"RISE" Nia Class ~ Feb 14, 6:15pm NiaMoves

Valentine’s Day, also known as V-Day, is a day of activism and action in the name of the One Billion Rising. One billion women on the planet will be raped or beaten in their lifetime. Rise and dance to support efforts to end violence against women by participating in this dancing revolution.

NiaMoves is holding a fundraising Nia class in collaboration with this effort to realize our collective strength and solidarity across borders to end violence against women and girls.

For more information about this unprecedented, international event, visit www.onebillionrising.org

and view this powerful video: http://youtu.be/gl2AO-7Vlzk.

Nia “Rise” class is a 100% donation class for The Mission at Serenity Ranch

Mission at Serenity Ranch provides a safe, long term, holistic home environment that promotes physical, emotional and spiritual well being to survivors of human sex trafficking.

Playlist: Love Music for "Rise"

Happy V Day ~ enjoy TWO super love playlists:

We’ve tweaked our class and have a new play list! Here it is.

“No More I Love You’s”	Annie Lennox	Medusa
“Love Can Move Mountains”	Celine Dion	Diva
“Break The Chain”	Tena Clark	OBR
“I Need Your Love”		Passion
“I will Always Love You”	Whitney Houston	Best of
“Love Will Find A Way”	Rick Braun	Body and Soul
“Dream-a-Lot’s (I live for love)	Donna Summer	Journey Very Best
“Lovers Rock”	Sade	Lovers Rock
“Free”	Illumine	Shannon Day
“Break The Chain”	Tena Clark	OBR

Thanks to Kevin V, This was the original playlist for V day.
to be enjoyed at another time :-)

“If I Loved You”	Anthony Warlow	Midnight Dreaming
“No More I Love You’s”	Annie Lennox	Medusa
“Americano”	Lady GaGa	Born this Way
“When Love Takes Over”	David Guetta	One Love
“Love Shack”	The B-52’s	Cosmic Thing
“Love Is Gonna Save Us”	Benny Benassi & B	Hypnotica
“Learn 2 Luv”	(J Vasquez Remix)	Kim English
“Love Is Crime” T P Club Mix	Anastacia	Pieces Of A Dream
“Temple of Love”	Brent Lewis	DrumSex
“Maddest Kind of Love”	Big Bad	Voodoo Daddy
“When I Need You”	Celine Dion	Let’s Talk About Love
“I Will Always Love You”	Dolly Parton	16 Biggest Hits

Congratulations Nia White Belts

Wow! an amazing training to kick off 2013. Congratulations to Annette, Alexa, Brenda, Susan and Lucy. Thank you Katrine, Mary Clare and Bing for re-visiting Soma Ranch.

Our vision for Soma Ranch is coming true. Folks experiencing an enrich learning environment and having such a great time they keep coming back for more and more. Welcome Home!

Success Versus Significance

I’m enjoying pondering Success and Significance today…

A quote from Biju joy inspired me:

Success is measured when we reach a milestone or achieve a Goal,
Significance is measured when we touch a heart or change a Life.

Success may be defined as aiming for the stars and hitting the moon,
Significance may aim low but achieves high because it cared for the lowliest ones on earth.

Success may be highly recognized and applauded on earth,
The only reward of Significance is changed lives that continue even after the individual has passed away.

Success attracts money and recognition ,
Sometimes Significance may attract trouble and persecution.

I am all for Success if it leans on a wall called Significance.

If Success is a Tree then Significance must be the roots.

If Success creates Wealth then
Invest it to make Significance in others .

Good things that continue to happen even after we are gone away into eternity is the measure of Life of Significance.

Minute with Maxwell shares:
Significance is born within us. We are created with potential for purpose and greatness. We often search in life until we find something we can be significant in. Folks can do nothing due to the belief they can’t do anything big. Don’t worry about doing something big, ask yourself how can I help people today? What can I do and say that will help add value. Do something, say something, be something that makes a difference in someone’s life.

