<![CDATA[NiaMoves

<![CDATA[NiaMoves - Blog]]>Wed, 25 Oct 2023 18:18:43 -0500Weebly<![CDATA[The Game of visibility]]>Wed, 19 Feb 2020 17:08:41 GMThttp://niamoves.com/blog/the-game-of-visibility

How many of you think speaking publicly is kind of scary? Alright. How many of you believe that you would show up more if only it’s fun and easy? Great! Let me tell you why I choose to show up today, with my story on Visibility.

Growing up, my parents liked to say that I am the gutsy little one. And I’ve proved them right. When I was this little, I dared to climb up an open-air Water Tower and shout out into the wind; My name was always on the school’s scholarship boards, and I literally danced and emceed my way through Medicak School. Being in the spotlight was easy, until it was not.

20 years ago, a fellowship opportunity brought me to Houston. When I first saw the intersections of Beltway 8 and I-45, I couldn’t contain my excitement “The Road...is...BIG!” It was then, reality hit. I need to report to work the next day and I couldn’t complete a simple sentence without struggling to find the right words. Suddenly, a surge of uncomfortable sensation traveled through my spine. What have I got myself into? My need for survival was kicked into high gear. The following day, at the round table of my very own welcome luncheon, the only word I said was “No”. The question I was asked? “Would you like to say something to us?” I made up some lame excuses to myself after. No big deal, just a little more practice you will be ok. And I cried through the night.

You could probably guess what happened next. I worked hard, studied hard, played safe, and hid from spotlights. I even changed my name to fit in!

Over the years I’ve accomplished a lot. I have a great career track record, I ran non-profit boards, I bought business and properties, but something still seemed off. Regardless how many credentials are after my name, I knew I wasn’t showing up fully as who I was, the gutsy little china girl.

What I found out eventually, was that, the very sensation that made me felt so small on that “big” Highway, the very same fear led me to that “No” during the luncheon has also been running the themes of my life. It’s called the Fear of not being Good Enough. It’s no longer a language matter, do you see? The coping mechanism has become the very problem to overcome. I was practicing and getting ready, while the show was already ON! How could I be the leading lady of my own life if I continue to hide behind the curtains that lead to the arena?

In 2012, after I graduated from my second master’s degree, I finally decided to face the fear head on. I still vividly remember how I’d sheepishly stepped into the middle of a Yoga Teacher’s Circle, and said “I am loved, I am good enough” over and over until my body starts to believe it. I finally felt liberated from that fear of not being good enough, and stepped into my own power.

Lots of inner work and guidances from some of the world’s best teachers and coaches later, I can’t help but wonder how many other career women, minorities, immigrants, aspired entrepreneurs like me are living their white labeled life and not showing up fully because of fear and self-limiting believes. What if, they have the know-hows and opportunities like I received?

I’ve found my calling. Ladies and gents, my name is Angela Mestre, I endorse Visibility through Storytelling and I encourage Personal Branding through Collective Growth. My Vision 2020 is to create stages and hold space for stories and deeper conversations, so that more people can get their long overdue chances to be seen, heard, valued, and appreciated for their extraordinary life.

Because of this vision, suddenly, visibility became a game that I am willing to play full out again:

Facebook Live, Check.
Interview Celebrities in front of hundreds, Check.
Dancing on stage after 20 years of hiding, Check. Still got it!
Speech Competition, Check! And I am just getting started!

You see, I am walking my talk and evolve along with the people I support. Through my brave explorations I’ve met so many powerful leaders and community builders. I can tell you this much, opportunity is everywhere, if only you are willing to show up and step into the spot light! Forget about good enough, just like that little super Mario, you can replay over and over until you get through to the next stage! Visibility is just like that. Let’s have a gutsy play, and score BIG!

Angela Mestre
Studio Owner, Somatic Educator, Resiliency Coach and Goddesspreneur

Connect with me further via Facebook Group @Houston Heart-Centered Entrepreneurs
Join my upcoming masterclasses via entrepreneurmastery.eventbrite.com

]]><![CDATA[A Story to be told on Stage]]>Tue, 17 Dec 2019 20:32:54 GMThttp://niamoves.com/blog/december-17th-2019Good evening Ladies, Gentleman, Divas and Fashionistas! Welcome to the exclusive 2020 SS NewBox Fashion Show!

