Qoya is based on the simple idea that through movement, we remember. We Remember our essence as Wise, Wild and Free.
​
Wise, Wild and Free draw reference to the 3 movement forms that are practiced during a Qoya class:
​
Wise - The Wisdom of Yoga and wisdom based traditions such as yoga, meditation, contemplation
Wild - The Creative expression in dance
Free - the freedom to feel nourishment in our body through feminine movement and to expand that capacity to feel nourished in all areas of our life
​
Qoya also helps us remember those things that can never be put into words. Like when you see a sunset and your whole body exhales. When you are on a road trip and feeling the sensation of adventure. When you get caught up in the contagious laughter of a child or feel the warmth of your lover's body in bed while it is raining outside. The feeling of accomplishment when you completed work you are really proud of, or when you catch up with an old friend and at the end of the conversation you really feel like everything is going to be ok.
​
Qoya is designed to feel how the body and movement are a portal to remembering, to feel our perspective shift from going through the motions to savoring life as sacred. Qoya does this through classes, workshops, rituals, personal movement rituals, retreats/pilgrimages, teacher trainings, offering free videos online, and a blog in the hopes that all that feel the call to remember can be supported on their journey.
​
Qoya classes combine the traditional benefits of fitness - including strength, flexibility, balance, endurance, and agility training - with a unique empowering approach that is feminine, expressive, and most importantly, fun. Qoya is different in that it offers a shift in consciousness that evolves the way we have been to taught to move our bodies as women. Drawn from the wisdom of Yoga, creative expression in dance, and the pleasure found in sensual movement. Qoya helps women enjoy and revel in their feminine bodies. In other words, the focus becomes more on the enjoyment of the experience in the present moment vs. all the traditional motivation factors of exercise ( losing weight, toning, burning calories, stretching, reducing stress, etc.). All those become pleasurable bio-products, but not the reason you go. The reason you go is your joy.
​
One of the main difference is that Qoya addresses all parts of a woman: mind, body, emotions, energetic, spirit and soul - seeing her as human & divine. Qoya explores dancing the fullness that it is to be a woman in her body in the following ways:
​
• Ways we can build strength: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual
• Ways we can be flexible: not only in our hamstrings, but going through the flow of our day.
• Ways we can be agile: like a child who falls down and bounces right back up.
• Ways we can savor: an exhale that takes us into a hip circle of remembering the gift of being a woman.
• Ways we can Love and honor - what is - as it is - and still dare to dream bigger dreams
• Ways we can say YES.
​
A Qoya class is different because it speaks to all the different levels of awareness in a woman: physical body, mental state, emotions, spiritual connection and energy and addresses the whole woman. As an instructor, you speak to Her as whole, lacking in nothing and from the deepest part of your own awareness, speak to that in Her. Imagine a whole world where that's how we released to one another seeing the human and divine aspects in each amazing woman.
​
"Qoya connects me to my "Spiritual authority." Qoya represents a Lineage of Wisdom. It's the Grandmother, The Grandfather, the Mother, the Father, the Sister, the Best friend, the Teacher - the sacred place you go to whenever you feel something in your life, whether that be love, fear, or anything in between. You know for sure that the one thing you can do to feel it more deeply, to come into balance and/or right relationship with whatever you are feeling, is to DANCE with it. You move it through your entire body in a way that feels as good as it possibly can. Qoya is an ancient medicine. It's like a treasure chest of healing modalities that will connect you to your essence - that which is wise, wild and free."
- Angharad Picton
​