Saturday Morning Simple Shine with Helen

Saturday 6/14/25 Helen Terry is teaching both the 8:45am Nia 5 Stages class and the 10:00am class.

Celebrating creativity and freedom of movement, we will focus on Muscles, specifically squeeze release , dynamic ease and how we can hydrate our tissues through systemic movement. After 5 stages lesson Helen will continue the focus into the 10:00am movement experience with her simple Kata Formula to the music of the Nia Routine “Shine”.

Nia 5 STAGES

FOCUS: Connective Tissue (Lesson B10)

10am Class: Shine

FOCUS: Moving and sensing our muscles squeeze and release

INTENT: To have a felt sense of connection, hydration and dynamic ease.

ROUTINE: Helen Terry Simple Kata with the music from Nia routine Shine

In this class, you will:

• Sense your spine by integrating it with the movements

• Develop strength and confidence from the inside out

• Enhance your physical conditioning and self-healing by moving Your Body’s Way

This class is perfect for students of all levels and abilities - from beginners to beyond!

“Without muscles, you would be a bunch of bone
and organs and liquids just lying on the floor.
Everything you want to do,
from sitting up, to breathing,
to brushing teeth, to speaking
requires muscles.”

— 5 Stages

Helen Terry 8:45am + 10:00am (CT)

A HYBRID classes = 2 great choices:

1. Online via Zoom and/or

2. Enjoy a 24 hour replay

Usual Class Rates apply: Drop in for $15, buy a class pass or consider signing up for the 30 Day Challenge 30 classes, 30 days $99 and receive the class as part of your package!

This movement experience is suitable for beginners and people of all different fitness backgrounds.

In the Nia 5 Stages, you are invited to a place of sensitivity that enables you to observe and release the sensation of stress and embrace the sensations of Dynamic Ease, Pleasure, and comfort. Beginning with the Nia 5 Stages class, which most often is described as a luxurious healing hour of setting the focus for the 10am movement experience that follows.

When you sign up for a class you are automatically sent the Zoom link for class. You can also find links for class at the top of our private Facebook Group, in “Featured": https://www.facebook.com/groups/helenterry

You are welcome to attend either class. And, when you’re able to attend both classes, something magic happens! The entire Nia 5 stages class is like a rich 60 minute introduction to the 10am Nia class, a beautiful compliment and super preparation.

In this gentle, self discovering, potentially healing Nia 5 stages experience

• your body gets to settle into and taste the Nia class focus

• your mind can learn new and novel information,

• your heart may open to receive more with fascination up and frustration down

• your spirit could be tickled and curious to experience more

“We look at anatomy
to see how the body or body part is positioned,
then we sense it in our own bodies.”

— Nia 5 Stages

Afro Celt Creativity, Thursday 10am Class

Super excited to be sharing this special Thursday, June 12, 10am Class in Person, via Zoom or through 24HR replay. Adapted from an original Nia routine “SkyDancing” by Carlos Aya Rosas. Helen’s AfroCelt Experience leads us through a journey of discovery, with the Core and Extremities (Legs and Arms).

We explore:

• Gift of Travel ~ Legs - Low Extremities

• Gift of expression ~ Arms - Upper Extremities

• Gift of connection ~ Core

“I LOVE this experience. It’s a well refined journey that transcends me to a different time, takes me to a fitness level that I love to reach and I think carries the class along with me! I love the look on participants faces. when we are in the peak of get moving, the expression says something like “wow! how did I get here!”

— Helen Terry

This Thursday let’s come together to dance and explore creativity.

FOCUS: Celebrate Expressive Creativity through Core + Extremities

INTENT: Connect the dots physically and energetically.

JOURNEY: “Further in Time” Afro-Celt

MUSIC:  Afro-Celt III “Further in Time”

An Album like “Further in Time”, with a band like Afro Celt Sound System, creates a fun, fabulous and expansive sound back drop from which to choreograph moves. The result being a magical experience.
A routine inspired from the SkyDancing routine designed by Carlos Aya Rosas.

oh MY!! in preparation for our adapted version of Sky Dancing called Afro Celt, I found this wonderful breakdown & visual display of a song (by Afro Celt)... how cool is this...

