Hybrid, Healthy, Happy

Dear Soma Friends!

How are you? finding new ways to get out and play? be free? express? live life? I oh so hope so.

Here at Soma Ranch we’re hosting a Nia White Belt with 12 participants attending. With folks from near and far, something I love witnessing is how the group gels, how each person brings something unique and helpful to the group. From professors, to fit pros, to therapists, to mothers, grandmothers, drama leaders, coaches, park rangers, retreat leaders, EFT facilitators and wellness directors, we have an array of talents and experiences that sparkle together into a glorious experience. (= i LOVE my job, I LOVE my life ;-))

Hybrid classes (with folks in the room and zoom simultaneously) are improving every time. For example trainees in the group have friends in other areas in the country who are choosing to join us for public classes then wave hello and get to chat through the screen at the end of class.

I'm so excited!

Things are looking up, We’re starting a training with a full house (12), internet is wonderfully speedy, we’ve updated the studio (it’s sparkling), both in person and ONLINE attendance and daily classes at 10am are like the icing on the cake.

Long time Nia participant, and dear friend, Jeni Haliday, shared this video clip that really sums up “I’m so excited” - I love how this clip brings a smile to my face every time I watch it. EnJoy :-)

Get 2GETHER on Sunday

NIA IMMERSION 2GETHER

Sunday 1:30-4:00pm, July 18

NIA JAM 2GETHER

Sunday 4:15 - 5:15pm July 18.

Enjoy an afternoon playing with fellow Nia fans. We will watch wonderful Nia Trainers, Debbie Rosas, Megan MacArthur, Sarah Nickerson on the big screen sharing the moves of 2GETHER. We go through each song, dancing to the music, learning more details and practicing the moves. In general we have a lot of fun getting together and playing with one of the latest Nia routines.

Entertain the option of staying at the end of the day to participate (either taking or leading) in the Nia JAM. This is where the routine will be taught by a team of teachers (each one leading a song). A great time to invite friends! Entertain enjoying the Sauna after class!

Through the focus Kinesphere, the Nia routine 2GETHER intent is to connect to the space around you. Reaching out with your fingers and toes will improve your flexibility, strength, and balance. Personal expression will bring out the dance in this Nia choreography.

Nia has made a unique and innovative presentation of this one routine in at least 4 formats:

1. Classic

2. High intensity

3. 52 Moves

4. Moving to Heal.

Thru the afternoon we will dance 2GETHER together to each of the four formats to receive a taster for all the wonderful option Nia has to offer.

Both Nia Immersion 2GETHER and Nia Jam 2GETHER are fun events suitable for all levels. They are great opportunities to

• get to know fellow local Nia participants and teachers,

• have fun connecting

• experience a New Nia Class.

This is a fundraiser for St Jude.

Suggested donation is $20 - 52.

Pay by Venmo at “iLoveSoma” or…

Nia 30 day Challenge starts July 19

Little did I know when we started this 30 day Nia Challenge ONLINE concept in January that the concept would sustain and increase all the way through 2021! There are some folks who have been in on this challenge now for 6 months! and new participants keep joining each month.

What’s great and new now is HYBRID….

…Bringing ONLINE and In Person Nia participants together is a thrill!

3 x 60 minute Nia Classes are now a combo of In Person at Soma Ranch with the 30 day challengers joining us ONLINE.

3 x 30 minute Nia classes are personalized specifically and exclusively to the 30 day Nia Challenge group. This is where I teach directly to the screen, only to the ONLINE Challenge participants. These experiences are more educational. We connect before class (checking in and laughing around an array of subjects!), There’s also usually 15 minutes after class where folks ask questions, share insight from class and learn more.

The secret is coffee!

So great to have Soma “1st Monday” coffee back on the map and so well attended.

We had 25 people in our HYBRID class (ONLINE and In Person) and a lovely group of participants stayed afterwards to enjoy coffee, tea and/or kombucha. Thank you Kris for bringing most delicious snacks.

We had a great time 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!!

Chris was celebrating having the most people ever in her YogaFaith Class and how she has a wedding and fabulous travel trips to look forward to.

