Thank you Kernita and “Houston Corporation” guests. We love learning how you enjoyed Soma Ranch, indulged in some fabulous self care and unwinding during your recent Soma retreat. Though it was beyond our control, we delight in how you experienced some fabulous weather, one of the benefits of retreating in Montgomery Texas in the fall.
Restorative Relaxation
The magic of a Nia-Yoga Intro Class at Soma Ranch while on an AirBNB corporate retreat.
Wow! What a weekend, sharing the healing joys of Nia 5 stages, at the intimate home studio of Elizabeth Cole, Asheville, North Carolina.
Congratulations;
Sandra Meyer
Anne Shelton
Angela Mucci
Carolyn Teeple-Pauly
Elizabeth Cole
Dianne Lancaster
Lisa Mandle
Special thanks to the producer/host: 2nd Degree Nia Black Belt, Elizabeth Cole.
One of the beauties, when a “cluster” of Nia belts, from the same area, get together, to attend a training, is the possibilities for encouragement, group practice, accountability, sharing of ideas and support.
The future is bright and the collaborative potential is fabulous for this group!
I’m looking forward to staying in touch with the group, hope to return to provide some continuing education and they seem super keen to manifest an “Asheville Nia Retreat” at Soma Ranch.
Yay! can I hear anyone say “Road Trip!”
This intimate home studio was a lovely location for the training.
Elizabeth Cole brought extensive experience as a host and producer to the experience, having already hosted several Nia Trainers, including Nia founder Debbie Rosas, and even a 7 day Nia White Belt training!
The sound and light was state of the art, it was fun when the light shone a “heart” above my head when teaching at the White Board in the corner.
Having the opportunity to share some public classes added extra joy to the experience and a lovely opportunity to connect with other local Nia Belts and participants.
I saw a bear and exclaimed “I see a bear and I’m not at the zoo!”. How magical to be leading the group in the 3rd stage of Nia 5 stages (crawling), providing the cues, “soft paws, soft belly, crawl like a bear” to look up and, through the high studio windows see wow! a big black Moma bear leading three cute baby cubs across the lawn.
The next day I saw a Kyote who I’m sure looked more like a wolf! Like all good trainings we found time for balance, including delicious tea breaks, beneficial group discussions/coaching and time for journaling/reflecting.
Waking up each morning to the crisp air, glorious sun rising and amazing spectacle of an abundance of trees with leaves turning color, truly was a delight.
An added bonus was to have the opportunity to meet up with our daughter’s boyfriends mother. We met up for a walk and talk to the top of the hills behind Elizabeth’s home.
I was then honored when Barbara stayed to experience a Nia 5 stages class for the first time. She shared how much better she felt at the end, a big relief of tension and increased ease.
We’ve fondly now called ourselves “Paired Parent Pals” (thank you local Nia Belt Ferebe!). This phrase feels much more fun and appropriate ;-)
$564 raised of $1,000
I’m running for a reason bigger than myself by fundraising for the kids and families at St. Jude. I am training to cross the finish line on race day and with your donation we can cross the fundraising finish line together, helping to find a cure for childhood cancer. I think it's super cool how *Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food - why? - all a family should worry about is helping their child live.
* Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since it opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90%, and they won't stop until no child dies from cancer.
* St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children.
Thank you for donating today. Even when the race is over, the fight to end childhood cancer continues.
Recently at Soma Ranch, we’ve been enjoying one of the latest Nia routines “Selfless”.
Often great Nia playlists will have a selection of several different artists to provide a balanced landscape of sound from the variety of genres, keys and more. I enjoy how the Karen Drucker playlist is an exception to this rule.
Even though most of her music is “spiritual, faith based and uplifting” based, Karen Drucker provides excellent variations in tempo, style and genre. Karen’s splash of humor, with lines like “I’m am perfect even with wrinkles and cellulite thighs” in the jazzy song “Lighten up” provide surprise and delight to the sonic journey.
