Haitians Who Blog sits down with actress, Nike trainer, and Reiki master Tara A. Nicolas to discuss how she integrates her heritage, wellness practices, and creative passions into a holistic and empowered lifestyle as a first gen Haitian woman.
Tara Nicolas: I’m Tara A. Nicolas, a Washington, D.C. native with Haitian roots, now proudly calling Brooklyn home. My journey into the arts began at the age of three in Lomé, Togo, and it hasn’t slowed down since. After earning my B.A. from UPenn, I followed my passion to the bustling streets of New York City. You might recognize me from commercials, leading workouts on Netflix’s Nike Training Club, or from my appearances in episodes of the CBS series FBI or Godfather of Harlem on MGM+.
As a multi-talented artist, my career in acting, singing, and dancing has led me to collaborate with industry icons such as Beyoncé, Queen Latifah, Forest Whitaker, Giancarlo Esposito, Fatima Robinson, and Megan Thee Stallion, among others.
Beyond the spotlight, an unexpected life event led me on a lasting wellness journey, fueling my roles as a Global Nike Trainer, Reiki Master, and Meditation Instructor. When I’m not programming a spicy workout, I dedicate the rest of my time to community healing. With a deep love and passion for holistic health, I host and support wellness events geared toward women and communities of color, including one of my more popular events—Tea Time with T. For more about me and my work, visit my wellness company, Avocho.co.
Tara: Whew! Where do I begin? Movement – my journey started as a dancer. It was there that I discovered what I was truly made of. I experienced moments of overwhelming exhaustion, and at times even defeat, but somehow, I always found the perseverance to get up and try again.
Fast forward to when I began training, and once again, I had the chance to push past my own perceived barriers. When I started training others and practicing reiki and meditation, I witnessed true miracles. I saw people surprise themselves with their own strength, insight, healing, and so much more.
Something that really surprised me with my reiki training was how it was about holding space for someone to access their healing. My job wasn’t to heal them; it was to help them remember how to heal themselves. That powerful reminder that everything we need is already inside us.
Tara: Umm, no pressure… There’s no such thing as perfection. You plan and control as many variables as possible because it gives you a sense of safety—but that safety isn’t real. When obstacles arise, it’s not because you’re broken or need fixing, or because you did something wrong that caused the issue. Sometimes life just “lifes.” Is there a lesson to be learned? How can you care for yourself during this season?
I wouldn’t call this the ultimate tip, but the pandemic marked the start of a whirlwind journey for me, filled with highs, lows, and everything in between. Throughout that process, I was guided back to connecting with myself, and my ancestors—especially the female ones—and creating more spaces to remember my own power, healing abilities, and wisdom. I realized I’m not alone in this world, and that it’s safe to let love in.
Tara: It might sound strange, but I’m low-key in love with my castor oil pack routine before bed—the entire process. I put on my old, comfy shirt and shorts, rub oil on my wrap and directly on my belly, place a warm water bottle on my stomach, and drift off to sleep. When I wake up, I give myself a gentle Maya massage, sometimes using a massage tool for a lymphatic massage.
I also recently started using a rose quartz roller. I’m not sure how much of a difference it’s making for my face, but it feels so good that I’m sticking with it. I use it in the morning.
Tara: I rely on a mix of practices and treats: inversions, gingery green juice, chlorophyll or spirulina, and green tea are staples. I also incorporate movement, walks in nature, and power naps. For an extra boost, I enjoy berries and, of course, dark chocolate.
Inversions are poses or movements where your body is positioned upside down or at an angle that places your heart above your head, which can help improve circulation and boost energy.
Tara Nicholas: It depends on the day. While inversions can boost my energy, they also work wonders for helping me relax at the end of the day. Some other tools I use include:
And, of course, I LOVE TEA!
Tara: 🌊🤸🏾♀️🫶🏾
Tara: My acupuncturist gives me specific herbs to help balance me out since having fibroid surgery. Beyond that, I take daily vitamins and vary between chlorella, spirulina, sea moss, immunity-boosting herbs, and black seed oil, amongst others.
Tara: I do it all – strength training, Pilates, ballet, nature walks, mobility training, and yin yoga. I love movement, and I’ve learned that it’s essential to listen to my body’s needs. Some days, I’m ready for an intense workout, while on others, my body prefers a more gentle approach.
Tara: I believe it’s crucial to be honest with yourself and get clear on your “why.” Many of us start new journeys without understanding this core reason, and it becomes easier to get derailed, discouraged, or even manipulated. When I started my journey, most of my family thought I had lost my mind. Pursuing a creative path can’t just be about avoiding a 9-to-5 job. When things got tough, and I found myself crying on the phone with a friend asking, “Why didn’t I just get a normal job?”, I realized I had something else driving me. I began shedding the fears, disappointments, and expectations of others and started to see more clearly what I was truly fighting for.
The next step is to be honest about what you need to feel well. For some, that might mean maintaining a gym membership; for others, it could be having their own apartment, and the list goes on. If you’re uncomfortable with your bank account dipping below a certain amount, maybe it’s time to work at a restaurant while you pursue your new path, or perhaps you need to keep doing your previous job part-time. Don’t think you’re a fraud if you still have some sort of stable gig that isn’t related to your new journey. It’s crazy out here and you know what you need to care for yourself.
For more pieces on how to care your wellness, visit the digital safe space curated for women Allo Fanm.
