We had the good fortune of connecting with Nirvana Gilbert and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nirvana, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?

To offer something different in the Internal Martial Arts department, so to speak. I wanted the hybrid: Internal and external styles, but from a more inspiring and practical perspectives instead of the usual huffs and puffs involving physicality of any type. So for me it was — still is — the breakthrough between body and mind, the right balance of the two like living in Wu Ji posture (away from polarities and excesses and more towards an empty state). Bottom line, more than a business it is a mission, a genuine movement of bringing different types of Martial Arts forces together for all sorts of people.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

Well, I spend plenty of time in lesson planning, studying and training. Of course, that type of busyness for me is fun and gratifying. The less fun part that too keeps me busy is the typical paperwork that comes with the territory of owning my thing — that part can be tedious but necessary. Then there are meetings with clients, and special times I set aside to review all of my work — aiming to improve it to at all times give my very best to the ones I serve (that is even a matter of self respect).

I am a woman into martial arts, and that right there is not always a door opener (ha, ha). I am atypical in all possible ways. Where everybody is getting in, I am getting out. And where no one is going in, I am more likely already in it. It is not a contrarian mindset type of thing, but a matter of being attracted to the unusual, different and more refreshing.

It is easy to get into Martial Arts and wellness as a student, but a totally different “ball game” when it comes to starting your own thing because you keep the principles you were taught by other masters but ultimately you want your own set of things (as it should be). So it has been a bit challenging at times, but equally rewarding.

I have — after many years of studying and training — created my own Tai Chi routines while keeping the Tai Chi classics front and center as well as all the fundamental energies and so on plus I have brought some Kali principles into those sets/routines as a way of spicing it all up plus adding a bit of more practicality and force to it (Chen style Tai Chi, by the way).

I am the creator of the Tai Chi Sand Bang. It all started in trying to help my students and clients regain their physical balance. I too had in mind for that to serve as a measure to help them get the right tempo between postures plus the toning of the arms without having that as a goal in itself but a byproduct of balance and proper routine development.

I have learned that attachments do not serve us well. We have to be willing to see things from multiple perspectives, and then try those things — without pushing or pulling for the outcomes because in the end what we seek, it too is seeking us.

Bottom line, I am just a simple woman doing my thing. I do whatever it takes for each of my students and clients because it is the right thing to do, because I have passion for what I do. And there is absolutely nothing extraordinary about that. What is really extraordinary is all of those people who have remained by my side doing what I do with me — cannot get better than that!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

My dōjō at the ranch?! (Ha, ha). Well, I reckon that I too can take my best friend to the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, and to Trinidad’s Skateboarding park, plus hiking Sangre de Cristo and Spanish Peaks plus some rock climbing.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
To be honest, all thanks be giving to Life, the Universe, and the Almighty. And from there, a giant and heartfelt thanks to all those very important people in my life. They know quite well who they are.

Eternal thanks to Shoutout magazine! Thank you kindly Nick Ramirez for this beautiful opportunity to share with all of you about my professional journey.

Website: nirvanamotivationalfitness.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/nirvana_gilbert?r=nametag

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nirvana.gilbert

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCyOTsJDuMXwZzaiUe_cETfA

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.