I’m in New York, and I’ve decided to stay a bit longer than planned, as I will be leading a Nia White Belt Training in New Jersey with Caroline Kohles later this week.
In the mean time, I’ve been celebrating life with my husband Jeff, his daughter and his daughter’s boyfriend who recently experienced a heart attack (and he’s a med student)! That’ll stress you out. Thank god he knew the signs and was able to get the hospital to listen to him. Wow!
Part of the celebration and reason for the flowers is that it was my 13th anniversary being with Jeff–-our 13th anniversary. In many ways, it really feels that way. All that we’ve been through as people, parents, lovers, business partners, and just human beings on the road of life has been amazing. It’s been good, bad, pleasurable and excruciating, such is marriage and life when you’re committed to being in it. And I am. We are.
One day I counted up the number of complaints, the stuff we as a couple deal with on a daily basis, that affect us. We counted more than 60. I closed the computer and said, “We have to shift something.” Don’t get me wrong, I know it’s our job as leaders and owners of Nia to listen and hold space, but sometimes it’s too much. I’ve decided to take a time out on our anniversary and for Jeff’s upcoming birthday. So I’m going to ask for positive, loving emails. You missed our anniversary, but I’d love some love on Jeff’s special day (April 25th). Love is the only answer!
I invite you to listen to the message of one of the most powerful women I know: Mama Gena! She’s changing my life and I want you to get a taste of what I experienced this past weekend in New York while exploring the idea of finding power and beauty in our dark sides. Listen and learn by registering for Mama Gena’s tele-class, “Do You Love Your Dark Side?” Get inspired, educated and motivated because now is the time for every woman to step into her greatness.
What: A tele-class with Mama Gena
When: Wednesday, April 25th at 12 PM EST
On Tuesday, April 10th, from 12:00-12:30 PM PST, I will be a speaker for The Inspiring Women Summit 2012, a free, virtual event you can be a part of from the comfort of your living room.
This amazing, online gathering runs from April 9-15th and features 30 of the world’s most inspiring, transformational women leaders—including Marianne Williamson, Lisa Nichols, Lynne Twist, Barbara Marx Hubbard and Gabrielle Bernstein. The remarkable women presenting at the Summit have helped thousands of women around the world awaken to their most authentic, powerful, feminine selves—so they can begin leading the way, in partnership with men, to a sustainable, healthy, just and prosperous world for all.
I am presenting A Woman’s Journey–-An Incredible Body of Work, which represents the culmination of my life experiences, professional work, personal practice and commitment to the evolution of the feminine spirit of all women.
This work reflects my journey and my life as a woman, which has evolved by me researching what it means to live in my body—a woman’s body. This has been a journey of healing my body and self, of transforming my thoughts and beliefs, of building a business and life by integrating all parts me to discover a personal and professional philosophy I live by and stand for. It is the journey of an artist, writer, poet, intuit, healer, wife, mother, and yes, woman. It’s a journey that reflects my struggle as a young girl––plagued by illness that affected my senses––who had to figure out how to “fit in” to a narrowly defined learning system while she struggled with dyslexia, the inability to read, and a severe lisp. I thought I was stupid until I found the wisdom and voice of my body: sensation. I then realized that healing my body and self was not only necessary for my survival, but also for my spiritual development and for the development of all women.
Over the course of my call, you will discover personal answers to questions like:
Get ready to build an unshakeable foundation for realizing your dreams and goals. Learn how to recognize and claim the “bigger picture” of your life. Begin to identify the steps you need to take to manifest your vision for yourself and the world.
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I often share how blessed I feel to be living a life fulfilled, doing what I love—teaching and sharing Nia. Sometimes I am given the gift of receiving the bounty of my creativity and passion in a unique way. Last night was one of those nights. I was asked to participate in Renee Tillotsen’s Still and Moving Center’s one-year birthday celebration in Hawaii. Renee’s dream, an international movement center, is one of the most beautiful facilities I have ever been in. It reflects a part of Nia’s philosophy, rooted in White Belt Principle 5 (Awareness) that defines the Nia lifestyle of dancing through life. It really taps into one of our concepts, Life As Art, the practice of perceiving life as art, meaning you, your body, your house… everything.
[Winalee Zeeb, Renee Tillotsen and Caroline Kohles]
Renee has manifested an amazing piece of art. Her life, business, relationships… they are Life As Art. I can tell you Hawaii will never be the same. From the Mango floors to the international programming to the body work to the sacred altar in the dance space, it is not only a visual feast, but also a sheer divine delight for all the senses.
I was lucky enough to be part of the birthday celebration last night. It was an evening filled with recognizing the many movement forms we can use to get healthy and well, such as Aerial Yoga, Taiko Drumming, Aikido, Yoga and Hula. Throw in some Hawaiian songs, poetry and several sacred prayers embracing the uniqueness of Hindu, Buddhist and Hawaiian practices, and you’ll start to get an idea of what we did. Then top it off with Nia.
I ended the evening bringing everyone “into” their bodies by reading The Voice of Breath, poetry I use to connect us all to one source. I then brought us all “into” sensation by moving energy through the palms. Lastly, I brought everyone onto the dance floor to discover how–-like all of the performers we witnessed–-we too are masters. We each have a divine form: a body that moves in its own way. Everyone concluded the evening laughing, then moving into upright positions in a circle while holding hands. I then asked Renee to come into the center of the circle where we all honored her vision, her sacred livelihood, and her life as art!
I have a few more days here in this amazing space, with these amazing collaborators before I come home and get ready to go to Esalen in Northern California to co-create The Body’s Way Workshop with Karri Winn. I’ll also be visiting Marin County, the birthplace of Nia, to guest teach at Move Me Studio, a new studio created by Sarah Caveney. Stepping into the dreams of others is so much fun!
I am excited to invite you to join me for a once-in-a-lifetime experience: “Maya 2012: Transformation at the Source” — an international conference and global gathering at Chichen-Itza on December 13-22, 2012. When I was invited to be one of the presenters with Power Place Tours, I jumped at the opportunity. They are the best when it comes to group tours to sacred sites. With so much to share, I asked Teri Weiss from Power Place Tours to speak with me about this amazing trip. You can listen to our call here. I also asked Eden Sky, an authority on the Mayan Calendar, to share her wisdom about this fast-approaching, most amazing and transformative time for humanity. So where will you be to celebrate? I hope you decide to join me, Jeff and other like-minds who will come together. Learn more and then reserve your spot.
Photo credit: Kyle Simourd