Journal

In this time of required social distancing, we need our online communities more than ever! That’s why I’m joining you live weekly to connect, share stories of inspiration and explore concrete ways to find grounding, meaning and even joy in these strange times.

Science and positive psychology has proven that what we focus on we increase in our life… so why not focus on the positive? When we change our expectations to appreciation and gratitude, everything changes. And even better, focusing on feelings of gratitude often doesn’t leave room for negativity in our lives.

Today we explore: Gratitude journaling This week we are changing things a bit and I am giving you an assignment! Let’s take our newfound happiness knowledge and put it into practice by keeping a gratitude journal. Every day or so for the next month I invite you to write a short list of gratitudes down on paper – you can even share them here if you’d like! (I’d LOVE that!) Watch as your focus shifts from that which is missing in your life to the abundance of blessings that you have – large and small. Let’s rise up in gratitude together!

And then, because moving our bodies every day is so very important, we will end with a dance lesson to help you move your way through fear and sadness into a place of joy!

Join me weekly for a dose of inspiration and dance. Tuesday @ 2pm CST on Instagram Saturday @ 7pm CST on Facebook @SahiraBellyDances Schedule subject to change. Follow me on these platforms for the most up to date information.

** recorded from Facebook live on May 8, 2020

In this time of required social distancing, we need our online communities more than ever! That’s why I’m joining you live weekly to connect, share stories of inspiration and explore concrete ways to find grounding, meaning and even joy in these strange times.

We have all heard of the “silver lining” that every dark cloud supposedly has. This is the ray of hope, or the flip side of the coin … something positive to focus on that can keep us moving through the storm.

Today we explore: Finding your silver lining. I will share a few things that have become my silver lining in the quarantine cloud and then I will go on to share stories from my students and my followers in hopes to inspire you to discover a silver lining (or two) of your own.

And then, because moving our bodies every day is so very important, we will end with a finger cymbal lesson to help you move your way through fear and sadness into a place of joy!

Join me weekly for a dose of inspiration and dance. Tuesday @ 2pm CST on Instagram Saturday @ 7pm CST on Facebook @SahiraBellyDances Schedule subject to change. Follow me on these platforms for the most up to date information.

** recorded from Instagram live on May 5, 2020

Today by request I am bringing you a fabulous new acapella finger cymbal pattern!

This riff is an excellent way to work your zill technique through a variety of sounds, hand patterns and funky rhythm changes…all while creating your own finger cymbal solo!

In today’s riff we will be using the following sounds:

the Basic, the Clack, the Tick – https://youtu.be/5blbtE5VVAI

and the Frill – https://youtu.be/sCHW8qOmMgo

You will learn about the differences between a triplet and a gallop (yes, they are two different things!) and we will put together a super cool zill composition using all of these ideas!

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Like it, love it, want more of it? Learn to rock your zills like the zillstar you are meant to be! Sahira offers an online subscription to a constantly growing library of finger cymbal content, much of which cannot be found here on YouTube. Take your zilling to the next level and check it out! http://SahiraBellyDances.Teachable.com/p/more-zillicious-zills

It’s time to drill!

Did you know that movement and dance is not only good for your health, but it’s good for your mood as well?

Let’s talk math and level up your belly dance technique while breaking a sweat (and a smile!).

In this video, I will take you through the details of a well-crafted 3/4 shimmy, the difference between a 3/4 and a triplet (and why that may have messed you up in the past) and how to actually make a true 3/4 shimmy happen cleanly and with control. We will practice and drill the movement slowly, eventually ramping up the speed to work our muscles and our stamina. Are you ready to sweat? Let’s dance!

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Like it, love it, want more of it? This class is from my full online Shimmy Intensive Course – learn more exciting shimmies and take your moves to the next level with me here! http://SahiraBellyDances.Teachable.com/p/shimmy

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A huge thank you to the amazing Lauren Checchio for the use of her music for this drill. You can purchase the entire awesome album here: https://laurenchecchio.bandcamp.com/releases

Have you heard of the Frill?

The fabulous zill sound was brought to my attention by the amazing Lauren Checchio, a percussionist and instructor from Austin, Texas. She just also happens to be one of my finger cymbal inspirations!

The frill is a fun and creative way to play a four-stroke pattern on your zills, either slow or fast like a flip. In this video I will take you through a step by step breakdown of how you play it and then we’ll put together a funky pattern you can use to practice and play it!

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Like it, love it, want more of it? Learn to rock your zills like the zillstar you are meant to be!

I offer an online subscription to a constantly growing library of finger cymbal content, much of which cannot be found here on YouTube.

Take your zilling to the next level and check it out! The Finger Cymbal Revolution

It’s time to drill!

Did you know that movement and dance is not only good for your health, but it’s good for your mood as well?

Let’s level up your belly dance technique while breaking a sweat (and a smile!) with this drill from my full online course “Killer Driller”.

Today let’s explore the beauty of the dégagé . A dégagé is a movement of the leg off the floor with a pointed foot and straight leg to the front, side or back. It’s a wonderful workout of the entire leg and helps improve balance to boot.

Are you ready to sweat? Let’s drill!

