By Terez Hartmann
Why seeking fun NOW can lead to WOW!
The dance begins…I have known myself for a very long time—as a matter of fact, I would dare say for all my whole life. Yet it is amazing that even after being so very well acquainted with ME, I continue to discover desired “destinations” that I did not even know were on my map!
I have been a fan of the art of belly dance/Middle Eastern/Oriental dance for a long time, and I even tried to squeeze in a few classes over the years but, due to my increasingly busy schedule, it became a challenge to attend them with any consistency. Even being VERY green and still at the beginner stage, I felt a strong resonance with these classes, but I knew that “to everything there is a season” and that this was not that time.
Fast forward to spring of 2011…
No matter how busy I became, a part of me longed to get back into studying belly dance, so around the beginning of 2011 I resolved to give myself the gift of attending a class on a regular basis—even if only once or twice a month. I kept my eyes open for listings, but at first the times and locations were just not harmonizing with my schedule. In April of 2011, however, I discovered a brand new class that was happening at a time that WAS doable. It was only 15 minutes from my home, and that seemed to call me with such power that I could not register fast enough!
Fired up and excited, I arrived early and enjoyed a fun conversation with my fellow newbie student while we waited for our teacher. In walked our instructor, who definitely had the look and vibe of a multicultural European and, after speaking with her only briefly, I already had the sense that we were in for a great time with a happy, like-minded spirit!
As the class began, I felt my body adjust and acclimate to these oriental-style moves, and immediately was both challenged and enamored by her beautiful music and choreography. About half way through the class, my fellow classmate decided that she would return another time when she felt more up for the adventure, which then left me as the sole student for the rest of the class. When Sanda AKA “Sandy” started the next song, I felt a shift and a sense of connection that was nothing short of magical! As we danced together, something amazing came over me, as if my body started moving completely on its own! Before I knew it, there were points where we were perfectly in synch, as if we had danced together a million times! I left that class with a feeling of awe, the beginnings of a fabulous friendship with one of my now “soul sistuhs,” and a knowing that I had discovered something very special, indeed!
Dancing with Inspired Action
In the late spring/early summer of 2014, an interesting idea occurred to me while on my way to Sandy’s class: I started recalling my days as a fitness instructor/personal trainer and thought, “It could be really fun to teach fitness classes again somehow—even if just on a part-time/sub basis.” This was odd, considering that my schedule was as full as ever, and it had been many, many years since I had even considered that idea. As I walked into the room and shared my greetings, Sandy began to tell us that due to teaching overseas for the next two or so months and not having anyone available to sub for her, all of her classes would be cancelled until she returned in July. At that moment, my mouth opened, and before I even had a chance to process the words I would speak I offered to fill in for her while she was gone. She loved the idea, did a run-through of some of her choreography with me, and two weeks later I was now stepping into the role of fitness instructor and teaching a form of dance that only three years earlier was virtually brand new to me!
As I practiced and prepared, I started to feel a wave of joy that only grew stronger with each song, and when it came time to teach I left that first class with a fire and passion that was so deep and intense that it truly took me by surprise! I knew I really liked to dance, and certainly enjoyed teaching fitness classes all those years ago, but I had no idea that I would love this combination of belly dance and fitness THIS much. I was floored. I had fallen madly in love and I knew that somehow I would have to allow the time to be able to continue doing this. Add to this the notion that I could also be a part of helping one of my best friends expand her unique and fabulous brand while Allowing HER and MY continued success, and there was no question in my mind: I WOULD find the time and this WAS happening…
…And as if by magic, I was soon approached by the owner of a local studio, asking if I would be interested in teaching classes!
Fast forward to October, 2014: Since offering to sub for Sandy in late May, I now teach Belly Core Fitness* classes on a regular basis, will soon be co-hosting our first “official” event on November 21st, and will even be participating in the filming of a promotional video! Who knew that following inspired action all those years ago and since could lead this?
The Bottom Line on Allowing YOUR Success: When a “Side Road” Becomes a Destination
While I am proud of what has transpired and how well these classes harmonize with my existing brand and life, the point in sharing my little story is this: Keep your mind and heart open and remember that no matter what “destination” you may have in mind, allow time to have fun along the way. Success (AKA “Joy”) is something you can only ever experience NOW, so enjoying today and seeking fun NOW truly can lead to WOW! And, like me, you never know when a side road just may lead to exactly where you REALLY want to be!
Perhaps there is something to the idea of enjoying the journey, after all?
“What if you let yourself dance, let yourself groove, let yourself do, whatever you want to do?”
From “Let Yourself” ©2014
*For more info about Sanda “Sandy” Kruger’s Belly Core Fitness and to stay in the loop of upcoming classes and events, visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/bellycorefitness.
Terez Hartman is the author of Allowing Your Success!, a professional Keynote Speaker/Workshop Facilitator, Singer-Songwriter/Recording Artist, “Allowing Adventures!” & “Savor Vacation” Facilitator, true Renaissance Woman and Visionary. She has spent the majority of her life consciously working with the Law of Attraction and “Allowing,” and owes her many years of ever-increasing professional success, constant flow of creativity, vibrant health, many extraordinary adventures, amazing relationships with positive-minded, “cream-of-the-crop” human beings and—what she feels to be her greatest allowing achievement—her extraordinary “soul-mate” marriage, to truly practicing what she teaches in her writings, presentations, adventures and music. Visit: www.AllowingYourSuccess.com or www.AllowingAdventures.com