Align Your Story: An Integrative Writing Course

At last I discovered a writing mentor, Nadia Colburn, who dares to value both the craft of writing and one’s personal journey of body, mind, spirit and voice. What I did not expect was how intentionally and lovingly Nadia would hold herself, her students, and the world to that vision throughout the class. Her profoundly powerful lessons, readings, supporting yoga movements, meditations, and guidance in the weekly phone conversations, met me exactly where I was on my own path. Her insight and candor reached directly to parts of my own unconscious, which responded with an unexpected and welcome shift in a long-standing, recurring dream. Working with Nadia offers this kind of depth of internal movement and self-integration that infuses new life and strength into one’s path and voice.

I was a student in Nadia's Align Your Story: Personal Writing Retreat this past summer. I had taken Nadia's in person writing workshops in the past, and I found this class deepened my connection to my writing and supported me in establishing practices in meditation, yoga, and journaling, which I've wanted to do for years. Having the material available in text, audio, and video form, with lessons, close readings, suggested readings, writing assignments, as well as meditation and yoga, gave me lots of ways to access the course, which I sometimes did while making dinner, other times when I found free time in my day. I was also a participant in several of the conference calls, which were wonderful, and had a productive and enlightening in person coaching session with Nadia to finish off the experience. Now I'm back in the in person writing workshop, I'm hoping to continue with all I learned in the online course Since taking Align Your Story, my writing, my sense of self, and my ability to find my center have all shifted to a place of greater clarity. Thank you, Nadia!

"I feel deeply grateful to Nadia Colburn for all the thought, care, expertise, and heart she has put into developing Align Your Story, which is evident in every detail of the course content, and which shines through her extremely warm, welcoming, and responsive facilitation and communication, as well. I feel empowered by participating in this course, as it has encouraged me to write with more courage, vulnerability, freedom, and authenticity and to appreciate the ways in which my yoga and meditation practices nourish my writing and creativity, and vice versa, linking mindful expression and reflection in an integrated process. I found my way into the course during a time of navigating several transitions and personal challenges this winter, including the loss of a loved one, the grief that followed, and new beginnings in my life, as well. In the midst of all this, I found that the tools Nadia offered were a helpful way to process what I was experiencing, offering both a chance to look inward as well as to join together with a community of other women, who inspired me through the writing they shared and the recognition that, although we were only connected by email and phone, we were accompanying one another on transformational journeys. I am excited to know that this program will continue to be available to others and hope that all who participate will find it as healing, stimulating, and liberating as I did. Thank you, Nadia!"

When I first saw the Nadia's advertisement I knew I had to be in this course: it spoke directly to me, to my present moment and feelings. Nadia's dedication is amazing, she always encouraged us to develop an own personal voice, without any judgement. She accompanied us through this, sometimes hard, but always rewarding path. Diving into yourself is always a challenging task, however, Nadia was there to help you and to spread an invisible net to hold you. She leads us through roads that were unknown for me. The combination of readings, writing exercises, yoga practices and meditation, made me unfold layer by layer until I found me, my real me, myself. Moreover, she gave us the opportunity to join an unforgettable journey that have brought me bliss and peace. I now know that I can not only be creative but also a conscious citizen with a lot of to offer to the world.

I joined your course at a time when I was experiecing a bottomiess pit of intense grief related to the traumatic abortion of my family life and the excruciating pain related to the quasi loss of my beloved daughter. My flow was frozen and writing had not happened for a long time. I was overwhelmingly overwhelmed and doubted that any writing group experience would offer me much, and so it was a sweet surprise when after the first class my frozen river began to thaw and writing began to flow once again :-) Oh, what a relief! Nadia, your writing course is unlike any I've ever participated in. You seem to take a holistic approach to writing and in this holistic approach every aspect of my being was attended to. When I met you at a meditation retreat I immediately sensed in you a generosity and kindness that touched me deeply. Standing next to you I sensed an angelic presence that was soothing and healing. It was my experience that your course is infused with this healing energy. I had participated in writing courses in the past, though none as healing as this one. Your patience and your reverence for my inner guidance allowed for a deep resting within and from that place of resting the frozenness began to thaw and my writing flow returned. Oh what a joy! It was my experience that you provided an exquisitely personalized container - a womb of sorts - within which I could begin to write of my harrowing experiences. You were attuned to my particular needs, and honored my pace even when it appeared that I was lagging behind. Thanks to you and the warm and nutrient-rich womb, three new blogs were formed, one more cathartic than the other :-) I hope to participate in more of your writing courses in the future, as a few more blogs are longing to move from the darkness within to the light without :-) Much gratitude for holding me with such reverence and grace in my time of need.

This was a really great class--such a wonderful selection of readings and lessons. I listened to them several times, and it really helped me commit with new energy to my own writing. I highly recommend this course!

"Align Your Story" was the first online course I've ever taken, and I am so glad I took that leap. Nadia is an amazing facilitator - so warm, welcoming, and inquisitive. Her generous style lends itself well to learning and inner growth. I felt completely held by the group, even though I never met anyone in person! I am deeply grateful for having had this opportunity to combine my interests in writing, meditation, and yoga. I now have a new way to approach all three.