Laura, who’s been considering the Nia White Belt of a couple of years, shared she’s IN! Joining us this Wednesday for our 7 day foundational course.

Cece, who’s been taking Yoga classes and “dabbling” with Nia, loving the dance and how it stirs her soul, was really feeling the pull and may join us on Wednesday for the Nia White Belt.

Kelly shared how after a couple of years, and moving through the Nia White, Blue and Brown Belts, she’s ready to teach and has a new gig teaching at Margaritaville Lake Conroe.

Cynthia is back from travels and we REALLY appreciate her wonderful care and service, how she stays after class and coffee to STEAM the studio floor.

Peggy brought some amazing flowers for everyone to plant, they are called “Rain Flowers” and come out and bloom in the rain.

Cathey shared it’s her Birthday next Monday yaHoo! She’s requested the Donna Summer Nia Playlist - what a great way to dance and celebrate her special day.

Next 1st Monday Cuppa Connection is August 2, 2021. You’re welcome to join us. Consider a triple play with 8:45am YogaFaith, 10:00am Nia, 11:00am 1st Monday Cuppa.

Nia Week Public Classes

Special Nia Weeks at Soma Ranch are the perfect time to submerse yourself in the Joy of Moving. With the option to take daily public Nia classes, come enjoy the connection with trainees who come in from near and (global) far to participate at Soma Ranch.

The next best thing to taking the entire 7 day immersive Nia Training experience, is to drop by daily and enjoy the public Nia classes.

These special public Nia classes are developmental. Where you can track the progression of the course through your body and get a taste of the foundational 13 principles of the Nia practice.

Classes are available 3 ways:

• ONLINE (Via Zoom)

• In Person

• 24HR Replay

The Nia White Belt week is the foundational course. All things Nia build up upon this beginning introductory course.

Regular class rate apply. Classes are tracked on an honor system. You select your class package option then track your classes as you attend.

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

Buy NOW

In a perfect world the Nia White Belt would be the pre-curser to attending a Nia class!

Why? this foundational Nia White Belt course provides the science, craft and art to deepen your understanding of the Nia Practice and enhance your sensory IQ.

We dance, learn, explore, share and connect in an uplifting, vibrant, exploratory, safe learning environment.

You are encouraged to learn and move your Body’s way (celebrating your uniqueness, current body design and function), while learning how to align with The Body’s Way.

Following the pleasure principle, exploring how less can be more, developing somatic sensory learning, the intent is to fall in love with the Nia Practice, your body and life. To step out from the Nia White belt with a renewed level of celebration of

“I LOVE my body and I LOVE my life”

Celebrate Natural Time New Year

Over the last 14 years we’ve celebrated the Natural Time New Year in many ways through the “Blue Electric Storm” Retreat.

• massive events at the Houston Grand Opera with 13 Nia Black belts team teaching a Nia Jam

• a weekend of events at NiaMoves (where Joe fed 52 participants for the weekend)

• weekend retreats at Soma Ranch with swimming, dancing, meditating, walking the labyrinth, laughing, eating and enjoying each other's company.

This year we are “going simple”. We’re inviting Soma friends to come out to Lake Conroe where we can paddle board, boat, Kayak, maybe even water ski or surf!

In the afternoon Helen is offering 2 fabulous events at Soma Ranch and we’d love you to join us.

Sale

Natural Time Saturday PlayShop + Monday Class

from $15.00

Happy Natural Time New Year!! Experiential Natural Time Playshop (with a little dance at the end!) and/or DOOT (Day Out Of Time) Dance.

The Saturday PLAYSHOP is available ONLINE LIVE via zoom and via a 3 day REPLAY.

The Monday DOOT Dance is HYBRID, attend In Person at Soma Ranch OR ONLINE/24Hr REPLAY

Natural Time Playshop

Saturday, July 22, 12:00 - 2:00 pm (Central Time) $40 ($30 early bird when you sign up by THURSDAY)

Enjoy an ONLINE LIVE and/or 3 Day Replay Playshop with Helen Terry.

