Masjah : Evolution, Aloha Spirit , Community Offerings

Masjah: Movement, Awareness, Strength, Joy, Aloha, Health

The Journey of Masjah

In 2009, Masjah opened its doors as the Masjah Center. The story behind it is quite fascinating! The name emerged in a flowy, almost magical way. It all started from a need for space and blossomed from the dreams of a community. When I say I just showed up, I truly mean it!

I happened to be there, working the lunch shift at Alecsies Pizza, which I co-opened with my now ex-fiancé and his family. One day, many women came in, visibly upset because the gym on the second floor had abruptly closed.

At that time, I was launching a webinar on blending fitness with healing modalities and Native wisdoms. So, I started taking emails from those interested... That whole story is for another time, but isn’t it interesting that Masjah has evolved into a community space? It blends various forms of fitness, bodywork, empowerment, healing modalities, and dance!

One of my daughters came up with the name, and it became an acronym. Aloha replaced "and" because she was living in Maui, and we were deeply immersed in the Aloha way...

What Is ALOHA?

The Aloha Spirit is a foundational Hawaiian philosophy. It represents the coordination of mind and heart, focusing on love, compassion, and mutual respect. It’s a way of life that emphasizes kindness, patience, and unity—not just a greeting! It fosters positive relationships with people and nature.

Core Components of the Aloha Spirit

• Definition: Described in Hawaii law as the "coordination of mind and heart within each person," which brings each individual to a state of inner balance.

• Values: It embraces traits like patience, humility (ha'aha'a), harmony (lokahi), and sincerity.

• Connection: It promotes a deep connection to others and the land (ʻāina).

• Action: It involves giving and receiving positive energy, treating others with respect, and, as defined by Auntie Pilahi Paki, "hearing what is not said, seeing what cannot be seen, and knowing the unknowable."

  
  

Living the Aloha Spirit

The Aloha Spirit is practiced daily through:

• Kindness: Showing warmth and sincerity to everyone.

• Generosity: Giving without expecting anything in return.

• Harmony: Living in peace with oneself and the environment.

• Hospitality: Extending a warm welcome to visitors, transcending cultural, religious, and political beliefs.

• Reciprocity: Giving and receiving in balance with people, nature, and the universe.

  
  

We didn’t start with that as an outline. It just became that—embodying principles that also align with other indigenous cultures. This is the Masjah Way.

The Masjah Experience

Every day, I am grateful. I find joy in the diverse groups and people who come together, mostly seamlessly, with respect and deep dedication to what they offer.

So yes, Masjah has fitness, dance, yoga, and healing arts. We offer memberships with a variety of classes available, along with class cards. In addition to the standard gym or wellness center memberships, we have many single instructors and practitioners teaching their special classes for an extra fee.

We host Dance, Organic Flow, Capoeira, Core & Restore, Bone Health Yoga, Sassy Yoga, DanceFit, Circuits, Spinning, and Kids programs. Cape Cod Rowing and Charter School, Movimento Dance, other dance groups, and Nicole from NMD Studios rent space within Masjah. It’s all about sharing space!

Events and Wellness Offerings

We also host a range of events, including:

• Sound Healing

• Medicine Circles

• Shamanic Healing Intro Circles

• Somatics

• Gong and Reiki Certifications

• Ancestral Music Circles

• Past and Future Regression/Progression

• Kundalini Yoga Events

• Ceremonies

  
  

Our wellness professionals offer services like:

• Massage and Bodywork

• Energy Healing

• Shamanic Healing Sessions

• Wholistic Primary Care with an NP accepting new patients

  
  

The amazing part is that it’s ever-changing! We go with the flow, evolving and sustaining, becoming a community for all to explore, thrive, and receive guidance. It’s a sanctuary, a safe space, an incubator of ideas and discovery—a health center, a gym, and a training center.

For me, it’s home. All who come are part of the Masjah family.

Embracing the Masjah Community

I am excited to write here and highlight all aspects of Masjah. Each blog will touch upon something we offer—fitness, healing, dance, groups, collaborations, and the cosmic, mystical, and magical side of Masjah Studios.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for being part of such a vibrant community. ❤️

Masjah Studios aims to be the go-to community hub in Harwich for holistic wellbeing, helping people connect their mind, body, and spirit through diverse fitness, healing, and creative practices, while also fostering a sense of global harmony.