Tag Archives: blog

Allies Blog, Najlas Blog

Introducing Hip Love Studio

Introducing Hip Love Studio. New name. New look. I am so excited to announce my dance studio space now has a new name. Hip Love Studio. H. I. P healing in physical Love. Empowering women to feel good. Welcome to Najlas Dance & Healing.

Change is inevitable and good as it changes the energy and flow so things can become less stagnate and it shakes things up a bit. Why this change? I wanted something simple, to the point, easy to remember but different. I wanted and needed something that truly encompasses all that I can offer as I am more:

Allie Joseph who is sole owner of Najlas Dance and Hip Love serves Chillicothe, Ohio and surrounding areas. To empower women, giving them confidence and find what has been lost deep within though, fitness, dance, movement classes for women of all ages! In addition, Allie is a Master Kundalini Reiki Teacher, Crystal Healer and a Card reader these are additional services that are held at Hip Love: by appointment.

Why the name Hip Love?

In bellydance we use our hips, it is the foundation that connects our lower body to our upper body. It relates to our pelvic and core region. When we dance our hip flexors are highly active which changes the flow and helps us release feeling better. Over the years in research and tons of learning! I love to learn! Our hips hold most of our emotion! Did you know that?

Think of your hips as a junk drawer. Everyone has one. A junk drawer is where you put things away that you do not know what to do with. It keeps filling up and before you know it your are holding onto so much junk in your hips that you do not even realize it. This is the most simplest terms. Our hips hold stress, anger, anxiety, trauma and more and these signals get sent to our whole body. From movement, meditation, dance, energy healing we can break this cycle and start feeling better, lighter, free!

Hear is what a few students have to say: Keep Reading!

A couple of my dearest friends and students helped me with this new look and we talked about what Hip Love meant to them. Here is a few things they had to say:

Dee Carpenter says: Hip Love: “No judgement. Physical movement which helps the soul emotionally….so you feel love to help the healing process by letting go through motion.”

I just love this what Dee says! This is why when we do move we feel better!

Here is what Angela Dawn says and what Hip Love means to her: “For me it’s and expression of freedom and femininity. Even when we dance the shapes we make sometimes with our hips are hearts! Using dance and movement to heal emotionally and physically.”

Awe! I do just love this and it is sending love to your hips!

Big huge thanks to Dee for coming up with the tag line: Healing in Physical Love...My dream was to open a place for women where they can come and be and what I have created is honestly more then I could ever imagine! I will be talking more on this too!

Join us in Celebration for the new look!

Najlas Dance & Hip Love Studio: Dance & Healing with Allie’s first official Open House! I want to send you a personal invitation. Join us on October 29th, 2022 for free mini classes and more!

We start at 9:00 am with a lovely gathering & refreshments. Then at 9:30 we start with the first FREE MINI class: Women’s Circle meditation/journaling and healing! For this class you will need a journal and yoga mat! Stay for the morning! Bring a friend! Spread & Share! Want to no more…look below

Allies Blog, Najlas Blog

Most Common Questions Asked

Through my many years of teaching often there are several questions that are asked by potential students. These also can be known as myths about the dance in general. Today I will address Just a few questions for you.

“Do I need to know how to dance” or I will often get statements: “I can’t dance.”

First off you do not need to know how to dance! If you knew how to dance then I would not have a job as a teacher. I will teach you, lead you and guide you! When I started 22 years ago, I did not know how to dance. I learned by going to class with various teachers who I studied under. We all start at the same place. The statement: “But I can’t dance” is a common one. Anyone can learn how with practice and patience and being involved in class. Anyone can learn! We learn how to move our body through breaking down movement, drilling and having fun!

“Do I need to show my belly”

This is a very common question. Most people think that when they learn how to bellydance they have to show their belly. This is absolutely untrue. Belly Dance does focus on the core; hence the belly but also involves the hips. It has been known as dance of the stomach because of the undulations that are often seen. Did you know that in Egypt that dancers are not allowed to show their belly? Often they are seen showing a belly cover which is mesh and can be skin color or even the same color as their costume! You will even see them in a dress where the belly is completed covered. Honestly, it is totally up to you! If you want to flaunt your belly go ahead! If not no that it is ok too! There have been many times I myself have danced with my belly covered! Checkout the photo below to see how lovely it can be.

“Am I too old/young?”