Bill Butler shares 12 ways to help us live a SIGNIFICANT LIFE:

1. Break away from the mundane and into the meaningful.
2. Build bridges… Placing LOVE first.
3. Challenge Complacency. NO EXCUSES = NO REGRETS.
4. Defeat discouragement by harnessing happiness.
5. Give generously of your time to others.
6. Intentionally improve. Work a little each day on being better.
7. Mind your mind ~ what thoughts occupy your head space.
8. The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is the extra you put into life.
9. Plan purposefully. Keep your goals and objectives fresh in your mind throughout the day.
10. Reflect regularly. Remind yourself of what is important.
11. Take time. balance work and play.
12. Transform thinking by practicing positivity.

Nia ChakraDance Experience

A magical multi media healing energy ride.

Thursday, 7:30 - 9:00pm, $15

7 tracks, tuned to the vibration of each chakra, with synchronized color projected through out the studio. Moves designed for each energy center.

Helen has been developing this is a Nia Experience for a while. Thursday’s class is the debut for Soma Ranch. With the super big screen, the power point presentation will illuminate the studio with the color of each chakra. The slide show is programed to magically change from one color to the next to align with the songs and chakras. OOoohh! ~ can you sense my excitement?

Nia Graduates Invited to Revisit Complimentary

EveryBody who has experienced the Nia White Belt is ENCOURAGED to return to the training COMPLIMENTARY up to 4 sessions.

All you need to pay for is classes, meals and accommodation.

If you would like to experience more than four sessions, contact Helen. It can easily be arranged.

This is a fabulous feature of the Nia Continuing Education program.

Click HERE to Download the full schedule.

Welcome 1st Class of 2013

Joe and I are prepared and delighted to be welcoming our first “class of 2013” to Soma Ranch.

This group is a lovely balance between folks arriving for the first time (We LOVE seeing their faces on the initial tour) and folks who are coming back home.

Joni is offering massages, Michelle, Foot Detox and Reflexology.

I’m especially excited to share the ChakraDancer Nia Routine synchronized color power point on Tuesday.

Participants	From
Alexa Herzog	Germany
Annette Clayton	The Woodlands, TX
Brenda Owens	Temecula, CA
Lucy Hewitt	Minneapolis, MN
Susan Duerksen	San Diego, CA
Returning Visitors	From
Bing Reynolds	Boulder, CO
Jan Coralli	Las Vegas, NV
Katrine Nielsen	Canada
Mary Clare Coleman Brown	Scottsdale, AZ
Sue Korthauer	Montgomery, TX
Charlotte Kerr Jorgensen	San Antonio, TX

Nia Classic Rock Playlist + Notes

Great class. Participants shared they liked all the songs! High favorites were “Pride and Joy” + “Dude”. I felt “Whole Lotta Love” was the weakest point (curious that it was track 2 which I often regard as the strongest song in vertical architecture of a routine. I may put the track somewhere else or loose it completely! It’s a tricky song, probably well advised to do my bars on this one!

Funny, I don’t think of Pride and Joy as being classic rock (even my itunes says “Blues”) however when I saw the suggestion it was an immediate hit. I’ve taught this song over a decade ago and it was lovely to revisit. I liked how this song balanced with the Queen songs.

Class started late, I choose to pull “Go your Own Way” and “More Than A Feeling”, feel good to close with “Dream On” however I think there is an all time better way to conclude this experience. Maybe “Angie” by Rolling Stones…

Thank you FaceBook Friends - I now have 80+ recommendations. Awesome to see a constant flow of suggestions coming in. I will down load, create playlist then teach on shuffle a few times to filter out what works, what doesn’t, what’s best.

Fun :-)

Track	Time	Artist	Album
Stairway To Heaven	8:03	Led Zeppelin	IV
Whole Lotta Love	5:33	Led Zeppelin	II
Smoke On the Water	5:39	Deep Purple	Best of
Heartbreaker	3:28	Pat Benatar	Greatest Hits
Dude Looks Like a Lady	4:22	Aerosmith	The Essential
Pride And Joy	3:40	Stevie Ray Vaughan	Greatest Hits
Back In Black	4:16	AC/DC	Back In Black
Crazy Little Thing	2:44	Queen	Greatest Hits
We Will Rock You	2:03	Queen	Greatest Hits
Free Fallin’	4:16	Tom Petty	Full Moon Fever
Go Your Own Way	3:40	Fleetwood Mac	Rumours
More Than A Feeling	4:45	Boston	Pure 70’s
Dream On	3:27	Aerosmith	Era 76-99

"Mind the Gap" ~ decreasing the distance

I’ve noticed the gap between:

• intentions I set and the amount I achieve
• folks who are important to me and the amount I serve them
• this life I have and how I live it
• me and my bible!

