"One is not born, but rather-becomes a woman"

With Teresa Maria, at Salty Pines, I finally found a source of sacred guidance I had been searching for my whole life. Discovering the path towards the precious knowledge of how to embody the beauty, the power, and the vulnerability of being a woman. 

That kind of knowledge was not available—not in any space I grew up in, and lived my whole life - nor in my family, nor in my culture. If it ever did exist, it was buried—silenced, condemned, or erased. 

My Healing with heels journey has meant letting go of the many layers of defense mechanisms and roles I had learned to survive with— as a young girl, a mother, a wife, and a mature woman. The process of releasing all of that through dance is still unfolding…

 I can truly say that I have never felt sexier than I do now, nearing 60—not because anyone else agrees, but because I find myself absolutely adorable. It's fun and extremely empowering on many levels. 

Simone de Beauvoir wrote, "One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman." That sentence takes on a whole new meaning the moment I put on my heels and lean into the pole. Real womanhood isn't something society defines for us—it's something we embody when we let the beauty of our bodies tell its truth. 

What a spell Teresa has shown us to free ourselves from—and what a legacy to pass on to the next generation - girls and boys alike!