Girls just wanna have fun, or do they?

Recently, one of my students at the Goddess Center informed me that she was not going to be able to make this series of cheerleading classes. She was trying to be "responsible” and just had too many things on her plate. Granted, shaking your pom-poms and refining your “liberty” arms is not usually a high priority for a 30-year-old successful businesswoman. But I knew how much she loved class and wearing the short cheer skirts. She often said it was the most fun thing she did each week.

This got me thinking of how little women value having fun. It’s even lower on our list than pampering ourselves. We all know how difficult it is for us as women to take care of ourselves - people pleasing everyone except ourselves. We don’t even seem to think of ourselves as people. We have been conditioned to think this way and the fact that we receive some sort of validation that we are “good” and that we are loved because we take care of others makes it an annoyingly difficult pattern to break.

Having fun, without agenda (furthering your career, burning calories, being more organized, having a cleaner house) is one of the great reasons to live. It is living.

Now, I am not advising you to become totally irresponsible and play hookey everyday. But there must be things you just enjoy doing (and if you can’t think of any, I suggest that you forget laundry this week and start discovering what brings you joy). These fun things put everything in perspective, make us excited in anticipation before they happen and giggle long after they are over.

Personally, having fun tops my priority list. It is also how I measure things: I believe the best bellydancer in class in the one who can laugh at herself and the best surfer is the one splashing around and having a great time. I try to have as much fun as I can everyday, especially when life becomes truly challenging. Feel free to email me and share your ideas and experiences of having fun with me. I would love to hear about what fun things you like to do!

So, enroll in that class you always say you wanted to take, go to that softball game, allow yourself to be the last person to leave a party and do something that makes you laugh!

10 Calorie-Free and $$-Free ways to Indulge

1) Take a Bath (using your new bath rituals)
2) Wear your special occasion underwear on Monday beneath your work clothes.
3) Have your make-up done at a department store
4) Pick-up brochures about exotic places at a Travel Agency (with no travel plans)
5) Write a delicious fantasy in your diary, only for your eyes.
6) Take a test-drive in your dream car
7) Nap under a big quilt
8) Dress up and try on expensive jewelry at Tiffany’s
9) Watch the Sunset
10) Make a list of what you would do with $$ if you won the lottery

10 Extravagant Indulgences

1) Make yourself a hot-fudge sundae with all the trimmings to eat in bed.
2) Invest in sumptuous 400-thread-count sheets
3) Throw a party for no occasion
4) Buy a small bouquet of flowers for your nightstand
5) Travel
6) Take a class, just for fun: Aromatherapy, Scuba-diving, painting
7) Buy yourself silk pajamas
8) Donate to charity anonymously
9) Buy yourself Diamonds
10) Order Room Service

Bellydance Costumes

A professional bellydancer’s costumes are one of the tools of her trade….


Simple and Accessible costume items:
A simple hip scarf or coin belt will do, it accentuates your hip movements and adds an audible element to your shimmy.
If you only buy one thing… buy a hip scarf or coin belt.
You can wear simple workout wear like I wore earlier and dress it up with a hip scarf or coin belt.

More Elaborate Costumes:
For those of you who have a fascination with the more elaborate costumes, here’s a head to toe look at what you should look for in making or buying a costume. There are many styles of bellydance and the costume should reflect your style.
Should be Beautiful as well as functional.

Bra
Usually extremely ornate and reinforced to support the weight of the decorative beads and coins. If you are making a costume – begin with a strong, supportive bra, the design of the bra should match your belt.

Belt
Fits snuggly around the hips, leaving the belly free to perform figure eights, shimmies. The belt can weigh up to 8lbs. The beads, in addition to being decorative, swing and glisten with the dancer and make subtle steps visible from a distance. Egyptian style has long beaded fringe – while ATS have coins – which originally derived from the dancer sewing the coin onto her costume to show her wealth.

Skirt
For cabaret style bellydance, the dancer wears one or more circle skirts, made of 6-10 yards of fabric that create a circle when the dancer spins. There are many other skirt designs that complement the style of dance performed. For instance Egyptian dancers often wear the mermaid skirt which is form-fitting from the hips to the knee, then flares out – which highlight the feet – which is performed on the feet.

Accessories
Belly Jewel
Eye Jewels
Flower for Hair
Arm Bands

My costumes
All have names
Barbarella Warrior Goddess
Champagne Toast
From Russia with Love
Sea Shells

Sometimes I Make my own – and sometimes I have a Seamstress make them.

Its time to go make yours and send me pics of yours - I love costumes!!

We are all Goddesses

As I looked into the water, an image of divine femininity gazed back at me, one that I didn’t even recognize! I was amazed and humbled, as were the women surrounding me.

The image reinforced my belief in the importance of women finding the powerful goddess within themselves.

Bellydance belongs to all women; it is how we express our own inner Goddess.

Look at the other bellydancers around you. They are all Goddesses. We must resist the temptation to think that our interpretation and the way we experience bellydance is the definitive and correct way to dance. This philosophy chips away at our individual self-esteem and deprives us of the chance to make women our allies.

