Happy Friday!
This week, as I listen to the rain on our tin roof, I’m reminded of my Nia White Belt in Portland 30 years ago. Little did I know then, what a ride I, and my family, would go on for the past 3 decades. The summary is these 30 years have been a true team effort with the Terry family, our parents and some amazing key friends along the way.
I got married (to Joe Terry) to stay in the country to take the Nia White Belt (fortunately that worked out beyond expectations). I began teaching Nia at St Luke’s hospital, Texas Medical Center, Houston, within a week of graduating from the course.
My “step in the door” opportunity, providing 2 programs (2 classes for cardiac rehab patients and 2 classes for staff and nurses) soon evolved into being offered a full time position as an exercise physiologist in Non Invasive Cardiology. I then was invited to spearhead a “limber for life” revolutionary community mind-body lifestyle outreach program for seniors, had a baby, got promoted then, due to a curious most bizarre technicality I could neither accept my new job nor retain my previous one. I was out of a job. Now I look back on this (like several other unique turns on my life path) with humor and deep appreciation.
I started teaching at the Downtown YMCA and built the program up to teaching 9 classes a week, expanded to additional classes at Fitness Exchange, Several Dancers Core, Motherhood Center, St Andrew’s Church and several others. Then subleased the Fitness Exchange Aerobics Room, moved away from YMCA and merged all classes to under one roof. Built the program to be able to take on a full lease of the facility then, when the owner died and the new owner gave 7 days notice, I moved to the 3rd floor of the same building to co-share a studio with the Houston #%$@&* Meditation Center. Another “scratch your head - soap opera” thing happened and our NiaMoves business was homeless for about 6 months, back to subleasing 6+ locations a week, at random days and times.
Fellow Nia teacher Kristie Bryant saved the day when she asked to come into business partnership with me, find a new location and incorporate the business. We leased space on Houston Avenue for a few years, then bought property, Joe came to the rescue with his carpentry skills and we created a studio on Pecore. Meanwhile Helen and Joe bought a ranch and co-created Soma Ranch retreat center. Kristie and Helen then sold the NiaMoves property and business. Kristie and family relocated to Austin, Helen and Joe moved to Montgomery.
During these twists and turns Joe quit his full time job as a general manager of Cafe Adobe restaurant and became full time “at home Dad”. He took care of “all things home” while I managed the studio and began to travel extensively as a Nia Teacher Trainer. Our daughter flipped from private to public to private and back to public school, before graduating with honors, and accepting a place at University of Texas in for a BA in Radio Television and Film. Liliana then flipped, somewhere in the middle, moved to Computer Science, and graduated with 2 degrees, BA in Linguistics and BS Computer Science. She now lives in Seattle with her husband Carter, where they both work for Facebook.
If you’ve made it this far congratulations! as you can see we the Terry family have twisted, turned, weaved, pivoted, been dropped and many other things. We’ve danced through all these ups and downs, navigated several set backs and have managed to creative a fabulous life full of laughs, joy and love.
This Saturday Helen is celebrating 30 years of Teaching at the 8:45am Nia 5 Stages Psoas and Sound and 10am ENIGMA Experience. We’d LOVE for you to join us whether it be in person at Soma Ranch, ONLINE via zoom or via the 24 Hour Replay.
Click here for details and full schedule for December Saturday Classes. Special Guest teacher, Kellie Chambers is leading NEXT Saturday’s classes with Resonance FreeDance. Finally Helen will be leading the last Saturday class of the year.
Now is a great time to Enrollment for Retreats in 2024 and/or trainings with Helen . And, if you are looking at making a charitable donation before the end of the year, please consider our annual St Jude Fundraiser.
Be well, with love from
Helen, Joe, the team and all the fond 4 legged friends at Soma. And here’s some photos from Soma this week.
