Special Events with Helen Terry

During our upcoming wonderful weekend retreat Come to the Mystical Body Retreat, Helen Terry is providing 3 x 90 minute special Nia Events:

Sat 9/25 10:30am Mask + Mirror

Sat 9/25 4:00pm Enigma

Sun 9/26 10:30am Selfless

During each of these 90 minute movement experiences Helen will be sharing the wisdom of the body through Nia’s 5 Principles of the Body’s Way:

1. The Body Thrives on Dynamic Ease

2. The Body Demands Balance

3. The Body Is Balanced in Yin and Yang

4. The Body Demands Simultaneous Mobility and Stability

5. The Body Itself Reveals the Body’s Way

Each class will include

1. educational content,

2. somatic (body centered) experience,

3. guided meditation,

4. a handout,

5. integration recommendations “how to dance through life with this experience”

Please consider joining us for a class, the day or a luxurious weekend retreat. “Denise Simpson and Helen Terry are excited, collaborating to bring the featuring Nia Dance and Courageous Heart / Evolutionary Mystic Meditation. September 24 - 26, 2021 and would love you to join us.

Nia Express

I LOVE learning and taking safe risks, and find one of the most fascinating ways to get out there and teach is to play with the new routines "unseen and unheard".

One way is to teach a MoveIT class (where the teacher shares the familiar 52 Nia moves, one move per minute) with the “yet to be known” music. On an “express” 30 minute Nia class, we change the move every 30 seconds!

Other ways I also enjoy learning include

1. simple kata - one base move per song

2. use moves from a previous (well known) routine

3. draw moves from the latest routine learned

I download the playlist from Nia HQ, resist the desire to listen to the music, and teach a class.

Participants share how they enjoy the creative process and feel an integrated part of the improve experience.

Here’s what a Nia Blue Belt teacher shared about her experience….

“I just did your 30 minute Express class....

It was SO liberating to know that you were hearing the music for the first time - that gave me extra permission to relax into it.

I could really sense how 25 years plus of Nia devotional practice has led you to do that!

I could feel YOU feeling and sensing the music - the ‘ones’ and the drops and the spaces and where ‘something was going to happen’.

As a student, it was so much fun - choosing my favorite kata and personalizing and sensing my body and the freedom.

As a teacher, I learned loads about adding moves like claw hands or strikes or energy shifts to the same base move...

And how to simplify.

I never look at the routine until I’ve got the music in me....

Basically I LOVED it - you are a genius - THANK YOU!”

— Nia Blue Belt Teacher

How to make a 30 minute playlist.

Since January 2021 I’ve been enjoying teaching 30 minute Nia classes ONLINE. The program started with the 30 30 30 idea. This is where a group of participants signed up to the challenge to take 30 Nia classes, 30 minutes a day, for 30 days. This is the most popular and successful course I’ve ever launched, I’m amazed by how, 9 months later, we’re still going and growing. Some folks have been with us every month since January. And every month more participants join us.

There are many ways to create a 30 minute playlist for this express (shortened) Nia class experience.

When working with an established Nia routine (which is usually about 60 minutes long) here’s 13 of the many methods we’ve adopted:

1. choose every other song (“Side A”)

2. click the other every other song (“Side B”)

3. use the 1st half of playlist (often bring the last song to end) e.g. Songs 1,2,3,4,5,6,13.

4. play the 2nd half of playlist: Often bring the 1st song to the beginning 1,7,8,9,10…

5. be random! choose shuffle!

6. shuffle songs not played the day before

7. dance the playlist backwards part 1 (e.g. 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8….)

8. dance the playlist backwards part 2 (e.g. 7,6,5,4,3,2,1….)

9. select 1/2 the songs

10. play the 1/2 songs that weren’t selected

11. play the first, the middles and the last. (1, 5, 6,7, 13)

12. play the longest songs

13. play the shortest songs

As you can see, the creativity is limitless. In fact this is a fabulous example of how sometimes by creating/having a limitation (i.e. only 30 minutes) in relationship with keeping structure (the 7 cycles of a Nia class) we burst into enhanced stimulating options with fascination, fitness and fun up!

Psoas and Sound Nia Classes

Our Psoas and Sound classes have been so popular, helpful and healing we are delving deeper this Saturday i both the 8:45am Nia 5 Stages class and the 10:00am Nia Classic class.