Decreasing the distance - this is my main focus for 2013.
a sacred contract.

I hope to journal, share and to support others who are interested in a similar quest.

this is a “to be continued” post
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter…

January Challenge ~ with Support & Accountability

Choose 7 minute workout, daily Nia class and/or SCAW!

Our December 28 day challenge was a success. Congratulations to Angela, Elizabeth and Kat for completing the “7 minute workout” (7MW) everyday for 28 days. Well done Monica, Mosy, Misty, Marian and Mmmany others did the 7MW almost everyday and checked in regularly on facebook. I especially appreciate the wonderful support I received the day I dropped. Thank you Jason for the reminder “it’s about what you choose to do NEXT that counts”, I got back on and completed 26 days out of 28. The combination of a support group and strategic plan helped increase the likelihood and level of success.

How well do you follow through with your goals and intentions? I’d like to do better, would you like to join me? I suggest we are more powerful together than apart. My 2013 focus is “Mind the Gap” ~ deceasing the distance between intentions and results..

For January

1. choose any or all of the follow options
2. subscribe to blog for daily encouragement
3. go public on my facebook wall

Options for 28 days:

1. 7 minute workout (You Tube included below)
2. Nia Class (live or DVD)
3. SCAW free (Sugar, Caffeine, Alcohol, Wheat free)

I’m going for the “triple”, 7MW, Nia Class and SCAW free everyday for 28 days.

7 Minute workout is one minute of:

• embryonic
• creeping
• crawling
• standing
• walking
• getting up and down
• laughing

Gift yourself with this internal focus....

I feel so much better when I clean out my closet ~ how about you?

Here’s information from Susannah Rohland I found motivational, hope it helps you too…

During this last week of 2012 the planetary alignments are definitely encouraging for dealing with much needed change. This week offers a significant opportunity for reconstruction in those areas of our lives which have been bothersome to us for some months now. Inherent in this period is the need for a sincere assessment of what works in our lives and what does not.

It’s time to re-formulate our sense of who we are, where we want to go, and somehow reconfigure our self-expression. The current energies are quite supportive of this….it’s much easier now to lay a desirable foundation for our future selves.

We may feel an urgency to COMPLETE something important, prune and weed some elements in our lives, or perhaps we are drawn to REVIVE or ESTABLISH a creative endeavor. Even simply cleaning house – literally or figuratively – can bring much-needed clarity and a new sense of possibility. Release the outworn, and establish a nurturing environment – within you and without you – for your new expression of manifestation.

Make the time to take the time for reflection….create windows of quiet time so you can more clearly listen to your heart and head in collaboration with each other. You may feel an inner urgency to express yourself differently, to be a truer representation of your soul’s calling. It’s a potent time for regeneration and personal evolution….create periods of silence so you can more easily listen to the longings and demands of your soul.

Soon, as you get more clearly and distinctly in tune with your inner callings, you will establish your own rhythm. Gift yourself with this internal focus in this final week of the year, and it will truly be the gift that keeps on giving.

Embrace Preciousness of Time and Life

How has your week been?
I’ve been thinking of you and wondering how you are. I’ve been numb and rather immobilized since the news of Sandy Hook Elementary School last Friday.

My strong tenacious side wants to keep dancing, to not let someone else’s choices affect me and our community’s Joy… i.e.”don’t let this murderer kill our Joy along with the precious lives that were so horribly taken”…

My vulnerable compassionate side wants to honor these precious children and teachers, to give thought and prayers to their families, allow some sacred space/time in their honor and for healing.

Gov. Rick Perry issued a proclamation declaring a moment of silence at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, to coincide with the Day of Mourning called by Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy in memory of the 26 victims of last week’s tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, NiaMoves, 9:15am Nia class:
Sacred Time ~ Embrace the Preciousness of Time and Life.

We will create a “remembrance table”.
You are invited to bring a small candle and/or any object to put on the table.
Arrive from 9:00am onwards - class begins promptly at 9:15am.