My name is Angela Mestre, it is a great honor for me and Studio NiaMoves to have the opportunity to sponsor this event. If you have heard about how Zee talks about the brand and Planet Z, you will know that New Box, and this show, is her creative expression of a message that is above and beyond the usual “fashion statement”. The clothes were designed to inspire and accompany the unique YOU, and your life explorations as a millennial. You are truly the “one” in the millions.

I was young once, too. And I want to tell you a story around a fashion show I produced years ago. When I was a new Med School teacher, I was put in charge of producing a New Year Concert. These concerts typically showcase the students' talents in singing, dancing, instruments or stand-up comedies. I thought, what could be better than a highlight of the best of the best, runway style!

Lots of preparation went into that idea. I made the call for models, and hand picked a team of freshman students, girls who are just about 20 years old. Together we set the fairy-tale theme, spotted the gowns and accessories we were to rent, created staging props, practiced with bedding sheets and such to get the feeling of the catwalk…all things well dreamed about and figured out.

Finally, the day came. Sitting in my third row seat, my excitement was beyond measure. Music started. It was also my handpicked piece, Boyzone’s remake of a beautiful Irish Folk Song “She Moved Through the Fair”, perfect for the chosen theme. As I watched these gorgeous young ladies walking out in sparkly gowns, one by one like fairies, tears start to come into my eyes. Being a 25 years old myself, it was like witnessing my own wedding, like a fantasy came true.

And then, after about 20 seconds, the music stopped suddenly. The girls looked at each other and the thousands of audiences for a few seconds, and eventually awkwardly went off stage. My tears of excitement quickly became the tears of disappointment. What just happened? It was supposed to be perfect!

Troubleshooting took a while, as it turned out, the cassette tape had jammed in the boom box, probably because we rehearsed too much with it! Do any of the millennial here know what a cassette tape is? Lo and behold, the stage director made a decision to move on to the next program. That 20 seconds was it. All those efforts and hopes and dreams were now gone with the wind. Can you imagine how I felt when hearing this news? I started to sob, then cry out loud in front of my teachers, and fellow students. At age 25, I cried out loud like a kid lost her favorite toy, or, a bride’s wedding got crushed.

Eventually, I guess to calm me down, the show was put on again. I hold my breathes as I watched the ladies walked the runway one after another, until the end. It was a success! My tears came out again, but this time, the tears of joy.

I've not cried that much ever or since. I was always the big sister, the tough one, the one with straight head screwed on her shoulder. There can’t be more of an embarrassing thing than crying out loud in front of thousands of my students. Honestly, to this day, I still feel somewhat embarrassed to share the story. I couldn’t quite get why all the emotion up and downs.

To some extend, I was even intentionally skipping this part of my memory until Zee offered me to open the show for her, and all of a sudden, I understood. I was not just crying out loud for a failed project. At a point of extreme disappointment, I was brave enough to embarrass myself in front of thousands, to fight for the chance for my aspired fantasy, and fight for a chance for the girls to showcase their best selves to the world. This is what Zee and her team prepared months for you, unfolding tonight, and knock on wood, there will be no technical difficulties! Zero, Nada!

Fashion is a universal language which allows constructing and deconstructing our identities, to play whatever role we want by shaping our look to show certain attitudes or values, or aspired fantasies. Tonight, when you watch the models demoing the pieces, don’t see them as a walking cloth hanger. Instead, first and foremost see them embodying the design, a walking piece of art, and an extension of Zee's artistic expressions.

Zee designed every single one of these items you’ll see tonight. I also witnessed her spent days and nights fitted and stitched with the models, and I saw how much her love, passion and purpose are creatively expressed in these pieces. This is not just your mama’s typical cookie cutter fashion show, this is an art revolution representing the millennial generation. See yourself in these designs, and find opportunities to carry out your inspirations into the real world. It’s a fashion statement, and it’s a fashion state of mind. Millennial, or not, if you get what I am laying down, say yeah!

