As we embark on the New Year, I've begun a new routine. choreographed by Carlos Rosas, entitled Earthsong. The focus (what we are putting our attention on) of for this wonderful routine is the One Point. The Intent (how we want to be in our Nia experience) is to direct all our movements from our body's center of gravity, the One Point.

The One Point is inspired from the martial art Akido, one of the 9 movement forms of Nia. The One Point, also referred to as the hara, is located approximately two inches below the navel, in the center of the pelvis. It is also where we sense our physical "center of gravity". Throughout the Earthsong routine, we harness the power of our mind to connect the the sensation of moving from this concentrated center. By connecting to the One Point we are able to sense our body feeling more grounded, centered and stable. I am grateful that my "exercise program" (read: Nia!) includes improving my balance, training my body to adapt to quick movements and then slow down and stay connected to my center. I am finding the beauty of Earthsong, and studying my relationship to the One Point, to be incredibly relaxing as well. I am tugging less on the muscles of my limbs and instead enjoying their natural range of motion. My spine is particularly fond of "coiling" around the One Point, which is healing some of the stiffness in my neck and between my shoulder blades. Today, being the first class of the new year, we focused on embracing our New Years Intention, dancing with it and planting it firmly in our One Point. And though we recognize we may waiver from our New Years Intention (just as we may waiver staying connected to our One Point), we honored ourselves for the process...the process of recognizing the joy in learning, accepting the joy of where we are, and feeding our new Intention until it becomes easily accessible to us. The dance of Earthsong and the study of the One Point supports me finding my center amidst change. Dance with us!