Hi there! My name is Nicole. I live in Burlington, NC with my husband and our two girls. In 2021, we moved to North Carolina after spending a few years in France and Switzerland. We found a building in Burlington that had the potential to function as both our family home, and the home of Exhale Studio! It is a dream come true to welcome you into this space! Here’s a little bit about the WHY behind my passion for movement:

I am formally trained as an educator - I taught early childhood special education in a variety of settings (hospital school, homebound instruction, inclusive classrooms, and more). I went back to school to pursue my doctorate in education, and I was lucky enough to complete my dissertation research in France (it was a dream)! 

I took barre classes throughout my time as a graduate student. I needed dedicated time to (1) MOVE - I needed a break from sitting hunched over my computer, (2) RECHARGE - for me, barre is a practice in mindfulness (remaining present in the current moment), and this serves to help me reset and reenergize, and (3) STRENGTHEN - I love the physical and mental strength that I feel from taking barre. 

After taking classes for years, I started to train as an instructor! I realized that teaching barre combines my love for education, my passion for movement, and my interest in music. Now I am teaching fitness full time - and it is truly such a joy. 

I believe that barre is a method that can be accessible to EVERYbody, and I am passionate about supporting clients in finding positions that allow them to find and sustain muscle engagement. I know the importance of listening to your body - in my barre class, I want you to feel comfortable taking breaks when you need them, or pushing a little harder when you know you can take just a little more burn.