Meet Top-Shelf #Newswothy Founder Nicole Matthiesen

Nicole Matthiesen is a Wellness Coach, Ayurvedic Health Advisor, and Founder of NM Yoga + Wellness

1. Nicole, tell us a bit about who you are and what you do (give us your quick elevator pitch!)

I help burnt-out professional women who struggle to create consistent healthier habits go from feeling frustrated, anxious and like they have little control over their time to successfully prioritizing their physical and mental well-being without the guilt. After working with me, my clients develop nourishing and life-sustaining daily routines with ease and a newfound sense of self-compassion so that they feel more energy, peace, and fulfillment in both their personal and professional lives.

2. How did you come up with the idea for your business? We’d love to hear a bit about your “Founder Story”. 

After overworking in the corporate world for many years, I felt depleted and began experiencing some debilitating digestive issues. In 2014 I was diagnosed with I.B.S. (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and was told by my doctor that IBS was incurable, and they weren’t really sure how to treat it. Something in me refused to live with this for the rest of my life. So I began exploring alternative medicine. And what I discovered was a healing tradition so profound, my entire life changed.

Ayurveda is the world’s oldest holistic healing system and sister science to yoga. I had vaguely heard about it from one of my yoga teachers and decided to do more research. As it happens, I was just 5 miles away from a school of Ayurveda. And this is where my journey began. As I started learning and embracing the Ayurvedic lifestyle, I noticed healing happening on many levels. I decided to get serious and worked with an Ayurvedic practitioner. And after about two years of following a disciplined Ayurvedic regimen, I felt better than I had in my entire life.

That “incurable” I.B.S.? I haven’t seen a sign of it since February 2017. And that was just the start of the healing I received from Ayurveda. A skin rash I’d had for three years disappeared. The seasonal allergies I’d had all my life, gone. The hormonal imbalances that created mood instability and cyclical depression for me since I was a teenager also went away.

Ultimately, Life just got easier. More joyful. And best of all, it became clear to me that I needed to leave my corporate career and share this healing tradition with others to help them heal and thrive. Today, my life’s mission is to help the overworked and overwhelmed create and stick to a healthier lifestyle and mindset, so they can thrive and shine personally and professionally, and live a life aligned with their true nature and purpose. 

3. What makes you different from other similar service providers on the market, what’s your zone of genius?

My zone of genius is twofold. First, my approach to habit change is unlike anything else out there. In large part, the approach and techniques we’ve been told are most effective in creating new habits focuses almost entirely on the strengths of masculine energy.

But none of us, regardless of gender, is solely made up of masculine energy.

And what I’ve seen in my work as a coach is that an approach that embraces both the feminine and masculine energies is far more successful. 

Second, my approach to wellness is based in Ayurveda, the world’s oldest holistic healing system and sister science to yoga. This ancient tradition connects us back to nature and back to our bodies. It reminds us that we are nature, and we are inextricably connected to the natural world. It also reminds us that we are whole beings and cannot look at healing the body without healing the mind and spirit. When you heal with Ayurveda, your whole life heals and your dharma or purpose in life becomes clear. 

4. If you had to pick, what is one organic marketing or PR tactic/win that has been incredibly helpful in growing your business?

I have loved offering free wellness webinars over the past year! I did it occasionally before the pandemic, but when I saw the anxiety and suffering brought on when our world shut down, and the tendency to numb out with unhealthy habits, I knew I had to spring into action and share the healthier methods I had learned for calming the mind and finding ease during this uncertain time. It was a great way to connect with new people when we felt so isolated, and it was incredibly rewarding to know I was helping people find hope when our world was turned upside down. 

5. When you’re not busy working in or on your business, we can find you….

I love spending time with family, hiking and walking on the beach in the early morning, and settling down with a good book. 

6. Entrepreneurship is a rollercoaster. What helps you dig out of the lows? Any tips, resources, or reminders?

Simply knowing it is a rollercoaster helps me. When I’m feeling low or wondering why this great idea I had isn’t working, I try to remind myself that this is part of the process of discovering what does work. I recall my successes and all the things I’ve tried that did work to remind myself that I’ve also had wins.

But the practice that always helps me dig out of the lows is gratitude. When I remember to appreciate all that I have, I can step out of fear and scarcity mode, get clear on my resources, get creative and see new solutions. Works every time.  

7. What’s something we can’t learn about you on Google (well, until this article that is)? 

As a wellness coach, I don’t always showcase my not-so-healthy habits, but I LOVE chocolate chip cookies. Good ones–nothing packaged or store-bought. I’m talking freshly made from scratch. In fact, I consider myself a bit of a connoisseur. If you want to know where some of the best are in southern California, DM me. 

8. Your next dream headline would read…

Wellness Coach and entrepreneur, Nicole Matthiesen, helps thousands of women create better lives through healthier habits and smashing the patriarchal mindset. New York Times

9. THEPRBAR strongly believes in celebrating all of life’s wins, no matter how small – how do you like to celebrate?

I like to celebrate by taking time off and having a day where I have no plans, no engagements and I can disconnect and simply decide in the moment what I feel like doing. 

10. Now we have to wrap things up with a true THEPRBAR question, what’s your favorite beverage?

I’ve become a big fan of ceremonial cacao. 

11. Where can everyone go to connect with you and learn more about NM Yoga and Wellness?

Website: nmyogawellness.com

Instagram: @nmyogawellness

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolematthiesen/

Want to be a Top-Shelf Newsworthy Founder? Apply here!

Nicole Matthiesen is a graduate of THEPRBAR inc.’s Pop Fizz Clink! Program