“The whole universe is based on rhythms.
Everything happens in circles, in spirals.”

— John Hartford

When you sign up for a class you are automatically sent the Zoom link for class.

Soma News

Enjoy Classes with Helen, Streamed live from Geri Timmins beautiful studio in the UK

Howdy!

Helen has hopped over to the UK to assist of Geri Timmins in her preparation to lead her first Nia Art of Sensation White Belt solo! Tomorrow Helen will be leading both Saturday morning classes LIVE from Geri’s beautiful studio here in Coombe, near Wotton-under-Edge, we’d love you to join us.

Class focus is Awareness of Bones, the 10am Dance connects with Awareness of extremity bones (Legs and Arms) in relationship with our core bones (Pelvis, Chest, Head, Spine).

On Monday at 10am (CT) Helen will creatively adapt the choreography from Saturdays class to the music of Afro Celt. We’re getting super technical and testing how Helen can teach LIVE from Geri’s studio in the UK to folks around the world (as usual) AND creatively add the ability to the local ladies attending class at Soma Ranch, via a big screen TV with the music playing through the Soma sound system (as usual).

Enjoy these SENSATIONAL experiences either LIVE or via the 24HR recording.

Registration is open for our June 30 day journey with Freedom in Movement through choice and variety.

Thank you Monthly Cuppa’s for attending and your kind generous donations. (Also super sweet that they brought a card and pie for Joe’s Birthday!! Next Cuppa is July 7th (save the date!)

Be well, with love from

Helen, Joe, the team and all the fond 4 legged friends at Soma.

“In lands afar, where shadows play,
We journey forth, let worries sway.
With open hearts, we share our light,
Through helping hands, we climb the height.

Amidst the laughter, bonds we weave,
In every step, together we believe.
Through mentorship, we sow our seeds,
Nurturing hope, as friendship leads.

In vibrant streets or tranquil shores,
Adventure calls, and our spirit soars.
With joy we travel, side by side,
In every moment, love our guide.
Bound by form, yet yearning to fly,
A hero rises, beneath the vast sky. ”

— Soma Hero's Journey, Helen Terry

Thank you Monthly Cuppas for St Jude

Our monthly “Community Cuppa” was a wonderful time for connection, conversation and support. Thank you Barbara, Kay, Diana, Peggy and Chris. We LOVED connecting, weaving conversations from amusing poems, through deep recollections and fascinating helpful advice.

This event is a fundraiser for our “Soma Charity Partner”. All donations collected go towards St. Jude. We raised $20 for our 2025 fundraiser and we are 7% there with a total of $333! Yes! we are moving in the right direction towards our quest to raise $5000 by February 2026.

Our next “Monthly Cuppa” is Monday, July 7th.

The direct URL to our fundraiser page is

http://fundraising.stjude.org/goto/soma2026

Here’s the general information page

https://www.somaranch.com/jude

Every dollar donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital counts! Take a look at some of the possibilities that your effort could provide to the kids and families of St. Jude.

• Infant Care Supplies for 10 Babies: $50
  These supplies help parents and nurses care for babies in treatment and include items like diapers, baby bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers, footies and heel warmers.

• Wagon: $70
  Wagons can make traveling through the halls of St. Jude easier for parents and more fun for a young child.

• Parties to celebrate birthdays, holidays and "coming off chemo": $75
  St. Jude provides parties, decorations, cakes and more to keep spirits high during the holidays and to celebrate special occasions like birthdays and a child's completion of chemotherapy treatment.

• Creative Toys: $100
  Play is an essential part of every child's life, and it's important for the children to have fun as often as possible. At St. Jude, colorful, toy-filled play areas are just as plentiful as exam rooms.

• Delicious Meals: $210
  St. Jude provides meal cards so that patients and families can enjoy the comfort and convenience of good, nutritious meals in the Kay Kafe, our cafeteria.