With the original playlist, from fellow Trainer Casey Bernstein, being a grand 16 song 1 hour and 11 minutes composition, to create a 60 minute Nia class some tracks needed to be eliminated and the playlist edited. Here’s my process:
eliminate some songs (I play with 3 strikes you’re out!) - after listening/dancing/playing with Trigger 3 times I choose to take it out. AND I hear from fellow Nia teachers some find this to be their favorite.
identify strong YES! songs (Breath, Thank you, Lighten Up, Power of Women)
mix up the playlist several classes in a row identify the “clicks” (Gifts, Healed, Blessing)
leave the ones who didn’t make the “A list”, play them at them before and after classes (as participants arrive and leave, keep them unclicked yet available for special occasions (“Ho’oponopono” - a visiting Nia Belt’s favorite word, “Dropping Down” when facilitating a Nia Brown Belt training etc.)
Technical NOTES:
Know the length of selected songs within a long playlist:
Highlight the tracks within a playlist to get the length of selected songs
Playlist organization:
Folders NR = Nia Routine G=Group HT at end for a HT edited list:
Examples of playlist organization:
NR/G/SelflessHT = Nia Routine, Group, Selfless HT version
NR/D/Opal = Nia Routine, Debbie, Opal
NR/C/ZAliveAO = Nia Routine, Carlos, “ZMix” Alive + AO
NR/J/1910Blue = Nia Routine, Jam, Nia Blue Belts October 2019
Here’s a taste of the moves and the words from one of the latest Nia Routines “Selfless”. You can experience the whole class on line at NiaTV, live in a class at Soma Ranch or use the Nia Finder to find a Nia Teacher in your local area.
In class we’ve been thoroughly enjoying singing along to these beautiful and powerful songs. We encourage you to connect your voice with your movements for a fully embodied, expressive experience. Here’s the lyrics to help you along. They can also be used as excellent meditations, read at the beginning or the end of class or used as part of setting the focus and intent for your Nia class experience. Be well ;-)
2. THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY
Thank you, I want to say thank you.
"Cause I'm so grateful, so grateful. etc.
Thank you for this day Spirit, Thank you for this day.
This healing, this healing, This healing day.
Thank you for this day Spirit, Thank you for this day.
This beautiful, this beautiful, This beautiful day.
Thank you for my friends Spirit, Thank you for my friends.
My wonderful, my wonderful, My wonderful friends.
I'm so grateful I want to just say "Thank you now, Thank you now……."
Each and ev'ry day I'm gonna say, I'm gonna say it. Say it Thank you, Thank you
1. BREATHE
I breathe in, I breathe out
I take in, I give out
I let love, I let go
I release, I know.....
I forgive, I receive
I can feel, I believe
I am healed, I am whole
I release, I know...
Chorus: Breathe, Breathe...
No need to push, no need to try
No need to worry or question why
Surrender, let go
Release, and I know...
Chorus: Breathe, Breathe….
4. HEALED, WHOLE & HEALTHY
I am healed whole and healthy
I relax and visualize
I am healed whole and healthy
I am well I am well (repeat)
I am healed whole and healthy
I accept and I receive
I am healed whole and healthy
I am well I am well (as above)
Angels are watching over me
(as above)
I’ve got love surrounding me
all is well…..
3. GIFTS OF THE GODDESS
(Chorus):These are the gifts of the Goddess
Love, joy and peace
Gifts of the Goddess
Are you ready to receive? (Repeat)
Love? Are you ready?
Joy? Are you ready?
Peace? Are you ready?
Are you ready to receive? (Chorus)
(Last line:) I am ready to receive
Repeat with “I am ready…..” (Chorus)
Compassion, are you ready? (I am ready)
5. BLESSING TO THE WORLD
You are the heart.
You are the hands.
You are the voice of Spirit on earth.
