Zen Gems was founded in 2015 as an online shop for jewelry infused with with love, intention + healing crystals. It has since grown with several retailers in Saskatchewan + Alberta, + expanded through workshops + yoga offerings.
About Nichole:
Designer and owner, Nichole is prairie born and raised; married and has two children, who continue to be her biggest inspiration. When she’s not taking the kids to and from school and activities, you may find her curled up with coffee and a book, going on many walks a day with the family’s ambitious mini aussie, gardening or tending to many indoor houseplants, or prioritizing her self care through yoga, pilates, strength training, and meditation, and of course, planning and designing jewelry!
About the creative process:
Jewelry is a beautiful reminder of ones intentions. With the unique energy of crystals, Zen Gems creates gemstone bracelets and mala beads; honoring their roots in Buddhism and Hinduism, the traditional hand-knotting technique, number of beads used, blended with a bit of modern inspiration. Embracing her roles as a mother and also a yoga teacher, Nichole draws energetic inspiration from nature (with new items launching alongside following the energies of the seasons), the lunar cycle, the chakras, the yoga sutras and mindfulness when crafting a piece that blends the multiple energies of different stones.
Zen Gems puts on various events and workshops geared towards self love, womens circles/day retreats, solstice ceremonies, meditation and mala making. Since completing her yoga teacher training in 2019, many events and class series’ started to incorporate yoga (especially through her passion for yin yoga!). You’ll even see many jewelry items inspired by yoga + mindfulness.
Yoga background:
Nichole’s first love was the study of the mind, as she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Nichole’s yoga journey began shortly thereafter in 2006, as an effort to bring more movement and focus into her life. It wasn’t until after her transition to motherhood in 2011 that lead her to a steady practice to reconnect back to her body, and to inspire self growth and stillness. She came to fall in love with the stillness in meditation and yin, tuning into the layers of our being, the way breath can be used as a tool to soothe the nervous system, and how gentle movement can deepen our ability to find embodiment in the postures. Through her own injuries, she has deepened her experience with pilates and more functional movement and creative sequencing to help balance out the physical body where a traditional yoga practice often lacks. With a passion for intention setting and energy work, Nichole discovered that yoga moves beyond just physical strength, but also of the mind/body/spirit connection, and cultivating more love in all that you do. A practice of tuning into your awareness, learning to quiet the mind, and opening yourself up to infinite possibility.
Nichole’s formal yoga training includes:
- 200 hours of yoga teacher training with Ryan Leier and One Yoga in 2019
- Prenatal intensive (10 hour) with Inner Peace Yoga
- Yin Yoga Teacher Training (50 hour) with Bernie Clark in 2020
- Meditation Teacher intensive (15 hour) with Carolyn Budgell
- Spa Yoga Teacher Training (20 hour): a blend of hatha, restorative, therapeutics with Carolyn Budgell in 2021
- Methodized Training (24 hour), through Naked Truth Yoga School and Oxygen Yoga + Fitness in 2023
I love sharing wisdom inspired by yoga philosophy and the cycles of nature. You’ll find regular offerings and events for connection, mindfulness, embodiment, and growth.
zengems.ca 