Happy February

Helen is back from leading a Nia Brown belt in Budapest and diving into our 6th annual “Special Upper Belt Retreat”.

With Brown and Black belt teachers from around the globe it’s a great time to enjoy daily classes at 10am, JAMs (team taught Nia classes) at 5pm and several Special Events.

Suggested Colors to wear to class!!

This annual retreat began 6 years ago where Helen coached a team of upper belt teachers as a fun “experiment”.

The first group was called team “AWSM”, since then each year has followed the alphabet with:

Team BOLD, Team CARE, Team Dream, Team ExtraOrdinairy and this year it will be Team F???. Maybe fabulous? fantastic? fun? do you have a suggestion?

We hope you can join us.

Regular class rates apply at all 10am classes.

All JAMs and Special Events are offered on a donation basis.

Soma Class Rates

Soma Ranch Classes:

Select Soma Ranch Classes $20 | Drop In $75 | 5 class pass $130 | 10 class pass $75 | Day Retreat $30 | Lunch or Dinner $30 | Sauna $96 | 60 Min Massage $145 | 90 Min Massage

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Schedule

• Saturday, February 1 10:00am (Helen

• Saturday, February 2 5:00pm (JAM)*

• Saturday, February 2 7:30pm (Special Event with Helen)*

• Sunday, February 2 10:00am (Helen)

• Sunday, February 2 5:00pm (Special Event with Helen)*

• Monday, February 3 10:00am (Helen)

• Monday, February 3 5:00pm (JAM)*

• Tuesday, February 4 10:00am (Helen)

• Tuesday, February 4 5:00pm (JAM)*

• Wednesday, February 5 10:00am (Helen)

• Wednesday, February 5 5:00pm (JAM)*

• Thursday, February 6 10:00am (Helen)

Nia in Budapest

Helen is off to provide a Nia Brown Belt training in Budapest. Super exciting to have participants coming from USA, UK, South Africa, Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, Finland and France.

If you’re looking for an amazing vacation in a beautiful AND affordable city, come to Budapest during a Nia Training week with Helen. You’ll get to enjoy daily Nia Classes, pick up on the wonderful vibe that occurs during these special weeks, while enjoying time in Budapest. Email Helen for upcoming dates, she offers trainings in Budapest 3 weeks a year (usually January, June and November).

Helen and Kinga (the Nia Budapest producer) are also planning a retreat in Hungary, (a few days in the city, then more time retreating by a lake with some Nia ladies from Budapest) email Helen@somaranch.com for more information or to pre-book!

Special Nia Week

Once a year Helen offers a 7 day coaching course for upper level Nia teachers. A retreat opportunity for Brown and Black belt Nia teachers from around the world to come together to learn, improve on their mastery of teaching and enjoy the collaboration of fellow Nia belts.

Helen teaches a public class every day at 10am.

The “team” teaches at 5:00pm most days.

This is an excellent time to :

Soma Class Rates

from $20.00

Soma Ranch Classes:

Select Soma Ranch Classes $20 | Drop In $75 | 5 class pass $130 | 10 class pass $75 | Day Retreat $30 | Lunch or Dinner $30 | Sauna $96 | 60 Min Massage $145 | 90 Min Massage

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• come enjoy a series of classes,

• have the opportunity to taste many different fabulous Nia teachers,

• consider bringing friends.

  SPECIAL CLASS SCHEDULE:

• Saturday, February 1 10:00am (Helen)

• Saturday, February 1 5:00pm (JAM)*

• Saturday, February 2 7:30pm (Special Event)*

• Sunday, February 2 10:00am (Helen)

• Sunday, February 2 5:00pm (Special Event)*

• Monday, February 3 10:00am (Helen)

• Monday, February 3 5:00pm (JAM)*

• Tuesday, February 4 10:00am (Helen)

• Tuesday, February 4 5:00pm (JAM)*

• Wednesday, February 5 10:00am (Helen)

• Wednesday, February 5 5:00pm (JAM)*

• Thursday, February 6 10:00am (Helen)

ALL 10AM NIA CLASSES REGULAR CLASS RATES APPLY

*Jam & Special Events are additional programs.

Consider providing a donation to St Jude, the Soma Charity for 2020.

Wonderful First in 2020

Wow! what an amazing beginning to the New Year.

Participants came from near and far to attend the Nia White Belt training.

Thank you for all the greatness and joy you brought to the Nia Foundational Immersive 7 Day Course at Soma Ranch.