And who you are, and all you do, is a blessing to the world. (Repeat 3)
(repeat with “WE” x2) (instrumental plays verse) (repeat with “I” x3)
I am the heart. I am the hands. x2
You are the heart. You are the hands. x2
We are the heart. We are the hands. x2
Forgiveness, are you ready? (I am ready)
Laughter, are you ready?(I am ready)
I am ready to receive
Passion, are you ready? (I am ready)
Success, are you ready? (I am ready)
Abundance, are you ready? (Yes I am ready)
I am ready to receive (Chorus)
7. THE POWER OF WOMEN
It's the power of women - United we stand
We're making a difference when we join hands
It's the power of women who will heal this world
The power of women – the power of women…
1. It's the Goddess, it's the matriarch, it's the maiden, it's the crone
Every color, every race through the ages it's been shown
That women have compassion women show the way
To a world that's filled with peace and love let me hear you say
2. As we stand in this circle feeling our connection
We can feel the power move as we state our intention
To bring peace to this world and right all the wrongs
Joining now in sisterhood we lift our voice in song and sing
Tag: We got the power to change the world so what are we gonna do?
First we have to realize that it's up to me and you
Every single day I'm gonna take the time to pray
And spread some loving kindness to each person along my way
Whatcha gonna do with your power?
We are women of power!
6. LIGHTEN UP
I was walkin' down the street I was feeling mighty fine
'Till I caught a glimpse in a window of my behind
There was a jiggle and a wiggle that I'd never seen before
And as I looked a little closer Oh my God I found more!
I freaked out and I shrieked out "This has just ruined my day!"
Till I heard a voice inside me say….
Chorus:
'Lighten Up - don't take it so seriously
'Lighten up - trust the mystery
"Lighten Up...it doesn't matter anyway
"Just enjoy your life and get out of your way - Lighten Up!"
2. So now I'm headed to a party to meet my friends
I've got an outfit that's to diet for - Honey I am just the living end!
But as i scope out the scene it's obvious to me
that the money at this party is simply obscene
They're talking about their mansions, their yachts, and dropping names
in an instant I feel unworthy, small and ashamed.
But as I try to make a beeline, slip out the back door
I hear a voice inside me saying once more
Chorus
3. So now I'm looking in the mirror a new wrinkle has appeared
Do I curse? Do I stress? It's the thing I most feared
But then I remember my new mantra and I soon realize
That I am perfect even with wrinkles and cellulite thighs
I don't have to change a thing, struggle or try
Cause my real beauty comes from deep inside…
Dreams continue to come true at Soma Ranch with flourishing Nia trainings. This Nia Blue Belt was no exception ;-)
We created space, danced, ate and napped!
Enjoyed delightful opportunities to relax, reflect, chat and laugh around the pool.
Experienced precious moments in time like “Team Nia Jam” night, fun classes, special sun sets (Joe calls “watch the big ball go down”), birthdays (Happy Birthday Peggy!), doing dishes (while Joe’s not watching), paddle boarding and Nia graduations celebrations.
Our first Nia Moving to Heal training at Soma Ranch was a big success as part of our experiment of “Tri-Texas Trainings” where we brought 3 trainings in a row (Nia FreeDance, Nia Moving to Heal and Nia Blue Belt). We managed to bring all 5 Texas Nia trainers together to share their wisdom, joy and magic in a Nia Jam.
The philosophy of the Nia Moving to Heal program is “the body is ALWAYS healing”. Women of different ages, fitness levels and mobility came together. Fun & friendship, learning & laughing and dancing & healing, all came together to created a most magical and memorable experience.
We hope this will be an annual event, please email info@somaranch.com if you’re interested in Nia Moving to Heal 2020 or would like more general information about Nia trainings and retreats at Soma Ranch.
Here’s some photos to give you a taste of the great experience:
During our first “Tri-Texas Trainings”, where we brought 3 trainings in a row (Nia FreeDance, Nia Moving to Heal and Nia Blue Belt), we managed to bring all 5 Texas Nia trainers together to share their wisdom, joy and magic in a Nia Jam.
This was a wonderful time to celebrate coming together and to welcome Holly Nastasi back to Texas (recently relocated to College Station from Nabraska!)
