Moving with Grace, Passion, and The Art of Change

Becoming a whole human being in body, mind, emotions, and spirit isa messy, miraculous, and on-going process. It takes a bit of grace tostep into opportunities for personal development. A woman I didn’t knownamed Grace actually led me to one of my own personal developmentopportunities when she invited me to a Nia class. That invitationchanged my life forever. I am now inexorably linked with the power ofNia.

In 1996 I was looking for something new in my life, something thatwould give me a richer, deeper and more empowered way of living. Graceinvited me to attend a Nia class with Holly Curtis at the studio calledNiaSpace in Austin, Texas. I went to the class expecting to see Grace.She never showed up. She was simply an angel of grace who led me there.

I didn’t fall in love with Nia my first time. I was more in my headthan my body at that time and I was filled with thoughts. “What is thisplace?” “Who are these people, and why are they shouting, ‘YES!’ and‘NO!’ ?” “Do I belong here?” I left my first Nia class feeling unsureabout whether I would return. Thankfully, the grace of curiosity guidedme back a few days later.

In the next class, I felt different. We danced and moved through theroom, sometimes making sounds, and at one point we all stood in acircle. I stood next to Holly, and this time I looked at her, I reallylooked at her, and I thought, “I do not know what Nia is, but if thispassionate, sensual, articulate, integrated and grounded person doesNia, there must be something to it.” As I moved in class, my mindrelaxed, my body came more alive with every shimmy, hip-bump, sound,and move to the World beat music that filled the room. I had foundpassion in my body, and I was hooked!

I took my White Belt six months after I began Nia classes and foundwhat I was looking for–a life practice rooted in Joy andself-discovery. Even though I was a dancer, I had never wanted to teachdance, and yet with Nia, I saw how accessible this form is to so manypeople, and that inspired me to share it.

What I didn’t know was how sharing Nia would enhance everything inmy life–my art, my friendships, my energy level, and my dream of aradiant and truly ecstatic way of living.

As a dancer and performance artist, I had never before been able toblend my vocation with my avocation. Nia offered me a way to do this. Ihave had so many different kinds of jobs to support my desire to livewith art. I’ve been a waitress, cook, insurance claims examiner, EMT,just to name a few. Through it all, I always danced, moved, and madeart, but until I found Nia I had never seen a way to be paid for what Ido best, and Nia offered me this.

I began teaching three months after doing my White Belt. I startedteaching at NiaSpace and World Gym in Austin. In my first class, I hadone student. She left halfway through the class. In my second class, Ihad two students. – One left halfway through the class. I didn’t takeit personally, and I kept going. I kept teaching, getting morestudents, and gaining knowledge by going through the Nia Belts. Fouryears later, I completed my Nia Black Belt and I began living my lifein a different way – as Living Art. In 2001 grace moved through my lifeagain, and I was invited to become a Nia Trainer.

As a Nia Trainer I have the opportunity to share and practice theart of change. I myself change with each training that I lead, and Ihelp ignite the dreams of the attendees who desire to change themselvesand the world we live in. As Nia practitioners, we are in the businessof changing lives; and we begin with self. When I look at the vast bodyof work that has been co-created for us to use and share, myinspiration is high and my gratitude is immense.

Through Nia I have learned that the most important thing that I cando with this work is to bring people together. I moved my practice andmy life from Austin TX, to Portland, OR to work as Operations Managerand Studio Director. I work with the founders of Nia, Debbie and Carlosand the entire staff of the Nia Technique Headquarters office.Everything I have ever done has prepared me for what I have been calledhere to do.

Grace brought me to Nia, and Nia called me to support her people ina bigger way than I ever dreamed. I came into the Nia world as askeptic. Sometimes the hardest skeptics become the truest believers,and this is what occurred for me. I have aligned my body and my lifewith the spirit of Nia. Nia called me to be where I am now and isleading me to my highest self and my deepest gifts.