Feedback from Students participating in Whirling Mandala & Gurdjieff Movements Sacred Dance Classes, live and online : 



The experience of whirling is a non-experience : the room dissolves in turning, the body becomes light, the mind empties. Thanks to Zia for introducing me to the realm of the void. 
~ Maria, Rome, Italy 

The best thing that could happen in this lockdown is that I had an opportunity to learn Gurdjieff Movements from Zia Nath. She teaches with great patience, step by step and is very precise in making us learn the movements so swiftly. Also she gives individual attention to each participant. Making us follow the steps slowly and naturally is what i liked the best in her teaching. She also explains well about the gurdjieff movements. To be precise her session took me to a wonderful balance and  made me thoughtless as well as aware. 
~ Priya, India

 The first time i was introduced to the Sacred Dances - Gurdjieff movements was in my first whirling workshop with Zia six years ago. To help the class center themselves to prep for whirling, she taught one part of one movement. And i have been awestruck since than. The beauty of the movements is that they provide the perfect opportunity to show you & allow you to experience what it means to be in a state of relaxed awareness and in a state of flow. Its a great way to really understanding one's self as well as expanding their awareness. While doing the movements, one gets intimately acquainted with the voices in one's head, the power of being in the now, of enjoying the process without obsessing on an end-goal, achieving a state of flow & brilliance that emerges from within in that state of flow. And for those who are not very esoterically, the Movements teach a lot from a practical stand-point. They are truly a tool to learn how to learn. To be able to learn movements, one needs to let go of expectations of their self, to let go impatience, to build perseverance, to develop the ability to be available & present (i.e to not get attached to their mistakes or the moments they perfected the action), to focus on strengths. I am one of those who thinks everybody should learn atleast a few of the Movements - infact they should be brought into the school system introducing them to the youth. 
~ RC, Mumbai, India

I have attended a few Gurdjieff Classes from Zia. Zia is a wonderful facilitator. She manages all of us individually even in this online course. She explained about the movements in detail as we were many who were new to the group. The experience was so relaxing. I learned how to be centered with awareness in the group. We shared our experiences. It helped go deeper in meditation. Being in the center of the cyclone we can touch the silence, that's the beauty of gurdjieff movements. 
~ Maitri, Mumbai, India 

Zia is a accomplished and dedicated Gurdjieff movement and Whirling practitioner. The grace and fluidity of her dance movements takes you to another world. It is as if the dancer becomes the dance, Zia is a patient and caring teacher. The whole experience of learning from her becomes a spiritual experience.
~ Anita Bhatia, Mumbai, India

I have taken several online classes conducted by Zia both on Gurdjieff Movements and Whirling, and it has been a beautiful experience. The first ever class that I took with Zia was on whirling, and Zia guided us gently helping us understand the essence of practice, tap into our subconscious and connect deeply within - on soul level, all the while helping us stay centered and grounded. I just knew, after that one class, that I will be Zia's student for life! As for Gurdjieff Movements, given the complexity they can be bit intimitading! but Zia breaks the movements into these simple and fun steps, helping us stay connected to the spiritual aspect of the practice and not get lost in the technicality of the moves. These classes are a source of deep self exploration and spiritual experience. And I am so very thankful to Zia for her wisdom, energy, guidance and for inspiring us. Thanks for introducing us to these wonderful practices, Zia!
~ Amreet, Seattle, USA 

I first experienced Realms Of Dance & met Zia at a Sufi Whirling Workshop roughly 4 years ago. The classes were few and far between at that time. Within the lockdown period, however its been possible to attend most of the classes. For me whirling is an experience - a journey and Zia is my guide. She is always present to ensure I whirl correctly or assures me when I need clarity. The selection of music, the gentle but firm tone of voice, the demonstrations are all part of her charm. Most importantly the sharing of sacred space of silence post whirls are so elegantly and beautifully managed by her. If I may use an analogy, I am like a paper boat that she places in water. Wherever I float, her watchful eye follows and when I am stuck she gently nudges. Never pushing or pulling merely being present for me while I go through my own experience, my own journey.. facilitated by her. 
~ Sunanda, Mumbai, India

Zia's classes are a delight, I emerge from them light and clear, silent, open and grounded. I feel like she is such a good teacher partly because she is such a good student of life, present, learning and evolving. I've participated in different classes she's offered over almost 10 years and they are creative and often result in fresh insights that I've been able to synthesize into my personal practice. Even online she is able to hold space for a broad range of people. Beginners and more experienced student alike taste the deeper, mystical aspects of the work because she communicates the essence with simplicity and empathy. 
~ Qusai Kathawala, Mumbai, India