Enjoy a Slide show during the 8:45am Nia 5 Stages class to help you

• understand where your Psoas muscle is,

• how Psoas affects the rest of your body

• how you move/dance with your Psoas

• how to hydrate/heal this curious muscle/messenger

Then Dance your psoas with sound and joy in the Nia 10am class. The choreography from the classic Nia Routine “Global Unity” is adapted to new music that is all about sound, vibration and soul!

“So I think I’ve found it.  How to have a home in my body. Intellectually, I know it’s the next step....  Knowing I need to find my home in my body. (Which I can so easily feel betrayed by). 
There has been no answers. 
Then - to find the psoas - the instruction to put my hands at the bottom of my rib cage as “if they were like little wings” and I wrapped my hands at my mid-back and instantly started sobbing.
I fell to my knees. 
The next cue
- the image and instruction to place the hands at the inner thigh/groin area -
and a wave of relief. 
And then
- both hands at the neck-
“Like a triangle”. 
And I repeated those three gestures
over and over and over again.
As if I was remembering something. 
Finding what felt like
it might be
Home. ”

— Nia Green Belt Teacher

Wonderful Weekend Retreat for Fall

Denise Simpson and Helen Terry are excited, collaborating to bring the Come to the Mystical Body Retreat featuring Nia Dance and Courageous Heart / Evolutionary Mystic Meditation. September 24 - 26, 2021.

Learn why it is important to get into your body and live through your body to stop the chatter and spinning thoughts in the mind, to balance both masculine and feminine energies, to experience a community of soul seekers for enlightenment and evolution...and mostly to have a FUN, JOYOUS, Sacred self-care experience to rejuvenate your energy and strengthen your connection to True Self.

Early Bird pricing is extended through September 18. ONLY 6 spots remain for this life-changing transformation at #somaranch 1 hour outside of Houston.

Soma Ranch Celebrates 12 years

Today is Soma Ranch’s 12th Birthday! Our adventure began 9.9.9! We celebrated with a hybrid Nia class with folks dancing in person and ONLINE! The Sun was shining through the windows of the studio and in our hearts. From what we’ve been through over the past months, today felt like an accomplishment!

A day to celebrate our strength, resilience, the blessings along the way and the wonderful community that is an integral part of what we call “Soma Ranch” - i.e. Soma is more than a location, more than a ranch, more than a retreat center. Both near and far, WE are community.

Day 9 of our 30 day ONLINE challenge.

Focus: "Mama Cell": As it is with the belly “Mama Cell” so it is with the 700 muscles and likewise the 75 trillion cells. We explore how we open close, move side to side and figure 8. Experiencing horizontal, vertical, rotational systemic movement from the core. With the intent to celebrate, sense strength, resilience and give gratitude.

Happy 12th Birthday Soma - thanks for the ride!

Music: all songs on the Playlist were about Rising

Nia Psoas and Sound Classes

This morning, in both Nia classes, we focus on Psoas and Sound. Connecting Body, Emotions and Sound with the Psoas Muscle with the intent to heal, feel better, relax more and feel increased integration of Body Mind and Soul. Nia 5 Stages 8:45am and Nia Classic10:00am. Request access to Zoom links and 24 hour replays of class at nia@somaranch.com

Happy September

Wow! what an amazing time we are having at Soma Ranch. Our Birthday Class and Celebration was special and meaningful. Recent AirBNB guests have been wonderful, enjoying the ranch to the full while respecting the space and leaving 5 star reviews.

Classes at Soma Ranch continue to grow. Today we enjoyed folks in class (singing, laughing, dancing).

Nia Retreats are happening with Come Home to Mystical Body + Retreat for Nia Black Belts.

We’ve extended the Early Bird pricing through
September 15 and have 6 places remaining.

There’s lots of great stuff coming up (both In Person and ONLINE), now’s the time to register. Helen is back from an inspirational 2 week retreat in Mexico at Rancho La Puerta Wellness Resort and Spa. She returns for a “week of Nia at RLP” April 2 - 9. 2022.

Here’s a summary of upcoming events at Soma Ranch with more details included below.

Nia In PERSON Trainings are filling up (Nia Blue Oct 6-12, Nia Green Nov 3 - 8 )

Hope you are stepping into September with something joyful in your heart and something to “tickle your toes” (help you giggle) …

Love

Helen + Joe

Nia 30 day Challenge starts Sept 1

Little did I know, when we started this 30 day Nia Challenge ONLINE 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 8 months! (including my Mum!) and new participants keep joining each month.

Each week enjoy:

• 3 x 60 minute Nia Classes: a “hybrid” 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.