Souls soured as bodies danced, hearts were healed and folks got fitter - all in one week!

Precious extra moments were cherished, like delightful conversations over the meals and giggles from the hot tub each evening. Some bold guests even loved jumping in the pool in-between the hot tub and the sauna! (we fondly call this the “spa triathlon”

We appreciate when folks return to re-experience a training, they bring an extra layer to the training that enhances the course for participants as well as helps those returning review and fill in the gaps of what might have been missed or forgotten the first time.

Jody Tandy returned after taking the Nia White Belt 20 years ago! We’ve come a long way since then, what a treat to share the new beautiful powerpoint with images, the revised and clearer principles and the relaxed, body centered delivery.

Lesa returned after a very healing year, appreciating the opportunity to re-experience the course now that she is feeling better.

Lauren returned to re-experience the course and to prepare for her upcoming Nia Blue belt at Nia Headquarters. It’s the first time Lauren had experienced the training with Helen. Every Nia trainer is different, and even though we offer consistent material, we each bring our own personality and experience to enhance the experience. The Nia White Belt can be received differently every time, with or without the same Nia Trainer!, helping us go deeper and deeper into the practice of Nia, gaining a great understanding of the Body’s Way, crafting our Nia Technique and stimulating movement creativity.

Congratulations Nia White Belts

Yes! everybody graduated as Nia White Belts with big smiles, squeals of joy and words of deep appreciation.

In this group there were women who had taken Nia for more than 20 years! and others who had never taken a Nia class!

A great example of when the student is ready the opportunity will reveal itself.

Also the power of the Nia Technique program, how it can touch so many different, unique people. The Nia White Belt can be an intro to the technique AND an opportunity to go deeper. NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.

In Helen’s “perfect world”, anyone wanting to attend a Nia class must satisfy the pre-requisite of taking the Nia White Belt - (He he ;-). The point is, when you’ve got the time and money to take the Nia White Belt foundational course don’t walk, run to the opportunity!

In this training we had:

A woman celebrating recovery from cancer, returning to revisit the Nia White Belt experience when their brain “was clearer”.

A woman healing from the recent death of her loved one, school sweetheart, husband and father of 2 sons.

A woman about to open a wellness studio, who had already planned the Nia classes she’d be teaching.

A woman who works full time in the corporate world who recognized her need to develop skills to have great wellness sustainability in her life.

Amazing Nia White Belt Training

Yes! everybody graduated as Nia White Belts with big smiles, squeals of joy and words of deep appreciation.

Thank you weather for providing some excellent days of sunshine and clear blue skies.

The sound of the rain on the metal roofs over night contributed to some fabulous slumber. The 5 girls sleeping in the dorm shared surprise and much relief for how wonderfully they slept! The rule of “no talking 24/7" in the Dorm” provided the peace and perfect environment for optimal sleep!

Crazy how some of the biggest concern for folks coming is will they be able to sleep well in the dorm and they discover they actually sleep BETTER in the dorm than they do at home!

The Nia training included some fabulous moments of collaboration and discussion. The time and space provided for the opportunity to share and ask questions in a training is invaluable.

We included an immersion of the latest Nia Routine “Ignite” on the Sunday.

The new arrangement in the social area of the Soma Ranch continues to foster fabulous conversations, room for reflection and space for studying.

Classes during the training were well attended. Wonderful to welcome back Nia teacher and Blue belt Glen Graves who has been a missing part of our community over the past couple of years.

Meal times were a fun time to get to know each other, play with creative ideas and have a good time.

Helen received some fantastic advice with regards hanging art work and we’ve had a blast moving almost every picture and painting around creating more space and beauty.

Joe continues to entertain and delight guests with his humor and culinary skills. Each dinner is wrapped around a theme and Joe has a hat for each one! this photo was our TexMex “Fiesta” night.

Nia "Ignite" Immersion

Thank you guests, together we raised $350 for St. Jude, the Soma 2020 Charity.

An “immersion” is where we immerse ourselves in the Nia routine. We had a fabulous afternoon Listening to the Music, FreeDancing, taking the class on NiaTV, getting a little glimpse of the process of learning a Nia routine. We were then primed and ready for a wonderfully “loose yet slightly tight” Nia class experience of Ignite. This “JAM” team taught Nia class was led by Helen, Holly, Yvonne, Peggy, Lauren and Susan (who was attending the Nia white belt and took a bold jump/plunge into teaching)

This was the first time we’ve introduced an immersion in the middle of a Nia White Belt training at Soma Ranch and it’s certainly not going to be the last! This concept proved to be an excellent and most successful community building event. We found this  “open house” afternoon was a wonderful way to introduce the White Belt trainees to the community, to open their eyes to the potential and possibility of collaboration and to also In turn our local Soma Ranch community get to celebrate the White Belt trainees on their path to deepening their practice.

