I don’t want to be a blogger capitalizing on pain from others. And I know the fires from Maui and hurricane Helene and Milton still have many displaced in Florida and North Carolina.
So much has happened this past year.
I was born in Los Angeles but grew up in a suburb 20-ish minutes from Cleveland.
My little town west of Cleveland shaped me in so many ways. It gave me my sense of feeling grounded, my love for community, and the understanding that home is about the people you’re surrounded by more than the place itself. But LA? LA always lingered in the back of my mind, like a dream I wasn’t quite ready to wake up to. After going the traditional college route for 2 years, I knew I wanted to actually try the acting route and head to California.
So at 20, with my parents help I packed up my life and moved back to the city where it all began. It was a leap of faith, a chance to rediscover my birthplace as an adult and connect with the roots. I started acting classes and went to preforming arts school, did some modeling, got a manager and did the audition route.
I threw myself into the energy of the city, running the Santa Monica stairs, roller blading on Venice boardwalk, hiking through the canyons, shopping on Melrose, the Beverly Center, Robertson Blvd, Beverly Drive, where we basically ate almost daily at The Cheesecake Factory on Beverly, working out at Golds Gym in West Hollywood, and heading to Malibu’s beaches to tan and attempt surfing. Spoiler alert: I wasn’t great at it, but I loved the challenge and the lessons it brought.
School, acting, modeling, and going to auditions filled my days, but the real discovery came when I discovered yoga. Something started to shift in me. That first yoga class was the spark that lit a lifelong passion. It became my grounding force in a city that often felt overwhelming. Yoga gave me the tools to connect with my breath, stay present, and find calm amidst the chaos. At first, I went for the physical benefits, I wanted the “yoga body.” What I didn’t expect was how deeply it would shift my mood and quiet my mind, those anxious thoughts seemed to disappear even if it was just an hour on the mat.
LA is also where I found my passion for health and fitness. It was so much easier to eat a vegetarian diet there in the early 2000’s.
Living in LA I also saw signs warning of fires, I experienced a few small earthquakes, two earthquakes that woke me up from sleep, flooding, and mudslide risks, but never a huge natural disaster happened when I lived there.
The wildfires in LA has been heartbreaking to watch on the news and see on social media. The fires in Maui, the hurricanes that have displaced families in Florida and North Carolina, and countless other tragedies show how communities are being reshaped by forces beyond their control.
It feels like natural disasters are becoming more frequent and more devastating. And while I don’t have the answers, I know these situations call for compassion, action, and reflection. They remind us to take care of one another and to hold space for those who are suffering.
I want to acknowledge that sharing this blog isn’t meant to capitalize on pain, but to reflect on the lessons we can learn, empathy we can have for one another, and to come together as a community.
Watching the news this past fall about the hurricanes in North Carolina and Florida, and now the wildfires in LA gives me a deeper appreciation for resilience. I have hope that more people can have compassion and empathy and the importance of coming together during times of crisis.
While I no longer live in LA, and I have been back in Cle for more than 20 years, married with two teenage daughters, it will always be a part of me. It’s where I discovered yoga.
In a world that feels soooo divided, the importance of showing up for one another cannot be overstated. Compassion and empathy are what connect us, reminding us of our shared humanity. By actively listening and understanding each other’s perspectives, we can foster a community built on support.
Wildfires, hurricanes, and other natural disasters serve as a reminder of how quickly things can change and how temporary and fragile life can feel. However, they also symbolize resilience and community. Just as yoga reminds us of the importance of grounding ourselves amidst the chaos. Yoga teaches us to embrace imperfection, to flow with life’s unpredictability, and to try to remain resilience in the face of tragedy.
I have realized yoga and life are a balance between strength and surrender.
I send all my love and prayers to LA, North Carolina, Florida, Maui, and anywhere else that is experiencing devastation and in need of some love.
I’m reminded of the small but meaningful ways we can help, donating to relief efforts, supporting displaced families, and taking care of the planet we all share. If you’re looking for ways to help, I have include a few resources. Even the smallest act of kindness can ripple out in big ways.
BStrong – Donations can be made to LA Wildfires and Hurricanes Milton and Helen.
Baby2Baby – https://baby2baby.org
LAFD Foundation – www.supportlafd.org
American Red Cross – redcross.org
Nikki Lanigan
Nikki Lanigan is a yoga, HIIT, and Barre instructor, she is also a Holistic Health Coach through Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Nikki is trained in Yoga Shred, Yoga Psychology, meditation, chakra balancing, and EFT/Tapping. She has done trainings with Sadie Nardini and Ashley Turner. She got her 200 hour yoga teacher training in 2017 at the Carrie Treister School Of Yoga. Nikki takes a holistic view of health, helping her students and clients reach a place of self-love not just through movement, but with mindset and lifestyle guidance as well. Nikki is also show prep writer for The McVay Media Show Prep and host of the podcast Fit, Fun, and Frazzled. Connect with Nikki on Instagram. www.instagram.com/nikkilanigan.yogaandwellness www.instagram.com/fitfunandfrazzledpodcast
