Rock Stars for February

We have started something very special; An evolution from a me to a we!

In Helen Terry’s 30 years of teaching and training, the 30 day challenge program has been the most successful program she’s ever offered. With a wonderful growing community blossoming, including about 50% Nia teachers being part of the group, this experience has been a nourishing, inspirational BLAST.

After sharing the 30 day challengesanch.com/booking/nia-challenge solo for about 730 days (365 days x 2!) we have expanded into a "WE" with fabulous rock start Nia Teachers and Special Saturday Guest Master teachers.

Would you like to join us? only $99 for a February? or $949 for the rest of the year? We'd love you to join us.

You'll receive lots of support, encouragement, tips, entertainment, ideas about creating routines, sustaining the focus, structuring a class and manifesting community.

Several Nia Belts chimed in to give you a "hands on" reference about what the possibilities are for your investment. Feel free to email helen@somaranch.com or text/call 832-567-4550 if you have more questions.

“This is such a fun way to learn more about Nia or simply enjoy classes, whether you are a Student or Teacher. 52 Moves, Nia Principles, 5 Stages, adapting choreography.. lots of variety! Weekly Feldenkrais with Irene Pasternack is an added bonus. Having the opportunity to take classes with the ‘Rock Stars’ & Guest Teachers this month has further deepened my learning & enjoyment. Thank you Helen Terry for continuing to create & inspire 💖er ”

— Jane Francis

“This is one of my “favourite things” as I reflect on my 2022 year of movement and activities! Thank you Helen Terry - for the opportunity to join this beautiful community! 💖”

— Elaine Dunphy

“I love being part of this community and am very much looking forward to my third year of participation. Being able to learn from my master trainer Helen Terry is a gift that keeps on giving to my life. I am excited for the offerings coming in 2023! Congratulations to the Rock Stars stepping in. What a blessing to be on your teaching journey!”

— Tamara Sanderson

“This is so exciting! I’ve been participating in the 30 day challenge since March and it has taken my personal NIA practice and teaching to a whole new level. Taking classes with Helen Terry has inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and play with greater creativity with my teaching. Committing to almost daily NIA classes has been a game-changer for my physical, mental and emotional health. And now I am honored, excited and deeply moved to be part of this teaching team. It still feels a little surreal! We’d love to have you join us for this joy ride! 💗”

— Natasha Villeneuve

Here's links and more information:

30 day challenge

https://www.somaranch.com/booking/nia-challenge

365 day challenge

https://www.somaranch.com/booking/365-day-challenge

The Soma Village is rocking

https://www.somaranch.com/.../12/16/the-village-is-rocking

Soma Ranch ROCK STAR Teachers (includes video intros of each teachers)

https://www.somaranch.com/news/2022/12/11/soma-rock-stars

Dedicated Student: Nia White Belt after 20 Years

Nia Immersive trainings at Soma Ranch are a wonderful touching way to connect with like minded movers. Now, with the introduction of ONLINE classes, there is a very special opportunity to get to know each other well, before getting together in person at Soma Ranch.

For example, in our recent Nia White Belt training retreat at Soma Ranch, Sarah Geisler, from Santa Fe, New Mexico, attended the training after being a regular ONLINE class attendee via our monthly daily class challenge for 2+ years.

• In 2021 Sarah rose to the occasion with the 365 day challenge.

• Over 2 years, Sarah has attended almost all the classes, mostly live, and when work, family or vacation required her time she has caught up via the 24HR replays.

• Sarah was one of the most regular Nia 5 Stages attendees, she covered ALL the 52 Nia 5 stages lessons (attending 51 live, and the one missed through the 24HR replay recording).

• Sarah has been a Nia student for 20 years. Her joy of finally taking the Nia White Belt was infectious in the most joyful way.

Here’s some beautiful comments and photos shared by fellow Rock Star Teacher, Natasha Villeneuve, (in the photos Sarah is to the right, fellow Rock Star teacher Kelly Marie is in the middle)

“Awesome class today!

No doubt Mr. Bones has witnessed
many moments of special connection.
Here is just one of those many moments
that made me smile big
(even through the recording)!
Yay Sarah Geisler for finally,
yes Finally stepping into WB
after many years of Nia
and for celebrating your amazing journey!
I’m feeling your JOY girl!”

