Course Description:
Welcome to Embodying Ancestral Wisdom: A 7-Day Journey through Movement, Somatics, & Yoga Science.
This course begins by laying a solid foundation of scientific principles and psychological insights that precede each practice, helping you understand the importance of embodying ancestral wisdom. Each day, we will explore key scientific terms and concepts that enhance the embodiment of ancient practices, ensuring you have a deeper understanding of the mind-body connection and its impact on your personal healing journey.
Modern research in epigenetics and trauma science shows how our bodies carry the imprints of ancestral experiences—strengths, challenges, and traumas—that influence us on a cellular level. Ancient cultures believed that ancestral wisdom and healing are encoded in our bodies, waiting to be activated. In this course, we integrate both ancestral practices and somatic movement to help you honor, release, and embody this wisdom.
Each day, we’ll explore a theme through the lens of the four elements—earth, water, fire, and air—and delve into the physiological and psychological processes they influence. With mindful movement, vagus nerve activation through conscious breathing, and reflective exercises, you will engage with your body’s natural wisdom, restore balance, and promote healing on a deeper level.
Rooted in Caribbean healing traditions and somatic practices, this course blends the science of neuroplasticity and fascia release to help unlock the emotional and physical memory stored in your body. By releasing tension in the fascia and connective tissues, we can transform generational patterns and support your healing process.
Incorporating principles from ecopsychology, this course highlights how aligning with the natural world can reduce stress, enhance resilience, and improve well-being. Each somatic practice invites you to embody the elements—grounding in Earth, flowing with Water, igniting the transformation of Fire, and expanding with the freedom of Air—honoring the wisdom of our ancestors and reconnecting with the healing power of nature.
Throughout this journey, you will move through exercises that activate your body’s innate intelligence, allowing sensations, memories, and emotions to arise. There is no right or wrong way to engage—just an invitation to explore your resilience through a blend of ancestral and scientific practices.
Thank you for joining me on this transformative path.
Let’s begin the journey of healing, wisdom, and embodied self-discovery.
Join us for Embodying Ancestral Wisdom—an opportunity to reconnect with the roots of your being, celebrate your unique expression, and carry forward the wisdom of those who came before.
Begin our journey by setting the intention to connect deeply with our roots, honoring the wisdom passed down through generations. This foundational track will guide you to ground yourself, inviting an open heart and mind as we embrace the unique energy and resilience of our ancestors.
We start by awakening the presence of our ancestors within us, attuning to their essence through breath and gentle movement. This practice calls in the strength and resilience that have carried us forward, preparing us to embody these energies in our own lives.
Today, we dive into the vibrant, creative force that flows through us, a spark inherited from those who came before. Using breath and fluid movement, we awaken this primal energy, reconnecting with our natural capacity for expression and creative vitality.
In this session, we focus on release—letting go of inherited stories, habits, and emotions that no longer serve us. Through extended exhales and dynamic movement, we shake off these old layers, making space for healing and the freedom to step forward.
Today, we reclaim our authentic voice, guided by the wisdom of our ancestors who expressed themselves in times of joy and challenge alike. Through vocalization and expressive movement, we explore self-expression, honoring the unique ways we communicate our truth.
We center today on cultivating resilience, honoring the strength and balance our ancestors maintained in the face of life’s challenges. Using grounding breathwork and balancing postures, we connect with this enduring resilience, learning to embody it in our own lives.
Drawing on ancestral intuition, today’s practice invites us to embody the inner wisdom that guides us. Through gentle movement and introspective exercises, we tune into our deeper knowing, creating a lasting connection to the wisdom that flows through us.
On our final day, we celebrate the journey we’ve undertaken, honoring the connections, insights, and healing we’ve embraced. Through reflective breathwork and joyful movement, we embody the transformation, carrying forward this ancestral wisdom with gratitude and purpose.
Who is This Course For?
Embodying Ancestral Wisdom is for anyone seeking to connect with their roots, reclaim inner strength, and embrace a holistic approach to healing that integrates both individual and communal growth. If you’re interested in exploring somatic practices that honor both personal and generational stories, this course will guide you through deeply enriching practices. Whether you’re new to somatics or a seasoned practitioner, this journey offers a unique fusion of clinical and communal approaches—ideal for those ready to honor their heritage, release generational wounds, and carry forward a new legacy of resilience.