As ever this Nia Jam was a fabulous community event where folks travelled from near and far to come enjoy the music, movement and magic.
It was extra special to have all 5 Texas Nia Trainers together to provide a “Team Texas Nia” experience.
We collated 11 songs (all from Nia Routines) into a 55 minute playlist. Each trainer took it in turns to teach 2 or 3 songs. It was a well grounded Nia experience, rich in the progression of the 7 cycles of the Nia class promise, creative and vibrant.
Even though these trainers don’t often get together and this was the first time they had co-lead a class together the transitions from one song to the next and one teacher to the next was seamless.
Helen Terry ~ Montgomery Texas
Holly Nastasi ~ College Station, Texas
Jule Aguirre ~ Dallas, Texas
Adelle Brewer ~ San Antonio, Texas
Joanie Brooks ~ San Antonio, Texas
Super to have some guys in class. Nia ambassadors Alan Davidson and Frank Zendejas both came up from Houston. We were surprised to learn this was the first time they’ve met each other. Watch out Men of Nia 2020, there’s some powerful Nia Male presenters planning some amazing experiences ;-)
We hope this will be a quarterly event, at Soma Ranch. Please email info@somaranch.com if you’re interested in knowing when the next Texas Trainers Jam is coming up or would like more general information about Nia trainings and retreats at Soma Ranch.
2 Texas Nia Trainers (Helen Terry and Holly Nastasi) provide 10am classes at Soma Ranch on a regular basis.
Our first Nia FreeDance training at Soma Ranch was a big success as part of our experiment of “Tri-Texas Trainings” where we brought 3 trainings in a row (Nia FreeDance, Nia Moving to Heal and Nia Blue Belt). We managed to bring all 5 Texas Nia trainers together to share their wisdom, joy and magic in a Nia Jam.
We hope this will be an annual event, please email info@somaranch.com if you’re interested in Nia FreeDance 2020 or would like more general information about Nia trainings and retreats at Soma Ranch. Here’s some photos to give you a taste of the great experience:
The expression “everything is bigger in Texas” seems to apply for what’s coming up at Soma Ranch this October.
For the first time ever, Soma Ranch is hosting all 5 Texas Trainers, for 3 Nia Trainings (Nia FreeDance, Nia Moving to Heal and Nia Blue Belt).
We are offering you more than 20 special event classes, open to the public, suitable for all experience and fitness levels! It’s a great time to come dance, bring friends and family.
October feels like all treats and no tricks here at Soma Ranch.
My dear friend, mentor, Nia sista, “Liliana Auntie” and all round BAD ASS Medicine Woman, Dr Deb Kern is facilitating her first PranaShakti Dance teacher training in Austin, Texas, this week.
Her course is a culmination of 35+ years of practice, training and studies.
With Deb’s amazing, unique and most exquisite way of connecting (with our bodies, our selves, with healing, with self- love, with a sisterhood of likeminded women and more), this is an amazing program and experience.
We look forward to Dr Deb Kern sharing her wisdom and talents at Soma Ranch on a regular (quarterly) basis starting in 2020.
Dr Deb will be offering retreats and also a very special teacher training. Please Contact Dr Deb Kern at https://drdebkern.com/contact
visit www.DrDebKern.com
like her facebook page
entertain subscribing to Dr. Deb’s wonderful PranaShakti Sisterhood Group
Here’s a beautiful poem Deb shared on her newsletter to help inspired us as we step into our week.
Let the birds take your clothes
Let the waves undo your holding back
Let the vines unravel your tired mind
And the earth savour your sweat and tears.
Let your stories burn off like rising mist,
As your past and the false floors of curbed self love
Dissolve into butterfly wings and fire flies
As your edges blur and your cosmic self ignites.
Let the trees bathe your breath
Let the meadows embrace you
Let the mountains and the bees remind you
Let the sky flood in and allow the clouds to guide you.
Let your undoing be as total
As your becoming is beautiful –
And when the living world has climbed inside
Enough for you to feel four legs, scales and wings.
