Tameeka Nicole ~ Owner & Chief Well-Being Curator

EmergeSoul Boutique Founder Tameeka Ford has a long history in serving underrepresented communities and in helping others to connect with their true essences. For over two decades, Tameeka served as a Senior Manager for one of the oldest settlement houses in the country, a non-profit organization providing comprehensive social service support to clients of all ages. During this time, Tameeka used her skills as a Masters’ level social worker and program administrator to create hundreds of innovative youth and community programs designed to respond to the physical, social, and mental needs of New York City’s most vulnerable communities and youth populations.

In my former role, I led a team of over 150 staff members including site directors, therapists, performing artists, youth developer, and office support staff and I cared deeply about their mental health and overall wellbeing. My work with underserved communities inspired me to bring the practice of mindfulness and intentional wellness into the workplace.

Ultimately, My passion for assisting others in achieving personal balance, accompanied with my own physical and mental health challenges led me to establish EmergeSoul Boutique in 2016. At EmergeSoul, we promote an integrative holistic approach to healing, that includes healing arts, mind-body awareness,  self-reliance, and influencing foundational behavioral changes.

EmergeSoul is built on the belief that we cannot serve from an empty vessel; we must serve ourselves first to better serve others. I believe that as we transform ourselves from within and pay attention to our emotional, mental and physical well-being with kindness, we can effectively transform our local communities, and ultimately the world. Every wellness seeker is invited to start where she/he is and connect to the practice by honoring their body temple, our greatest gift. As we connect our mind-body, using breath-awareness, we change our relationship with self. I am honored to be a vessel to promote self care and hold space where people feel safe and empowered to cultivate a sustainable wellness lifestyle. I sincerely care about the well-being of all beings, especially those that are underserved and underrepresented. 

I am a self-care advocate, intuitive yoga and wellness instructor, studying under the great teachers Ghylian Bell, founder of the Urban Yoga Foundation (UYF), Yirser Ra Hotep, founder of Kemetic Yogaskills and Dr. Brown and Dr. Gerbarg, founders of Breath-Body-Mind. I am empowered to support individuals in managing stress, developing mind-body awareness, and becoming more health conscious.  I live life with a natural child-like curiosity. I am lead to take risk, to see what is possible and create opportunities to share with all. 

In this season of my life, my biggest risk is invoking a riot about wellness, self-care and self-awareness, holding space and empowering folks to take charge of their well-being.  This work of serving others is fueled by a higher source that I call ‘Lover of my soul’ – Supreme Grace - GOD! Lead by the Divine Spirit of love, it is my heart’s desire to do the highest good for all, while connecting to the true manifestation of my purpose. As a self-proclaimed LOVE Warrior, I believe in the power of participatory healing and within this process we activate the bodies natural abilities to heal itself.

I hold certifications and training in the following:  Integrative Wellness, Children’s Yoga, Chair Yoga, Breath~Body~Mind ~Breath Work & Qi Gong,  Senior Fitness Specialist, Duke Integrative Medicine Yoga for Seniors, Chakra Energy Healing, Yoga Anatomy, Om Restorative Yoga, UYF Restorative Yoga, Corrective Exercise, Kemetic Yoga, Healing Powers of Crystals, Thai Yoga, Mindfulness, Empowerment for Transformation, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Reiki Master Practitioner, Aromatherapy, Experience Designing and a host of social-emotional enhancements. 

" Each day, there is a new teacher with a new lesson for me to explore and learn."