In my last post, I wrote about what I felt was at the Heart of Nia--when you peel away all the other important stuff...what keeps Nia alive.

 This week, I'd like to discuss what I feel makes a Nia class unique. How did I come up with the list. Well I asked myself...if you took this out of Nia, would it still be Nia? For example...dancing barefoot. Nia was designed to be done barefoot. However, wearing shoes doesn't detract from the what Nia is. It's possible to enjoy Nia in shoes.

So here's my brief list. I feel because of these components, Nia is the uniquely beautiful and incredibly effective experience that she is:

1)  Relationship to the Music- Nia music is sensational! A variety of music inspires a variety of body movements, emotional gestures and overall body conditioning. So in Nia, we listen to the music, we let the music and the artist tell us their story, and we dance our interpretation of it. Nia music that comes from Nia headquarters is personally selected and compiled just for Nia teachers.

 2) Ongoing Study of the Technique- Yup, it's named "The Nia Technique" for a reason. Nia is a body of work that can be studied, in depth, for conditioning and personal-growth. In Nia, there are 13 principles for each belt level. The first belt is the White Belt, focusing on exploring and discovering our physical body. We have a total of 4 belt levels to progress through, each building upon the other's foundation.  The 13 principles gives us direction, focus and a place to grow in our relationship with our body, mind, emotions and spirit. Among the Principles of the White Belt are Nia's 52 moves. Specifically chosen from dance, martial arts and the healing arts, they gives us a vocabulary of movement which to study, honor and condition our body. Though there are correct ways to do the 52 moves, the important thing is to honor that you are practicing these moves and developing your skill.

3) Class Format-Seven Cycles of a Nia Class--doesn't really sound too exciting..but blending through the seven cycles is what sets the stage for the magic to take place.  Nia is an effective body-mind movement class because of the cycles guide us through a class. The cycles most unique to a group exercise experience are: Cycle 1: Setting our focus and intention (what we want to work on and how we want to feel when we leave class) and Cycle 2: Stepping In- consciously leaving distractions behind and becoming present.  Cycle 6, toward the end of class, is Floorplay. This is unique because that's exactly what we do...we play on the floor, with the floor and with gravity.  Who needs "floor work" when you can have floorplay!

4)  Freedance- So your following along with the choreography and all of a sudden the teachers says "Okay, this part is  a freedance". YIKES what's that??? It's easy! Freedance is "anything goes movement-wise".  And once ya let go a litte, quiet the mind a bit, it's really a very fun and effective way to express yourself and move the way your body wants. In freedance, you can reclaim your own natural movements as you enjoy the music.

 Next week, I'll discuss what makes Nia so effective and unique at conditioning the body. Till then...Dance on, Live on!!

With love, Jill P.