We are Truly Magical Beings ...

With over 700 muscles, 200 bones, and 13 primary joints, we can move in miraculous ways. Taking these 13 joints, starting with the left side, we have the ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, wrist; spine in the center; then switching to the right side, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle. Did you know that by moving any three of these primary joints at a time, we have 286 different combinations of movements available to us? With so many combinations possible, we can see how Nia, which is designed to engage the whole of our being, brings us health, healing, and joy through movement.

This summer, Jill and Lesley invite you to play and learn about your magical being through NiaDivas' Summer Treasure Hunt. Each week, for 8 weeks, we will email you a clue of the Body's Way. There will be movement exercises to play with and ideas for taking Nia into your everyday world. In each week's email, we will include the answer to the previous week's clue.

We wish you a summer of discovery, discovering the magic of your being. To set sail and start us off, take heed that the hunt focuses on the body's 13 primary joints.

Below is your first clue and ways to energize and engage in every day life...

Your Body's Treasure: Clue #1

I am an articulated hinge joint -- that means that I can bend in different directions. I am also a shock absorber for every step you take. I lovingly connect your feet to your legs. There are two of me, one on each side of your body. Thanks to me, you can circle your feet and point and flex your toes.

I Am Energized By...

Rocking Around the Clock. Start by taking off your shoes and socks and stretching and wiggling your feet and toes. Maybe even give yourself a quick foot massage. Then standing with your feet slightly apart and no wider than hip width, roll around the outside edges of your feet sensing the edges of the back, right, front, and left sides. Sound the word wow to heighten the sense of playfulness and imagine balancing and rolling on top of a ball, in a hula-hoop motion. Repeat in the other direction. Rocking Around the Clock improves agility in your feet and ankles, so that regardless of the locomotion speed, you have control.

Additional Nia moves to energize this joint include: Squish Walk; Duck Walk; Releve; Toes In, Out, Parallel.

In Every Day Life...

Every time you step, lead with your heel and imagine your foot as the mouth of an alligator opening. As you walk, sense the lightness of being by imagining rainbows of air filling your ankles. Keep your movement light and resilient by walking on clouds.

This week's treasure will be revealed next week.

• To receive weekly clues by email, subscribe to the NiaDivas E-Newsletter.
• To receive weekly clues by website, visit this site each Tuesday July 8-August 26, 2008.

Sincerely,
Your Treasure Hunt Guides and Nia Divas Lesley Tinker and Jill Pagano
Certified Nia Instructors
Inspirational Fitness for an Extraordinary You