Lastly, I want to make a call out. I hope that Zee and NewBox keep on being brave with her messages and her designs, and you dare to dress to the ninth in whatever way you like to, regardless of any given resistance, and showcasing the truly unique YOU to the world. For, that’s what I have cried out loud for, in that auditorium years ago.

Without further ado, please join me in welcoming Zee, designer and creative director of the show on the stage!

(Applause)]]><![CDATA[The Mask you LiVE IN]]>Wed, 24 Apr 2019 00:05:37 GMThttp://niamoves.com/blog/the-mask-you-live-inby Frank Zendejas

“I had no idea!” Those were the words that rang true for me as I watched Brene’ Brown’s TED talks about shame and vulnerability. I watched her videos on YouTube at the recommendation of my therapist who earlier that afternoon shared “Frank, yes you’re a molestation victim. And, there's been a lifelong impact. What you’re suffering from is Shame Trauma.”

“Shame Trauma?” I repeated out load with the obvious tone that I had no idea what that was or meant. I followed up my massive dose of Brene' Brown TED talk videos ordering every book, CD, and DVD that I could find on Amazon.
My intense and purposeful therapy and education on Shame Trauma got started. Twenty months later, my therapist and I sat in her office, looking at each other, and arrived at the obvious conclusion that this was it. Today was my last session. I had traveled the path, learned, put into practice, shared, and triumphed through my Shame Trauma.

I learned to put into action the commitment, dedication, work, and pursuit of becoming an integrated man. This meant developing the emotional intimacy that granted me emotional vocabulary. This meant facing my griefs, losses, and past hurts to resolve them -- to become emotionally complete. This meant stepping away from the hustles of what “success” use to mean to me and live from a state of vulnerability, boldness, and wholeheartedness. This meant clarity and purpose. This meant dedicating myself to helping others achieve their personal life integration.

This is reflected in my dedication as a Life Coach and in my daily declarations:

“I, Frank, see, hear, feel, and know that my purpose is to lead my life, to be complete, and wholehearted. That I AM a vessel of the Divine’s energy and in beautiful, bold, nurturing service to myself and others every day of my life.”

]]><![CDATA[YOUR PLAYFUL EXPLORATION AWAITS]]>Sat, 06 Apr 2019 04:49:31 GMThttp://niamoves.com/blog/your-playful-exploration-awaits

by Angela Mestre

Are you treating your body like a living, breathing altar?

As an advocate of honoring the body’s way, I've always loved the analogy of treating the body like an altar (or temple, as someone else once suggested). After all, our bodies are the place where the human and the divine collaborate in creating magical experiences. This was my thought process, until recently.

After some contemplation and consideration, now I beg to differ. Honoring something as 'sacred' could lead to inadvertent disconnection. For example, assuming you have some sort of sacred altar or space in your home, how often do you dust it? Once a month, maybe? Do you actually see, feel, and touch every corner of it regularly? Do you see, feel, and touch every item contained within? Or do you simply worship the space and its contents from afar?
What if, instead of considering our bodies as sacred, we treated our bodies like playgrounds?

Nowadays, I'm more in tune with the idea that the body’s wisdom comes from, and grows via, playful exploration rather than worship. If we choose to, we can move the body’s way, sensing balance and stability while exploring our limits and edges through play. The body may say 'no' to certain things, sometimes in a loud and clear way. This might be because the body is resistant to change and fears the unfamiliar. Or this may be the body choosing to shut down as a mechanism of primitive reactions and protections.

Another possibility is that the body may have been compromised for so long that the body's actual structures and textures were altered. Maybe to accommodate prolonged exhaustion, dehydration, or misuse. Therefore, it has reached a point when 'enough is enough.'

If you accept 'no' as the answer from your body repeatedly, you might end up being like the story of the monkey sitting in a cage. The monkey yearns for the freedom of the outside but no longer attempts to try the door because it has been disappointed so many times. Unbeknownst to the monkey, the door has been secretly unlocked for some time. If the monkey doesn’t try its escape attempt again, it will die not knowing that the ban on its freedom had been lifted. You and the monkey have every right to be free.
How can you discover your body’s potential?