• 1 x 60 minute Nia 5 Stages Classes a special weekly, Saturday 8:45am morning class, that is educational, healing and in preparation for the Public Nia Class that follows at 10am.

New 260 Day Cycle, September 1

In the Galactic, Natural Time, Calendar there are 20 tribes and 13 tones which, combined, give us a cycle of 260 days. Tomorrow, September 1 begins a new cycle of 260 days. Tribe #1 (Red Dragon), Tone #1 (Magnetic) is a super time for new beginnings for looking at what we’d like to birth, renew and possibly even reclaim.

On this special day, we begin a new 30 day Nia challenge, which will include a special daily feature of the affirmation of the day, experience a joyful 30 day journey of dance, inspiration, education and connection with the natural time calendar.

Feel free to invite friends and family by sharing this sign up link: https://www.somaranch.com/booking/30-day-nia-challenge-sept-2021

September 1, 2021 is many new beginnings

In Natural Time there are 13 tones and 20 tribes. Starting with Tone 1 and Tribe 1 we rotate through 260 different combinations, finishing with Tone 13 and Tribe 20.

September 1, 2021 is the beginning of a 260 day cycle and we have some great new beginnings happening.

Kin 1: Red Magnetic Dragon

I Unify in order to Nurture
Attracting Being
I seal the Input of Birth
With the Magnetic tone of Purpose
I am guided by my own power doubled

for more information about the Galactic Calendar visit www.13moon.com

Lovely to be back from Rancho La Puerta after an amazing 2 week retreat relaxing and sharing the Joys of Nia.

I enjoyed the first week with my daughter, Liliana and the 2nd week with my husband, Joe.

September 1 is many new beginnings.

1. 30 day Nia Challenge (with daily Natural Time affirmations)

2. Nia Brown Belt ONLINE

3. Nia Blue Belt ONLINE

4. Nia Green Belt ONLINE

September 9 - 13, we celebrate Soma Ranch's 11th birthday with a Nia 5 stages retreat and training.

"All About Music" with the Coaching Collective 13 week series begins September 13.

In PERSON trainings at Soma include

1. October Nia Blue Belt

2. November Nia Green Belt

3. Mystic Meditation Weekend Retreat

4. 7 day retreat for Nia Black Belts

Here's all the direct links:

1. 30 day Nia Challenge https://www.somaranch.com/booking/30-day-nia-challenge-sept-2021

2. Nia Brown Belt ONLINE https://www.somaranch.com/trainings/nia-training-online-sept-brown-belt

3. Nia Blue Belt ONLINE https://www.somaranch.com/trainings/nia-training-online-sept-blue-belt

4. Nia Green Belt ONLINE https://www.somaranch.com/trainings/nia-training-online-sept-green-belt

Soma Ranch's 11th birthday with a Nia 5 stages retreat and training https://www.somaranch.com/events/nia-5-stages-retreat

"All About Music" with the Coaching Collective 13 week series begins September 13. Register at www.jillfactor.com/event

In PERSON trainings at Soma include

1. October Nia Blue Belt https://www.somaranch.com/trainings/nia-blue-belt-october

2. November Nia Green Belt https://www.somaranch.com/trainings/nia-green-belt-nov

3. Mystic Meditation Weekend Retreat https://www.somaranch.com/events/come-home-to-mystical-body-retreat

4. 7 day retreat for Nia Black Belts https://www.somaranch.com/events/nia-retreat-black-belt-coaching

Visit www.somaranch.com for more info on what's coming up at the ranch.

and click https://www.somaranch.com/subscribe to join our newsletter.

Love

Helen & Joe

Original, Adapt or Create

Original or Adapted is your choice for 10am Nia with Helen tomorrow (Saturday). Click www.facebook.com/groups/helenterry to vote and to find the link for class.

Here I share a little more about the 3 main different Nia Routines (Original, Adapted and Created) and how the process of creating the Nia Experience Enigma came about. Now you get to choose to experience (original) the original moves to original music or (adapted) the original moves to new music. Which do you prefer?

We Are Resilient

Recently Nia International invited us to collaborate and celebrate with Nia teachers and students all around the world to co-create a celebration of our individual and collective RESILIENCE! When asked what location best represents where you are in the world? The Soma Ranch pool came high on the list, as did "dancing with horses and donkeys". Here's Helen sharing how she adapted the choreography from Song 8, “Can’t Help Myself” from the new Nia routine RESILIENCE, in to the water.