This art has given us all so much. Who better than other bellydancers to delight in sharing in its riches?

When you begin to see and acknowledge the many magnificent qualities in other bellydancers, even if they dance differently than you, you will begin to feel the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood. This is how we will make a difference as women, united.

We are all Goddesses.

Become Certified to teach The Goddess Workout with Dolphina

Imagine spending an unforgettable week in paradise swimming with wild dolphins, feasting on delicious food, dancing under the moon and rejuvenating in a sacred waterfall. In this retreat, Dolphina will share with you her special connection with the dolphins and her secrets to living your own Goddess Life

WHO COMES
Women of all ages (must be 18 years or older), sizes and walks of life who desire an unforgettable experience. This retreat is appropriate for dancers of all levels, from absolute beginners to those who want to become licensed to teach the Goddess Workout. At the end of the Teacher Training, dancers have the option to purchase for an additional fee, a license to become certified to teach The Goddess Workout with Dolphina. For the wild dolphin swims, it is usually best to be both a good swimmer and comfortable snorkeling in the ocean to swim with the dolphins. If you do not feel comfortable swimming in the open ocean, you will still be able to experience the magic of dolphins from the shore or boat

THE CENTER
Our GoddessLife retreat will take place at the lush and secluded Kolealea (which means 'bouncing waters' in Hawaiian) in "upcountry" Maui. The center enjoys 80 degree weather year round and is surrounded by Plumeria Trees, quiet walkways with bridges over streams and a valley of ginger, and the famous "road to Hana" is at our back door. We will dance in a studio with bamboo floors with views to the tropical garden on all sides.

ACCOMODATIONS
There are several charming cottages nestled throughout the pristine aina (land) of Kolealea retreat center. Each house has something unique, including an outdoor shower, hot tub, and views. Sleeping is double occupancy.

THE CUISINE
We will feast upon 3 vegetarian gourmet meals a day. All meals are prepared by a loving staff dedicated to the spirit of Aloha using fresh local produce grown in organic gardens.

TRANSPORTATION
Book and fly the airline of your choice. Dancers come from all over the world for our retreat and teacher training, so there is no way to include airfare in our package price. There are three airports on Maui. We will provide van pick-up and lei greeting between 3-5pm on August 20th at Kahului, Maui, HI (OGG-Kahului) Airport. You are welcome to rent your own car to explore the island.

PRICING
Deadline for the discount to save $1999 rate is June 25th!
50% Deposit due upon registration. Balance due by July 25th.

HOW TO REGISTER
Fill out registration form and fax and mail with your deposit check, money order or credit card information to GoddessLife. Upon receipt of your application, we will send you a registration package that includes a detailed itinerary, how to prepare for your retreat and what to bring. Space is limited and will sell out!

GoddessLife
4051 Glencoe Avenue #5
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
Goddesslife@gmail.com
www.goddesslife.com

Bellydancing Seductress

Being a professional bellydancer has given me the opportunity to travel throughout the Middle East. For a couple of years, I was employed at nightclubs with 3-month residencies, performing 6 nights a week and had the days free to explore the city and absorb the culture. Traveling to foreign cities by myself was exhilarating, educational and terrifying. I found it liberating to be in a location for a predetermined amount of time not knowing a soul and getting a fresh start 3 months later. Seeing the Middle East through the eyes of a blonde bellydancer was a fascinating experience. I was in ancient cities performing an ancient dance.

My most charming gig was in Istanbul, Turkey. By charming, I mean that I was the most charming I have ever been in my life. Something about the unique mix of Europe and Middle East culture, the weather, the hotel they set me up in and the gorgeous men brought out the seductress in me. Every thing I said was witty, I bellydanced like I was on fire and I had men falling at my feet, showering me with gifts. One of my admirers told me that I scared him – because there was no hope for him to resist me – he would give me anything I wanted. His fear was logical: in seduction, women hold all the cards.

Being a seductress is not about getting laid. That is easy. That is what men want. Being a good seductress knows this and does not fault a man for his focused desire. Instead, she is empowered by this knowledge because it is the woman who chooses. She delights in her feminine wiles and hones her skills to an art form to get what she wants.

While having a great body helps to attract a man, it is not a requirement in being a great seductress. It doesn’t matter what shape or size you are, or how much money you have, or what job you have. You can use these techniques even if you are already married to keep the spark alive between you and to keep feeling like a sensuous woman. Most women do not share these secrets with other women. Most books on the topic focus on candles, bedroom and other stuff that men could care a less about. They do not need these things to get in the mood. Being a seductress is claiming and enjoying the power you innately have as a woman.

A seductress oozes confidence – she loves herself, she enjoys herself, loves to laugh and these are things that make other people love her. Its about being so good at it that they do not even see the signs. Men do not want to think you do this to anyone else. Men want to think they are doing the seduction. A good seductress knows how to make a man feel like he’s seduced her.

