I met Philippe and Sabine in 2008 when I took my Black Belt. They told me they lived in Auroville, a community in India where "men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities. The purpose of Auroville is to realize human unity."

When I found out that they and Danielle Woermann were offering a Nia workshop focused on the chakras, I knew I had to go. I have been studying and practicing chakra energy for many years. Nia has been a central part of my life for many years. These two factors, coupled with the exploration of Auroville drew me to overcome any obstacles to the trip.

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My Experience
Time was totally altered. I met the most wonderful people in the world. The Nia was all I could have hoped for and then some. Remembering the love and generosity showered upon me during the whole time and especially during the extraordinary celebration of my birthday brings tears. Our Nia sessions were held in a large meditation structure. The pictures of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo on the small shrine, which we decorated each day with the appropriate symbols of the chakras, smiled at us with palpable affection.

Dare I say it was a transformational experience? Yes, I dare say that. I notice that since I've returned, my perspective about many things in my life has changed. I seem to be more tolerant toward myself and others, more able to meet the challenges facing me with equanimity, and mostly, more awake to the joy and beauty in each moment. Colors are brighter, laughter deeper, tears flow more easily, sounds are fuller. My body is stronger and healthier than ever and I have comfortably maintained the vegetarian diet that we kept in India.

Anne Catherine Mora, San Antonio, Texas, USA, expressed her experience as follows:

"One is rarely touched by so much beauty and generosity all at once! The welcoming retreat at 'Verite' fits the words of the mystic Mother ‘Generosity is to find one's own satisfaction in the satisfaction of others.' For me, the Nia Retreat was impeccably organized, rhythmic in the order of the day. Workout in the morning and an occasional evening, vegan meals more beautifying than one can imagine, outings of picturesque interest, times to rest and reflect, camaraderie and caring environment, all under the magic baton of three Nia masters. I brought back more than memories. I am filled with a greater sense of purpose."

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I asked the workshop leaders, Phillipe, Sabine and Danielle, to send me information about the genesis of the Nia Chakra Retreat and their personal reaction to it. They all responded immediately and with such clarity and elegance that I have, with their permission, included what they wrote.

From Phillipe and Sabine:

"We started our Nia in India retreats in 2006, following our return to Auroville in 2005 after Philippe decided to live part of the time in Germany in order to be with his beloved Sabine. Having practiced Nia intensively with her in Germany and receiving a scholarship from Debbie and Carlos to attend their White Belt training in Hamburg in 2004, it was obvious that the principles of the Nia practice were clearly aligned with the Integral yoga of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, spiritual founders of Auroville in India. Auroville, as a cradle of a new consciousness being a bridge between the east and west, matter and spirit, form and space, Shiva and Shakti, is a special place on the earth and perfect to embrace the practice of Nia. The aim of Auroville is also human unity, very much connected to some of the Nia routines such as Global Unity, Universal Mind, Alpha Omega, Bliss and Miracle. Our retreats are serving this mission to bring the Nia community to India and Auroville and put into practice the Nia principles of Dancing Through Life, Living Meditation and Life as Art.

We joyfully arranged shared activities, the dance, ayruvedic organic meals, discovering Auroville on bicycles, mopeds and fearless taxis, meeting residents, attending concerts, exploring the beautiful French Tamil city of Pondicherry, visiting the stone carving center of Mahaballipuram, the glorious beach and ocean, shopping in the ultimate diversity of colors, fabrics, materials, senses, statues, jewelry, clothing, handicraft, fruits, incenses and much more. Living in a sustainable, conscious and natural environment in the Verite community gave everyone the chance to experience life in Auroville, the dream of the Mother and the amazing Matrimandir at the center, a meditation and concentration chamber in the shape of a lotus bud emerging from the earth. The one and one-half hour Nia sessions focus on the practice of Nia and the chakra system as it connects to the four realms of life, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual allowing each individual to journey into this energy field and experience a new sensorial reality.

The Nia in India retreat 2010 was particularly blessed by a group of very diverse personalities coming from all corners of the world, all giving themselves entirely to the practice and the sometimes challenging multidimensional reality of India. Their commitment and honesty has even provoked incredible gestures of generosity and given a wonderful sense of community to all of us. This year was surely the culmination of our experience together with Danielle as we now start to walk through our retreat, Nia speaking. We can only be grateful and say thank you to all of you who made this retreat such an amazing event, giving birth to many new lives and rebirthing experiences. We do invite you to come back to Auroville and visit us at our place on the beach which will always be open to our extended family.

With you in the heart and soul,
Philippe and Sabine"

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I will add here that we were hosted by Philippe and Sabine at their home at the beach for the celebration of the culmination of the retreat. Sabine's architectural genius is evident in the design and structure of their home which, although modest in size, can easily hold the expansive beings that gravitate to it. When they say they invite you to visit, they are sincere. Over and over, I felt the truly generous spirit of these two people who now live in my heart as I live in theirs.

Danielle, the third Nia Teacher to complete this outstanding triad wrote:

"I love Nia in India. My intention is to bring Westerners to a quiet corner of India to experience a unique Nia workshop. 2010 was the first time we brought Americans and Europeans at the same time. How delightful to watch them shed layers and then grow as they live harmoniously in community and dance together. At any moment, a group might be speaking English, French or German. The world comes together through Nia in Auroville, India."

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My personal experience of Danielle is that she was the perfect person to organize the journey. With her guidance, I was able to arrange transportation, visa, items to be packed and the courage to travel alone to this faraway place. Her obvious enthusiasm and outstanding skill as a Nia Teacher never wavered. What a combination! Philippe and Sabine are oh so European and Danielle is oh so the best of America.

Did I love the Nia Retreat in India? Yes, yes and yes again. Yes, it was hot and humid and the mosquitoes were aggressive. So what are a few mosquito bites? They disappeared, but my many many beautiful memories will stay with me forever.