Nicole Jaquis (aka Nikol Giri) is available as a guest lecturer or speaker, where she can share her experience bridging the cultures of East and West.
Known on social media as relativelyLocal, known in rural Himalayas as Nikolji, and known among the Juna Akhara as Nikol Giri, American born videshi, Nicole Jaquis is a bilingual (Hindi/English), non-binary, queer, sadhana guide / hatha yoga & meditation teacher, holistic education teacher trainer, curriculum developer and multimedia creatrix living in the Kumaoni Indian Himalayas. With over 150 months experience living, studying, doing sadhana and seva in India, Nikol is able to give talks (online and in-person) on the following topics:
*Potential Talks & Presentations:
- Atithi Devo Bhav – Guest is God, Indian Hospitality as a model for fostering supportive relationships and community
- Ardhanārishwar & Queering Yoga – Swara Yoga (Ida, Piṅgala, and Suṣumṇā Nāḍīs), ha-tha, Sun-Moon, Śiv-Śakti, holistic brain and yogic interpretations of gender neutrality and performance.
- G. O. D. the lifecycle of the Nature
- Exhale First – Give (a breath) before you take (a breath) – metaphors for generosity.
- Ashram Life while Bleeding, how Yogic and Ayurvedic Menstruation Practices Unraveled my American Feminism
- Karma Yoga Economy vs. Capitalism – towards building a collaborative society
- Brahmacharya – lessons on love, relationships and connection to source, gleaned in over seven years of celibacy
- Kumbh Mela, world’s largest spiritual gathering
- Juna Akhara Sanyāsi, initiation into the 52 lineages of original yogis
- Yoga Sutras
- Bhagavād Gita
* Previous Talks, Presentations, Classes:
- 2024 Omega Institute, Staff and R&R Classes:
- Sacred Language Series – basic Sanskrit & Hindi: Devanagari (script) and International Academic Standard of English Transliteration
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Karma Yoga within a Toxic Capitalist Society – sharing stories and insights gleaned from 12+ years of seva in Indian ashrams.
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From Pratyāhār to Meditation: Digital Minimalism for the Modern Sadhak – Working towards citta vṛtti nirodhaḥ, settling the thoughts swirling in our minds, while living in the world bombarding us with impressions.
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The Soul’s Circular Journey through the Chakras, as explained to me by a Nath Yogi I met in Pashupatinath Mandir in Kathmandu, Nepal – Explaining the developmental stages of a human: from the moment the soul enters the body, drops down through the chakras through adolescence, and the effort it takes to bring that energy back up and eventually out through the top of the head where the soul initially entered.
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The Predicament of Cultural Appropriation within the Spiritual Industrial Complex and how we can do better as well-meaning white folks.
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Queering Yoga: a Haṭha Tantra and Trauma informed approach, going beyond pronouns and brave spaces.
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DJ / Electionic Music Production – Create Remixes, Mash-ups, & your own original tracks in Ableton Live and learn to live mix DJ sets in DJayPro
- 2023 Skill in Action 75 hour online course, guest presenter – Ardhanārishwar, Swara Yoga & Queering Yoga
- 2019 Rishikesh International Film Festival: Shakti Panel – Ardhanārishwar & Queering Yoga
- 2018 Rishikesh International Film Festival: Goddess Panel – Ardhanārishwar & Queering Yoga
- 2015 Haridwar, Save Ganga River Rally: For the Sake of Our Environment – a plea to local sadhus to not use styrofoam / thermochal and plastic at Bhandaras (community feasts).