I've wanted to be in my simple quiet space, but since childhood I've got a lot of opportunities which were great.. but this put the subtle feeling in me, that I have to be an over achiever. The craziness continued, and I reached a stage where I was saturated. I needed space to empty myself, but the outside situation kept throwing me out of balance. I started learning yoga and practicing meditation, this made me sane again. Fortunately, I came across the whirling class, I felt this is something unknown and had a strong curiosity about it. Met Zia and many others who are wonderful in their own way. I felt a little insecure and inadequate initially. Zia assured us that we do not have to judge ourselves. The entire process of whirling, learning the concepts that Zia shared, being centered in meditation was just what I needed. The curiosity became a connection, the connection felt very good, I moved back to my center lovingly. Now I'm getting my balance back, and I'm much more easy on myself. I have more positive thoughts since the stillness keeps me centered in my space. I want to progress gradually and lovingly. 
~ Sarabjit Chadha, India

For a very long time, I have been wanting to learn whirling and I have been in love with Rumi's poetry too. I am not sure which love affair started first! I did come across your name but you were in Mumbai and I was in Coimbatore and so though the desire was great, I did not see how the ends would meet. And then, came Covid and the lockdown and along with it the flurry of gracious souls offering sessions for all of us to help tide the wave together. I have explored so many sessions in these five to six months and delved into many diverse areas. However, your sessions are the ones that spoke to me. I come home to myself each time I whirl and each time I face the chaos in me during  the Gurdjieff Movement classes, it is as simple and profound as that. Deep gratitude Zia, for all that you do. 
~ Anjana, India

Words are not enough to thank you for the learning that I have gained through the whirling class. It looks simple to just go round and round, however the way you have explained during the class that the stillness is within which one need to find and falcrum is the center. The posture understanding while whirling is so important and its communicated so well from your end. The music and the whirling experience is different, it takes oneself to higher connection. Have done beginners and three advance classes and I have to say each class brings new learning and new experience. The experience once led to Haiku which will like to share : Love is simple, do not complicate it. Let it feel you. Let it be flow. Recently when I did the Gurdjieff movements here the learning of being in chaos still the attention to be in present ad not tame the mind. Expanding the awareness further wherein letting everything is accepted and still attention is not diverted. This is new type of learning and lot more to learn in this. Glad I did the class and took on this journey. Thank you so much for all the sharing and learning. 
~ Ritu Gupta, India

I didn't expect to get into contact with Zia and able to attend her online classes on Whirling Mandala and Gurdjieff movements in this time of pandemic. The ocean of love Osho has provided me with this opportunity when the right timing came. Zia is gifted with the ability to inspire and bring us to self-reflection through her careful and sensitive guidance. Though the classes are online, I don't feel I miss anything. We were given thorough feedbacks after every round of practice and our individual problems are well taken care of. Besides, Zia sets a calm and comfortable atmosphere so that it feels easy for us to open up and share our experiences. For me, the lessons are not only about techniques but also about self-discovery and growing understanding about my body and its language. If i can only say three words about the classes, the words would be : Lovely, Natural and Healing. I would love to invite you all to deep dive into your nature by participating in sacred dance classes with Zia.
~ Sally, Norway

I have championed participating in online workshops and webinars in the last few months. what I have observed is that its very easy for the participant's attention to waver because of many distractions. What really helps to hold the attention and enrich the participation is when the facilitator makes the session interactive, encourages sharing at each point and observes each participant during the class and gives helpful feedback. This is exactly how online sacred dances and whirling classes are with Zia! I have felt my practice progressively deepen with each practice class. The online offerings by Zia this lockdown has helped stay connected within and without. Dear Zia, I am grateful to you for these offerings and much more. 
~ Nirali Shah, Mumbai, India 

It is an honor to share a few words with you. Like Osho had said in one of its discourses that it is impossible for a disciple to know a guru completely unless one becomes a guru at self. So i am unable to express exactly about the grandeur  realm you live in and operate from. But I will try. I have been meditating/living in awareness all day smoothly since 15 years now through vipassana. And one day I had the opportunity to participate into your whirling group and I was wonder struck. It takes a while in Vipassana to settle down and get into the zone of vacuum/nothingness. IN Vipassana you settle down mind layer by layer by being a witness. It takes time. And superbly in whirling, one can either whirl or just fall down dizzy if mind is thinking. One is either on this side of the gestalt and whirling. Or is unable to whirling since the mind is still thinking . It was so amazing and razor sharp that the zone of nothingness is available instantly if one is guided rightly. I have never experienced any other technique so robust and so quick for anyone to enter into ones own center. And i recommend you a lot on quora for all the seekers having high body energy type. High body energy type of seekers dont settle easily into Vipassana I noticed. Many youngsters need your guidance in their journey. I have also attended your zoom sessions on Gurdjieff movements . Although fell short in matching with your frequency. Your sessions are always graceful and eyeopeners for introspection. The whirling session led by you resulted with the gestalt shift in me like a grace. Whirling learned from you that day placed me into another zone i didn't had access to earlier. Wish I could explain. I wish all the co-travelers with you a very enriching journey ahead in smiles. 
~ Swami Dharam Tirth, India