Why This Course Is Integral to Healing
Unlike traditional Western somatics, which often focuses on clinical methods for managing trauma and physical tension on an individual level, this course integrates Caribbean somatic wisdom, which centers on community, collective healing, and the honoring of generations past. In Caribbean culture, somatic practices like dance, rhythm, and vocalization have been used for centuries as a means of communal and intergenerational healing, creating space for joy, grief, resilience, and expression within shared environments.
This course blends both of these worlds—honoring individual healing while also emphasizing the generational bonds that influence our lives. Through practices that engage the breath, voice, movement, and energy, you’ll be guided to access deeper layers of healing, grounded not only in self-awareness but also in the strength of your ancestors and the community you create around you. It’s a powerful journey to uncovering and embodying your most authentic self, allowing you to heal in a way that is as much about reconnection and community as it is about individual growth.
It’s important to note that our programs are designed as experiential growth journeys, not typical “drop-in” classes. The audio-based format encourages deep introspection and somatic engagement, as opposed to a video-based format that relies on visual stimulation. The intention behind this is to help you connect with your body’s natural movement and energy without external distractions. This may feel different from traditional video-based practices but is essential to the holistic, transformative experience offered.
Full on-demand access to the complete library, which offers over 325 video and audio tracks. On-demand refers to content that is pre-recorded and available for you to access at any time during your access period, and is not limited to video content. You can choose from both video and audio sessions, giving you the flexibility to engage in whichever format suits you best.
The on-demand series includes:
This allows you the freedom to explore either format—video or audio—whenever it fits your schedule, offering a comprehensive experience that can be tailored to your preferences.
To provide context on the significant value you're receiving, each of the 325+ video and audio sessions typically ranges from $10 to $25 per session. If we calculate the average value at $15 per session, you’re accessing a library worth over $4,875—all for the special rate of $25! This means you are receiving access to this comprehensive library at over a 99% discount, or approximately $0.08 per session.
Enroll as a member for access to ALL on-demand classes and become part of the inner circle.On-demand programs for Memberships are:
1. Enroll in the on-demand membership from this page.
2. Make sure you are logged into this site in the upper right corner.
3. Go to "video library" in the main menu and select your choice of programs with your membership.
Note: purchase for each section is needed, as they are à la carte.
4. View your "User Dashboard" to view your courses and memberships.
5. Choose a program, and press play on the video you'd like to practice.
6. New classes are added to the library frequently.
Check back often!
Membership is the only way to access the programs, which support the ongoing practice and embodiment of the wisdom of Yoga. This is a monthly recurring membership auto-subscription that will automatically renew each month. You will be charged on the same day each month until the expiration of your membership.
Optional: Play suggested music to enhance your practice. ( Recommended playlists are included for you.)The daily practice eventually becomes a ritual and transformative experience. Over time, you’ll become aware of the difference between the days you take off versus the days you practice.
"I studied with Nikki Baksh, and she taught me a *great deal* "
- Annie Hathaway -
Private Student (Oscar-winning Hollywood actress)
" From IMBd to TikTok Nikki Baksh is known as a Caribbean artist and yogi. This class is an opportunity to experience that blended practice. Combining rhythms and musicality from her upbringing she approaches movement from an experiential point of view. This class is aimed to deepen the students coordination and internal mapping of their relationship to their bodies as well as themselves. True to her practice this class encourages students to speak through their bodies with words they didn’t know they had. Jovial as she is, the weight of the diaspora and of our current world is not lost to her. She encourages her students to find their light and spark in the midst of the world they are in, rather than in spite or fear of it. If you have blended emotions that words can’t help to process, this is a class that can help provide a sense of agency and autonomy over your story and how you move in it."
- Adrian Tomby - NYC in-studio attendee
"Nikki is a phenomenal teacher! The Artistry of Yoga centers and grounds me for the week. Then, The Movement lets me see and release whatever I need to get rid of. Perfection! It's the first time that I get to Move however I want to, and she gives everyone the freedom to do that. She gets all these emotions going within me, and it's so liberating. She's really brought out the REAL ME. The fluidity she shows during class is just beautiful to watch and also for us to learn to be fluid and not be so strict in our movements and what we do."
