Welcome!
Welcome!
To learn more about me and my work, you can watch the video above. Also check out my About page and Free Stuff page.
Upcoming Events
Alchemical Belly Dance Class – In Person
Gorgeous belly dance moves seamlessly melded with life-affirming chi (life force energy) practices!
- Saturdays, April 12 – May 17, 2025
- at The Karuna Center (Old Shree Yoga studio) 112 Camino de la Placita Taos, NM 87571
- You have the option to try the first class before committing to the 6 week series.
- Complete class information here.
Transformative Qigong for Women – Online Class!
Time tested (1000’s of years!) movement practices for health integrated with ancient women’s wisdom to soothe and nourish your woman’s body and being.
Next series: Dates to be announced.
Details and sign up here: https://annya-ishtara-dance.com/transformative-qigong/
To be notified of upcoming events (including some that don’t make it on to the website), and for occasional free training with me, request to be on my email list by *emailing* me at annyaish(at)Annya-Ishtara-Dance(dot)com. *Super Important!* You must fill in the correct punctuation to make this a working email.
Or sign up for my newsletter on the Contact page.
Self-Study Courses
Want to learn and practice qigong on your own time? Can’t make it at a scheduled live class time? I have on-demand courses on qigong and energy clearing available on the Self Study page so you can take control of your health and well being at your leisure. You have permanent access to these courses upon purchase.
And here’s a FREE guide on How to Make Time To Practice Qigong – Even if You Think You Can’t.
Belly Dance and Qigong: What’s the Connection?
Belly dance, from the Middle East, and qigong, from China, are two ancient traditions from two different cultures, which may, at first glance, seem unrelated.
However, both of them have the power to be very rejuvenating and healing. They both have important internal energetic and external movement components that contribute to greater health and joy.
A number of fundamental belly dance movements naturally enhance the energy flows of the body that we work with in qigong. And some basic belly dance moves are actually qigong practices!
Belly dance and qigong are an exquisite combination of practices for women because they each bring elements to enhance the other. Both movement forms build strength, flexibility, grace, and well-being, as well as mental sharpness. And when these practices are combined, they become even more extraordinary!
Belly dance offers beautiful music, gorgeous costuming, and personal expression, while qigong enhances presence, energy flow, and deep inner power. Together, this is a potent and yummy elixir that makes women happier, healthier, and more connected to themselves.
I wanted to let you know that I am really enjoying your classes. Combining the qigong with the belly dancing is amazing. I have been taking dance classes off and on for almost 20 years, and this is the first one where I feel completely in my body. And I have developed more core strength in the last month than with any other exercise I’ve done. I am very grateful for all that you offer.
So Why Would You Want to Do Belly Dancing?
In short – it’s fun!
And here are a few more reasons why you would want to do belly dance:
- Cultivate your feminine mystery and mystique
- Increase your strength, flexibility, balance, and energy levels
- Feel more connected to your body and to the power of your hips
- Celebrate your womanly curves in a dance form that embraces all body types – including yours!
- Tap into and feel more comfortable with your sensuality
- Dance to beautiful, exotic music while wearing sparkly, jingly costumes in a rejuvenating outlet that is just for you
- Feel like a goddess and increase your confidence
Belly dance also makes you smarter, stronger, and more coordinated!
Click here for class schedule and information.
Annya Ishtara’s veil dance creates beautiful cascades of wafting colors that seem to magically outline the musical contours in real time. She can entice you and your floating fabric friend to soar together in partnership as well. Her veil work is based on breath, fined tuned technique, and a high sense of aesthetics. Her profound body awareness and warm personality give her classes grounding rare in the dance world. Annya is a vibrant, conscientious and kind teacher in person or online.
And What About Qigong?
My Transformative Qigong for Women classes are sacred connection to self and all of life. They are all about chi, or life force energy, because that’s where the juice is! That’s what really makes these practices effective, and often, more enjoyable.
Qigong is a body of ancient practices from China that have been used for thousands of years to increase health and well being, as well as to build internal power, and even attain enlightenment.
I offer qigong classes especially for women in order to focus on the particular needs of women so that women can get optimum benefits from their qigong practice.
Click here for more about qigong classes especially for women.
For most of my life I didn’t have a healthy masculine presence, so I had to be my own man and stifle my feminine side. In fact I came to believe femininity was a weakness to be purged. But that was harming me in the long run. Annya’s classes have been an important tool in reclaiming that side of myself and in healing overall. Now I move in the world differently and I notice men wanting to be “the man” and do nice things for me much more, plus I feel better in my body. I’ve even changed the way I dress. These classes are a great investment.