The term 鈥渟elf-care鈥� is often used to describe the small ways people can temporarily assuage negative emotions or situations, but its practice can make a significant impact on a person鈥檚 mental and physical health, says St. Louis native and yoga instructor Nico Marie McNeese.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic impacted daily life around the world, the number of people experiencing anxiety or depression has gone up. According to a recent survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation,
McNeese knows all too well about the burden that can weigh down on one鈥檚 mental well-being. Social distancing measures meant she could no longer teach in person, so McNeese went to social media to reach her students. First, she started posting short videos on her She later started a YouTube channel 鈥� 鈥� to make her yoga videos more accessible.
In three years, McNeese鈥檚 YouTube audience has grown to over 100,000 subscribers.
McNeese told St. Louis on the Air that she never intended to become a yoga instructor when she first started practicing yoga herself. She got the push from her own instructor 鈥� which resulted in McNeese cultivating a space to introduce Black people to yoga.
鈥淚 knew I wanted to bring yoga into the Black community. Because I saw what it was doing for other people, as well as what it was doing for me,鈥� McNeese said. 鈥淸There are] so many situations and so many circumstances in the Black community where we need that healing, and we need those safe spaces.鈥�
By making a welcoming space for Black people interested in yoga, McNeese has attracted a diverse audience from around the world.
鈥淭here are people overseas who will message me and say, 鈥楬ey, I'm in this group with people where we learn English, and we do your yoga videos together.鈥� ... I get people commenting on my videos, who are 70, I have people who are in high school, men, women, people of all genders, of all races [and] ages practice with me.鈥�
Along with recording, editing, and instructing in her yoga videos, McNeese is also known to many in St. Louis as DJ Nico Marie. The music she spins is a contrast to the calm and soothing sounds featured in her yoga instruction, but the intention is the same.
鈥淢y direct link is Black joy, I love to see people feeling good [and] smiling. People will come up to me, whether it's from yoga, or DJing and tell me what I did for them or what they've enjoyed about what I do. And that does so much for me,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really just about the joy, happiness and enjoying your life. Your happiness is part of your health. If I can contribute to somebody's health, that's making me feel great.鈥�
McNeese and fellow DJ Makeda Kravitz host Studio 314 (a la Studio 54) at Central Stage in Grand Center. The party鈥檚 purpose is in the same vein as McNeese鈥檚 yoga instruction. 鈥淸Studio 314] is epic. It celebrates the roots of disco. It feels like you are really transported to the '70s, and we just all laugh, we dance, and we have a good time.鈥�
For more about Nico Marie McNeese鈥檚 inspiration behind her yoga practice, DJing and becoming a local celebrity, listen to St. Louis on the Air on , , or , or click the play button below.
Related Event
What:
When: 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. May 19
Where: Central Stage
3524 Washington Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63103
鈥�鈥� brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. The show is produced by , , , and . The audio engineer is . Send questions and comments about this story to talk@stlpr.org.