- Doris V. -
Zoom participant
" Nikki’s Yoga, Warmup, and Movement classes are a true transformation trifecta that gives me exactly what I need each week to feel aligned, grounded, centered, strong, expansive, and empowered body, mind, and spirit. The dharma talks are GOLD, and I love the benefit of having the On Demand library at my fingertips.” Nikki's Movement class is medicine for my soul! Nikki knows how to connect you to the wisdom of your inner self. She takes life and puts it right in front of you. Movement is life. Nikki is amazing!"
- Betsy -Zoom participant
"I can’t even begin to tell you how I was blown away I was. Nikki is so passionate, so honest, so raw and informative. She dives deeply and takes the time to truly explain what each pose or chakra is. She teaches us to love ourselves and our bodies and be patient...and how yoga isn’t about just coming to the mat but it’s about “living it day to day”. That’s true yoga. I was so inspired by her. She took time after class to spend another 1/2 hour just chatting with me more, diving deeply, and answering my questions. You can tell yoga is love to her; it isn’t just about being robotic and doing a class. If you can take a class with her, I promise you won’t regret it. I’m so excited and looking forward to my next class. You’re phenomenal Nikki."
- Alina T. -Live attendee in NYC
"Nikki's thoughtfully curated programming was presented to me from a yogic perspective...she helped me work through boundaries and "non-negotiables" in other aspects of my life. One of the other most important things she helped me to better understand was my sense of self-worth and how it related to my actions. It has taken me quite a while to break some of the patterns I had established that I thought were valuable, but realized were no longer serving me at this point in my life."
- Erica Marcano - Live attendee and private student in NYC (MS ATC, CSCS)
"Nikki Baksh is a masterful teacher of yoga. Her knowledge of body mechanics blended with her insight into the subtle realm, creates an experience that is both illuminating and empowering. Nikki’s class is like a journey into the deeper realms of the self, integrated with humor, compassion, and grace. Her embodied presence is a reminder that the divine is inherent in all beings and accessible through the human form."
- Sarah Platt-Finger - Co-founder ISHTA Yoga | Yoga Director @Chopra
"𝖭𝗂𝗄𝗄𝗂 𝖡𝖺𝗄𝗌𝗁 𝗂𝗌 𝖠𝗇𝗇𝖾 𝖧𝖺𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗐𝖺𝗒’𝗌 𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗌𝗈𝗇𝖺𝗅 𝗒𝗈𝗀𝖺 𝗍𝖾𝖺𝖼𝗁𝖾𝗋, 𝗌𝗈 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖺𝗅𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝗒 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗌𝗁𝖾’𝗌 𝗀𝗈𝗈𝖽.𝖲𝗁𝖾’𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝖺𝗆𝗈𝗎𝗌 𝖼𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗈𝗋 𝖻𝖾𝗁𝗂𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗈𝗉𝗎𝗅𝖺𝗋 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗂𝗇𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗀𝖺 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗀𝗋𝖺𝗆𝗌, 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖠𝗋𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝖸𝗈𝗀𝖺 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖬𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍...S𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗆𝖺𝗄𝖾𝗌 𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗌𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗈𝗌𝗍𝗌 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗀𝖺—𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗆𝗂𝗇𝖽𝖿𝗎𝗅𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌—𝗍𝗂𝗉𝗌 𝗒𝗈𝗎’𝗅𝗅 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝖽 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗂𝗇𝖾.𝖨𝖿 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗒𝗈𝗀𝖺 𝗌𝗉𝗂𝗋𝗂𝗍𝗎𝖺𝗅, 𝗆𝗂𝗇𝖽𝖿𝗎𝗅, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺𝖾𝗌𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗍𝗂𝖼, 𝖭𝗂𝗄𝗄𝗂 𝗂𝗌 𝖺 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋-𝗍𝗋𝖾𝗇𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖭𝖸𝖢 𝗒𝗈𝗀𝖺 𝗂𝗇𝗌𝗍𝗋𝗎𝖼𝗍𝗈𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗇𝖾𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗈𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗋𝖺𝖽𝖺𝗋. 𝖨𝗇𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗇𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗅𝗅𝗈𝗐!- 𝗔𝘃𝗶 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗴 - | Founder of Rate Your Burn, NYC
1. Enroll in the on-demand membership from this page.
2. Make sure you are logged into this site in the upper right corner.
3. Go to "video library" in the main menu and select your choice of programs with your membership.
Note: purchase for each section is needed, as they are à la carte.
4. View your "User Dashboard" to view your courses and memberships
5. Choose a program, and press play on the video you'd like to practice. 6. New classes are added to the library frequently.
Check back often!
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