GoddessLife Retreat in Hawaii

Imagine spending an unforgettable week in paradise swimming with wild dolphins, feasting on delicious food, dancing under the moon and rejuvenating in a sacred waterfall. In this retreat, Dolphina will share with you her special connection with the dolphins and her secrets to living your own Goddess Life

WHO COMES
Women of all ages (must be 18 years or older), sizes and walks of life who desire an unforgettable experience. This retreat is appropriate for dancers of all levels, from absolute beginners to those who want to become licensed to teach the Goddess Workout. At the end of the Teacher Training, dancers have the option to purchase for an additional fee, a license to become certified to teach The Goddess Workout with Dolphina. For the wild dolphin swims, it is usually best to be both a good swimmer and comfortable snorkeling in the ocean to swim with the dolphins. If you do not feel comfortable swimming in the open ocean, you will still be able to experience the magic of dolphins from the shore or boat

THE CENTER
Our GoddessLife retreat will take place at the lush and secluded Kolealea (which means 'bouncing waters' in Hawaiian) in "upcountry" Maui. The center enjoys 80 degree weather year round and is surrounded by Plumeria Trees, quiet walkways with bridges over streams and a valley of ginger, and the famous "road to Hana" is at our back door. We will dance in a studio with bamboo floors with views to the tropical garden on all sides.

ACCOMODATIONS
There are several charming cottages nestled throughout the pristine aina (land) of Kolealea retreat center. Each house has something unique, including an outdoor shower, hot tub, and views. Sleeping is double occupancy.

THE CUISINE
We will feast upon 3 vegetarian gourmet meals a day. All meals are prepared by a loving staff dedicated to the spirit of Aloha using fresh local produce grown in organic gardens.

TRANSPORTATION
Book and fly the airline of your choice. Dancers come from all over the world for our retreat and teacher training, so there is no way to include airfare in our package price. There are three airports on Maui. We will provide van pick-up and lei greeting between 3-5pm on August 20th at Kahului, Maui, HI (OGG-Kahului) Airport. You are welcome to rent your own car to explore the island.

PRICING
Deadline for the discount to save $1999 rate is June 25th!
50% Deposit due upon registration. Balance due by July 25th.

HOW TO REGISTER
Fill out registration form and fax and mail with your deposit check, money order or credit card information to GoddessLife. Upon receipt of your application, we will send you a registration package that includes a detailed itinerary, how to prepare for your retreat and what to bring. Space is limited and will sell out!

GoddessLife
4051 Glencoe Avenue #5
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
Goddesslife@gmail.com
www.goddesslife.com

GoddessLife Hawaii Retreat

Imagine spending an unforgettable week in paradise swimming with wild dolphins, feasting on delicious food, dancing under the moon and rejuvenating in a sacred waterfall. In this retreat, Dolphina will share with you her special connection with the dolphins and her secrets to living your own Goddess Life

WHO COMES
Women of all ages (must be 18 years or older), sizes and walks of life who desire an unforgettable experience. This retreat is appropriate for dancers of all levels, from absolute beginners to those who want to become licensed to teach the Goddess Workout. At the end of the Teacher Training, dancers have the option to purchase for an additional fee, a license to become certified to teach The Goddess Workout with Dolphina. For the wild dolphin swims, it is usually best to be both a good swimmer and comfortable snorkeling in the ocean to swim with the dolphins. If you do not feel comfortable swimming in the open ocean, you will still be able to experience the magic of dolphins from the shore or boat

THE CENTER
Our GoddessLife retreat will take place at the lush and secluded Kolealea (which means 'bouncing waters' in Hawaiian) in "upcountry" Maui. The center enjoys 80 degree weather year round and is surrounded by Plumeria Trees, quiet walkways with bridges over streams and a valley of ginger, and the famous "road to Hana" is at our back door. We will dance in a studio with bamboo floors with views to the tropical garden on all sides.

ACCOMODATIONS
There are several charming cottages nestled throughout the pristine aina (land) of Kolealea retreat center. Each house has something unique, including an outdoor shower, hot tub, and views. Sleeping is double occupancy.

THE CUISINE
We will feast upon 3 vegetarian gourmet meals a day. All meals are prepared by a loving staff dedicated to the spirit of Aloha using fresh local produce grown in organic gardens.

TRANSPORTATION
Book and fly the airline of your choice. Dancers come from all over the world for our retreat and teacher training, so there is no way to include airfare in our package price. There are three airports on Maui. We will provide van pick-up and lei greeting between 3-5pm on August 20th at Kahului, Maui, HI (OGG-Kahului) Airport. You are welcome to rent your own car to explore the island.

PRICING
Deadline for the discount to save $1999 rate is June 25th!
50% Deposit due upon registration. Balance due by July 25th.

HOW TO REGISTER
Fill out registration form and fax and mail with your deposit check, money order or credit card information to GoddessLife. Upon receipt of your application, we will send you a registration package that includes a detailed itinerary, how to prepare for your retreat and what to bring. Space is limited and will sell out!

GoddessLife
4051 Glencoe Avenue #5
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
Goddesslife@gmail.com
www.goddesslife.com