We recently connected with Nika Gueci and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Nika, thanks for joining us today. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?
As a certified yoga teacher with over a decade of professional experience and a lifelong personal practice, my teaching is centered around fostering self-awareness and resilience. My offerings extend beyond traditional yoga classes to include workshops that aim to guide individuals to find the answers to the questions they seek.
One pivotal experience that shaped my career was hosting a workshop at a retreat in Portugal. The workshop focused on linking mindfulness to personal life stories. Participants charted their life events, examined impactful moments, and identified underlying themes to align with their values and purpose. The challenge was to translate mindfulness into practical, daily actions to live more purposefully. This experience highlighted the practicality of mindfulness in personal development.
In developing and leading workshops that allow participants to examine their life choices, creating a compassionate community is a top concern. By sharing my own vulnerabilities and moments of struggle, I was able to create a space where participants felt seen, heard, and understood. This experience taught me that the core of effective teaching and leadership lies in authenticity and the willingness to meet people where they are. It’s a lesson that has influenced my approach to teaching, emphasizing that the real impact comes from the heart as much as it does from knowledge.
Nika, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’ve woven my passion for wellness, resilience, and yoga into the all of my teachings, offering a space for individuals seeking balance and purpose in their lives.
I’m very lucky in that my professional work at Arizona State University is aligned with my personal values. ASU’s Center for Mindfulness, Compassion and Resilience, where I serve as the Executive Director, focuses on delivering programs and initiatives that enhance individual and community resilience. We offer a range of services, currently focusing our efforts on academic classes through the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation as well as professional development certificates, such as the Health and Wellness series through ASU’s CareerCatalyst. These are designed to empower individuals and organizations by fostering reducing stress, enhancing meaningful connections, and building resilience.
What sets us apart is our commitment to creating accessible, evidence-based solutions to the challenges of burnout, stress management, and the pursuit of well-being in both personal and professional settings. Our initiatives have reached over 40,000 people, illustrating the widespread desire for meaningful, impactful engagement in this area.
I’m most proud of building an ever-growing, mindful community and witnessing the transformations and the shared journeys towards living a more fulfilled life. My work is an invitation to explore your own story, to find purpose, and to cultivate a life aligned with your deepest values. My brand stands for balance, transformation, and the nurturing of a compassionate and resilient community, guided by the wisdom of yoga and the science of mindfulness.
Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?
If I could go back, I would absolutely choose the same profession! Although my path has not been linear – my Bachelors is in Russian, Masters in Communication, and Doctorate in Education – every step has led me to where I am today.
I consider myself a lifelong learner, and have always been interested in yoga, mindfulness, and wellness. I’ve therefore sought out various modalities of learning – from academia to yoga teacher training to attending offerings at the Omega Institute, Kripalu Center, and Sivananda Ashram. Little did I know that all of my “extracurricular” activities would lead me to thrive in the roles I hold now.
I wouldn’t change a thing.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
Nurturing others is the most rewarding experience, and one that I hold dear. I love seeing my team and those I mentor (and even the puppies I foster!) grow and thrive. My role is to support them so that they may be ready and willing to step into the next chapter of their lives, wherever they go.
Mindfulness teaches us patience as well as letting go, which are the values that I bring to my management style. I believe that with those values, as well as exploring and harnessing people’s strengths, can bring out their highest performance. When individuals do what they love, they are happier and more fulfilled in their work. This is the best – and to me, the only – way to lead and maintain high morale.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://nikagueci.com/
- Instagram: drnikagueci
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nika-gueci-edd-ma-366568129/
- Other: I teach Yoga at Upward Light Healing in Downtown Mesa (rotating Sunday community class) as well presentations and workshops by request.