Meditation and Yoga Fine Art Shop Design Contact

Carina Chikyo Nickerson

My meditation practice started 12 years ago as part of my search to find inner ease. Since then I have been working closely with Dr. Andrew Shugyo Bonnici in Applied Meditation Therapy and have recently received certification as an Applied Meditation Teacher. I am also a certified yoga teacher through Cloud Nine Yoga School and have been engaging in psychospiritual work with Sasha Papovich for the last 3 years. I have loved leading meditation groups in the Long Beach area for patients of Dr. Aleksandra Wirga, and look forward to expanding my schedule to include more groups and yoga classes.

I am currently available for private and group work in Applied Meditation Therapy and yoga. Please contact me via email for more information.

I've loved making things for as long as I can remember. When I was little I loved knitting with my Nana and making holiday trees with old Reader's Digest magazines.

When I was pregnant with my son I decided to take an online art and writing class. Through it I uncovered a way of painting that aligned my inner world with a richly layered painting process. I fell in love with color and bought a sewing machine so I could work with beautiful fabrics I couldn't find in stores. I began painting with magenta and turquoise. I took to making my own bread. And I found a refuge in making art; what I like to call domestic bliss; after I put my kids to bed.

My practice and my art are linked profoundly, delicately, and sincerely. I owe my meditation practice for opening my heart to the richness and depth of my own life and the longing to express it.

May you find real soul nourishment on these pages. Love to you all....Carina

Monday, March 26, 2012

My Deepest Longing

Pausing is such a profound yet simple practice.  Pausing with the question, "What is my deepest longing?" will add a depth to your inquiry that may surprise and delight you.

What is MY deepest longing right now?

May I be at peace
May I be happy
May I love completely and allow myself to be loved
May I express myself in an authentic and creative way

So, for those of you earnest and longing to deepen your practice of knowing what your life is REALLY about.


  1. Set a timer to go off periodically throughout the day.  I set my phone to remind my every two hours.  You do what works for you.
  2. When the timer goes off pause...if you can... and take three full breaths.
  3. Sense what is true IN YOUR BODY.  Are you feeling good?  Bad?  Not sure?  Is there gripping? Openness?  A strong emotion?  Try to stay connected to the body and let go of the tendency to THINK about your experience.  A WORDLESS knowing is totally fine.
  4. Ask, "What is my deepest Longing?"  then..ask again!  and again!  and again!  This is the power of inquiry.  We will often find that the first answer seems shallow but then we dive deeper and somehow our heart can't help but respond.
  5. If you can, say it OUT LOUD.  There is power to language.  It engages the frontal lobes of the brain...or the more evolved brain.  
You don't need to solve anything with this practice.  AWARENESS itself is the medicine.  Just acknowledging what is true....what your true LONGING is will connect you with your own tender, open heart.  

Boundless love to you all on the path,
Carina


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Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Noticing JOY







A few photos of joy moments.  I made a practice of taking pictures of the things/moments that opened my heart.  This is powerful.  Changes the chemistry of the body/mind.  I must acknowledge the work of Tara Brach.  She makes all her dharma talks available FOR FREE on her website: tarabrach.com.  

Love to you all,
Carina

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