Seems that every year at this time I am either inspired to share something or motivated to make time to share something. Well, today I am inspired by some research I was doing for some new graphics for Kiwa Dance Fitness. Over the past couple of years, my company has been growing. As my company grew and I retired from representing a fitness brand, I needed to create a Kiwa brand with graphics that would initiate conversation.
I already had chosen the plumeria as part of Kiwa’s graphic identity. This flower represents new beginnings and embodies the core values of love and kindness. Magically, plumeria is used for the healing of the inner child so, again, it goes to the core of Kiwa as we play on the dance floor.
Outwardly, we may not look or move as we did as a child; but that child still lives in us, striving to be free and move/play with abandon. When we join the others on the dance floor, we know the “younger” us is allowed out. We can dance, sing, laugh without restraint. We are allowed to cherish our “me time,” love ourselves, and enjoy life and friendships as we once did.
Since a lone flower often needs “garnish,” I chose to add a monstera leaf when needed. In Eastern cultures, the monstera represents honoring elders; and in Hawaii, it symbolizes a ray of hope. Again, the symbolism of a simple leaf appropriately fit with the Kiwa spirit as our focus is to our honor elders by helping them remain active, giving them hope for a life not dependent on others.
What is a spirit animal? By definition, it is an animal which helps guide and protect and often times whose characteristics that person shares or embodies. A person may have different animal guides at different times in their lives; but their spirit animal stays with them for life, acting as their guardian spirit. I cannot choose my personal spirit animal (it must choose me), but I can choose a guardian spirit for Kiwa Dance Fitness.
What characterizes the Kiwa ohana? At first, all the usual animals came to mind – wolf, lion, bear – but then, I remembered a graphic from my original website, a turtle tagged with “speed doesn’t matter, forward is forward.” All of us are proceeding at our own pace, still moving forward on the dance floor and in life.
The turtle spirit animal is a relaxed spirit deity. A power animal that moves at its own pace, seemingly unconcerned. “Everything takes time” would be the turtle spirit animal’s main philosophy of life. This spirit animal understands the value of dedication and time. It genuinely lives in the moment and appreciates the little things. Like the plumeria, you call on the turtle spirit animal when you need to heal your inner child.
The Kiwa ohana are survivors, we have persevered global changes and personal traumas. We have learned to appreciate what we have and our need to maintain our sense of wonder and appreciation for the nature around us. We understand that even if time does not heal all wounds, we will wear our scars proudly knowing that with time will come perspective.
All of these symbols resonate with me and are representative of Kiwa Dance Fitness. So if you see me out an about locally or globally, I will often be sporting plumeria, monstera, or turtles.
KIWA dance fitness 