Like it, love it, want more of it? Get more great drills online at http://SahiraBellyDances.Teachable.com

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A huge thank you to Bahaia for the use of her music for this drill.

You can purchase the entire awesome album at : https://amzn.to/2W3ZxQr

In this time of required social distancing, we need our online communities more than ever! That’s why I’m joining you live weekly to connect, share stories of inspiration and explore concrete ways to find grounding, meaning and even joy in these strange times.

With all the pandemic news and disruptions to life happening right now it’s easy to find ourselves in a constant place of negativity. And because our thoughts color our perception and even direct our life experience is so very important to have a strategy to handle them.

Today we explore: How to handle negative thoughts

We’ll talk about identifying the thoughts that hold us back, the importance of thinking accurately (not positively) and how we can reduce negativity and anxiety by learning the difference between real and imagined threats and what we can and cannot control.

And then, because moving our bodies every day is so very important, we will end with a shimmy lesson to help you move your way through fear and sadness into a place of joy!

Join me weekly for a dose of inspiration and dance.

Tuesday @ 2pm CST on Instagram

Saturday @ 7pm CST on Facebook

@SahiraBellyDances Schedule subject to change.

Follow me on these platforms for the most up to date information.

** recorded from Facebook live on April 18, 2020

In this time of required social distancing, we need our online communities more than ever!

That’s why I’m joining you live weekly to connect, share stories of inspiration and explore concrete ways to find grounding, meaning and even joy in these strange times.

As we move through a disrupted normal and the schedule of our days may be difficult to nail down, it’s incredibly important for us to continue to devote time to the things that have deep meaning for us and bring us joy.

Today we explore: The importance of your morning routine.

We’ll talk about your morning routine before COVID-19, your morning routine now, and what your optimal morning routine for daily success might look like.

And then, because moving our bodies every day is so very important, we will end with a shimmy lesson to help you move your way through fear and sadness into a place of joy!

Join me weekly for a dose of inspiration and dance.

Tuesday @ 2pm CST on Instagram

Saturday @ 7pm CST on Facebook

@SahiraBellyDances

Schedule subject to change. Follow me on these platforms for the most up to date information.

** recorded from Instagram live on April 14, 2020

In this time of required social distancing, we need our online communities more than ever!

That’s why I’m joining you live weekly to connect, share stories of inspiration and explore concrete ways to find grounding, meaning and even joy in these strange times.

As we move through a disrupted normal and the schedule of our days may be difficult to nail down, it’s incredibly important for us to continue to devote time to the things that have deep meaning for us and bring us joy.

Today we explore: Do one thing to move the needle forward. (The nitty gritty begins at 5:20)

I will take you through some brainstorming to decide what that thing is for you and why that one thing is so incredibly important. And then, because moving our bodies every day is so very important, we will end with a beautiful belly dance combination to help you move your way through fear and sadness into a place of joy!

Join me weekly for a dose of inspiration and dance.

Tuesday @ 2pm CST on Instagram

Saturday @ 7pm CST on Facebook

@SahiraBellyDances

Schedule subject to change. Follow me on these platforms for the most up to date information.

** recorded from Facebook live on April 11, 2020

A few days ago I reached a new level of worry… the stress of this COVID-19 pandemic coupled with the disruptions to life as I knew and loved it were wearing on me and I didn’t know what to do. I almost jumped in my car and drove away (but quickly realized there was no where I could go). Instead, I found myself alone for a brief moment … and I danced.

After just a little time on the dance floor, my perspective began to change. I realized that I could use this time gifted to me to worry and mourn… or I could decide to make it an opportunity for massive growth and inspiration unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. I chose the latter. And I’d like to invite you to join me.

In this time of increased social distancing, we need our online communities more than ever! So I’m getting online and reaching out to you twice a week for a dose of connection, inspiration, joy and dance!

Tuesdays at 2pm CST Instagram Live | 30 to Thrive

Part pep talk, part check in and (of course!) a bit of dance – join me for #30tothrive on Instagram Live every Tuesday at 2pm CST. We will chat about how we are truly feeling and explore concrete ways to not only survive, but thrive in the current climate. Then I’ll share a little belly dance lesson to help you keep moving through your day. http://www.instagram.com/SahiraBellyDances Saturdays

Saturday Facebook Live and Zoom Dance Party

Our weekly virtual dance party is growing! I have received so much positive feedback from dancers all over the world that I am expanding the party to include a Facebook live broadcast right before we start the dance jam. We are exploring several fabulous ways to infuse your quarantined days with joy and beauty.

To join the live discussion just like my page on Facebook to get the notification each Saturday. http://www.facebook.com/SahiraBellyDances After we inspire our minds we will feed our bodies and jam out for 60 minutes on Zoom.

To get the Zoom link and dance with us, just 1) Create a free account on my Teachable studio http://SahiraBellyDances.Teachable.com and 2) Join my Sahira Belly Dances Teachable Tribe on Facebook. The link to the dance party is posted each week on Saturday morning. https://www.facebook.com/groups/SahiraTeachableTribe/

Now more than ever, we need to reach out and connect with each other. We are in this together and we will dance through it together apart until we can truly be together again.

Stay safe and well my friends,

Sahira