We were lucky to catch up with Nicole Peltier recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nicole, appreciate you joining us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

A defining moment in my life happened twice in this way. Change came swiftly though “inspiration” verses “annihilation of the current structures”. I had finished my degree in Health & Wellness, moved to Santa Cruz and was hustling several part-time jobs. Standing at the entrance of the aerobics room I watched the “yoga people” finishing up their yoga class, lay in a resting pose and finally get up and exit. What I saw changed everything. I saw a calm, patience, peaceful energy in their faces. I felt relaxed just having them pass me on their way out. I wanted what they had. The next week, instead of aerobics, I jumped into the yoga class- the rest is history. The second profound pivot came while I witnessed a yoga student simply putting away her personal belongings before class. She smiled, giggled casually and appeared positive. It happened to be a Monday. I happened to be not only hung-over from the weekend, but feeling very hopeless about my drinking obsession. I had previously believed that if my addiction to alcohol got bad enough then I would need to take measures. It didn’t have to end destructively. I realized in that instance that I could get a jump start into my new life of not drinking simply by being inspired. I wanted what she had so all I needed to do was what she did. I used inspiration instead of deprivation. Inspiration and Excitement instead of “dread” and “have to”. It was a huge perspective shift.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was a waitress, caterer and runner for over 20 years. My body was breaking down early so I started to stretch a bit before and after my runs. After moving to Santa Cruz in 1998, I encountered a yoga class on every corner so I surrendered to the practice. I ended up studying Classical Ashtanga Yoga at Mount Madonna Center Ashram outside of Santa Cruz, California and later opened the first yoga studio in Tulsa, OK in 2001. I was given the Sanskrit name “Yogita” by my guru Baba Hari Dass, which means “One who walks with God”.
During my 22 years owning Tulsa’s biggest yoga center I studied Prajna Yoga with Tias Little, Iyengar, Kundalini, Prana Vinyasa Trauma Informed Yoga, Budokon & more.
After entering into recovery from alcohol addiction in 2016 I trademarked ‘Raven Yoga for Freedom to help others break free of addictive and unhealthy habit patterns. 2020 took me into the jungle and desert for tribal medicine ceremonies and in 2022 I entered into a year long Shamanic training. The combination of the years of yoga, a ministry affiliation, an active recovery program, shamanic work and my passion to music had made quite a creative mix to offer to the people. My yoga offerings are known as an “experience”. They call it “spicy”, “juicy”, “holy”, “transformative” and damn right “LIFE CHANGING!”

I have a reputation for working well with d.j’s, musicians (live and unrehearsed) and wild playlists. I started a phenomenon in 2003 called ‘Rock’n Roll Yoga’ which was used as a gateway for so many skeptical athletes to beginning a yoga practice. Later I created a yoga teacher training called ‘Hip Hop Hatha’ as an extended training for yoga instructors. In the past 5 years I created ‘All Rise Yoga Church Service’, ‘LIVE Yoga’ and the ‘TOOL Yoga & Breathwork “SPIRAL IN”. ‘
I have lead yoga all over the country and have taught at numerous yoga festivals and retreats including “Telluride Yoga Festival”, “Yoga on the Mountain”, “Love, Shine, Play” and “Drishti Beats” in Aspen. retreats.
Now most of my energy is directed toward my own Raven Retreats, 6-8 times a year, all over the globe. It feeds my soul to give an immersive experience to those who are seeking.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I was busy exercising, waiting tables and catering when I met my future business partner, best friend and husband. He was walking slowing on the running path I was on everyday. I saw him daily strolling with his red dog. We would casually greet each other and often carry on a deep conversation which I felt was good for my soul. He was very grounding for me and I was very exciting and joyful for him. We traveled, married, moved and opened a thriving yoga studio together. We had great success and were very compatible for over 15 years.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My parents had financial destruction when I was in high school so my college was up to me. I worked my way through my in-state and out-of-state tuition without a school loan, debt or any financial help and graduated with a 2.7 GPA, . I worked full-time and also volunteered at a senior center. I was so driven that I got a school policy changed for Kansas University while I was a student there. I was unable to complete my degree with the demands of completing a semester as an intern and at the same time working full time to support myself AND pay for that semester. I petitioned 300 students to sign to change the rules around where the internship needed to be completed. I found an internship at Proctor & Gamble in Cincinnati, OH that paid for housing and that is where went. This opened the door for other students to complete their internship outside of Kansas.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ravenyoganation.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ravenyoganation/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RavenYogaNationwithNicole/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-peltier-69458340/
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/RO5LpuvjHrA?si=EBe8poJBHrZAKkgS

Image Credits

John Ferrante, Trenton Brown