• One Day of Oxygen: $447
  Oxygen is key to keeping the immune system strong. A gift of oxygen can help a young body thrive and help fight cancer at the cellular level.

• Child-sized Wheelchairs: $700
  These special wheelchairs help children move easily through St. Jude.

• Airfare for a parent and child: $1,000 Average
  For a patient referred to St. Jude, the hospital covers the cost of airfare for a child and one parent or guardian.

2024 Fundraiser Campaign

2023 Fundraiser Campaign

Creativity of Bones SkyDancing

This Saturday we explore the creativity of Bones with “Awareness of Bones” Nia 5 Stages, followed by SkyDancing Creative bones at 10am:

We explore:

• Gift of Travel ~ Legs - Low Extremities

• Gift of expression ~ Arms - Upper Extremities

• Gift of connection ~ Core

This Saturday let’s come together to dance and sense creativity of bones. Every bone tells a story. Their shape and size indicate how they were designed to be used and moved. For example smaller bones are not designed to take as much weight as bigger bones. And more irregularly shaped bones are designed to offer more movement variety, compared to the more regularly shaped bones that bring more consistent movement.

“When you are born, you have about 300 bones that are made primarily of cartilage, which is a softer and flexible tissue. As you grow, the cartilage grows and it’s replaced - its composition, with the help of calcium, it turns into bone. As an adult, you have 206 bones”

— Nia 5 Stages

FOCUS: Creativity with bones through Core + Extremities

INTENT: Step out lightly, inspired with a sense of spacious connection through your body and beyond.

ROUTINE: SkyDancing

MUSIC:  Apple Music below

Driver 4:12

Clouds 6:33

Takshaka 10:42

Lung Fu 7:41

Come With Us 4:58

Maha Lakshmi 5:19

Denmark 5:07

Lavender Hill 4:31

Ascension 4:50

“Long arm and leg bones are like mechanical levers
– they can lift, reach, you can move them behind, across, etc.
Shorter bones are meant for articulation –
like the tiny bones of your spine, which are meant for intricate movement.”

— Nia 5 Stages

In preparation for our classes tomorrow (Sky Dancing) I found this wonderful breakdown & visual display of a bones, their structure, design and more.

Beginning with the Nia 5 Stages class, which most often is described as a luxurious healing hour of setting the focus for the 10am movement experience that follows.

The 10am class will be “SkyDancing”, will be an experience led by Helen Terry that explores spirals in relationship with Core and Extremities.

Oh my! if you’d like to get a little geeky, or simply enjoy listening the this beautiful run of anatomy words with spiraling visuals. Check out this great video which provides a wonderful exploration about the bones of the body.

“Bones are not only strong, but they’re very, very light”

— Nia 5 Stages

When you sign up for a class you are automatically sent the Zoom link for class.

You are welcome to attend either class.

And, when you’re able to attend both classes, something magic happens! The entire Nia 5 stages class is like a rich 60 minute introduction to the 10am Nia class, a beautiful compliment and super preparation.

In this gentle, self discovering, potentially healing Nia 5 stages experience

• your body gets to settle into and taste the Nia class focus

• your mind can learn new and novel information,

• your heart may open to receive more with fascination up and frustration down

• your spirit could be tickled and curious to experience more

Extra Special Sunday 8am Class

Stepping into our new journey for June, focusing on Freedom, Helen is teaching an extra special class. In 30 minutes let’s welcome in the new month, new journey, with a mini “Soma Hero's Journey”.

Enjoy 6 songs, moving with Freedom and Form, that weave the journey through our inner personalities of Innocent, Orphan, Wanderer, Warrior, Altruist and Magician.

The focus is “Sensational Journey” with the intent to feel integrated and inspired.

This forma draws from the developmental framework of the Authentic Movement “Hero Journey” Retreats Helen has been developing over the past 7 years.

We hope you can step into taste the experience, you have a choice, either;

1. register for the 30 day Journey experience or

2. choose to drop in with the “buy class pass” option.

Class is available LIVE at 8am CT and/or via the 24 hour replay.