9:15am Set the focus, step in, warm up dance, like a regular class
9:30am Pause for a minute of stillness and silence.
9:31am Dance in honor and remembrance of the 26 victims.
10:15am Continue: step out embracing the preciousness of time and life.

Fun Field Trip to Athleta

Athleta “Field Trip”
Monday December 17, 10:45am

Raffle, Snacks and Fun Shopping Experience

Created Especially for NiaMoves Fans & Friends

600 W Sam Houston Pkwy N
Houston, TX 77024
713-463-8847

Hosted by Isabel Ferry,
Super Nia Teacher, Athleta employee extraordinaire!

Hope you can join us

Click here for flier

Nia 7 Minute Workout, 28 Day Challenge

You are invited to join our 28 Day Challenge through the holidays. Just 7 minutes a day, one minute of each of the Nia 5 stages, then get up & down and finally a minute of laughing on your belly, back, sitting and standing up.
May it bring you joy, postural alignment, stress relief and ease through the holidays. Love Helen

Nia Routine Menu for Santa Fe Blue Belt

I’m usually excited about leading a training, with extra anticipation for a new venue/community. With this upcoming Blue Belt training there’s something more, yet to be discovered, for me, the trainees and the community. I also feel very honored to be stepping in a space created by my dear friend, mentor, “big sister” of Nia, Holly Nastasi.

With a community of folks who mostly have no experience of classes with me I wonder what to offer. I’m entertaining giving each class the opportunity to vote for what they want for the next experience. My hope is folks will keep coming back for more AND I get to serve the community as best I can (which I deeply desire).

What would you choose/like? Folks who know me, and my classes, please comment. Help your fellow Nia Pals who don’t know me as well as you do. (I think I’m going to learn something from this LOL)

Routine Menu:

Name (Adapted)	Focus	Artist
++2 for 1	Sensation Scientist	Compilation
Whitney Tribute (Birth)	3 planes of movement	W Houston
Rock Opera (Sanjana)	Dramatic Dynamic, Ease	EVOC
Medusa (Sanjana)	Move from Beneath & Behind	Annie Lenox
Queen Latifah (Sexi)	3 Body Weights and Spine	Dana Owens
Afro Celt (SkyDancing)	Core and Extremities	Afro Celt 3
Nia Destiny	Emotion in Motion	Celine Dion
Nia Medicine Woman	Chakra Sensations	M Goodall
Nia Passion	Less = More	Compilation
Nia AO	Mobility Stability	Bill Hollroyd
**Mask and the Mirror	Continuity	L McKennet
**Brand New Day	Increase, Circulate, Utilize	Sting
**Cross of Change	Hara, Heart, Hands	Enigma
**Arias	Sensations F.A.M.S.S.	Paul Schwartz+

++2 for 1 sandwich: one regular Nia song with usual Choreography, followed by non Nia music, with Choreography continued from previous song.

** Helen Originals

White Belt Invitation

Please choose from the many fun options:
Here’s the White Belt Schedule (click it!)

Nia keen sign up NOW!
Nia graduates attend sessions complimentary
Nia enthusiasts attend daily public classes
Saturday,Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and/or Wednesday.

Public classes at 11am ($15)
Lunch at noon ($15)
Enjoy a day retreat ($25)
Enjoy a 6 Day Full Board, Inclusive Nia Retreat ($400)
It is very helpful when you can RSVP, yet not required.

Sunday
Foot Detox on 6pm onwards ($40)

Monday & Tuesday
Massage appointments 6pm onwards ($90)

Wednesday
Reflexology on Wednesday 6pm onwards ($90)

email: info@somaranch.com to schedule treatments

Nia White Belt - Complimentary to all Graduates

Click here to view the schedule for the week.
All Nia graduates are invited to attend sessions complimentary.
When possible text Helen at 832-567-4550. and when not possible please still come!

Here’s recommended directions to Soma Ranch. They are different and better than what GPS and Map Quest suggest.

Afro Celt Nia Class

I LOVE this routine. It’s a well refined vertical routine 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!”

Focus: Celebrate Core and Extremities:

• Base - the gift of travel
• Core - the gift of connection
• Upper - the gift of expression

Intent: Leave invigorated and inspired with a sense of greater connection through your body and beyond.