Let's connect and celebrate Natural Time and all the joys of living an alive, fully vibrant life!

Natural Time is a great opportunity to simplify, relieve stress, encourage creativity and flow into your day.

Learn about the 13 moon natural time calendar and how to follow the Natural Time Calendar

• read/follow the calendar

• apply the calendar in your life

• decode your galactic signature

• create a 260 day, daily meditation

Natural Time Class

Monday, July 24, 10:00 - 11:00am $15

Dance to celebrate time, with a fun filled playlist and community inspired choreography. The movement experience will include

• honoring the 4 directions

• celebrating uniqueness

• recognizing connections

• jubilating unity

• choosing, sustaining and increasing joy individually and collectively

More information available and buy a calendar at www.13moon.com

Choose: Select Choose Natural Time Playshop $30/40Natural Time Class $15Natural Time Combo $40/50

Buy Now

Music Series: Emotions in Motion

In Nia our ideal is to deliver a holistic experience, integrating the body, mind, emotions and spirit.

When we (whether a Nia teacher or a Nia practitioner) can access what, in Nia, we call “creative source”, the ability to draw emotions from within, we can then develop the skill to express what is being felt on the inside out into the world as a whole body, whole Soma, whole being expressing.

Through the Nia training programs, we receive tools, for both on the dance floor and dancing through life, to help us express more fully what we are experiencing on the inside outwardly with others. The practices and the developed “felt sense” skills, provides us with the ability to connect, to be seen, to relate and many more wonderful gifts.

In this clip enjoy a fabulous parallel, how, in conductor school, students learn to use their emotions, their felt sense, to draw out the emotion out of the individual parts of the orchestra to manifest the ultimate experience. A moving, memorable, moment for all involved. Very similar to how in a Nia class experience the Nia teacher wants to help draw out the emotions in the music, the participants and themselves to have a healing experience.

Music Series: Instruments of the Orchestra

In Nia we have a system called the 8BC system which helps us to decode songs to deepen our relationship with music.

During Helen Terry’s ONLINE “Music Series” today we began to look at “symbol and sound”. Exploring how we can track/identify the silence and sound of individual instruments in the music.

Here’s a fabulous demonstration of the different instruments of the orchestra.

We hope you enjoy the clip and invite you to play:

1. Identify the different sounds and how they come together and

2. enjoy these fabulous vibrations in your Nia classes and trainings.

We can develop more intimacy (the ability to pay attention to details at a deeper level) by isolating separate sounds in the music, focusing our mind to notice and track the instruments, and learn how they (as individual sounds) contribute to the whole (the song). In Nia we call this process “isolating to integrate”.

Here’s more wonderful examples of The Orchestra, Symbol and Sound and even the “choreography” of the conductor.

Monday "Freedom" Nia 10am

Yes! We are dancing Nia, this Holiday Monday at Soma Ranch, at 10am. Our focus will be “Freedom”, with music, movement and magic that supports this magical journey of balance between form and freedom, yin and yang, structure and creativity.

Links for class are posted at www.facebook.com/groups/helenterry

Links are also available upon request to helen@somaranch.com

24 hour replay is available upon request to helen@somaranch.com

Regular Class Schedule:

WELCOME!

Thank you for being part of a fabulous group of like-minded caring people. Please enjoy LIVE streamed classes, inspiration and helpful hints from Helen. Here's some information to help you:

SCHEDULE

Enjoy the following classes with Helen

Nia with Helen

10am Monday (HYBRID=ONLINE + IN PERSON)

10am Thursday (HYBRID=ONLINE + IN PERSON)

10am Saturday (HYBRID=ONLINE + IN PERSON)

Nia 5 Stages with Helen

8:45am Saturday (HYBRID=ONLINE + IN PERSON)

When offering a 7 day Nia Training Helen offers 10am Nia Classes daily

YogaFaith with Chris

8:45am Monday

8:45am Thursday

SUBSCRIBE

sign up for free newsletter and direct updates about extra classes https://www.somaranch.com/subscribe

CLASS RATES

$15 drop in

$65 for 5 classes

$120 for 10 classes

$499 for unlimited classes for a year.