— Natasha Villeneuve, Rock Star Teacher, Ottawa, Canada

Nia 5 Stages Shine Bones

Learn more fascinating things about the body. This week we focus on the Shin Bones. How, as your pillars of support, this wonderful pair of bones, bear weight and provide stability.

When you sign up for a class you are automatically sent the Zoom link for class. The link is the same each week.

Congratulations Nia White Belts

Congratulations Nia White Belts. Wow! What a spectacular week and a wonderful group.

Thank you returning Nia belt participants, Kelly Marie Harris, Gigi Greene, Debra Nagengast, for your cheerful presence, and wonderful support. Guests who have already experience this level of Nia Belt, who choose to return, learn more and go deeper, bring a fabulous extra layer to the training retreat experience, something that benefits everyone on the course (them, the new participants and Helen, as the trainer)

Congratulations Sarah Geisler, from Santa Fe, NM, Daniella Ferrari, from Sedona, AZ, and Nellie Hartsell from Austin, TX (soon moving to Houston full time YAY!) for graduating as Nia White belts

We came, we got to know each other, we danced, we learned, we shared, we ate, we swam (yes! some of us enjoyed the COLD PLUNGE after sauna sessions) we played with donkeys, we fed horses, we laughed, we even fitted in a boat ride on Lake Conroe and then, suddenly we graduated, celebrated and the girls were in the car on their way back to the IAH airport.

Lovely to witness each person’s transformation and delightful how some are already planning and booking their next visit to Soma. We love when the room works so well for a guest they share “I’d like to book NOW so I can guarantee getting “MY ROOM” again next time”

Community Cuppa Thank you

Dear Laura, Lisa, Joy, Emily, Peggy, Nell, Kelly Marie, Marie, Catherine, Chris, Cynthia, Hananda, Michelle, Susan, Janet, 

Thank you for being with us on Monday both for class and community cuppa afterwards - wow! what an amazing group of women y'all are. We feel filled up and inspired and hope you walked away feeling the same.

We raised $22 for St Jude, if you'd like to make a donation ONLINE here's the link:

https://www.somaranch.com/jude

Would you like to come back next Monday for a repeat of Brand New Day and Cuppa!

10am Sat Jan 28, Enlivening, Soulful Hour with Erin

Join Erin Curren, 1st Degree Nia Black Belt Teacher in Maine, over zoom for this enlivening, soulful hour of Classic Nia. We will feature songs from the Nia body of work "Wild" choreographed by Debbie Rosas, as well as songs from Resistance Revival Chorus' debut album "This Joy." We will rock out to this inspiring playlist while focusing on sensing Joyful Life Force through the five sensation of fitness, or FAMSS: Flexibility, Agility, Mobility, Strength, and Stability.

Erin's students exclaim: 

“This is so fun!
My favorite class!
I love sharing this with my 80 year old activist mom!
I love this music!”

— Erin's Students

WHEN: SATURDAY January 28th 10am Central Time (11am Eastern Time)

WHERE: Helen Terry's Soma Ranch Zoom Class Link

HOW MUCH: $15 to drop in, 5 Classes $65, 10 Classes $120

Listen and learn more about Resistance Revival Chorus here: https://www.resistancerevivalchorus.com

Listen to the "Wild" Nia Sounds playlist here: http://niasounds.com/wild

Learn more about Erin here: https://www.erincurren.com

To purchase class ahead of time and receive the link to join live and/or get the recording to practice later, scroll down when you visit: https://www.somaranch.com/regular-classes

Community Fundraiser Events

This Sunday, during our special Nia Week, we are offering an extra class AND a community playshop/class.

• 10am Nia Class. Come enjoy class either online or in person at Soma Ranch.

• 3:45pm PLAYshop. Enjoy Nia on Demand on the big screen, as a community

• 4:45pm Take the class together on the Big Screen

All Sunday events are part of our St Jude Fundraiser. Simply make a donation (cash or online) of any amount and enjoy the class and/or playshop.

Body Awarness: Pain + Pleasure

We'd be thrilled if you'd like to join us ONLINE or IN PERSON at Soma Ranch, this morning to connect with passion, reduce pain, increase enJoyment, with healing, movement and dance.