May you finally know yourself alive as all things –
Indivisible and responsible
Reborn into wholeness
Natural, Sacred and Wild
~Clare Dakin
I (Helen) have been training in the UK since 1998. Being English, with my parents still living in the house we grew up in, traveling to teach Nia in the UK is a joyful way to spend time with my parents. They are the best roadies, who pick me up from the airport, escort me to the venue and even participate in the public classes.
My host and amazing producer, Geri Timmins, is a 2nd degree Nia Black belt who has been teaching for more than a decade.
Geri took the Nia white belt with me in Cardiff many moons ago.
One of the delights of being a trainer (returning several times annually to the UK) is I get to witness the progress and successes of dedicated Nia students and teachers, who end up feeling much more like friends.
Thank you local participants and returning belts for attending and supporting this training so well. Each time there’s a belt in this area it feels like the best reunion, catching up on the news and successes of local teachers and hearing amazing stories of healing from participants (and praise for their local teachers)
Staying at Geri’s house in a tiny Hamlet called “Coombe” outside of Wooten-Under-Edge is a delightful retreat.
This year the Nia White Belt was hosted at Barbara’s (Geri’s sisters) country farmhouse.
Thanks to extremely fortunate weather, we were able to enjoy public classes out on the lawn.
Coffee breaks in the “summer house” in the garden was dreamy!
Nap time in the barn converted studio was magical. The little heart blankets were a delightful comfort.
EveryBody on the course (whether they intended to teach or not upon graduation) stepped into playing with leading the group, experiencing a mini “teaching” experience.
This was a bold, playful and super supportive group of women. Something wonderful about Nia is everybody has a unique way of moving and teaching. This group embraced the concept “no one on the planet can teach Nia quite like me!” and went for it!
Being a participant, having the honor the bold uniqueness of each person who led a song was a gift.
Congratulations Nia White Belt graduates!
Thank you for a wonderful week. Please stay in touch, come back for Nia Blue Belt and hopefully we’ll see you at the Ranch soon!
Growing up (and I still feel like I’m growing up!) I’ve been “plagued” by being challenged to connect; connect with my body, people, facts, learning, remembering… the list goes on. Something magical happens when I do 5 stages on a regular basis… the dots connect!! my body feels less tension and moves smoother, my mind feels less distracted and more focused, my emotions feel more balance and I’m less stressed.
Every time I lead a Nia 5 stages course, I'm reminded of how amazing this Nia practice is and how wonderfully the Nia 5 stages course compliments Nia technique, deepens the understanding of the human body, enhances how to teach Nia and provides the opportunity for deep healing. It's all in all, an awesome program.
Of all the Nia belts, and continuing education courses, I’ve taken over the past 26 years, Nia 5 stages is the one that has enhanced my knowledge of the body, enriched my vocabulary in Classic Nia classes and helped deepen my practice the most.
Nia 5 stages is a process that takes us through the 5 developmental stages we go through from an infant to a walking human (Embryonic, Creeping, Crawling, Standing and Walking)
The Nia 5 stages lessons are an in depth, well thought out program, that, utilizing these 5 essential movements provide an opportunity to learn, heal and receive deep benefits. All in one hour! The lesson is divided into 2 parts Your Body’s Way and The Body’s Way.
Part 1 Your Body’s Way is an introductory exploration to the 5 developmental moves, where you check in with your body and breathing, are guided through the 5 stages then reassess and recognize the healing that has already occurred simply from moving through the 5 stages.
Part 2, The Body’s Way includes an educational lesson providing more information about the body, this can be anatomy, biomechanics, enhanced sensory awareness and other fascinating, yet easy to follow, information sound bites. The theory is then applied to the Nia 5 stages in an extended experience where “interference” is applied to the process to create new neuron pathways and help the body restructure to provide more ease and greater efficiency in movement.
Debbie Rosas, co-founder of Nia, has poured her wisdom, knowledge, creativity and fascination for the human body into this wonderful program. Often participants who sign up for the course have no idea how valuable the course will be for them both personally and professionally. They don’t realize how part of the package, when you become a Nia 5 stages teacher, is you have access to more than 60 lesson plans.