One breath at a time. If you'll hear me out, here's my advice: Give yourself permission to get out of linear routines. Whenever you can, diversify your movement choices and explore spiral movements. Buti Yoga and Nia are perfect classes for this opportunity. As well, give yourself permission to explore your anatomical limitations and find wiggle room around the edges of your perceived limitations.

I also advocate allowing yourself to be a weirdo in your workout classes. In your next class, you might try going for the extra levels, in a safe way. Or, in a spirit of playfulness and when appropriate, outdo the instructor. And you might explore what your body is telling you today, that’s different than what it said yesterday.

Soon, you might see your body as a giant lion awakening to your teases. Amidst the 'no's, you may just get a growling, laughing 'YES'! And remember to appreciate any and all new discoveries, like an old dog appreciates learning new tricks.

One last thought, for this already lengthy post. Just as altars require upkeep, so do playgrounds! This is where serious self-care becomes important. After body exploration (even though workouts can be considered self care too), your work doesn’t end there. After classes, I alternate between salt baths, reflexology, massages, and nail/hair/skin appointments. I try to do something different every time. There will be a balance point that will satisfy YOU.

Do you buy into this concept of treating your body like a playground rather than a sacred altar?

If so, how are you playing with your body-of-a-playground that makes you feel exhilarated, alive, and free? I'd love to hear your feedback and comments on how you perceive your body and how you work with that perception to achieve your health and wellness goals. Thanks for listening to my ramblings. Now, go! Play on!

]]><![CDATA[Dance as 3D Therapy]]>Fri, 07 Dec 2018 22:18:41 GMThttp://niamoves.com/blog/dance-as-3d-therapy

Writer: Jody T. Morse

“Embodying something assures that what you receive is understood in your body, mind, emotions, and spirit.” - Debbie Rosas, Co-Creator of The Nia Technique

Seated on the couch, I ran my fingers gently over the cool, maroon leather and inhaled the calming scents of lavender and vanilla. Tears spilled over eyelids and down my cheeks as I gushed to my therapist, “I feel so lost. Like I can’t connect. Something’s missing in my life.”

Her initial response was like a soft blanket. “Okay. Good realization, Jody. What else?”

“I don’t know. I can’t figure it out. I’m stuck.” More tears flowed, my shoulders sank.

Her subsequent response held a bit more force and weight as she more pointedly probed. “What have you given up over the past few years? Is it a person, place, or thing?”

As I closed my eyes and relaxed into the moment, the answer became perfectly and instantly clear. What I had lost, what I had given up, what I was missing—was dance.

Three years prior to this particular crisis-intervention, my husband and I had bought an incredible 18-acre ranch in the heart of the Sam Houston National Forest, about an hour and a half northeast of downtown Houston. In doing so, much was gained—privacy, communing with nature, space to have horses and expand our dog rescue efforts. But, as well, I had retired from my 25-year careers in dance and fitness. While I’d replaced the creative outlet by launching a career in freelance writing and publishing, this new venture only seemed to be serving my mind and heart; my body had been forgotten, no longer being adequately attending to and encouraged to connect.

In the session with my beloved therapist, Dawn, I realized that dance is a 3D therapy—serving and accessing mind, heart, and body; writing was only collaborating with two of the three precious entities. Writing, as much as I loved it, couldn’t replace dance. I needed to find a way back to dancing.

Four days after that fateful therapy session, I sat in my favorite Houston coffee shop, EQ Heights, chatting with the current owner of a dance and fitness studio where I’d previously been an instructor. Angela and I chinwagged for almost three hours. With open arms and warm enthusiasm, she welcomed me back into the Studio NiaMoves family. I finally had a plan and a path toward finding my way back to my dance-fitness roots.

Fast forward to today. There are a few classes on the studio’s schedule that I lead and a handful of others I attend regularly. While I am shedding some of the physical weight gained over my three-year hiatus and feeling stronger every day, the most significant change has been in my overall connection to self and others. Days are brighter and better when I have dance—and particularly, a dance-fitness class called Nia—in my life.

There’s an old adage about not knowing what’s missing until it’s gone. I’m so grateful to have figured out what was missing and committed to never letting it go again. Thank goodness for doors that can be reopened, hearts that can be mended, and dances still left to dance.