I often hear the statement but I am too old more often then not. I am asked how young I teach and I have taught many ages all across the board from as young as 3 years of age to 85! This dance is truly for anyone know matter what the age. Within different age groups it can be presented slightly different based on the general ability of class. Did you know that bellydance is one of the very few dance forms where you can start out at a later age? It is more common then you think! The average age is 40 years of age. There is really something for everyone in this dance no matter how old you are! Look below and you will find the many different ages that have walked through my studio doors. Look at all the beauties! I have so many pictures!

“What do you wear to class?”

Most of my students come in wearing leggings, yoga pants and a top they are comfortable in. It is great to have a hip scarf as it helps accent the hips and will allow you to feel the movement of the hips. Need one? I have some for sale at the studio! We dance barefoot so we can be really connected to the ground. If you would rather you can also purchase a type of dance shoe. something flat and that will not restrict your movement of your feet. You can get something that covers the full foot or only the toes or half of the foot. There are lots of options from something basic or something with a bit of sparkle!

Would you like to know something I did not hit on? I would love to know!

Are you ready to join me? Are you desiring to move your body, feel good and to have fun in a warm, loving, safe and supportive environment? I have a brand new session for beginners starting soon. Join me starting April 9th-May 14th for an amazing 6 weeks of Global Caravan Tribal Bellydance with Master Teacher Allie Joseph. Class time starts at 9:15 am in person at 14 S. Paint Street Suite 23, 2nd floor inside the Foulke Block, Chillicothe Ohio 45601 located downtown.

Preregistration is required and space is limited go here to get started: https://najlasdance.com/product/new-to-global-caravan/

Allies Blog, Najlas Blog, Uncategorized

A Time for Celebration!

A time for celebration as we finish up another year! This year we have seen many challenges and a different way of doing things. This year has been a year of change and one we will never forget!

As, I sit here on my bed typing away capturing my final thoughts of the year and having my coffee and looking back at all the things that I have accomplished it is time to celebrate! It is important to celebrate and remind ourselves of all the good no matter how small or large and to focus on that instead of all the things that may not have worked out so well.

Today I celebrate all the challenges I faced as those challenges pushed me out of my comfort zone and put me on a new path and a new adventure! I celebrate my growth and all of the things I have learned from this past year. Last night, I took some time to write down at least 5 big things I accomplished this year and it felt really good to actually see it on paper and it really put things in perspective! How often do we focus on the good? How often do you celebrate? Do you celebrate you?

Here is my list:

  • moving to a new space with a healing room
  • completed my Master Teacher Training Level 3 for Global Caravan
  • created & taught online classes via zoom
  • developed a 4 week course
  • went through a physic bootcamp course
  • certified in Bellydance Body Fitness, Bootcamp and more
  • Taught my first Tribal Grooves Certification
  • Built my own healing website
  • I stopped working 7 days a week
  • read 12 books
  • created more time and self care for me

Sit down tonight and see if you can come up with at least 5 big things you accomplished. As you can see my list is filled with a lot of different things and these were all big things to me. As we say goodbye to 2020 and hello to 2021 what do you want to bring in to the new year? It is such a perfect time to dream and set those intentions and make it happen!

Coming up in the new year I will be bringing you more certifications so you can really step into your glorious self, more classes and courses online and in person!

We are getting ready to dance it out and it is not too late to join! I have a fun and empowering class called Tribal Grooves (TM). This class is designed to move and just feel good in your body! No experience is necessary! This class uses Global Caravan Bellydance but without the technique! Come dance with me! Lets shake it out! Do something just for you! This is 4 weeks of fun via zoom! Plus, be a part of our facebook group and have access to recordings while we are in session! Go here to register: https://najlasdance.com/product/tribal-grooves-via-zoom/

Thank you to everyone who supported me this year! Blessings as we go into 2021!

Allies Blog, Uncategorized

Today we Celebrate

Celebrating All Women today!

Today we celebrate all moms! As we are women we are moms in many forms! We are moms to our kids, pets and even close friends. As a teacher I am a dance mom. I love my students as if they are my own and I care, love and nurture them and pray for their safety.

I also have had many mother figures in my life; not just my mom who brought me into this world! I have a few Aunts that I considered a mom figure and I have a dance mama too! These additional moms give you the same support! They are loving and nurturing and are your cheerleader when you need one but they also give you a kick in the butt as well! I am so fortunate that I have had so many amazing moms in my life and I thank you and love you and I celebrate you not just today but everyday!

Celebrating Mothers day is a once a year celebration but, it got me thinking….why does it have to be only once a year? Why can we not celebrate moms in someway every day? Why can’t we pamper ourselves daily and not just once a year? Are we not that important or worth it?