Today we focus on Body Awareness: Pain + Pleasure with Nia 5 Stages at 8:45am CT and "Passion" Nia class at 10am CT.

• The voice of the body is sensation.

• The voice of pleasure is a sensation that says, “This feels good. Thisfeels better!”

• The voice of pain is a sensation that says, “This doesn’t feel good; Ihave to change what I’m doing.”

Zoom Link is the same as usual, whenever you Sign Up for a class the link is sent to you automatically.

When you sign up for a class you are automatically sent the Zoom link for class. The link is the same each week.

Where to start and how to stop

Hi! Happy Friday, sometimes we’re challenged to know where to start and, with so much happening and going on at Soma Ranch, we can be unsure how to stop! These past couple of weeks have felt like this in a GREAT way.

Joe and I, as co-owners of Soma Ranch, are having a GRAND time. Living here at Soma Ranch has been a challenging transition yet very much worth the shift. We’re loving experiencing more at Soma, less on the road, great simplicity and expanded time = what’s not to love!

We’ve experienced a wonderful beginning to the New Year with bumper classes both online and in person, Dr Deb Kern’s amazing retreat was a big success, we had deep and meaningful Community Cuppa gatherings after class, raised funds for St Jude and yes… I could go on.

Upcoming we have Rock Star and special guests teachers this Saturday, a fabulous Feldenkrais workshop on Sunday and the Nia White Belt begins this coming Thursday (Jan 19). There’s still time to register AND there’s a great bonus of being able to attend the 16 week ONLINE course with Nia Founder Debbie Rosas as well as enjoy the immersive, in person experience with Helen Terry at Soma Ranch.

FYI this photo was taken at the recent Dr Deb Kern retreat. Someone in the group captured a very funny moment, as the guests were sharing gratitude to Joe and Helen on their last night. It's a classic moment where Helen is full of heart, smiling, soaking all love in and Joe (God Bless him) is in the place of "OK.. I won't say it but I do love y'all, and thank you and when can I PLEASE get back into my kitchen" LOL

We feel blessed to be surrounded by wonderful people who genuinely care about life, living, us and Soma Ranch. Guests appear to have a GRAND and HEALING time staying here, which fills us with joy and deep appreciation.

Thank you everyone who’s rumbled over the cattle guard, through the gate, up the road to Soma Ranch.

Congratulations Dr Deb Deep Divers

Congratulations Dr. Deb Kern and all the wonderful “Deep Diving Dancers” who travelled on this deep, meaningful 6 month journey. Deb Kern provided group and individual coaching sessions via zoom with regular check ins. She weaved beautiful experiences and provided 3 retreats at Soma Ranch: The beginning, middle and end of their course.

For more information and to be added to the wait list for the next course visit www.drdebkern.com.

“Thank you Dr. Deb Kern and all the wonderful ladies who joined this amazing 6 month journey. Hosting y’all for 3 retreats: the beginning, middle and end, was a blessing, with many fond memories made.”

— Helen & Joe Terry, Soma Ranch

Nia White Belt Jan 19 - 25

The Nia White Belt training is in transition. Good news is, on this upcoming training only, participants will experience the present Nia White Belt in Person with Helen Terry AND receive a complimentary 2 hours a week for 16 weeks training online, with founder of Nia, Debbie Rosas.

We also have some extra classes including 10am Saturday & Sunday and Soma Faith at 5pm on Sunday.

Hope you can join us for the training, or retake, or enjoy the extra Nia public classes.

Smile Line 30 Min Class with Paul

As part of our 30 day challenge program, Fridays are reserved for Fun, i.e. “Fun Friday’s”. This week Paul Duff led a fabulous 30 minute class that focused on MANY ways of moving and dancing with a smile line, from our hips, through our heart, across our face, through the clock step (hour by hour!). what a blast!

These special 30 minute classes are usually only available to those who sign up for the monthly 30 day program. Today, if you’d like to experience the 24 hour recording of Paul’s class (1) kindly make a $25 donation to St Jude (click the link below). (2) Then email helen@somaranch.com and she’ll send you the recording link.

