From the participants...

Seeing the lights from my various chakras during our week of Nia in San Ramon was new for me.
It was an outward manifestation of the feelings I was having of peace, love, connection with
nature and with the wonderful women in our group. Kate brought abundant energy, love and
exhilaration to every class. I have never had so many chill bumps in one week!
Lonna Harkrader

* * * * *
To celebrate our being in a country that has been through so much and has so little leads to a
deep sense of humility and the wish to share more with  others.
Elizabeth Anderson

* * * * *
Nia has become somewhat of an addiction for me ~ I try to go to as many classes every week as
I possibly can. I do that because it has opened me up to greater flexibility, more desire to
move-especially when I hear music, it has been toning and strengthening and it's been a great
way to dispel the 'gunk' of the day/week/year...So, I decided why not get saturated with Nia
dance (2 times a day) in beautiful Nicaragua at an ecolodge on a shade-grown, organic coffee
farm! Oh, yeah! And it was beautiful. The food was excellent (as was the coffee and chocolate),  
the staff very friendly and helpful and we had such a great time bird watching, hiking the
marvelous trails in the rainforest, eating, conversing AND dancing (thank you, Kate). Now when I
Nia dance I very frequently am transported back to that awesome pavilion overlooking the
rainforest mountain range and a smile comes to my face...
Pat Seddon

* * * * *
Nia in Nicaragua was completely amazing, inspiring, and life changing. My body, mind, and spirit
felt nourished and renewed. Joy was everywhere! The exercise pavilion was beautiful, peaceful,
and awe inspiring. The vision of the mountains, sky, and gliding birds; combined with the bird
and distant howler monkey sounds; created a sensory delight.      
Janice Mills
Nia™ Nicaragua
Experience the pleasure of Nia at the beautiful Finca Esperanza Verde !
We're looking forward to doing it again! Nia Nicaragua dates are March 21-28, 2010.
For more information call (919) 545-0737 or email Kate at kate@naturenia.com  
www.naturenia.com
Finca Esperanza Verde was founded in
1998 by Sister Communities of San
Ramón, Nicaragua, a non-profit
organization based in Durham, North
Carolina (USA). Its mission is to
strengthen friendship and cooperation
between San Ramón, Nicaragua and
Durham, North Carolina through
people to people exchanges and social
and economic development projects
which support justice and our belief in
an interdependent, one-world family.
Nia Nicaragua 2009--
Kate Finlayson

Our Nia trip to Nicaragua was filled with lots of
joy, discovery and magic. A wonderful group of
women, Janice Mills, Pat Seddon, Margaret
Jemison, Elizabeth Anderson and Lonna
Harkrader came to the Finca Esperanza Verde
with open hearts and healthy bodies to dance,
play, hike, and experience the beauty of the
land and the kindness of the people.
We danced each morning as the Swallow-tailed kites soared above the rain forest valley and the call of the howler monkeys
reverberated through the jungle. We ate delicious, fresh healthy meals outdoors (thanks to Nelly!), we learned to make
tortillas from dried corn, and toasted fresh coffee beans in a skillet (and then drank the coffee that fresh)! We took cool
dips in a mountain waterfall pond and hiked various trails to discover the most wonderful colorful birds; trogons, tanagers
and toucans, to name just a few! We were face to face with a family of howler monkeys. There is nothing like looking into
the eyes of a male howler and have him look back! We met Freddy who taught us how he makes jewelry from colorful tree
seeds from the rain forest and we got to create our own designs!
We took school supplies, shoes, baseballs and books to the La Chispa
school. We danced with the children and they sang for us. My friend
Sarah Froeber had her children’s book, “Pelican and Pelicant,”
translated into Spanish, and it became “Pelican`si and Pelica`no”. We
brought them 25 copies of the book for the children to read and take
home.

We rode horses with Juan Ramon, (Yes, Janice and Pat did it!) we
learned from local folks their struggles in life and their joys as well.
Maricela, a beautiful 19 year old local guide at the Finca, danced with
us last year and this year. She had scars on her face this year from an
attack by other girls who were jealous. She performed her traditional
dances for us one evening by the wood stove and also at the dance
festival in the nearby village of San Ramon.
We Nia ladies even got to perform Nia at the
festival and had so much fun. The locals cheered
and clapped. They especially loved the Tae Kwon
Do energy! The festival was filled with beautiful
children in colorful costumes dancing with such
joy and passion.

We visited a hospital with disabled children and
were so touched by the work of the women
there. Margaret fell in love with a little baby girl
and my Lambchop puppet was a hit with one
strong, smiling boy!
Our evenings ended with the most fantastic sunsets as we danced Nia
and then relaxed into the cool night. Lovely candlelit dinners,
bonfires with local musicians, star gazing, wine drinking, sharing
poetry, and just being alive in such a deep connection to Earth and
Sky were how we ended each day.

I am forever grateful for Lonna and Richard Harkrader for making
these Nia trips possible at the beautiful finca.