In shadows cast by whispering trees,
A heart awakens, stirs with ease,
Bound by form, yet yearning to fly,
A hero rises, beneath the vast sky.

The road is twisted, uncertain, long,
Each step forward, a silent song,
Chains of comfort, softly they bind,
But freedom beckons, truth intertwined.

Through valleys deep and mountains high,
In the dance of struggle, they learn to defy,
With every challenge, their spirit conforms,
In the crucible of fire, a purpose forms.

A quest for wisdom, a search for grace,
Unfolding layers, each step they embrace,
The world is a mirror, reflecting their fight,
In the dark of the night, they walk toward the light.

With scars as stories, and courage as guide,
They gather strength from the tides that abide,
In the balance of chaos, they find their own voice,
Amidst the tumult, they learn to rejoice.

Freedom is not absence; it’s knowing your mind,
To shape and be shaped, a dance well-defined,
From confinement to purpose, from doubt to belief,
In the heart's quiet whisper, they discover relief.

So here they stand, on the brink of the dawn,
Transformed, emboldened; the past now withdrawn,
A hero reborn, with freedom and form,
In the weave of existence, a new path is born.

Soma News

Happy Birthday Joe! thanks for all you do to make all things at Soma Ranch happen!

Howdy!

Joe is celebrating his birthday today. Helen is doing her best for this to be one day in the year when, at home in Montgomery, Joe not work on the ranch.

Completing our wonderful “Dancing Through Life” journey, Natasha will be leading both Saturday morning classes. We’ve been developing the lastest Nia routine “Soar” through this month and this will be the grand finale.

Enjoy these SENSATIONAL experiences either LIVE or via the 24HR recording.

Now is a fabulous time to consider joining us for June on our 30 day journey with Freedom in Movement through choice and variety. We kick off our next monthly journey with a special extra LIVE class with Helen Sunday 8am CT.

Be well, with love from

Helen, Joe, the team and all the fond 4 legged friends at Soma.

“ In shadows cast by whispering trees,
A heart awakens, stirs with ease,
Bound by form, yet yearning to fly,
A hero rises, beneath the vast sky. ”

— Soma Hero's Journey, Helen Terry

Saturday Morning classes with Natasha

We'd be thrilled if you'd like to join us ONLINE or via our 24HR recording this Saturday with Natasha who is teaching 2 classes back to back. Here’s what she has to share about these fabulous opportunities;

I'm so looking forward to sharing a delicious double scoop of movement magic with you this Saturday!

We’ll begin at 8:45am CT with the gentle, self-healing practice of Nia 5 Stages. Our focus this week is on Ligaments and Tendons, those essential fibers that, together with our muscles, weave the tapestry of our body's support system. Through mindful movement and somatic exploration, we’ll tune into how these connective tissues connect, mediate, stabilize, and adapt. Expect a grounding, nourishing start to your day.

Then at 10am CT, we’ll dance Nia’s newest routine: Soar, created by Megan MacArthur. I’ve had such a joyful time learning this playful and creative routine throughout the month. After offering a Fun Friday adaptation to your song requests and experiencing Helen’s beautiful kata-style version, I’m excited to step in and share the original choreography... with a little Natasha flair!

Our focus for Soar will be: Core, Middle, Reach, with the intent to explore these centers of expression from all sides of your body while staying tuned into the sensations and wisdom of your connective tissue.

Join me for a morning of joyful exploration, deep connection, and uplifting movement. I can’t wait to dance with you!

Zoom Link is the same as usual, whenever you Sign Up for a class the link is sent to you automatically.

When you sign up for a class you are automatically sent the Zoom link for class. The link is the same each week.

JUNE Journey of Freedom in Movement 2025

Each month for 2025 we feature a New Fun Journey (See full list below).

For the month of June welcome to our focus of "Freedom"

Focus: Freedom in Movement through choice and variety.

Intent: Stimulate Body Centered Creativity

Sign up: www.somaranch.com/booking/challenge

All 30 classes are provided online via Zoom.

