In a cozy studio tucked away in Toms River, New Jersey, peace and healing fill the air at ReRoot Yoga — a space founded not just on movement, but on transformation, resilience, and self-discovery. For its owner and instructor, Michelle Nikolic. Yoga is far more than a physical practice; it’s a lifeline — one that helped her rebuild her sense of trust, confidence, and strength after years of surviving deep emotional scars
“I’ve practiced yoga for years as a student,” she shares. “But it wasn’t until I started my yoga teacher training that I realized how much more than movement yoga really was for me.”
For decades, she carried the weight of trauma from an abusive and dangerous past. Even after escaping that life with her youngest daughter, fear and anxiety remained constant companions. “Every day for twenty years, I still found myself deeply affected and afraid,” she recalls. “My mind felt like utter negative chaos.”
That began to change when she returned to the mat with intention. “Yoga gave me control back,” she says. “It allowed me to stop believing the false stories my mind would tell me. It made me stronger — in both body and mind — and helped me let go of the nightmares of my past. I finally started living in the present.” It was a transformation that even those closest to her noticed. “My husband once told me, ‘You seem so much calmer in your mind and emotions now,’” she remembers tearfully. “After twenty years, I actually wasn’t afraid anymore — thanks to yoga.”
A Space for Everyone
In 2022, she opened ReRoot Yoga with one simple mission: to create a safe, non-intimidating space for everyone. The studio welcomes both brand-new students and seasoned yogis, emphasizing comfort, accessibility, and freedom within each practice.
“I tell all my students that they can take any class and move at their own pace,” she explains. “I’m full of suggestions, but they are their own practitioners — they know what feels right in their bodies.”
ReRoot Yoga provides a variety of props and supports — from bolsters and blocks to meditation mats and pillows — ensuring that every student can make the space their own. “If someone needs to stay laying on their back the entire hour, that’s perfectly okay,” she adds. “Sometimes, that’s exactly what they need.”
A Teacher Who Remains a Student
Even as a studio owner and teacher, she remains devoted to growth and learning. “I believe every teacher should always stay a student,” she says. She continues to advance her practice with additional certifications, including Kids Yoga and Prenatal Yoga, while also teaching Chair Yoga to residents at the Rose Garden Nursing and Rehab Center in Toms River. Her philosophy of openness extends to her team as well. “I don’t micromanage our instructors,” she explains. “Each teacher brings their own style and passion. Every student has different preferences — there’s a pot for every lid.”
Giving Back to Heal Forward
Now celebrating nearly two years of serving the community, ReRoot Yoga continues to expand its outreach and give back. This October, in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the studio is offering free community yoga classes — a cause deeply personal to its founder.
Throughout the year, ReRoot also partners with local organizations, such as a kitty adoption rescue they collaborated with this past July, and hosts special events like a visit from a traveling monk. These experiences bring together a community that feels more like family.
“My favorite part of all this is getting to know each and every person who steps into the studio,” she says warmly. “They are such light — welcoming, supportive, and kind. I just want to keep giving back and growing with them.”
ReRooted in Purpose
For this teacher, yoga is not just a practice — it’s a path to freedom, forgiveness, and reconnection. What began as a personal journey to quiet a stormed mind has blossomed into a sanctuary for others seeking balance and healing.
“At ReRoot Yoga, my goal is simple,” she says. “To bring yoga to people, unite the breath, body, and mind, and give them a little harmony in their day. If they walk off their mat feeling even a little better — that’s everything.”