Here’s a taste of the class.

RECORDING DAY 12

FOCUS: The “Smile Line”

INTENT: To increase ease and joy in the root/base

ROUTINE: GO, BLOOM, 52 Moves

MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/01-13-23-soma-ranch/pl.u-0VeWtYxvyv

TEACHER: Paul Duff

COMMENTS: Class Highlights: Smile Lines Everywhere - Super Basic Intro to Merengue - Air Guitar!

Special Attention To: Alexander Technique, Hip Bumps, Pelvic Circles, Clocks, Traveling in Directions

For more info on Merengue:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merengue_(dance)?wprov=sfti1

https://www.kennedy-center.org/.../fiveish.../latin-dance/

For more info on Alexander Technique:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Technique...

https://www.amsatonline.org/aws/AMSAT/pt/sp/what_is

Kin 240: Yellow Rhythmic Sun

Your Galactic Affirmation is:
I Organize in order to Enlighten
Balancing Life
I seal the Matrix of Universal Fire
With the Rhythmic tone of Equality
I am guided by my own power doubled

Thank you Community Cuppa

This month we met TWICE for Community Cuppa after our 10am Nia class, 2 Mondays in a row.

Thank you everyone who stayed, connected and shared. Wow! what a rich gathering of women. Beautiful shares, fun times, deep meaningful conversations, big giggles, yummy snacks and great prayers.

We raised $50 towards our St Jude Fundraiser. Here’s our total so far!

Rock Star Natasha Villeneuve Sat 8:45am 5 Stages

This Saturday morning we'll be enjoying Rock Star teacher, Natasha Villeneuve. at 8:45am for Nia 5 Stages. Here’s a little about Natasha and what she shared about class.

Zoom Link is the same as usual, whenever you Sign Up for a class the link is sent to you automatically. Hope you can join us on this grounding journey with healing, movement and dance.

Here’s an interview with Natasha a while back. She’s a wonderful “pro” at how to share clearly, from the heart, and the skill to articulate experiences that are difficult to describe.

Oh how I loved Paul Duff's class today. What a treat! Those who missed it, I encourage you to catch the recording and enjoy discovering all your smile lines!

And so I'm up next! I hope you will join me for NIA 5 stages tomorrow (Sat) at 8:45am. The lesson will be focused on feet and ankles. Considering all our feet (and body) do for us, let's take some time to show them some love! I feel this class is a perfect foundation and "warm up" to Martha Randall's Tree of Life class to follow!

“Gosh, I feel like I’ve been invited
to be the opening act
for a famous artist.
What an honour!I ”

— Natasha Villeneuve

I discovered the delightful, fun practice of Nia in 2017 and instantly fell in love with all aspects of it.

My body, mind and spirit had been craving a movement practice that incorporated uplifting music, body connection and awareness, community and dance...and I found it!

As a holistic nutritionist with a passion for health, I truly value the mind-body connection and recognize the critical importance of joyful movement for optimal health and well-being.

In 2019, I decided to leap into an intensive white belt training so that I could explore Nia further and share the benefits of Nia with others. What I experienced during the training was magical. Not only did we move, we also discovered, explored, played, felt, released, and connected. Since the training, I have been practicing Nia regularly and have noticed improvements in my energy, focus, mood, strength, and health. Nia leaves me feeling healthy, centered, grounded and joyful. Nia holistic fitness classes are cardio-dance infused, easy to follow, low impact classes danced barefoot to soulful music and are truly for ANY body! The Nia 5 Stages class is a wonderful healing compliment to the movement/dance Nia Class, a wonderful rich combination of learning more about the body’s way while embodying the experience in an exquisite healing way.

Absolutely everyone is welcome and no dance experience is necessary!

Natasha Villeneuve is a licensed Nia Blue belt Instructor and Holistic Nutritionist.

Connect with Natasha at naturallynatashav@gmail.com

Special Guest Martha Randall Sat 10am Class

This Saturday morning we'll be enjoying special Guest teacher, Martha Randall. Here’s a little about Martha and what she shared about class.

Zoom Link is the same as usual, whenever you Sign Up for a class the link is sent to you automatically. Hope you can join us on this grounding journey with healing, movement and dance.