For more than 2 decades Nia Founder, Debbie Rosas, provided a Nia 5 stages class called “the lab” before her most popular Saturday morning Nia class. This was Debbie’s exploration and development of the work we now call Nia 5 stages. Nia 5 stages teachers receive the amazing downloads from these classes, the transcripts have been formatted into an easy to follow, fascinating to read and amazing to learn from, format. I personally think it's the closest thing to getting a sneak peak into the brilliance of the mind who co-created Nia!
In a world that constantly pulls us outside of ourselves, our healing and well-being depend on our ability to stay present within our bodies. The many stresses of being a human in these times can cause our bodies to regress to a less evolved state. When we first learn to move as babies, we integrate what doctors call our primitive reflexes, moving from a cuddly ball to our backs, our bellies, all fours and finally onto two feet.
Stress can bring children and adults back to earlier stages of evolution on this spectrum, causing challenges in coordination, endurance, balance and mental focus. The best known way to re-evolve ourselves is to learn and practice movement patterns that look like that first learning we had with gravity.
“The Nia 5 stages teaches us how to stay present, and evolved, and guide others in the same. In my experience, this kind of work has the healing power of both physical and emotional therapy. I recommend this training not just to teachers, but to moving humans who want a better understanding of their senses and themselves.
So, for the love of gravity, please click here to learn more about Nia 5 stages.”
Elisabeth Commanday Swim
www.yogaisyours.com
Yogi, Teacher, Extraordinaire
Nia 5 Stages
Focus: Art of Self Healing
Intent: To facilitate optimal function and comfort in the body.
As integrative practice based on the five developmental stages humans experience from the embryo to walking, Nia 5 Stages supports your body holistically to sustain mobility, flexibility, strength, agility and stability. Whether a Nia teacher, movement practitioner, somatic educator, health professional or individual seeking healing, this 2 day course provides a new skill set to add to your realm of expertise and practice.
"For everyone looking to dive into the wisdom of The Body's Way, Nia 5 Stages is your answer. As a lover of the body, always interested in learning the how, what, and why, this unique somatic course makes it possible to learn, practice and teach what you love. During the course of the training and teacher apprenticeship, you will explore 52 unique lesson plans designed to teach you and your student what makes living and moving in the body an amazing sensory experience."
Debbie Rosas
Founder + Co-creator of Nia Technique
About one week a month, Joe stays home, watching over Soma Ranch, while I (Helen) travel the world, sharing the joy of Nia, helping others and inspiring a fulfilling lifestyle of love your body, love your life. I often pinch myself to recognize such a great life really is possible. Joe and I truly are living the dream!
I presented at the Nia Yoga Sweden festival weekend. This is the 9th year they’ve offered the event and the 3rd time for me to be one of their lead presenters.
Having previously experienced the beautiful warm spirits of, Nia Movement Studio owners, Emma and Jenny, enjoyed getting to know the community, making lifelong friends and delighting in a “highlight of my year” opportunity, I invited my Mum to come along for the ride!
I flew from Texas to London, picked up Mum, then a short 90 minute flight from Stansted landed us in Gothenburg for a delightful weekend.
Emma and Jenny (co-owners of Nia Movement Studio) are as adorable and open hearted as these photos suggest. We received a wonderful warm welcome. Enjoyed special meals, one where all 80+ participants, strolled down some local streets and then “took over” an entire organic “buffet style” vegan restaurant.
Mum and I experienced a juicy balance between attending sessions and walking around Gothenburg, dancing Nia and drinking coffee, making friends and making memories.
My take home:
no matter how many times you walk through the door, if you continue to have peak experiences, come again
family matters! precious moments with my Mum are important
Nia Technique is a fabulous way to connect with great people and make lifetime friendships
Stop talking & take action: time to create traveling retreats for small groups as I travel the world
Debbie Rosas, founder of Nia Technique, is coming to Dallas, Texas. We’re super lucky she has included Texas on her World Tour called “Evolution”. There’s an opportunity for all Nia Belts to come together for a 2 day event. Also the opportunity to attend a master class with Debbie is open to the public.
