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When Albany County cut the ribbon on the new Fitness Court® Studio at Tawasentha Park in partnership with MVP Healthcare, certified yoga instructor Nikki B Rogers was on site and one of the first to bring the space to life.
Nikki, founder of Lifted Vision, has been teaching yoga since 2013 and has built her practice on one central belief: accessibility.
“Anywhere I go I want it to be accessible. My language, pacing, type of poses are deliberately crafted so that someone who has never done it before will be able to participate with ease,” Nikki said.
That spirit of inclusivity has shaped Nikki’s role as a community leader, where she has led a wide range of classes on the Fitness Court, from beginner friendly yoga sessions to her community-favorite class, Triple Threat—a lively blend of Zumba warmup, high-intensity interval training, and a yoga wind-down. Coordinated with MVP Healthcare, the class has been offered multiple times, drawing in participants from across Albany County.
Nikki has activated Fitness Courts in Schenectady, Prospect Park, and Tawasentha Park, giving new audiences a chance to experience yoga in nature and discover what the Fitness Court can offer. With parking and convenient locations, she notes, even passersby often stop to check out a class—building momentum and awareness for fitness in the community.
Her classes aren’t just about movement; they’re about connection. In partnership with the Albany County Veterans Bureau and County Recreation Department, Nikki will be hosting a class for Athena’s Warriors, a yoga series designed to create a supportive space for women veterans. Nikki’s mission of ‘Bringing yoga where it isn’t!’ has also resulted in a 2019 collaboration with the Albany County Sheriff’s Department to share yoga with the currently incarcerated women AND men of the Solidier On and S.H.A.R.P(Sheriff’s Addiction Recovery Program) inside of the Albany County Corrections & Rehabilitation Center in Colonie, NY.
“Yoga studio attendance has seen a steady decline, so hosting 16 people outside is really great,” Nikki reflected. Some sessions may start small, with one to five participants, but she often sees growth, with her outdoor classes averaging around 20 people by the end of each series.
Beyond the Fitness Court, Nikki has also organized large-scale activations through Albany Parks and Recreation and Downtown Albany BID including a downtown Albany class along Clinton Ave and Broadway that regularly attracts about 20-40 participants, and a Washington Park series where 18-37 people showed up to move together. For Nikki, each gathering—whether one person or dozens—represents a chance to remove barriers and build community.
Her classes are as diverse as her attendees. At Tawasentha Park, one regular participant, Dolores, attends faithfully at age 85. Stories like hers reinforce Nikki’s mission to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome.
Nature, accessibility, and community are the throughlines of Nikki’s work and the Fitness Court has become a central tool for making her vision possible. With her leadership, Albany County’s network of Fitness Courts has grown into wellness hubs where neighbors gather, move, and connect.
Nikki’s story shows how one dedicated trainer can transform a Fitness Court into more than just a place to exercise—it can become a true wellness hub for the community. By bringing yoga, Triple Threat, and veteran-focused programming to Albany County, she has created accessible and welcoming spaces where people of all ages and abilities can thrive.