Attendees came from near and far. Regular participants, folks who’d been absent for a while, teachers, belts, newbies, all came together and had a grand time, with everybody having fun learning and dancing together.

To watch the Nia Routine “Ignite” check out www.niatv.fit.

Thank you Joy, Laura, Chris, Peggy, Darlene, Amy, Ryan, Holly Jeni and all the White Belt participants.

Welcome Nia White Belts

The weather today at Soma Ranch is “Texas at it’s best”; crisp big blue skies, bright sunshine and a slight breeze.

We are eagerly anticipating the arrival of our Nia White Belt guests today.

A Nia training week at Soma Ranch expands into being like a 7 day Nia festival! With daily 10am Nia classes and several things happening in the evening and the invitation to enjoy a healthy lunch, folks come to retreat for the week, get a taste on a day mini-retreat, enjoy a special event or simply drop in for a class.

New comers love stepping into the vibrant energy that surrounds these special Nia weeks and those returning rekindle their love for Nia, Soma Ranch and the fabulous community. A Nia week is a perfect time to come as a new participant, and to bring friends.

There are folks traveling in from near and far. We are super appreciative of Iain “the driving scotsman” who will be transporting guests to and from the Houston Airport.

Some participants have never even taken a Nia class where as others have been taking classes on a regular basis for years.

Some trainees come with a specific intent to teach Nia, others have no intention of this being any thing other than a fabulous self-development week, with the added bonus of a fully inclusive retreat.

Something magical when all of these people come together for a 7 day Nia course at Soma Ranch. Guests arrive as strangers and most often leave with very special friendships that can sustain a life time!

3 Nia Belts are returning to re-submerse themselves in the Nia Foundational 7 day course.

It’s a pleasure to witness the growth, depth and relaxation that develops when trainees come back. And it’s also simply lovely to reconnect. No matter how many times someone returns we are always very touched that guests choose to come back to Soma Ranch.

Jody Tandy is coming back after having taken the Nia White belt with Helen over 20 years ago! They met 22 years ago at a Breakfast Club Networking group!

There’s a phrase from the Nia principle “Creating a Sensory Life”

“no matter how many times you walk through the door, if you continue to have peak experiences, come again!”

Thank you for checking out this information about our upcoming Nia White Belt. We hope you’ll walk through the door! be assured we’ll be ready to give you a warm welcome and invite you to feel right at home and be warned, once you come, you likely will be hooked ;-)

The secret is coffee!

Soma “1st Monday” coffee is getting to be so successful, popular and fun we may need to add a 3rd Thursday!

We had 14 people in class and everyone stayed afterwards to enjoy coffee, tea and/or kombucha. Thank you Darlene for bringing most delicious snacks.

We had such a laugh listening to each other’s thoughts on how we love Nia, want all our friends to come and yet are so challenged with regards how to describe Nia to people. Our conclusion, bring them to 1st Monday Coffee!!

Laura came to her 2nd Nia class, and after chatting with Bonnie who has signed up for the Nia White Belt and hearing all the other ladies sharing what they LOVE about the foundational Nia training, Laura is now seriously considering joining us!

Welcome

Kitt celebrated her birthday with us.

Ann Davis was visiting from Corpus Christi. We took it in turns around the circle to share what we love about where we live (beyond the fact it’s within driving distance of Soma Ranch LOL). Ann seemed inspired to seriously consider how to come back to Soma Ranch more often with the possibility of moving here! yay! this seems to be a most successful business model (folks move to the Montgomery area to be within an easy drive of Soma Ranch!)

25 years of Nia and Friendship

Kitt Taylor began taking Nia Classes, at St. Lukes in the Texas Medical Center, with Helen Terry in 1995, when she was teaching as a new Nia blue belt and pregnant! Her daughter, Liliana, is now 24! We deduce this means Kitt has been taking Nia classes with Helen Terry for 25+ years!

The story doesn’t stop there though. With no grandparents living in the Houston area, as Liliana grew up, Kitt became a “substitute Grandma”,. Her title soon was tweaked to “the extra Grandma” and “Grandma No3”. At school functions, Grandparents day, field trips and more, Kitt was there, as part of the family, cheering Liliana on and supporting the Terry Family.