“Hello all! I’m looking forward to sharing January Joy with you on Saturday morning, January 14th.
I’ll be teaching a routine I call Tree of Life.
Some nice world music and a few,
no doubt, familiar tunes.
We will root to fly!”

— Martha Randall

I live in Toronto with my husband and daughter. I grew up in northern Ontario and came south to study dance at York University in 1975.

I came to movement quickly as a youngster through small town running around, easy access to skiing, skating, swimming, golf, team sports and gymnastics in highschool.

I showed off to my teenage sister’s friends when they played their rock & roll music in the early 60’s, had a year of ballet as an 8 year old, did floor exercise and musicals in highschool. I jumped into the dance program at York U as a total novice and have danced ever since.

I have played in many forms of dance and movement: Gabrielle Roth’s 5 Sacred Rhythms, Yoga, Tai Chi, Clowning, Pilates, Butoh and performance. Watching the physical play of puppies, seals and children has always inspired me!

I began teaching Nia in 1996. One class was all it took to create a resounding ‘Yes!’ in my body/mind/spirit connection and start me on my way to complete the Nia Training curriculum – White, Blue, Brown, Black, Green & 1st Degree Black. I became a White Belt trainer in 2002 and Green Belt trainer in 2009. I continue to be inspired by and dedicated to this practice.

Words, language, creative writing are all very important to me. I have participated in a writing circle for six years and I love the way we use images and poetic ideas to inform our movement in our Nia practice. I am a trained CTI coach where I learned the importance of a thoughtful question.

I speak enough French to get by and am learning Spanish with my husband. My family and I have visited many countries and I love to visit Nia communities across Canada for trainings and workshops.

Tree of Life Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3nKYXY7eifVkRjSELXKpWg?si=1c3a35df8377475a

This playlist was started by a few songs that Angela Williams shared with me when we co-taught here in Toronto when she was on her road trip a few years ago. While dancing it outside I sensed the beauty and resilience of the trees around me and through me, the lyrics of Lily Moon, the power of world music to connect and root to the earth and flow up and out into the world. Classic Nia  moves mingle with the rich rhythms.  I hope you enjoy! xo

Email : martha@martharandall.com

Website: www.martharandall.com

When you sign up for a class you are automatically sent the Zoom link for class. The link is the same each week.

Feldenkrais® Workshop Jan 15

January 15 Feldenkrais® workshop: 12 - 3pm US Central TIME

Get up and down from the floor with ease and joy

It’s a new year, and the world is opening up! Make yourself more nimble so you can respond to the possibilities! We’ll use gentle and playful Feldenkrais® explorations to improve your movement so that your bones support you and you counterbalance yourself to feel graceful and light as a feather as you transition.

As a human with a body of any age, fitness level, or ongoing challenge, you’ll build many skills in addition to getting up and down more comfortably and efficiently:

• Clarifying your mental map of your skeleton so all your movements can incorporate the teamwork and structure that leads to more effortless and pain-free movement.

• Sensing the delicious in your movement, so your brain knows to look for it and create it.

• Using less effort for day-to-day movements so you have more energy to do what you love.

• Having more ideas for what to modify when any movement feels awkward or causes pain.

• Beginning to change your relationship with your chronic challenge spots so they become useful tools for developing habits that serve you better.

As a Nia teacher, you’ll learn nuances and movement principles that not only help you move better

yourself, but also help you build sequences and cue in a way that helps your students learn to move closer to The Body’s Way.

About the workshop

This hybrid workshop can be taken from anywhere via Zoom or in-person at Soma Ranch. Irene will Zoom in and use the creative technology (aka “spaghetti”) at Soma Ranch to appear up on the wall rather than in a tiny Zoom box. She’ll be able to see and interact with everyone whether at the ranch or on Zoom.

About the instructor, Irene Pasternack

Irene is a Feldenkrais Practitioner and Nia Brown Belt from Bellevue, WA, and is a regular teacher in Helen Terry’s 30-day Nia Challenge. She used Feldenkrais to rehabilitate herself from being incapacitated by a herniated disc in her 40s to taking up synchronized ice skating in her 60s. Her passion is sharing these wonderful tools for feeling younger - more comfortable, more physically competent, more energetic, and more able to learn new skills. When not dancing, teaching, or working 1-1 with people, she leads llama backpacking trips, grows huge crops of berries, and helps run her synagogue.

