walks with her significant other, Jim Crawley, and her three rescue dogs, two Golden Retrievers and a Blue Healer Mix.