Fast forward to Monday and Kitt yet again drives the 90 minute journey from Kingwood Texas, to enjoy 10am Nia at Soma Ranch.

Monday was a special day…. in addition to our “1st Monday Coffee” after class it was Kitt’s birthday. We found a fun card board cut out of Liliana and snapped a fun photo of the closest thing we could capture to Kitt taking a selfie with Liliana.

It’s amazing how Nia (which is sometimes regarded simply as a fitness class) is so much more. This movement arts program heals bodies, helps mend heart and brings people together in a most beautiful way.

Kitt - we love you and deeply appreciate how you have been in our families life for so long. Thanks for taking a risk and stepping into a Nia class 25 years ago, for coming back again and again and most of all for becoming a very integral part of the Terry family. Love Helen, Joe and Liliana xoxo

New Emails For You!

Happy New Year! Welcome to the new Soma Ranch email service, where we want to inspire, motivate and help you through relevant, timely and attractive information… ultimately this new and entertaining communication attracts you to come visit Soma Ranch or at least thoroughly enjoy the news from afar!

Please provide feedback. How we may help you best?

For 10 years one of our main goals has been 10!

• 10+ trainees in each Nia training

• 10+ people attending retreats

• 10+ people dancing in each public class

2020 has kicked off with all 3 goals being met!

10 years in the making, we deeply appreciate everyone who’s stepped into Soma Ranch thank you for being part of the magic and for helping dreams come true.

We hope you join us in celebrating prayers being answered. And if you are a “pre-Soma” guest, perhaps one of many who say “Soma Ranch is on my bucket list”, let us know how we can help you dream come true.

Tomorrow we kick off the year with our traditional January Nia White Belt with lots of special events, classes and opportunities.

Helen then “skips” over to Budapest (dropping in on the UK to see parents and teach a class on the way!) to offer a Nia Brown Belt. Then back home to share a special coaching 7 day retreat with Nia Brown+ Teachers, this where there’s a public 10am Nia class every day with Helen and a JAM with the participants "TEAM” teaching. In between time the team is receiving personalized coaching on their teaching, technique and more, balanced with a lovely dose of local field trips.

Here’s the main links on our website that you can use to keep up to date with whats happening:

Nia Week January 2020

Once a month, International Nia Trainer, Helen Terry, offers a 7 day Nia Belt training retreat at Soma Ranch. These special Nia weeks are the main reason Soma Ranch was created.

We highly recommend you visit during these special Nia weeks. It’s a fun way to meet folks from around the globe (who are visiting Soma Ranch to further their Nia Practice) and to receive a special insider experience of the Nia training course. You can choose to

• take a class

• attend a special event

• enjoy a day retreat

• register for a full retreat

Classes are drop in, you are welcome and encouraged to attend any and all classes!

To receive regular email and text updates about classes email Helen@somaranch.com or text 832-567-4550

New Nia Routine IGNITE is here

Join the celebration of the new Nia Routine “IGNITE” release at a special Soma Ranch “Open House”;

SUNDAY, January 12, 2:00pm - 6:00pm. You are invited to arrive any time, stay as long as you like and leave any time!

• Enjoy the Playshop,

• Relax with tea in the Soma lounge,

• Submerse yourself in the bubbles of the therapeutic hot tub and/or

• Sweat and detox in the far infrared sauna.

Quinoa the Queen of Grains

Quinoa Greek Salad

If broccoli is the king of vegetables then perhaps Quinoa is the Queen of Grains!

We serve Quinoa often at Soma Ranch and frequently receive comments from guests like:

• “oh this Quinoa tastes much better than when I’ve cooked it at home”

• “my tummy feels great eating your quinoa - it’s not like that at home”

• “I’m amazed how long I feel satisfied after eating quinoa here”

• “I wish I could cook like this at home”

2 main reasons our quinoa tastes fabulous and works wonders is simply RINSE and SOAK!

RINSE: Saponin, a naturally occurring chemical, coats every tiny grain of quinoa. Saponin is a natural pesticide that wards off insects however (1) it has a strong, unpleasant taste and (2) who wants to put pesticide in their body? Natural or not, pesticide is toxic for the body. Rinsing the quinoa gets rid of the saponin and thus its bitter flavor, leaving you with better tasting quinoa that is free from pesticide!