Today I celebrate you as women and mothers! I celebrate you just not today but every day! Take the time to stop every day and do one thing to love yourself and pamper you! If you know me I am big on self care! It was a hard step as I feel I often need to be super woman! Have you ever felt like that? Do you think you need to do everything? We often care for so many others that we put ourselves on the back burner and then we end up being stressed and tired.

Mothers day we often buy flowers, chocolate, cards and many other things but what if just once a week you went out and did this for yourself? How would that make you feel? Would you feel guilty for buying you something or would it make you feel good and lift your spirits?

Here is a poem I wrote:

What is a mother?

She is strong, loving, nurturing, open, giving and caring. She is a force to be reckoned with. She protects and gives whole heartedly expecting nothing in return. She is often the foundation and the rock. She can be gentle, quick and strong all at one time. She makes everything she does look easy. She loves with every breath and bone of her body. She is the one who cries at night when you are hurting and she is the one that always picks you up when you have fallen. She is there with you at the finish line cheering you on. She believes in you. She is filled with such grace, dignity, love and strength. There is nothing like a the love a mother it is a love that is special and pure!

Allies Blog, Najlas Blog

Dance Practice Outside of Class

Happy New Year and we are back in the roaring 20’s! Imagine that! So you have just started belly dancing and you are loving it and you go to as many classes as you possible can, which is great! I am asking you today how is your dance practice outside of class? Do you practice at all? If no, why not? Is it due to motivation, lack of space or not sure about the movements or what to even work on? These are all very common! I will start by addressing these to help you out! If you do not have a dance routine outside of class; you need to! Why? Belly Dance is an art that requires muscle memory! The only way we can get that muscle memory is by drilling the same movement over and over again! Yes, there is no magic wand or key here! Even myself after dancing 20 years I still practice and drill the basics!

No motivation? Get inspired! This is easy! What inspires you to dance? Music, a new hip scarf, putting flowers in your hair? If it is music search for new music and make a playlist for you to dance too! If it is a new hip scarf buy one and keep it just for at home practices to make it special! Put flowers in your hair even for your dance practice at home! These are just little easy things that will motivate you!

Lack of space? Everyone has space in their house! This space can be a corner of a room or even a room to yourself! What space are you most comfortable in? When I first started I used my kitchen a lot! I would stand in front of the microwave because I could see my movements! I did not dance past the microwave so the space I used was relativity small! Don’t think your space has to be huge! Eventually, I moved my dance space and acquired a small corner of our dining room! I even put up some of those square sticky mirrors and took pieces of fabric and draped it around the mirrors and it was perfect and still not very big! Maybe you have a guest room that you can use? Use your imagination! Do not think you need a huge space! Decorate that space with something that makes you feel good! Just even flowers and lighting a candle will help!

Not sure about movement or what to work on? This is so very common and your not alone in this! Starting out; write down all the movements you do know and your comfortable with! These are called your safe moves! Everyone has them. Once you get them written down divide them by fast moves & slow moves. Divide them out once more; upper body & lower body! This gives you 5 days of practice!

Day 1: Safety moves Put music on and drill all the moves out! Do not worry about technique here. Focus on staying with the music and the beat! This helps with transitioning from one move to the next and eventually you will become fluid and seamless!

Day 2: Fast moves; put on a fun & upbeat song and dance! Keep yourself grounded! To much bounce? Bend your knees! It is all about control here!

Day 3: Slow moves; this is were we can get gooey and juicy! Put on a slow piece of music that you absolutely love! The slower the better! Dance all those slow moves focusing again on staying with the beat! Do not move fast! Relax and enjoy the music! Let the music flow in your body and out through the movement! If you need to grab a glass of wine to help you relax!

Day 4: Upper Body: Here is where we work on proper execution and technique! Focus on your posture and executing the movement properly and all the way through! Do not cut the movement or take shortcuts! If the movements have hand and arm positions work on that first without the movement, then the movement and then both together.

Day 5: lower body: here is where we work on proper execution and technique! Focus on your posture and executing the movement properly and all the way through! Do not cut the movement or take shortcuts! If the movements have hand and arm positions and steps or turns work on that first without the movement, then the movement and then both together.

There is your 5 day plan! See how easy it is! I would love to know what your doing and I would love to see pictures of your dance space, practice or both! The most important thing is to have fun and explore!

Remember we all have bad days! Do not beat yourself up but celebrate your journey! Last year, my dance practiced suffered tremendously for the first time in years! Its okay as there is always tomorrow!