Register for EVOLUTION: https://nianow.com/node/1382831
Register for MASTER CLASS: https://nianow.com/node/1467361
We’re kicking off this epic weekend with a team taught “Retro Nia Experience” led by myself, fellow Nia trainer, Jule Aquirre and Nia Brown Belt Theresa Quintas
During our Nia Brown Belt training we are playing with wearing different colors each day.
Would you like to join us?
Here’s the class schedule and color suggestion. Regular class rates apply.
This is a lovely time (and very special week) to experience Nia classes at Soma Ranch.
You get the opportunity to receive a taste of the Nia belt that focus on Energy “The Art of Perception”.
Enjoy meeting Nia belts from around the world and have a great time.
I'm getting excited about the upcoming Nia Evolution event with Debbie Rosas in Dallas.
Jule Aguirre asked me for some songs for a "retro Nia playlist".
The first Nia routine I ever taught was called Commitments.
The first place I taught was at St Luke's Hospital in the Texas Medical center.
With both (1) the "public" class with Nurses in the carpeted conference room and (2) the Cardiac rehab class we rocked out to this music.
oh my! now I'm wondering where the VHS tape is of me teaching these guys, I vividly remember Debbie's response when I showed her how we were dancing Nia in Cardiac rehab :-) Great to realize and celebrate how we were providing moving to heal experiences with Nia over 25 years ago! And to acknowledge how far we’ve gone/grown since then too.
My first Nia routines came with a TDK90 cassette with a hand written song list on the back from Carlos. If I could find those old tapes my guess is they might be worth something today! ha! I think I cleared them out about 10 years ago…
I’ll be co teaching a Nia class with Jule and Theressa on Friday night (before the Debbie Evolution event on Saturday). Won’t be able to grow big hair by then, however I’m already planning my outfit ;-) hope you can join us
Nia Collaboration Event
EVOLUTION MIX with Jule Aguirre & Theresa Quintans, with special guest appearance by Helen Terry!
A Nia Retrospective Community Event for EveryBODY!
Friday, July 5th 6-7pm at MoveStudio - 17062 Preston Road, Dallas, TX 75248
For decades, Nia has been transforming body and lives on the planet! What a ride of JOY, healing, friendship, body + life mastery, transformation, and amazing music+movement+magic! Join us for this nostalgic, FUN retrospective of Nia music and choreography FROM THE VAULT!!!
$20 IF REGISTERED BY THURSDAY, 7/4 | $25 THE DAY OF THE EVENT
REGISTER AT MOVESTUDIO.COM or pay onsite at the door
Jule Aguirre will be teaching a Moving to Heal Class before the Evolution Training on
Saturday, 7/6 at 9:05-10:05am at MoveStudio. Register at movestudio.com or on site at the door.
We’ve had a vibrant couple of months at Soma Ranch with the completion of Nia Green Belts and Blue Belts and also the Men of Nia Retreat.
Helen’s parents came over from the UK to visit for 2 weeks, during which time we celebrated our daughter, Liliana’s, graduation from University of Texas.
Liliana is now on a 5 week European vacation with her boyfriend, before relocating to Seattle to begin a full time job with FaceBook. AT the end of July, Helen is taking a 4-5 day road trip with Liliana to help her relocate and deliver her car to Seattle!
Helen has returned from yet another very successful (and heart warming) Nia white belt experience in Budapest, this is the 10th White Belt Helen has offered in Budapest. Wonderful to recognize more than 120 people have taking this Nia foundational course in Hungary!! Kinga (The Shift HU, studio owner) and Helen are looking at how to create some fabulous retreat experiences around the Nia belt trainings in Budapest. We are casting providing group transportation, shared accommodation, for a small group to enjoy exploring the (special insider) tour of the city of Budapest (including Helen and Kinga’s favorite local places), with daily NIa classes and THEN a trip to the county-side to enjoy a weekend retreat with ladies form the Nia Budapest community, trips to the beautiful Lake Balatorre and YES! more Nia opportunities. Email Helen@somaranch.com if you’d like more details.