Author Bio:
Jody T. Morse is a dance-fitness instructor at Studio NiaMoves in Houston. In addition, she is a freelance writer and book publisher. Jody has been a student and teacher of Nia and dance-fitness classes for over two decades. Visit Niamoves.com or Facebook (@StudioNiaMoves) for more about the classes she teaches.

]]><![CDATA[“Dare to Dance” Dances on!]]>Wed, 17 Jan 2018 05:46:08 GMThttp://niamoves.com/blog/dare-to-dance-dances-on

Last July, I became one of the teachers at Studio NiaMoves leading Nia and hooping classes on a trial basis to teens from The Center for Success and Independence (TCSI) . The center offers adolescent trauma therapy and treatment for teen substance abuse and co-occuring mental health issues.

Happily, that initiative has blossomed from a trial into a full partnership with plans to continue providing classes to teenaged girls at the studio. Put another way, dance has become a regular part of therapy available to the center’s teen residents!

Dubbed “Dare to Dream, Dare to Dance,” the studio/center partnership means TCSI youth may enjoy classes at the studio 3 to 4 times per month. It’s yet another example of how Studio NiaMoves encourages people to tap into their inner wisdom, strength and resiliency.

As a teacher, I am proud the program has proven to be sustainable, and apparently so is TCSI co-founder and director Marylou Erbland.

“We’re excited the partnership will continue and see it as a good thing,” she said. “The physical and emotional effects of Nia and hooping compliment regular counseling sessions for the girls in our care and benefit their overall recovery.”

That’s not all. Erbland says she’s witnessed several notable shifts in girls who attend weekly sessions at NiaMoves.

“They experience a clear sense of accomplishment for being able to do something they thought they couldn’t,” Erbland said. “We’ve seen other teens recognize and step into leadership roles, modeling positive behaviors for their peers to follow.”

Body image is often a stumbling block for adolescent girls, and my fellow teachers and I encourage students to appreciate their bodies without judgement. Cambrey Lindsay and Amy Thorpe lead Nia classes for the TCSI teens, while Tambrey Webb steps in with hooping.

Got plans for February 10? Let’s dress up and head to Bejeweled, TCSI’s annual fundraising gala. Proceeds will support scholarships for teens who depend on the services TCSI provides. A portion of the proceeds will help fuel programs such as “Dare to Dream, Dare to Dance,” meaning TCSI youth may continue coming to the studio for healing movement.

Bejeweled promises fun, food, drink, dancing, auctions, and the chance to win tickets to the smash hit Hamilton! Tickets to Bejeweled are now on sale.

When we support the important work of TCSI and the Nia studio’s mission, we help teens dance their way onto a future path of success!

Yvonne Myles
Black Belt Nia Teacher
SuryaSoul Soma Teacher

]]><![CDATA[Press Release: Oneness Mural Joins Houston’s Street Arts-scape]]>Thu, 11 Jan 2018 05:40:23 GMThttp://niamoves.com/blog/press-release-oneness-mural-joins-houstons-street-arts-scape

Social media enthusiasts looking for that next great photo can thank Hurricane Harvey for the city’s newest artistic landmark. Today, Studio NiaMoves, an eclectic Heights area fitness and dance studio, announced its contribution to Houston street art culture with an electrifying elephant mural on its large east-facing wall at 508 Pecore St.

The project was completed in collaboration with Houston-based visual artist Emily Ding, whose previous work debuted during the 2017 Houston Urban Experience Mural Festival. Ding frequently releases new work at Hope Outdoor Gallery in Austin, as well as mural festivals across the nation.

Following on the heels of Hurricane Harvey, the idea for the newest mural crystalized when the studio offered dozens of complimentary classes, kids camps, and workshops for people needing stress relief.
“I wanted a visual way to highlight the studio's devotion to helping people live a harmonious life by tapping into their inner wisdom, strength and resiliency,” said studio owner Angela Mestre. “The elephant seemed the perfect symbol.”

Titled “Oneness”, the image depicts two elephants intertwined at the trunk. Known for living in harmony with their surroundings and for their immense intelligence, elephants in some cultures are revered for bringing luck and wisdom.