Originally we called the June Journey “FreeDance”, then we realized you might think we were FreeDancing through the entire 30 classes, which we are not! Thus the choice to tweak the name to “Freedom in Movement”. Throughout the 30 classes in June, we will be drawing from the wisdom of the 8 stages of FreeDance in the Nia technique. There will be a variety of physical, mental, emotional and spirit foci. Some classes will explore the benefits of polarity, for example bringing emotions to your motion through both acting out and the real you (not necessarily at the same time LOL)

A month to help

• nudge you out of habit

• feed your brain with new novel and fascinating information and experiences

• stimulate health and well being throughout your body and life

• authenticity ~ explore you doing what you do

• discover your authentic, creative self

The “Journey” will provide a variety of modalities including Nia, Moving to Heal, Feldenkrais, Ageless Grace, 52 Moves, Move IT, offered by a stellar team of teachers, Helen Terry + Rock Stars and Special Guests. How to give gratitude for being able to move, feel vibrant, healthy and well, from an abundance of choice and variety.

Duality Foci will include:

tight | loose

found | lost

get it | don’t get it

silence | sound

stillness | motion

doing | non-doing

Would you like to join us? Gain support and encouragement from a lovely welcoming community? Be inspired to develop a daily practice of self care through movement.

https://www.somaranch.com/booking/challenge

When you sign up for the June 30 day Journey by May 28th you can bring a friend for FREE!

Receive 30 classes that include: 30 mins, 60 mins, Nia, Nia 5 Stages, Feldenkrais, Fabulous Rock Stars and Saturday Special guests.

Program includes Support, Coaching, Education, Community, Connection and lots of laughs along the way.

All for $99.

The Nia Creativity Circuit includes 8 stages:

1. FreeDance

2. Art of Listening

3. Feelings + Emotions

4. Creative Source

5. Authentic Movement

6. Witness

7. Accidental Click

8. Body Centered

30 Day “Journey with Movement”

Sale Price: $99.00 Original Price: $120.00

Join our ONLINE 30 day Soma class “Journey with Movement” for only $99

• Receive a gift; 30 Day “Journey with Movement” with Helen & Friends, to give to anyone new to the program. (WHEN YOU REGISTER BY 28th of the PREVIOUS MONTH)

• Receive LIVE classes + Enjoy 24 hour replays

• 30 classes (Nia, 52 Moves, Feldenkrais, Moving to Heal, Ageless Grace)

• 3 x 30 min 8am Classes + 3 x 60 min 10am classes a week (US Central Time)

• 1 Weekly Nia 5 stages healing class

• Great Beginners Introduction to Nia

• Feel supported and stay motivated

• Learn more about Nia

• Learn the 52 moves of Nia

• Learn about Nia 5 stages

• Experience Feldenkrais Method

• Experience Ageless Grace

• Receive information about anatomy

• Develop a healthy regular practice

• Meet people from all over the world!

• Be part of a fabulous community

• Connect, cheer and encourage

• Supportive Private Facebook Group.

• Adapt to Your Body’s Way and Life

• Learn about The Body’s Way

• Combine LIVE class + 24 hour replays

• Sustain Fantastic Somatic Movement every day for 30 days!

CLICK HERE to learn more about the 365 day journey with movement.

Options: Select Options DecemberJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovember

BUY NOW

When bringing a guest for free for the month thank you for completing the following form. The only information required is your Name and Email address, your Guest’s Name and Email address, and confirmation that your guest is new to the 30 day challenge.

https://www.somaranch.com/30-day-bring-a-friend

Soma News

Wonderful family Seattle times. Now happily back at Soma.

Howdy!

Joe and Helen are loving their return to Soma Ranch, with lush green grass and deep appreciation for rain. (our new trees are especially happy!). During the week a visitor, while enjoying the perfect temperature of the pool, exclaimed “your grass looks like astro turf!” This delights Joe to no end!

Helen will be leading the 5 stages class at 8:45am. The lesson is FreeDance “Stimulating Movement Creativity”

Helen is also teaching the Saturday10am class with a Blue Monkey experience, where she improvises on the fly. The Theme is “Fantastic Travel”. Please reply to this post with a song you’d like to add to the mix. Enjoy these SENSATIONAL experiences either LIVE or via the 24HR recording. Now is a fabulous time to consider joining us for June on our 30 day journey with Freedom in Movement through choice and variety.