Hananda, our resident Nia teacher and “Magical Pixie Assistant” at Soma Ranch has been wonderfully helping from clearing brambles and feeding donkeys to subbing classes and keeping Helen on track, she is a wonderful addition to the Soma Team.
Helen and Hananda are now teaching 4 Nia classes a week (and subbing hot yoga!) at The Yoga Room Conroe Studio. Fabulous to see the local Nia community blossoming….
Helen is still on track for completing 2019 miles in 2019, at the moment she needs to complete an average of about 5.3 miles a day to keep on track. The November Vegas Rock and Roll marathon will be helping her top up on miles!
Joe is well, he’s been seeing a local chiropractor for the past 2 months and is happy to report great progress in general and particularly great relief and healing in his shoulder. As ever Joe is working diligently with the upkeep and maintenance at Soma Ranch. Here’s a photo of him resting after 6 hours of power spraying the metal roof of the house. (on one of the hottest days of the year LOL)
Thank you to AirBNB who have helped us connect with guests to rent and enjoy Soma Ranch almost every weekend we are not booked with our own trainings and retreat.
Next Wednesday we begin our annual Nia Brown Belt with 14+ participants coming from around the world! Enjoy public Nia classes every day at 10am, special events Friday, Saturday and Sunday and consider making a day of it and enjoying a Day Retreat.
With Nia White belt, Blue Electric Storm, Nia July Retreat, Nia FreeDance Retreat, Nia Moving to Heal Retreat, Nia Blue Belt and Nia October Retreat there are plenty of things to look forward to at Soma Ranch.
Visit www.somaranch.com/training and www.somaranch.com/events for more information
Our daughter, Liliana, graduated from UT Austin this past weekend. As parents we’ve LOVED being part of the UT family for 5 years. Witnessing Liliana experiencing challenges as well as amazing achievements, seeing how she navigated the ups and downs of college life and playing with how we, as parents, find the balance between supporting her and fostering her independence, has been a joy. Liliana entered with dreams of being involved in film, she shared “it’s about time there was a female Spilberg!”, as her course developed, Liliana found herself dreaming of doing math problems and becoming fascinated with languages. The good news is with University of Texas there is flexibility and with Liliana there was enough tenacity for her to shift gears “mid stream” on her university path.
Liliana switched to complete a BSc in Comuter Science and utilized courses already taken to contribute to a BA in linguistics. 2 undergraduate degrees with the highest honor, acoomplished in 5 years is a huge achievement.
Celebrating at Graduation was a blast, we attended 4 ceremonies! Computer Science, Linguistics, Electrical Engeneriing (her boyfriend Carter) and the “grande finale” whole school outdoor evening celebration, where after amazing speeches and fabulous musical performances they light the UT tower orange. Here’s the speech by Michael Dell, urging graduates not just to succeed, but to serve.
If you’re ever in Austin around Memorial weekend and able to attend this public event (with or without knowing someone graduating) I highly recommend it. Give me a call, I’m going to do my best to be back, it was so magical!
Liliana is off on an extended European Vacation before relocating to Seattle having accepted a job with FaceBook. I’m excited to be taking a road trip to spend precious time with Liliana and help her move her car up there!! TBC
Some of my favorite lines from the speech include
“There were plenty of skeptics and back-seat drivers. Actually, I thank them, because for me it was just motivation to prove them all wrong.”
“Many people never realize what they’re capable of because they’re afraid to make mistakes.
Many people don’t stand up for what’s right because they’re afraid to be wrong.
But that’s not how changing the world works. Unless you’re willing to take risks, you won’t have a chance to use your talents when and where they matter most.
So step up… and take risks.
Because the rewards—for you and the lives you change—will be worth it.”
