Nkem Chukwumerije

Teaching Artist, Healing Artist, and Creative Entrepreneur

My way of being in the world is intentional, (com)passionate, idealistic, trauma-informed, pleasure-centered, and wisdom-centered. I’m a writing teacher of 12+ years and a yoga teacher, highlighting how our bodies and minds are portals to unique wisdom and deeper authenticity.

I’m passionate about supporting people in returning to, and living as, their whole, abundant, creative selves through the approach of creative embodiment. In this practice, we deepen into ourselves to experience truth, separating the energies of fear, worry, anxiety, and wounded attachment from the energies of liberation, love, peace, pleasure, and joy. It's not as though we won't experience everything as humans, but awareness changes it all, and awareness is where we begin.

I love to discuss and speak about:

  1. Writing as a practice for walking on the path of inner alignment

  2. Creative expression - specifically through written expression and embodiment

  3. The uniqueness of our spiritual paths and how to live embodied + authentically

  4. Returning to, and remaining in, inner alignment through breathing, movement, and meditation

  5. Living from the Feminine principle: inner wisdom, honoring natural cycles, energetic healing, and practicing pleasure

My Journey

My journey with artistic expression in this lifetime began with drawing and painting as a child; soon after, I found myself designing clothes and studying fashion business at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in NYC. Somewhere along the way, I became fascinated with words and their ability to create, reflect, and influence life. I started my work as a writing teacher in 2012 at the Writing Studio at FIT. In 2017 my passion for written expression took me to South Korea to teach English, then to Abu Dhabi in 2018 to learn more about writing pedagogy, rhetoric and composition, and critical analysis as a writing instructor at New York University Abu Dhabi.

At some point in my journey as a university-level writing teacher, I felt the energy of the heart calling for more attention. The mind had served its purpose; when was the heart — the soul — going to be able to live fully and find the peace it deserves in this overly mind-oriented world? From there, and through the many souls placed on my path to help usher this vision to reality, Wellspringwords was born in 2020. During that time, I also underwent a spiritual deepening and decided to continue my nomadic journey, traveling through Mexico and Portugal, cultivating my own writing practice and spiritual presence through intuitive living and inner guidance. I began to study and train more intentionally in holistic wellness methods while working on my novel, writing poetry, and composing creative nonfiction works. I now fuse my training and passion for inner and outer wellbeing with my expertise and passion for creative expression and embodiment. Creativity heals.

Through my work and passions, I sincerely hope other humans will gain a deeper relation to themselves, a sense of community, and more access to ‘aha’ moments leading them to greater personal and spiritual enlightenment. And because I am a person devoted to learning, and a teacher by design and by training, wherever possible, if I have information or insight, I will share. 

My lifestyle rests on the foundations of community and vulnerability, so I deeply respect community values, keeping a safe and confidential space, uplifting one another through honesty and empowerment, and sharing resources. I am committed to serving and sharing wherever is most useful with the intention of bringing about a higher degree of confidence, self-compassion, and clarity for myself and others.

My Qualifications

I have been a writing teacher and coach for 12 years.

Some of my training and coursework in body + spiritual guidance include the below:

  • Soulful Doula Diploma | KMRT® Kinaesthetic Listening through Conscious Womb Birthing School (in training)

  • 200 hours Yoqi Qigong Flow training through Yoqi Yoga + Qigong (in training)

  • Living the 8 Limbs through stONE Yoga School (in practice)

  • RYT-200 hours Yin Yang YTT through Rise & Shine Yoga

  • 50 hours Goddess Yoga Nidra Teacher Training through Rise & Shine Yoga

  • Path of Alignment psychic development course through Minka Brooklyn

  • Medical Intuition psychic development course through Minka Brooklyn

  • 60 hours Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy certificate through The Embody Lab

My Audience

The community I serve comprises people who are soft on the outside and fiery and passionate on the inside. We are the voiceless reclaiming our voices — we are reclaiming our power and our gifts. At the same time, this community includes people who have an incredible ability to heal and hold space for others. Many of my audience members are writers at heart and use the act of writing as a spiritual or self-development tool. Many of them are also engaged in embodiment practices or lifestyles.

I serve largely women, mainly women of the global majority, writers and artists, mothers, and women in their powerful crone years deepening into their unique wisdom and power. This community is so important because our power is subtle yet instant and effective when we are in a place of alignment and centered in our wholeness. Oftentimes, this group of people is used (and abused) for their compassion, nurturing ability, and emotional awareness. So, I serve this community by offering programs to support how we align our Divine Feminine Energy with our Divine Masculine Energy in our unique ways and live the power of our soft strength. We cannot give from an empty cup, as the saying goes. But when we learn to fill our own cups and keep them filled, we are able to give with generosity and a clear and refined power.

My audience comprises sensitive, talented, spiritually gifted individuals, leaders, healers, teachers, and creators who are often in creative fields. This community is made up of individuals who care deeply and are charmed (and frightened) by the world around them, as well as intrigued by the possibilities and depths of the inner world. They have an inclination towards personal transformation and the use of wisdom to change the world around them in positive ways.

Let’s Connect

Through our collaboration, expect transformation and magic, as some have termed it before.

Many believe one can only begin soul or spirit-oriented inner work when they have "conquered" fear and the accompanying energies, but sometimes engaging with ourselves from a place of fear, imbalance, or misalignment (i.e. befriending fear) can have the highest potential for transformation, if we are well-guided and open to change; if we are truly open to the potential of living a peaceful, happy, abundant life. I'd love the opportunity to speak or share a workshop or practice at your event, sharing my insights on creative embodiment through holistic wellbeing as a portal to unique wisdom and deeper authenticity.

Collaborations

Below are some of the global brands, communities, and organizations, and institutions with whom I’ve co-created enriching + nourishing experiences for authentic creative expression:

Live Events

November 2023 - New York City, USA

Fashion Institute of Technology, Presidential Scholars Program

Guest speaker for the end-of-semester colloquium. I delivered a self-discovery writing workshop to a group of students and faculty members on the subject of locating and living within one's truthful desire.

June 2023 - New York City, USA

Ron Brown Leadership Network Annual Summit

Summit guest speaker on the subject of taking the unconventional professional path. I spoke to a group of scholars and alumni on the power of self-belief, honing one's creative abilities, and designing a passionate life through practical actions.

November 2019 - Abu Dhabi, UAE

New York University Abu Dhabi, Women's Leadership Network

Guest panel moderator for annual conference, titled "Back to Her Future". I facilitated a stimulating conversation on empowerment, gender, intersectionality, and feminist futures.

April 2019 - Beirut, Lebanon

Middle East North Africa Writing Centers Alliance (MENAWCA) Conference at Lebanese American University

Workshop presenter on the conference theme of “Resilience Through Reconstruction”. I presented a workshop titled “Multicultural Resilience: Personal Voice vs. Academic Language” aimed at supporting teachers of writing in helping students reconcile their multilingual expression in a monolingual academic context.

Here are some of my previous appearances, including my podcast, Wellspringwords: The Podcast

Holistic Wellbeing Through Creative Embodiment

The Power of Words: Writing Practice + Lifestyle

Healing Self + Our Communities

I hope to speak with you soon!