As promised please enjoy an extended update of our most recent trip to Soma Hiker’s Retreat. We hope you can come visit soon.

Be well, with love from

Helen, Joe, the team and all the fond 4 legged friends at Soma.

“ Y’all suggest the music,
I will bring the moves,
together let’s co-create some magic!” ”

— Helen Terry

Hikers Cabin, Lake Cushman, Washington

Helen and Joe, co-owners of Soma Ranch, recently returned from a great hiking retreat with family at the "Soma Cabin" in Lake Cushman, close to Olympic National Park. The trip was a lovely mix of family time, completing some chores (even cabin work felt like a fun vacation!), and discovering new attractions, like the nearby Disc Golf course.

We were amazed to see how many trees and shrubs in bloom on our property, including Great Laurel (Rhododendron Maximum), Kanzan (Prunus serrulata), Golden Chain Tree (Laburnum anagyroides), Spanish BlueBell (Hyacinthoides hispanica), Rhododendron Delavayi.

Kanzan (Prunus serrulata),

Spanish BlueBell (Hyacinthoides hispanica)

Golden Chain Tree (Laburnum anagyroides)

Rhododendron Delavayi.

Our favorite morning walk from the cabin is a nice stroll along the paths, through the woods, and past the pond to a lovely cove on Lake Cushman, just a 10-minute walk away. We were happy to see the water level nearly back to full, perfect for summer swimming and boating! It’s wonderful to enjoy such a beautiful area without needing to drive.

We had a great time at the nearby Disc Golf Course, just a short walk from the cabin. We played the front 9 holes and can’t wait to come back to try the new back 9. We enjoy the idea of playing all 18 holes for a complete game. Found a fabulous app that provides a map, details of the course (and courses throughout the US) and a fun way to keep score. Highly recommend downloading UDisc before heading out to the course (Cell phone coverage is super fast at the cabin, slower in the woods!)

Our new favorite place to explore is Port Orchard, which is just a lovely and relaxing 60-minute drive from the Cabin. The scenic route along the water offers breathtaking and stunning views of the beautiful Hood Canal. The amazing waterfront Alderbrook Resort and Spa is about half way, and well worth dropping in. During our Port Orchard visit, we explored the Freedom Boat Club, had a delightful lunch at the Peninsula Brewery, and strolled leisurely down the charming main street. Next time, we plan to take the Ferry from Port Orchard to Seattle and enjoy a nice cup of coffee at one of the many great cafes there.

We’re super excited to see how three wonderful “friend and family” groups have booked the cabin for their upcoming stay: our dentist along with his family, a local Nia teacher and her husband, and a family we’ve had the pleasure of knowing for many years. We truly love sharing this “slice of heaven” with folks we know and cherish.

Here’s more information:

This 2 bedroom, 2 bath, cabin Near Lake Cushman is a fabulous retreat location for relaxing, hiking and enjoying the beautiful scenery this part of the world has to offer. The good news for the Terry family is

• The cabin is within easy driving distance of Seattle (where our Daughter and Son-in-Law live)

• The area is Liliana’s “Happy Place” (and we now understand why)

If you are interested in booking please contact us at cabin@somaranch.com, let us help you book direct and save with our “family and friend’s” rate.

We are beginning to curate the best local hikes and experiences into bespoke small group hiking vacations. Please email cabins@somaranch.com if you are interested in signing up for a fabulous vacation with Helen, staying in the cabin, enjoying all these wonderful opportunities.

Song requests around the theme "Fantastic Travel"

CALL TO ACTION: We would love your song suggestions/recommendations around the theme "Fantastic Travel" for tomorrow's class.

For example

• Songs that sing about “Fantastic Travel”

• Songs that sing about amazing destinations

• Songs that sing about amazing ways of traveling

• Songs that you would like to sing to on your optimum "Fantastic Travel" experience

Send you song suggestions to helen@somaranch.com before 8am Saturday (Central USA). All we need it the name of the song and (preferably) the artist who sings it.

