CLASSES: Belly Dance & Qigong

Belly Dance Classes:

Movement Medicine for the Feminine

 

 

Cultivate your feminine mystery and mystique with this ancient women’s dance form from the Middle East!

Belly dance is more than just exercise for your body. It increases grace, strength, flexibility, balance, and burns calories. But even more importantly, it is a way to nourish and develop your whole self, connecting you to your body, your emotions, and your feeling of confidence and personal power.

Private lessons are also available.

 

 

Alchemical Belly Dance Class –

In Person

Energy flow, body bliss, and healing meet in this magical blend of belly dance, qigong, and the elements of nature.

  • Saturdays, 11 AM – 12 PM at Little Bear Spiritual Wellness Center 1350 Paseo del Pueblo Sur Taos, NM 87571
  • 6-Week Class Series: April 13 – May 18, 2024. $99 for the 6 week series. Cash preferred please.
  • Complete class information here.

If you have questions about belly dance class, check out the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’S) page.

Write to me at annyaish(at)Annya-Ishtara-dance(dot)com to be notified of upcoming classes. *Be sure to fill in the appropriate punctuation in the email address. Or sign up for my email list on the Contact page to receive email notification about the next class series.

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.

Luz Sweet

Taos, NM

I have been taking Annya’s wonderful online belly dancing classes for the last 8 weeks from all the way across the world in Singapore. The classes really make me happy, as I get to learn and practice belly dancing from the comfort of my home with Annya, who is a patient, talented, and just wonderful teacher.

Annya teaches belly dancing in easily digestible steps, and she is very encouraging for beginners like me. I also love the follow up videos that she sends after the class. They are a great recap and practice, if we like to do some additional belly dancing in between classes.

Annya is light hearted and also humorous in the way she teaches, and it is a joy to participate in her classes. Thank you, Annya, for bringing your classes online!!

Claudia Al-Bala'a

Singapore

I love belly dancing because it feels so sensuous to make those moves. Dancing is keeping my body, mind and spirit healthy.

Andrea

Taos, NM

For me, the way you explained a dance movement taking place inside the body with energy flowing, as well as muscle response to that energy, and the mind “seeing” or directing the intent of that movement, really made sense. I felt I was internalizing something instead of just trying to copy or mimic you. It made for a deeper learning experience. I also wanted to say the age range of dancers (teens to 60’s) and their skills (beginning to advanced) says a lot about your talent as an instructor. I also thought the prices of your dance classes, zill classes, and hip scarves were very affordable.

Janet Herring

Angel Fire, NM

I love Annya’s belly dance class! I feel that I can move much more fluidly and easily than when I started 6 months ago, and my stamina has definitely improved.

Carolyn

Taos, NM

Learning belly dance with Annya Ishtara has made disciplined muscle toning fun and inspirational, and as well, has helped me find great joy in the embodiment of the feminine through graceful rhythmic movement. Annya is a highly skilled dancer and teacher!

Julia Ruth Claus, LMT

Taos, NM

Women’s Qigong Classes:

Self-Care with Energy

 

 

So why do I offer special qigong classes just for women?

Most qigong is taught in ways that work better for men because this is what most teachers were taught. However, not only do women and men have different bodies, but we have different chi, or life force energy, needs.

In women’s qigong classes, we focus on building yin energy in ways that are particularly nurturing to women’s bodies. As women, we become healthy through nurturing our life force energy slowly and gradually, rather than depleting our female essence through pushing or forcing in the name of health, as so often happens in Western health modalities for women.

Although this work is gentle, it has a powerful effect on your health and an amazing ability to connect you with your body.

Benefits of Qigong

Qigong is ancient energy practices from China that were developed to help people have optimal health and strength and to bring emotional and spiritual balance to their lives. The word “Qigong” means  “To cultivate life force energy.”
 
While this sounds woo woo to many westerners, qigong is scientifically proven to:
  • increase energy
  • heal adrenal fatigue
  • lower blood pressure
  • normalize heart rate
  • improve balance
  • improve bone density
  • reduce pain
  • reduce anxiety and stress
  • enhance immune function
  • the CDC endorses qigong for the prevention of Covid
  • according to the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, qigong is also useful for the treatment and rehabilitation of Covid
  • and much more!

Transformative Qigong for Women –

Live Online Class

Start your day with gentle, nourishing energy practices so you can move throughout the rest of your day feeling grounded, alert, embodied, and connected to yourself. If you are tired of pushing yourself in the name of being healthy (without getting positive results), this class might be a good fit for you!

Next session: April, 2024. 

Details and sign up here: https://annya-ishtara-dance.com/transformative-qigong/

Request to be on my email list to be notified about upcoming classes by emailing me at annyaish(at)Annya-Ishtara-dance(dot)com. ** Be sure to fill in the appropriate punctuation to make this a working email.** Or sign up for my email newsletter on the Contact page.

Introduction to Women’s Qigong Self-Study Course

Learn 5 short qigong routines which apply fundamental concepts of Chinese medicine that are related to women’s health. If you want to understand why qigong works and learn some short qigong practice sequences, this course might be for you.

Course details and purchasing information here.

For more qigong classes that you can do on your own time, see Self Study.

 

I just finished the Deeper Dive Qigong class you sent to me (Mother’s Day gift to myself for sure). It confirmed for me how valuable this practice and your guidance have been for me in the last weeks.
 
You are a gentle, clear communicator and a thoughtful listener. I look forward to the continuing classes, as I integrate qigong more and more into my body and my life (and all else that those words don’t encompass!)
Susan Powers

Maryland

I have been taking qigong classes, workshops, and doing qigong meditation with Annya for several years. I always feel so much better after doing it. I am able to move stagnant energy through and out of my body, which helps me feel more like myself again. Her qigong classes also help me feel more present in my lower body. I highly recommend Annya as a teacher, as well as qigong as a way to restore well being.

Deborah Hopper

Taos, NM

In October I went to a free Qigong intro presented by Annya at the Taos food Co-op. I enjoyed it so much that I joined a weekly class for women. I was so inspired that I asked if she would offer a qigong class at my studio. I find many beautiful overlays with the Feldenkrais Method, and I sense Annya’s extensive training and artistic skill in belly dancing informs her teaching on a deep level. I am looking forward to continued learning.

Prisca Winslow, Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner

Taos, NM

A deeply empowering class: Annya’s ability to transmit living cellular female wisdom is a healing in itself. Where each woman takes it is up to her.

Ona

Taos, NM