HOW TO PAY

This is an honor system;

• VENMO iLoveSoma

• mail check to PO Box 1156, Montgomery, TX 77356

• http://www.somaranch.com/booking/soma-class-rates.

• PAYPAL helen@somaranch.com

INVITE friends by sharing these links

https://www.somaranch.com/regular-classes

https://www.facebook.com/groups/helenterry

RECOMMENDATIONS Before class:

ONLINE

• Power down and up before class

• Close out of other browsers and apps

• Select WIFI OFF on unnecessary other devices

• Close down other browsers, pages & apps

• Make screen smaller or watch on phone

• Arrive early let's connect before class!

In Person

• Arrive early

• Bring a water bottle

• Wear clothes that feel comfortable to move in

• Remove shoes before entering studio

• No strong perfumes or aromatherapy

• Invite friends to accompany you ;-)

ZOOM LINKS classes:

CLASSIC NIA

Zoom link for 10am Saturday, Monday, Thursday

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84188098716

code: soma

NIA 5 STAGES

Zoom Link for 8:45am Saturday Nia 5 Stages

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82441198630

code: soma

24 HOUR REPLAY

email Helen@somaranch.com if you would like to receive a 24 hour replay of ANY of the above classes

Happy July

Happy July! We are super grateful for you and how you encourage and support us at Soma Ranch. The Sun is shining in our hearts and beautifully at the ranch. We'd love you to come visit. Whether in person or ONLINE (all classes are now Hybrid), drop in for a class, enjoy an extended day or stay, explore a Nia Retreat, indulge in a Retreat or invest in a Nia Training, our doors and arms are OPEN and we'd love to see you.

Love Helen & Joe Terry

Nia White Belt Training Retreat

https://www.somaranch.com/trainings/nia-white-belt-july

Blue Electric Storm

https://www.somaranch.com/events/retreat-blue-electric-storm-2021

Nia 5 Stages Retreat

https://www.somaranch.com/events/nia-5-stages-retreat

Come Home to Mystical Body Retreat

https://www.somaranch.com/events/magical-somatic-experience

Embodied Authentic Healing Retreat

https://www.somaranch.com/events/embodied-authentic-healing-retreat

Nia Retreat for Black Belts

https://www.somaranch.com/events/nia-retreat-black-belt-coaching

Nia Retreat for Brown Belts

https://www.somaranch.com/events/nia-retreat-brown-belt-coaching-2022

A taste of what to expect at Nia

A taste of what to expect at Nia 10am Saturday with Helen Terry. This week we've played with the Nia routine R1, 9 songs, each drawing from the wisdom of one of the 9 movement forms of Nia.

Our Movement feature is the 8 feet techniques.

After taking class, learning the moves, building from the basics and embracing simplicity, tomorrow we celebrate and would LOVE for you to join us.

email helen@somaranch.com for the zoom link for class.

Or join the private Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/helenterry where all the latest and greatest news about Classes with Helen Terry (including class links) are posted.

Foot Techniques of Nia

The focus for Saturday 10am Nia class is the 8 Feet Techniques.

To receive the link for class email helen@somaranch.com or visit www.facebook.com/groups/helenterry.

Usual class rates apply

There are 8 Foot Techniques of Nia. These techniques are what we do with our feet as we dance Nia, mostly in steps and sometimes stances, even kicks - when we get creative!

1. Heal Lead: The Body’s Way of traveling forwards

2. Whole Foot: The Body’s Way of traveling sideways

3. Ball of the Foot: The Body’s Way of traveling backwards

4. Releve: Derived from the Dance Arts movement form Duncan Dance

5. Rock around the clock: Excellent for massaging the feet through movement

6. Squish Walk: Strengthens ankles, calf muscles, core

7. Duck Walk: Strengthens fine muscles on the front of our shines

8. Toes In Out Parallel: Create by rotating thigh bone (Femur) in the ball and socket of the hip

   (knees and feet follow, all aligned and happy)

"I have a dream" Nia Classes

As we approach the USA July 4th weekend, we will be focusing on the Nia Routine MoodFood.

