Love your body, Love your life through Nia!

This year, I decided on a less traditional and more self-full way to celebrate Valentine’s.

This weekend, I taught special “self love” themed Nia classes.

Without going over the top, I encouraged all of us to spend the hour-and-15-minute class in appreciation.

Appreciation for our bodies, minds, emotions and spirits.

After all, how can we love others if we don’t love ourselves first?

I started the class by reading this special poem by  Destiny Love Mitchell

Today I have decided to fall in love with me.

Today I have decided to fall in love with me.

I had to give it a shot.

Just had to see.

It started off easy,

And felt oh so right.

All of a sudden

I became a Queen.

What a sight!

I didn’t care what he thought,

She said,

Or they did.

I was unstoppable.

Dreaming the impossible,

Just like a little kid.

But wouldn’t you know,

I fell.

And boy, did I yell.

With bruises along the way,

I’d be lying if I didn’t say

That I wanted to give up

But somehow convinced

myself to stay

I just had to do it.

This had to be the day.

Yet, I persisted to cut myself

With self-doubt and critical words.

To the point where I wanted to fly away

Far and fast like a flock of birds.

I knocked down my self-esteem

And in pain and anguish,

I fell to my knees.

But like a cat with 9 lives,

I got back up again.

Hoping to finally become

My own best friend.

I’ve gotten through the hard part,

Just like I knew I would.

I never knew loving me

Could ever feel this good.

So take my advice

And take a chance on you.

It is by far the smartest thing

You could ever do.

Now when I look in the mirror

All that I see,

Is the love of my life

Smiling back with glee

Ad this story ends

Where it all begins,

Because today I have decided to fall in love with me.

To finish the class, we wrote love letters to ourselves on the postcards pictured above.

I’ll mail them out in a few weeks as a reminder of our dance of self love.

Even though, to be honest, it was pretty tough for me to sustain and motivate others to stay in that place of self love, I was an incredible experience. So very warm, fulfilling and a wonderful growth opportunity for me.

Oh, and here’s the playlist! You’ll love the music!

Thank You For This Day ~ Karen Drucker

Beautiful ~ Christina Aguilera

Beauty In The World      ~ Macy Gray

We’re All In This Together ~ Ben Lee

Video ~ India Arie

Shining Light    ~ Annie Lennox

Amazing ~ Seal

Sweeter Love   ~ Blue Six

Flawless ~ The Ones

Looking Good, Feeling Gorgeous  ~ RuPaul

Dancing with Myself ~ Glee Cast

Say Hey (I Love You)      ~ Michael Franti & Spearhead

Rhythm Of Love ~ Plain White T’s

Dance Me To The End of Love ~ Madeleine Peyroux

I Just Can’t Stop Loving You ~ Michael Jackson

Daytime Lullaby ~ Alex Hickey

All Is Well ~ Karen Drucker