Nikki attended The Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy from 2003-2005, completing the Spa Massage program in Dec 2005. She assisted Massage Therapy 1 and Acupressure while still a student and then enrolled in, and completed, the Teacher Training coursework.  She was able to begin instructing MT1 and ACU in early 2008. While in school, Nikki achieved the honors of Perfect Attendance and the Community Service Award, which selects one student whose participation across all areas of the community improves the learning environment and school for staff and students alike.

Once working as a Massage Therapist, Nikki began to dedicate herself to the study and practice of Thai Massage (Nuad Bo Rarn). Her initial trainings were under Rick Haesche and then she travelled throughout the USA and to Chiang Mai, Thailand to deepen her practice and further her studies. She continues to study with teachers from all over the world as time and opportunity allow.

  
Since 2005, Nikki has maintained her membership through the AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association) and has been an active member of the CT Chapter. She has served as Co-ordinator of the Community Service Massage Team and participates on the Emergency Response Team. In 2017, Nikki fully accepted the role of Government Relations Chair for the CT Chapter of the AMTA and this, in turn, led her to run for a Delegate position.  She was elected to consecutive 2-year terms ending in 2021. After a one-year hiatus, Nikki again filled the role of Delegate through April 2024 as an appointee. In 2014, the National Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork introduced a Board Certification and Nikki completed the requirements to achieve and maintain this optional certification.

From 2009-2010, Nikki completed the Yoga Teacher Training through Samadhi Yoga Studio in Manchester, CT. Once she started teaching, she found that her work and volunteer time with Veterans was becoming more important. She sought out and studied through Warriors At Ease to achieve her certification in trauma-sensitive and adaptive yoga and meditation. She still offers free thai massage and group yoga/meditation classes to active duty military and veterans.

Nikki vacationed in Alaska in 2012 and fell in love with the grandeur, beauty and quiet. In 2014, she spent 6 months working for Un-Cruise Adventures on a small ship (88 guests; 35 crew) as a ‘Wellness Instructor’ teaching early morning yoga and offering massages. She was able to assist the Expedition and Hotel teams on her downtime and even achieved ‘honorary deck’ status while catching the lines in Juneau toward the end-of-season. The highlight, though, was her 49 Polar Plunges up and down the Inside Passage. She continues to work with Un-Cruise as fill-in on the River Cruises, Baja and Alaska itineraries when she is able to clear her schedule.

In August 2022, Nikki is completed her MSW with a concentration in Military Social Work through Walden University's online MSW program. After passing her licensing exam on 20 Dec 2022, she now holds her LMSW and continues to work with veterans through Veterans Base Camp in Chaplin, CT.