Enjoy this experience HYBRID Nia class experience (either in person or ONLINE)

• Monday 10am

• Thursday 10am

• Saturday 10am

Links for class are posted at www.facebook.com/groups/helenterry

Links are also available upon request to helen@somaranch.com

24 hour replay is available upon request to helen@somaranch.com

Usual class rates apply

Soma Class Rates

from $20.00

Great Teachers Return to Beginners Mind

Thank you Carolina Moon Macky who continues to capture lovely moments on the zoom screen Nia classes.

I also feel super honored that well established, skilled, excellent teachers choose to attend public classes with me online.

A great reminder of how, part of being a great teacher is, returning to beginners mind and perpetually being fascinated as a student.

Thank you Nia Technique for (as in life) there is ALWAYS more to learn.

Thank you Maria Whitley, Mark Frossard, Kim Hawkins, Meredith Amato and Kathy McElroy for dancing with me and showing up in your unique brilliant way. :-)

For links to ZOOM and HYBRID classes join our Private Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/helenterry

Nia White Belt July 14 - 20

We are 90% sold out on the upcoming Nia White Belt. With 2 places left and presently ALL accommodation options still available, now’s a great time to register.

You can choose to

1. sign up for the Nia White Belt

2. retake the the Nia White Belt

3. enjoy a Nia retreat

4. join us for a Day retreat

5. receive a taste through public 10am Nia Classes

We are offering immersive 7 day Nia trainings for up to 13 guests.

The dorm is presently offered as a QUAD room (i.e. a huge room with 11 beds we only use the 4 corners to give you space and 3 bathrooms to share between 4 guests.

We've gone HYBRID

Yes! thank you MidSouth Energy, our local electricity coop. When updating their system to better read electrical meters, we were give the option to sign up to enjoy lightening fast internet.

Prayers are answered! Soma Ranch has LIGHTNING fast internet. We are now offering Hybrid classes - this is where Helen teaches folks on Zoom and folks in the room simultaneously.

At the beginning and end of class the local ladies (in the room) get to chat and connect with Nia movers all over the world. And all the participants on Zoom get to connect with the local dancers here in Montgomery, Texas.

While the class is going we shift the camera so you can see both the reflection and the back image of Helen teaching. Virtual, zoom, participants, receive more of a 3 dimensional sense of the class experience, as if they are in the room! They also enjoy seeing folks dancing together in the room, get inspired by how every moves similar yet uniquely and there’s a lovely feel of community and connection. Participants in the room get to enjoy the MOVIE SIZED projection of the zoom dancers on the side wall.

On zoom classes, eyes of “technology” folks widen as they hear our new fast numbers. For those of us who are less savvy, when it comes to technology, the summary is when you come to a class with Helen now, you will see me and our community LIVE in the Soma Ranch Studio. The internet is so fast you will receive crystal clear picture. Freezing and dropping are also highly unlikely. FYI if you DO experience streaming, freezing, dropping problems, consider, when on zoom, click your video OFF (bottom right corner of screen). You will still be able to see Helen teaching AND your reception may improve.

We have more spaghetti to sort out. Once we’ve figured out best camera angles, calculated how long cables need to be, synchronized web cams, positioned computers, screens, speakers… we’ll have most wires installed through the walls and seamless “production”

Before I had no idea what “ping” meant, let alone what was a great score/result. Here’s a little more about ping in case you’re curious.. https://techterms.com/definition/ping

A ping is a signal sent to a host that requests a response. It serves two primary purposes: 1) to check if the host is available and 2) to measure how long the response takes.

What is a Good Ping Response Time?

1. < 30 ms - excellent ping; almost unnoticeable; ideal for online gaming

2. 30 to 50 ms - average ping; still ok for online gaming

3. 50 to 100 ms - somewhat slow ping time; not too noticeable for web browsing but may affect gaming

4. 100 ms to 500 ms - slow ping; minimal effect on web browsing, but will create noticeable lag in online gaming

5. > 500 ms - pings of a half second or more will add a noticeable delay to all requests; typically happens when the source and destination are in different parts of the world

Soma News June

Dear Soma Friends,

Yes! YES! we exclaim as loud as our loudest expressive donkey Spirit! We are back in business, back sharing the joy of Nia, back serving delicious food that looks like art, back singing praises of appreciation for local participants and visiting guests YES!!

