Alzheimer’s and it can be difficult to understand
them. I make it a point to give them time to talk or
communicate with me. I notice their energy, body
language, breathing, and gestures. Taking notice is
very important. There are many ways for us all to
communicate with each other.
3. Use their names - when we use their names, we are
telling them how important they are to us.
4. See their potential - appreciate where they are and
have patience and encourage them. I don’t only see
who they are now, but who they were, and who they
have the potential to become.
5. Ask them to teach you - find something they are
good at and ask them to teach you. This honors
their accomplishments and you learn new things. I
believe in being the teacher and the student.
It means to world to me to have the honor and privilege to be
a teacher and have the ability to make others feel important.
And it means even more to me to have others who have heard
about the classes I teach during the week want to assist me. I
believe these classes benefit us as much as the students.
People want to feel important and people want to matter,
and I believe that the teacher/student relationship fulfills
both of those human needs of belonging.
I do want to share one more little story.
Yolanda and I are in one photo together where
we are posed with our veils. This was after a veil
workshop. Yolanda will be 90 in January and she told
me last week that she just had her check-up. Her doctor
asked her what exercises she is doing she said, “walking,
stretching, swimming, oh yeah and my belly dance
class.” She laughed and said he was shocked! Yolanda,
like other girls and women in my classes, have a lot in
common. Girls Just Want to Have Fun! They want to
play, laugh, make friends, and have fun.
NADIRAH R. BRAY
Nadirah is a multi-award-winning performer and master instructor and the leading authority on the healing power
of Bellydance. She is the instructor for “Belly Dance for healing from illness” DVD and creator of The Goddess In
Motion Method and Certification. Her passion is to take dancers from where they are to where they want to be by
providing programs that empower, heal and transform their dance, life and business from the inside out and assist
them in achieving their most audacious dreams. For more info about Nadirah and her programs and services please
visit www.goddessinmotioninstitute.com Photo by Carl F. Sermon Photography
January 2020
The Belly Dance Chronicles
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