What is Oula?

Oula is an inspiring and super fun dance workout! Oula offers the perfect balance between the ‘hip’ and the ‘hippy’ with its structured, easy to follow, fun choreography while at the same time encouraging self-expression and freedom of movement. Because musically, Oula incorporates hip-hop with Hindu and tribal with top 40s, this variety provides a base from which to experience an incredibly broad range of emotion, movement, style and sensation all within one hour.

To read the article recently featured in The Missoulian, follow this link:
http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_2d6160a8-25e8-11e0-a23f-001cc4c03286.html

What can I expect in an Oula class?

Oula generally uses 3-4 movement sequences per song that are cued and repeated throughout the song so that the student can quickly transition from the learning phase to the dancing phase. Each Oula class starts by warming up the body with “feel good moves” that gently bend, fold, curve, and wake up the body to prepare it for the more high-cardio section. This next part of the class not only heightens cardiovascular health, but also lengthens and leans muscles, improves coordination, and enhances creativity. The class ends by taking the energy level back down with some slower tunes, light stretching, and leaves you dripping with sweat, a positive attitude and a confident stride as you walk out the door!

Is this class for me?

This class is for anyone who loves to dance and get down to good music. It’s for people who like to keep their buns firm without having to go to the “gym.”  Because Oula can be done at any intensity level, it is open to everyone at all experience and mobility levels. Oula helps us to listen to the messages our bodies are sending us, to lose ourselves in the joy and celebratory nature of dance, and shift our focus from how we “look” to how we “feel.”

What do I need for class?

Just bring lots of water and wear clothes that make you feel gooooooood and that you can really get down in.

Why do we dance?

Oula was founded on the understanding that there is a direct relationship between mind and body and that by being awake and present in the body, we can more fully experience, understand and balance our emotions and thoughts. By combining the powerful, transformative nature of music with movement, we can engage and integrate the body, mind and spirit to experience whole-being wellness.

Take it from them…

“I’ve started feeling music more since I started Oula. It has added something to my soul and I want to thank you for being who you are. It’s much more than a work out, Kali and I think that is because of what you bring ‘personally’ to the room. Your passion is infectious! I love what you do with the whole mind/body/music thing. It is meditatively unique for me. I talked (my daughter) into joining a gym with me MONTHS ago, to pull myself out of a midlife ‘depression’ and it WORKED!! Really, just needed to MOVE. Now, I think I’m ready to let it change my body so I can recognize that part of myself again as well.” Becky M.

“Have you ever spent a day body surfing in the ocean, and then felt your body still swaying to the waves when you get home that night?  This is what happens after an Oula class. The rhythm of the music and the moves stay inside you. It’s a stirring sensation that’s been life-changing for me.” – Linda W.

“I love Oula for a super flexibility, agility, strength and beauty workout!  Dancing is such a powerful and fun way to express ourselves together. It transforms my body and my mind and I always leave feeling more alive, connected and in balance with my world.” ­- Teresa R.

“Oula brings great music, fun dancing, inspirational teachers and GREAT exercise all together into one amazing work-out.  If you are moved at all by music, or love to dance, you will LOVE this class.  When I’m done with my Oula work-out, I feel I can take on anything that day.” – Stacy O.

“There is just something about dancing…like eating home cooked food with family, like singing at the top of your lungs, like enjoying flowers grown in you garden, it is something you don’t ever have to do, but when you choose to, you are choosing happiness.”  – Brie O.

“Kali worked with my volleyball team for two months – and the girls say that is the best two months of our season. Before the first class the girls were unsure and didn’t think they would like it. After the first class, they asked to do it every week. My team would leave sweaty, tired and laughing and they would talk about the class until the following week. It was excellent team bonding, promoted self-confidence and growth, provided a tough workout and was a ton of fun!” – Jessie G.

“You have created an amazingly original and energizing format that is sure to be a success. It wasn’t until the end of the class that I attended that I realized that you had choreographed all of it and I was struck by your unique talent to not only teach but create dance. You have indeed found your bliss and I had a few moments of my own in your class” –Kathleen G.