Specials!

• Sign up by Dec 31 st to be entered in a raffle for a free online private session with Irene to work on getting out of pain or improving a skill.

• All participants are eligible for a 20% discount on online private sessions (or for an in-person session on Monday morning February 20th at Soma Ranch)

Blooming to Booming

Our In PERSON classes and ONLINE Nia 30 day Challenge has launched into 2023 like never before. Delighted to have so many folks continue, others return and new folks join. Someone in the group played with this being called the “Regulars, Returns and Rookies”.

Thank you everybody who’s part of this community, and anyone else out there who’s curious you are more than welcome to join us.

Brand New Day 10am Monday

Due to popular request, this coming Monday we are doing a repeat of both the Brand New Day Experience AND Community Cuppa afterwards. We’d love you to join us. Enjoy a fabulous music, movement and magic experience, lead by Helen Terry, and dance to the entire Sting Album “Brand New Day”.

The “BND Event” has become an annual tradition for over 2 decades! And we’d love you to join us. This movement experience is suitable for beginners and people of all different fitness backgrounds.

Celebrate 2022 and also how the end of the year means a NEW BEGINNING. Say Yes! and move into 2023 in an invigorating, encouraging and inspiring way.

The experience is HYBRID = 3 great choices:

1. Attend the class at Soma Ranch in person

2. Join us online via Zoom and/or

3. Enjoy a 24 hour replay

Usual Class Rates apply: Drop in for $15, buy a class pass or consider signing up for the January Challenge and receive the class as part of your package!

FOCUS FOR CLASS:

Seamless Continuity ~ sense connection from move to move and song to song.

INTENT:

Your body will feel incredible; a mix of having had a great workout combined with the sense of relaxation gained from a healing massage.

“Sting’s BND got a make over like no other when the Nia muse ,Helen Terry, uses it to inspire our body ,mind and spirit to kick off the new year in High gear😍❤️🥳🎊”

— Megan Freemantle, Houston Grand Opera

“I can’t imagine starting my year without the Brand New Day experience with Helen Terry. I love this tradition and bringing friends”

— Peggy Renfroe, Nia Black Belt Instructor

When you sign up for a class you are automatically sent the Zoom link for class. The link is the same each week.

Community Cuppa

Dear Laura, Lisa, Joy, Emily, Peggy, Nell, Kelly Marie, Marie, Catherine, Chris, Cynthia, Hananda, Michelle, Susan, Janet, 

Thank you for being with us on Monday both for class and community cuppa afterwards - wow! what an amazing group of women y'all are. We feel filled up and inspired and hope you walked away feeling the same.

We raised $22 for St Jude, if you'd like to make a donation ONLINE here's the link:

https://www.somaranch.com/jude

Would you like to come back next Monday for a repeat of Brand New Day and Cuppa!

Look Inward | Shine Light Outward

This Saturday morning we'll be "Looking Inward” with the intent to Shine Joy + Light Outward

Several participants asked if we could experience the Chakra Crystal Bowl Nia 5 Stages class again. Yes! why not begin the year as we ended the last, with healing energy and light. The 10am class compliments the theme of looking inwards to shine outwards with the movement experience to the album The Mask and Mirror by Loreena McKennitt.

Zoom Link is the same as usual, whenever you Sign Up for a class the link is sent to you automatically.

Hope you can join us on this journey with healing, movement and dance.

“Stars were falling deep in the darkness
As prayers rose softly, petals at dawn
And as I listened, your voice seemed so clear
So calmly you were calling your god
Somewhere the sun rose, o’er dunes in the desert
Such was the stillness, I ne’er felt before
Was this the question, pulling, pulling, pulling you
In your heart, in your soul, did you find rest there?
Elsewhere a snowfall, the first in the winter
Covered the ground as the bells filled the air
You in your robes sang, calling, calling, calling him
In your heart, in your soul, did you find peace there?”

— FULL CIRCLE, Loreena McKennitt

When you sign up for a class you are automatically sent the Zoom link for class. The link is the same each week.