Nick Reiner Disrupts Mom’s Yoga Classes with Meltdowns
Nick Reiner’s former yoga instructor has claimed that as a child, Nick would frequently disrupt his mother Michele Singer Reiner’s classes with “an intense issue or meltdown.”
In an interview with People on Friday, December 19, instructor Alanna Zabel shared that Nick, now 32, made it challenging for Michele to teach the family’s yoga classes (Zabel was their instructor until 2010).
Zabel noted that Nick was “notorious” for causing disruptions during class, which, she explained, was particularly difficult for Michele, 70.
“We never managed to complete a single yoga session without Nicky interrupting with an intense issue or meltdown, which truly broke the flow of the class,” she stated.
Michele and her husband, esteemed director Rob Reiner, 78, were discovered deceased from apparent stab wounds in their Brentwood, California home on Sunday, December 14. After being labeled a person of interest, Nick was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty, with his arraignment scheduled for January 7, 2026. Nick, along with Rob and Michele, also had children Jake, 34, and Romy, 27. Additionally, Rob was the adoptive father of his ex-wife Penny Marshall’s daughter, Tracy, 61, from a prior relationship.
In her interview with People, Zabel revealed that Michele and Rob had requested that she teach Nick yoga in one-on-one sessions “to help him calm down and channel his energy” after he had previously participated in group classes.
Following the successful private classes, the instructor felt inspired to write the children’s book A Chair in the Air, which was loosely based on Nick.
The book narrates the story of an overly energetic main character named Nicky, who “learns to better regulate his emotions and become more accountable for his actions.”
Zabel described Nick’s childhood behavior as “a perfect storm… a situation where, despite their best efforts to manage it, seek help, and address it, it was simply beyond any of us to diffuse.”
Zabel also commended Michele as a “very, very passionate” mother who “lived for those kids,” adding, “She was gracious and lovely.”
Nick has previously addressed his aggressive behavior issues and openly acknowledged damaging his parents’ guesthouse while battling addiction.
“It’s not much of a story,” Nick recounted on an August 2018 episode of the “Dopey” podcast. “I became completely unraveled on stimulants — I believe it was cocaine and something else — and was awake for days. I started breaking things in my guesthouse.”
He continued, “I went 10 rounds in my guesthouse. I literally punched the TV.”
In the past, Nick has spoken transparently about his struggles with addiction, including his drug use during his teenage years. His issues with addiction led to his first stint in rehab at age 15 and eventually resulted in homelessness after several relapses.
After achieving sobriety, Nick co-wrote the 2015 film Being Charlie, which was inspired by his own experiences. The film explored the challenges faced by a family as they navigated their son’s addiction, with Rob directing the project.
If you or someone you know is grappling with substance abuse, please contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