Freedom & Creativity Saturday Classes

We'd be thrilled if you'd like to join us ONLINE or via our 24HR recording this Saturday. We will connect with FreeDance in Nia 5 Stages, then enjoy a Blue Monkey Class Experience at the 10am class, where the theme is “Fantastic Travel”. Explore how to stimulate movement creativity, bring emotions into motion and have a grand “dance party” time.

Key themes/concepts for these classes include:

• Moshe Feldenkrais taught that we have access tosensation in all parts of our body all the time. By staying connected to sensation, we get immediate information.

• Another way to get immediate information is to change what you do or how you do it. That is why in FreeDance movement creativity is so powerful. It changes what you do.

• A little bit of shift and change brings more awareness to you, your body and to the Voice of your Body, which is sensation.

• The central nervous system – the brain and spinal cord – is in charge of sending and receiving information. It is designed to process a lot of different information simultaneously and to keep our senses alert

Zoom Link is the same as usual, whenever you Sign Up for a class the link is sent to you automatically.

When you sign up for a class you are automatically sent the Zoom link for class. The link is the same each week.

The Story of Blue Monkey Classes

More than 25 Years ago I began teaching an Improvisation class once a week. The experienced evolved into being called a Blue Monkey Class. Here’s a short video where I share how the name came about and more information about what a Blue Monkey Class is and how it is co-created.

Soma News

Wonderful times at Hiker’s Retreat, Lake Cushman…

Howdy!

Joe and Helen are heading back from a fabulous relaxing time at our Hiker’s Cabin Retreat. We will share more details next week. For now we want to be sure you know about our 2 fabulous teachers leading Saturday morning classes:

Sarah will be leading the 5 stages class at 8:45am. THIS IS A BIG DEAL. Sarah is one of the most regular attendees of the Nia 5 stages Saturday morning class, having attended more then 200 classes over the past 4 years! You are in good hands and we hope you can join us to cheer and support Sarah as she steps into a dream that has been a long time coming. The lesson is SKIN.

Dani is then teaching Aya Dance at 10am, where she continues the focus of skin into her class.

We hope you can enjoy these SENSATIONAL experiences either LIVE or via the 24HR recording.

Be well, with love from

Helen, Joe, the team and all the fond 4 legged friends at Soma.

Saturday Morning 2 amazing teachers for 2 wonderful classes.

Saturday 5/16/25 Sarah is teaching the 8:45am Nia 5 Stages class (and Dani is leading the 10:00am class.

Continuing our May Journey of “Dancing Through Life”. We will focus on Skin (the layer that connects our inner world to the outer world. After 5 stages lesson Dani is leading her “Aya Dance” experience.

RECORDING DAY 17 - Journey Dancing Through Life

PRACTICE 1: 5 Stages

LESSON: Skin

TEACHER: Sarah

PRACTICE 2: Aya Dance Meditation

FOCUS: Skin

INTENT: We'll explore what it's like to tune into our skin as a feeler -- a way to connect with and sense the world around us.

MUSIC:  Available here via Spotify

TEACHER: Dani Eastman

COMMENTS: Thanks, so much, for joining us! Wishing you a lovely rest of your weekend! 

Kin 54: White Lunar Wizard

Your Galactic Affirmation is:
I Polarize in order to Enchant
Stabilizing Receptivity
I seal the Output of Timelessness
With the Lunar tone of Challenge
I am guided by the power of Death

Paul (5 Stages) 8:45am + Dani (Aya Dance) 10:00am (CT)

Double HYBRID classes = 2 great choices:

1. Online via Zoom and/or

2. Enjoy a 24 hour replay

Usual Class Rates apply: Drop in for $15, buy a class pass or consider signing up for the 30 Day Challenge 30 classes, 30 days $99 and receive the class as part of your package!

This movement experience is suitable for beginners and people of all different fitness backgrounds.