A routine inspired from the SkyDancing routine designed by Carlos Aya Rosas.

In class I choose to give thanks to Carlos for all the life changing inspiration he has brought to my life and the lives of many….

North	6:49	Afro Celt Volume 3:Further In Time
North Part 2	3:01	Afro Celt Volume 3:Further In Time
When You’re Falling	5:14	Afro Celt Volume 3:Further In Time
Colossus	6:44	Afro Celt Volume 3:Further In Time
Lagan	4:05	Afro Celt Volume 3:Further In Time
Shadowman	6:36	Afro Celt Volume 3:Further In Time
Life Begin Again	6:22	Afro Celt Volume 3:Further In Time
Further In Time	6:32	Afro Celt Volume 3:Further In Time
Go On Through	8:04	Afro Celt Volume 3:Further In Time
Onwards	5:27	Afro Celt Volume 3:Further In Time
Adagio	5:11	Safri Duo Spine Susan

Thanksgiving Nia Class

Thank you to everyBody who came to class. Special thanks to

1. Kristie - for being an incredible business partner
2. NiaMoves teachers - for being a fabulous integral part of our community
3. My Mum - for letting me be myself (fun sharing TG & Nia with you)

Today was the first time I’ve done this play list and it’s certainly a repeat as is (and maybe shuffled). It was a collection of thank you, love, gratitude and favorites from 2012 with a couple all time favorites (Sting, Lady A). My favorite track at the mo is Adagio, I don’t know where I got this from and am curious about “Susan Spine” listed as the Album. (I wonder if it’s from a friend called Susan!) I enjoyed the ebb and flows of the songs that allowed for some great waves of intensity to be ridden.

Curious to know what folks in class thought, I’d be THRILLED if you leave a comment :-)

Here’s the play list.

Thank You	5:46	Barry White	Staying Power
A Whiter Shade Of Pale	5:17	Annie Lennox	Medusa
Take Me To The River	3:33	Annie Lennox	Medusa
I Will Always Love You	4:51	Whitney Houston	Greatest Hits
Kiss	3:46	Prince	The B-Sides
Passion of Your Passion	7:21	Passion	Passion
Y.M.C.A.	3:45	Village People	Disco Gold
Thank You	4:49	Sly & Family Stone	Eat Pray Love
Fill Her Up	5:39	Sting	Brand New Day
American Honey	3:45	Lady Antebellum	Need You Now
Adagio	5:11	Safri Duo	Spine Susan
Gratitude	3:27	Earth Wind & Fire	Greatest Hits

I also added my 52 moves in 4 minutes “Sensation Rag” at the beginning for Angela’s Birthday :-)

Queen Latifah ~ Sexi, an Adapted Nia Routine

This is a super Adapted Routine.
The Choreography is from Nia Routine “Sexi” originally designed by Carlos Aya Rosas
I’ve adapted it to music by Queen Latifah (the Dana Owens CD) and a couple of guest appearances from Santana.

There are more tracks (as they are shorter in length) - so a fun characteristic that runs through the routine is I teach a pattern of moves in one song that we then continue in to the next. Class share how they love the way this deepens the experience and enhances their level of relaxation.

I needed a couple of extra tracks. Choose to randomly do a search for “S E X” in my itunes library. Sexo by Santana appeared top of the list, it was a perfect click. I then did my 10 second speed dating with the other 30 Santana songs in my library and Hermes was an immediate “hit”.

Baby Get Lost 3:43Queen LatifahI Put A Spell On You 3:08 Queen LatifahSimply Beautiful 4:11 Queen LatifahThe Same Love That Made Me Laugh 3:53 Queen LatifahAmore (Sexo) 3:52 Santana Feat. Macy GrayMoody’s Mood For Love 3:59 Queen LatifahClose Your Eyes 2:56 Queen LatifahCalifornia Dreamin 3:42 Queen LatifahHard Times 5:22 Queen LatifahHermes 4:08 SantanaMercy, Mercy, Mercy 3:27 Queen LatifahHello Stranger 3:00 Queen LatifahIf I Had You 4:05 Queen LatifahLush Life 4:25 Queen Latifah