SOAK: Although we call quinoa a grain, it’s a seed. Soak quinoa and watch little tiny shoots sprout from the grain. Soaking is as simple as put the grain in water for 10 minutes before cooking. We put the grain in water last thing at night and then, in the morning, the quinoa is sprouted and ready to go. It’s a time efficient habit to get into!

Our top favorite recipes include:

• Red Quinoa Porridge

• Peruvian Stew

• Tex Mex Queen ~ Quinoa made in the style of Spanish Rice

Organic makes a difference in both taste and health. We recommend it’s well worth paying the little extra. Think of the little extra cost as an investment in your health AND “as paying it forwards”. The more we, as consumers, buy organic the more the market will respond and adjust the products they provide to meet our demand.

FYI In the US you can buy quinoa that has been “cleaned”, however this is different to rinse. The grain is cleaned through an abrasion process which causes small particles of the grain to be knocked off, leaving the grain a little less healthy, it’s less whole with less fibre.

Finding Cures. Saving Children

Soma Ranch has chosen St. Jude’s as their charity partner for 2020 with a goal to raise $4040.

Let's support Finding Cures. Saving Children

During the year Soma Ranch will offer open houses, coffee mornings, special events and classes.

At these events 100% of donations go towards our Finding Cures. Saving Children campaign.

So Far we've raised $275 (6% of our goal). An amount that could be used for one red blood cell transfusion for a child undergoing treatment.

Runners who fundraise for St. Jude while training for their race are part of a nationwide alliance against childhood cancer. They’re called St. Jude Heroes.

Soma Ranch Co-owner, Helen Terry, will run the Vegas Rock n Roll Half Marathon November 2020 as a “St. Jude Hero”.

Many dear friends of Helen and Joe Terry, Nia and Soma Ranch have died from cancer: Dear friends like Liliana (who The Terry’s daughter is named after), Luana Anderson (who helped create and maintain the NiaMoves website as a volunteer), Bill Baun (MD Anderson Wellness Director), Helen’s mentor/ friend and first employee back in the early 1990s.

We are raising and running in memory of these remarkable people . We are on a mission to help find cures and save lives.

Let’s help Find Cures and Save Lives Together.

Put Procrastination to Bed

In England there’s the phrase “they have the attention span of a Gnat”. Gnats are tiny little flying insects that appear to flit around without purpose from one place to the next. I’ve certainly “fallen” into this category. As a creative unique soul I can easily jump from one idea to the next (if not juggle and play with several all at the same time!). For years I would struggle with sustaining attention and focus. Only to be left with a deep sense of dissatisfaction with uncompleted tasks, frustrated with growing to do lists, disappointment with missed deadlines and an all consuming feeling of being overwhelmed and trapped.

The Pomodoro Time Management technique has helped me immensely. I’m certainly not “cured” of my over active mind, however having a timer, a plan and a practice has helped me to foster a more disciplined approach to my work and necessary tasks, allowing me to feel more calm, accomplished and happier at the end of most days!

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. The technique uses a timer to break down work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks

This is how it works

1. set a timer for 25 minutes and do focused work (= 1 Pomodoro)

2. take 5 minutes off

3. repeat steps 1 & 2, 4 times (= 4 Pomodoros)

4. take a longer break (at least 30 minutes)

5. repeat steps 1-4 with an intent to achieve for “sets” a day (a total of 16 Pomodoros)

You can get a physical timer, like the kitchen tomato “Pomodoro” timer (how this technique got its name). Or these days there are many apps to help you keep track and achieve success. I like the “Focus Keeper”. It provides a red screen with a count down for 25 minutes (you can choose if you want the timer ticking sound while you work, or not!) then a “Ping” sound alerts you to “step away from the task” and do something for 5 minutes (the screen provides a blue screen for these 5 minutes)

The 25 minute focused Pomodoro are aimed to be that.. FOCUSED. I keep to one task and force myself to not answer the phone, text, go on facebook, visit the fridge, even drink water or go to the bathroom! (all of these are achieved during the 5 minute breaks!). When I make it through the 4 Pomodoros ( 2 hours with 4 sessions of 25 minute focused tasks) the DELIGHT of then having an extended break is much appreciated (I walk the dog, take a class, go for a run, eat lunch, jump in the sauna or the pool, even watch a Hulu episode!)

The practice disciplines me to sustain attention, helps me accomplish more, feel more satisfied by the end of day.

At the beginning of the day I will list the tasks I need to accomplish and sometimes I’ll plan out the order. I do my best to alternate tasks and not always start with the same.