“Continuing Education for an adult is to go back to the non-thinking, pre-verbal experience of being curious and noticing in the senses,
“Does this feel better?”
“Does this feel comfortable?”
“Is this giving me Pleasure?”

— Nia 5 Stages

In the Nia 5 Stages, you are invited to a place of sensitivity that enables you to observe and release the sensation of stress and embrace the sensations of Dynamic Ease, Pleasure, and comfort. Beginning with the Nia 5 Stages class, which most often is described as a luxurious healing hour of setting the focus for the 10am movement experience that follows.

When you sign up for a class you are automatically sent the Zoom link for class. You can also find links for class at the top of our private Facebook Group, in “Featured": https://www.facebook.com/groups/helenterry

You are welcome to attend either class. And, when you’re able to attend both classes, something magic happens! The entire Nia 5 stages class is like a rich 60 minute introduction to the 10am Nia class, a beautiful compliment and super preparation.

In this gentle, self discovering, potentially healing Nia 5 stages experience

• your body gets to settle into and taste the Nia class focus

• your mind can learn new and novel information,

• your heart may open to receive more with fascination up and frustration down

• your spirit could be tickled and curious to experience more

Sarah 5 Stages Debut

Sarah has been a Nia student in Santa Fe, NM, for nearly 25 years and took her White Belt with Helen at Soma in 2023. Sarah began taking online classes with Helen at the start of the 30-Day Challenge and fell in love with Nia 5 Stages.

A regular student for the last 4+ years, Sarah took the Nia 5 Stages training with Helen last November.

“The benefits from Nia 5 Stages are deeply somatic - both calming to my nervous system while offering conditioning and healing for my body. I especially enjoy learning and exploring anatomy and the body’s beautiful structure with each lesson. I hope my appreciation for the practice is conveyed in my teaching.”

— Sarah Geisler

Soma News

Wonderful Soma times…

Howdy!

We had a delightful time at the Nia “Art of Communication” Blue Belt here at Soma Ranch.

Congratulations “Art of Communication” graduates Payton, Pamela, Dorit and Michelle. Kudos to Hananda and Lauren who returned for the whole experience.

Thank you for the many visitors, including: Lara, Lesa, and Kathy who made the journey from Dallas, Kitt enjoyed an extended stay in the poolside Casita, while Peggy popped over a couple of times from The Woodlands nearby. Gigi dropped in from College Station for an overnight stay, Angela brought a lively group of friends for an enjoyable day retreat, Crystal returned for a mini retreat, Megan and Leila drove up from Houston to join us, Chris, Joy and Sabrina joined us for Monthly Cuppa. Emily boldly signed up for a day retreat without knowing anyone beforehand, as she was new to Soma Ranch.

We love how participants who return to revisit a Nia Belt training bring a wonderful added layer of depth that significantly enhances the overall experience for everyone involved. Additionally, it is wonderful to see how members of the public can “ride the waves” of the vibrant energy of the retreat by popping in for a class, enjoying lunch, and/or making their own day retreat at Soma Ranch.

We encourage you to consider dropping in for classes or to join us on our May 30-day journey, aptly titled “Dancing Through Life.”

Be well, with love from

Helen, Joe, the team and all the fond 4 legged friends at Soma.

Congratulations "Art of Communication" Graduates

Congratulations “Art of Communication” Graduates. Thank you for an incredible week.

Fun Friday Blue Monkey

Our "Fun Friday" class has developed into a fabulous weekly tradition. This week was particularly special with our Nia Blue Belt participants joining in the fun and being present in the studio. We focused on Dancing Through Life with "smooth" as our theme. The community offered song suggestions, Helen improvised the moves and together we co-created some sassy, satisfying, smooth magic!

Here's a delicious taste of our classes and community at Soma Ranch, with opportunities to enjoy classes in person and ONLINE via zoom.

Click “Enjoy the Replay” if you’d like to experience the whole class experience. Please consider making a donation to our annual fundraiser for St Jude.

Entertain joining us for a month, 30 classes in 30 days, for only $99 and have the opportunity to enjoy every Fun Friday!