Funny... i find horses are like children, after Roger and Zephyr had been incredibly cool with choreography and clicks, as soon as we began to record, they danced to a different drum! The song gets cut off a little early when Zephyr decides he really wants to be upfront and center!

1st Monday Cuppa Gathering

Yes! 1st Monday” connection was WONDERFUL today. New comers Payton, Ana and Becca joined regular attendees Kay, Cathey, Chris, Kelly, Cynthia, Hananda and welcome back Lola. Thank you Cathey for bringing yummy fruit and cheese snacks.

Every month, on the first Monday, we meet up after 10am Nia class to connect, enjoy a cuppa and have a grand time.

Coffee, tea, kombucha, snacks and time to hang, get to know each other better, help and support.

This is one of our community events where all and any donations go towards St Jude, our “Soma Selected” charity of choice. Our goal this year is to raise $4040. Today we raised $34.

We have a great time listening to each other’s thoughts on

• how we love Nia,

• our desire for all our friends to come and

• the challenges we have with regards how to describe Nia to people.

Our conclusion, bring them to 1st Monday Cuppa!!

Consider enjoying a “triple play” with

• 8:45am YogaFaith

• 10:00am Nia

• 11:00am 1st Monday Cuppa

The NEXT 1st Monday Cuppa is a tad early on August 29. Celebrating Helen’s return, school’s back in and traveling folks are back. (no class the following Monday, Sept 6 - Labor Day)

Happy August

Wow! what an amazing time we are having at Soma Ranch. Our Day Out of Time celebration was special and meaningful. Recent AirBNB guests have been wonderful, enjoying the ranch to the full while respecting the space and leaving 5 star reviews. And graduating a full house of Nia White Belts felt SO GOOD!!

Classes at Soma Ranch continue to grow. Today we had 20+ folks in class (singing, laughing, dancing) and many stayed for our “1st Monday Cuppa” gathering. (We raised $34 for our annual fund raiser St Jude). There’s lots of great stuff coming up (both In Person and ONLINE), now’s the time to register. Especially as Helen will be in Mexico August 14 - 28 at Rancho La Puerta Wellness Resort and Spa. (want to come?)

Here’s a summary of upcoming events at Soma Ranch with more details included below.

Nia ONLINE courses begin September 1.

Nia 5 Stages training and retreat is Sept 9 - 13

Nia In PERSON Trainings are filling up (Nia Blue Oct 6-12, Nia Green Nov 3 - 8 )

Nia Retreats are happening with 5 Stages, FW Urban Yoga/Nia, Come Home to Mystical Body + Retreat for Nia Black Belts.

Hope you are stepping into August with something joyful in your heart and something to “tickle your toes” (help you giggle) …

Love

Helen + Joe

ONLINE Nia Trainings

The ONLINE Nia courses are receiving RAVE reviews. In the comfort of your own home:

• Enjoy the ease and pace course (2 hours a week)

• Relax with the supporting ONLINE portal (podcasts, downloads, daily Nia classes)

• Benefit from deep enriched embodiment of the course (7 days to digest each principle)

• Adapt according to your schedule (All calls are recorded)

• Wear PJs to class! (toothbrushing optional LOL)

• No travel, accommodation and extra meal expenses

• Receive a complimentary IN-PERSON training at Soma Ranch

Nia Brown Belt | Wednesdays 9 - 11am Sept 1

https://onlinetraining.nianow.com/courses/nia-brown-belt-with-helen-terry-09-01-21

Nia Green Belt | Wednesdays 12 - 2pm Sept 1

https://onlinetraining.nianow.com/courses/nia-green-belt-with-helenterry-09-01-21

Nia Blue Belt | Wednesdays 3 - 5pm Sept 1

https://onlinetraining.nianow.com/courses/nia-blue-belt-with-helenterry-09-01-21

Nia White Belt |Wednesdays 11am-1pm, Jan 19

Nia Green Belt | Wednesdays 2 - 4pm Jan 19

Nia Blue Belt | Wednesdays 5 - 7pm, Jan 19

Nia 5 Stages | Wednesdays 3 - 5pm April 13

Nia Brown Belt |Wednesdays 11am-1pm, Sep 7

Nia Blue Belt | Wednesdays 2 - 4pm Sep 7

Nia Green Belt | Wednesdays 5 - 7pm, Sep 7

ONLINE classes this morning

Good morning! today we move 8:45am Nia 5 Stages and 10:00am Nia classic (Central Time).