Here’s some examples of categories:

• tidying/clearing

• facebook

• quickbooks

• newsletter

• emails

• telephone calls

In Nia technique we have a phrase “Sacred Athlete” and she certainly comes out when I’m “on” with the program. I’ll compete with myself for how much can be achieved in 25 minutes, feel my attention muscle strengthening through sheer determination and enjoy seeing my improvement from dedicated regular practice.

2019 miles in 2019

As we approach the end of 2019, for the 4th year, Helen Terry is close to completing the year in miles, that is achieving running+walking 2019 miles in 2019!

With 2014 miles completed, and 3 days to go, the finish line is within reach.

Being super relived to not have to run a marathon on Dec 31st!, Helen plans to arrive at Soma Ranch on December 31, for the 10am BND Nia class, with 2018 miles accomplished, ready to run the final mile after class!

You’re invited to come to Soma Ranch to cheer Helen at the finish line at about 11:20am (after the 10am Nia class) or you’re welcome to run the last mile with her!

Big shout out and thanks to Helen’s Mum who, helped construct a spread sheet to show the dream was still possible. It’s a great example of how setting goals, keeping records and plugging away, day by day, can really add up.

The process Helen follow is:

1. the dream,

2. breaking it down into goals,

3. taking daily action,

4. provide rewards for achievements along the way,

5. call on friends to stay motivated

Our Mission

RTE is a community where everyone is welcome regardless of age, skill, zip code, wallet size, job, or primary form of transportation. That’s why our mission is Everyone Included, Everyone Challenged, Everyone Successful.

Thanksgiving 10am Nia Class

At Soma Ranch, 10am on Thanksgiving Day, we get together to express our gratitude in dance.

How great to acknowledge through this joyful experience we can

• change our attitude,

• brighten our outlook,

• broaden our perspective AND

• burn some extra calories before dinner!

Hope you can join us and bring friends. This is a fabulous time to come together as a community and DANCE.

Soma Class Rates

from $20.00

• $20 | 1 class

• $75 | 5 class pass (3 month expiration) ($15 per class)

• $130 | 10 class pass (3 month expiration) ($13 per class)

• $99 | 30 Day Journey, 30 Classes, ALL 8am + 10am ($3.30 per class)

• $75 | Day Retreat(click for more Info)

• $25 | Lunch or Dinner

• $96 | 60 min massage

• $145 | 90 min massage

30 Day Challenge Benefits:

1. unlimited 10am + 8am Nia Classes for 30 days

2. bring a “new to the journey” friend to class for a month

3. enjoy before and after class conversations and nuggets

4. receive automatic 24HR replays via email

Soma Ranch Classes:

Select Soma Ranch Classes $20 | Drop In $75 | 5 class pass $130 | 10 class pass $75 | Day Retreat $30 | Lunch or Dinner $30 | Sauna $96 | 60 Min Massage $145 | 90 Min Massage

Buy NOW

Let's Find Cures and Save Lives together.

Helen and Joe (co owners of Soma Ranch) have returned from Vegas, where they supported St Jude’s in the 1/2 Marathon. Helen ran while Joe was “emotional support and carrier of many things”. Super inspired Helen is running again in 2020 CLICK HERE to help

Helen shares:

The Vegas 1/2 Marathon has been on my bucket list for quite a while. The idea of running long distance at NIGHT is attractive, then bring mostly flat streets, with Rock ‘n’ Roll live bands, off the charts lights of Las Vegas Strip and a great crowd, and it’s an amazing experience!

All of the above is what attracted me to run the race. What sustained me, and now has encouraged me to sign up for 2020 in a bigger way, is St. Jude’s with their mission to Find Cures and Save Lives together.

The music and lights were a wonderful motivators, and then there were parts of the run that were fairly dark and quiet, and around mile 10 when my ankles started to tighten up I didn’t know if I could complete the course!

With more than 35,000 runners! I read a lot of backs with “in memory of…” and “i’m running for…”

Through all of this I fell into quite a deep (and at times emotional) meditation. I was prompted to think of folks I’ve known who have died from cancer. Like a dear friend in my 20’s Liliana (who our daughter is named after), a dear friend in my 30’s; Luana Anderson (who helped create and maintain the NiaMoves website as a volunteer), Bill Baun (MD Anderson Wellness Director & my mentor/ friend from my 20’s to my 50’s) and the list goes on…

Please consider joining us, support by donating HERE .

Let’s help Find Cures and Save Lives Together.

Thank you AirBNB Corporate Group

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.