Even the studio’s search for an artist ties back to the hurricane. Mestre found Ding putting final touches on "The Birds Always Come Back," Ding’s 2017 Hue Mural Festival entry. Located near 2000 Lyons across from St. Arnold’s Brewery, the “Birds” painting was inspired by stories of Harvey survivors who dream of better times to come.

In Oneness, the ears of two elephants give the illusion of a single heart and head symbolizing peace, love and unity. With its natural textures, vibrant colors and translucent shading, “Oneness” stands ready made for pictures, already beckoning city explorers.

For more on the artist and the location, follow @mleeding and @NiaMoves. Use hashtags #MuralOfOneness and #ElephantWall for social media posts.

Additional information:
Studio NiaMoves (www.niamoves.com) is an eclectic fitness and dance studio at 508 Pecore in the Heights offering weekly classes in Nia, Yoga, Belly dance, Pilates, Zumba, Pound, Body of Movement, African dance and the Bollywood style workout Doonya, as well as monthly sessions in SuryaSoul, a conscious embodied dance experience, Trance Dance and 5Rhythms. Additionally, the 2,000 square-foot studio is home to a variety of wellness workshops and events.

El Gato Cat Cottage (www.elgatocoffeehouse.com) is adjacent to Studio NiaMoves. As Houston’s first cat cafe, El Gato offers adoption-ready cats in a feline-friendly, cafe-like environment.

For more information, contact
Yvonne Myles, Director of Communications
Email: Yvonne@Niamoves.com

]]><![CDATA[Press Release: Elephant Mural Coming to Studio NiaMoves]]>Tue, 09 Jan 2018 22:51:39 GMThttp://niamoves.com/blog/press-release-new-muralHave you noticed the vibrant murals and street art that adorn our city? Traffic boxes and brick walls are transformed into beautiful canvases for expression and imagination, becoming part of H-town culture. I am excited to announce Studio NiaMoves will contribute its own mural to our city’s colorful and electrifying art scene! Read more...

Our Nia community has invested its own energy into partially funding the long awaited mural which will take shape beginning Dec. 31. The mural design has been a dream of mine for the last several months, but finally took shape when I found the artist Emily while exploring the latest additions to Houston’s mural landscape during the 2017 Mural Festival.

NiaMoves Mural design - the Elephant
Half of the world’s populations venerate the elephant as a symbol of luck, wisdom and great intelligence. The Elephant is a majestic figure of great size living in harmony with its surroundings. Nowadays it is even used on various coats of arms and crests as a symbol of strength and resilience.

In the sketch that Emily created the ears of two elephants form the shape of a heart, giving the illusion of a single heart and one head, in turn symbolizing peace, love, and oneness. It takes a great talent to interpret an idea to this level of perfection. You can imagine how thrilled I was when I saw the sketch!

Emily is the co-creator behind the famous "The Birds Always Come Back," a mural inspired by stories of Hurricane Harvey survivors. In her depiction, a girl clasps her hair to her face with eyes and lips closed, as if she'll never find her happiness again. But there's a light at the end of the tunnel, and the birds eventually return. And happiness comes back too. Hearing Emily explain how she came up with the theme was a treat itself.

In the days following Hurricane Harvey we offered complimentary classes to help people cope with the aftermath of the storm. All of our regular class offerings and events are devoted to helping people tap into their inner wisdom, strength and resiliency to live a harmonious life.

The work for our mural at Studio NiaMoves is scheduled to begin December 31 and will take about a week or so to complete. During this time, the seven parking spots adjacent to the wall will be unavailable.

Give yourself a few extra minutes when arriving for classes and events to find parking. Use street parking whenever possible. Stop by for a quick chat with our talented artist Emily and watch this beautiful mural unfold in front of your eyes. You can also follow the progress online at @mleeding, @niamoves and #elephantwall. Once it is completed, bring your family, friends and neighbors by to take a photo!

I appreciate the investment to the mural fund by everyone who danced and contributed to the Nia Jams to raise seed money for the project. We are in this together. With the mural on the way, it’s going to be an EPIC start to 2018.

Angela Mestre
Studio NiaMoves owner]]>