Our focus for both classes are spirals in time. How the spiral are part of organic growth in humans and almost all organic things! How, rather than straight, our bones curve and there is a spiraling action in most bones. We also delve into sensing our spiraling forearms (the ulna and radius) and how even our energy centers (Chakras) spiral along the spine.

Both classes are ONLINE and available through 24 hour replay. (We have a private weekend booking at Soma) visit www.facebook.com/groups/helenterry for links (or email helen@somaranch.com)

ZOOM LINKS for classes at www.facebook.com/groups/helenterry

CLASSIC NIA: 10am Saturday, Monday, Thursday

NIA 5 STAGES: 8:45am Saturday

24 HOUR REPLAY

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

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

  CLASS RATES

  $15 drop in

  $65 for 5 classes

  $120 for 10 classes

  $499 for unlimited classes for a year.

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 ;-)

We are community

Through “Fro-vid” (Massive Freeze and Covid19) our community has been consistent, caring and creative!

Participants coming IN PERSON to Nia classes at Soma Ranch continued to attend and many even financially continued to support our small family business, when we had to close for a couple of months. Amazingly classes have not only sustained, in the last 2 months, we’ve even increased our numbers close to double, with double digits and sometimes more than 20 participants in the studio for 10am Monday and Thursday Classes.

Participants ONLINE have developed and built over these past months into a wonderful supportive community. How special to be able to connect with movers and groovers from all over the world. The 30 day challenge is now in it’s 7th Month and continues to grow. Welcome new 30 day challengers, Charlotte, Lourdes and Cami for joining our group.

Thank you to EVERYBODY (ONLINE and IN PERSON) for your patience with the juggle to find a balanced, harmonious way to blend these 2 groups of participants into a HYBRID Class.

Through the Spaghetti of Wires, the hours of ONLINE twiddling and the occasional malfunction, all y’all have been caring, considerate and reDonkeyLously supportive!! This last week feels like we’ve turned a corner.

• Celebrating the SOLD out Nia White Belt with 12 residential guests staying at Soma Ranch for 7 days.

• September 1, Nia ONLINE 16 week courses (Blue, Brown) and 12 week Green filling up

• Nia Blue Belt October now at 50% compacity

• Enjoying the connection from all the corners of the world with LIVE trainees coming from all the corners of the USA and LIVE Participants coming from all the corners of Houston/Montgomery County and even Cut-N-Shoot (yes - there is a town with this name!)

• New participants joining us both ONLINE and IN PERSON

• Participants bringing friends, sharing the joy

• Participants signing up for the year of unlimited classes (Nia, YogaFaith and often BOTH!)

• Thank you folks for coming to visit from Houston (Megan, Cambrey, Sarah, MaryScott, Susan, Sarah)

• Thank you Jody for spending a couple of days dancing, swimming and enjoying Soma.

We have much to be grateful for and appreciate how y’all have all contributed to this renewed sense of hope. Thank you

Love

Helen, Joe, Phelps Horses Roger + Zepher and all the Donkeys ;-)

5 Star Review July

Thank you Schumake family for being the “worlds best guests” at Soma Ranch. You truly embody everything we dream of in our perfect AirBNB guests. You took care of the property, followed the directions/rules, left the place immaculate and clean, were wonderful communicators, shared the joys you were experiencing and left us a RAVING 5 star review. wow!! We hope you can return soon and often.

“We had such a lovely time! Thank you for your generous hospitality! LOVE The Schumakers”

Thank you for being part of Soma Ranch dreams come true, we love to serve and share this special place with you.

If you are interested in becoming an AirBNB host let us know if/how we can help. After 10 years we still LOVE being in partnership with AirBNB and have met some fabulous people in the process. hi

Use this link to receive $25 from AirBNB. www.airbnb.com/r/hterry1

1st Monday Cuppa

Yes! 1st Monday” connection is ON next week.

Every month, on the first Monday, we meet up after 10am Nia class to connect, enjoy a cuppa and have a grand time.

Coffee, tea, kombucha, snacks and time to hang, get to know each other better, help and support.

This is one of our community events where all and any donations go towards St Jude, our “Soma Selected” charity of choice. Our goal this year is to raise $4040.

We have a great time listening to each other’s thoughts on

• how we love Nia,

• our desire for all our friends to come and

• the challenges we have with regards how to describe Nia to people.

Our conclusion, bring them to 1st Monday Cuppa!!

Consider enjoying a “triple play” with

• 8:45am YogaFaith

• 10:00am Nia

• 11:00am 1st Monday Cuppa