This month we have hosted the Fort Worth Nia group for a weekend retreat, graduated a Nia Brown Belt.

We’ve gone HYBRID (which is a really big deal), hosted an AirBNB group and added more public classes. Helen teaches 10am Monday, Thursday, Saturday and EVERYDAY during Nia Trainings.

Coming up we have a private family rental group for 3 nights around the July 4th weekend, a private guest enjoying a personal retreat, the Nia White Belt (almost SOLD OUT) and around the corner is our annual retreat Blue Electric Storm, celebrating the natural time New Year July 24-26

Our next 30 days, 30 Nia class challenge begins tomorrow. It’s a super time to sign up, get encouraged, motivated and have a GREAT time. This is the 6th in a row 30 30 series we’ve offered (since January), some folks have been in since the beginning, including Helen’s mum!

https://www.somaranch.com/news/nia-challenge-june

We hope to see you soon whether it be in person at the ranch or through zoom.

And remember now, the virtual zoom experience is virtually REAL. Participants share

“with your double cameras, the participants in the room, the beautiful ambience of the studio, I feel like I’m right there with you”

Be well, and please let us know how we may help you more with regards all things Soma.

We hope to welcome you home to Soma Ranch soon,

with love

Helen & Joe Terry,

Phelps, Zepher, Roger and Da Donkeys

Congratulations Nia Brown Belts

Congratulations Nia Brown Belt Graduates! IN PERSON, fully immersive 7 day trainings, at Soma Ranch, feel incredibly wonderful. Now enhanced by the experience and embodiment through the ONLINE 16 week, 2 hours a week format.....

Congratulations Kelly from Cut-N-Shoot, Ann from Corpus Christi and Nannette from South Carolina. Kelly and Ann boldly stepped into their brown only 4 weeks after completing their Nia Blue Belt. Sometimes having the information and experience from a previous belt can be the perfect medicine and choice when stepping into the next level Belt. Nanette was ready for her next level belt after taking her time to embody the Nia Blue and White and gaining some experience teaching and running a studio, again, another excellent choice.

Kelly

Kelly has enrolled in the Nia membership program, developing as a Nia teacher, she is following her passion to teach in local churches. She will sub for Helen at Margaritaville Resort Lake Conroe, Deer Lake Lodge Spa, Soma Ranch.

Ann

Ann is hopefully moving to Montgomery, TX. She feels the desire to be part of a vibrant Nia community. We can certainly satisfy that need! Ann will be offering massage, Nia and nutritional retreats + workshops + coaching. We feel blessed and welcome Ann (she’s an answer to prayers).

Nanette

Nanette came to Soma Ranch for the first time. She was looking for inspiration and the opportunity to deepen her Nia education and knowledge. We certainly hope this is the first of many visits to Soma ;-)

Nanette is the co-owner of N-Motion, a Nia Studio in Tega Caty, South Carolina, with a beautiful website, studio and community. Their mission statement is:

to create and maintain a community of mindfulness and movement for everybody.

Let the FIN begin

Over the past 10+ years we’ve developed experiences at Soma Ranch to compliment the immersive fully inclusive Nia Training experience. At the end of a day dancing and learning in the studio participants can

• choose to float,

• chat and swim in the lap pool,

• enjoy the hot tub under the stars,

• sip a cup of tea on the porch as the sun goes down,

• relax in the far infrared sauna,

• connect around the camp fire with s’mores,

• indulge in a therapeutic massage,

• feed the donkeys, go for a stroll and/or

• create their own memorable moments.

Beyond our imagination we now also have a new additional excursion from Soma Ranch. Beyond our top favorites of the Sam Houston National Forrest, Lake Conroe and local horse riding, Margaritaville Resort Lake Conroe is within minutes of Soma Ranch. We took a fun field trip and walked around the 186 acre complex that feels like a paradise vacation.