Welcome to Week #2 of NiaDivas' Nia Summer Groovin'! 

July 11, 2009

Feeling jazzy from week #1?  Yes!  Continuing on our body journey, with week #2, we highlight spirited Duncan Dance in everyday life, Feet and Ankles x-ray anatomy, and Duck Walk FitTip.  

Onward!

Duncan Dance--Spirited Honest Movement

• Physically, Duncan Dance illuminates our spine and moves us higher with the lightness of wind under our heels.
• Mentally, Duncan Dance offers us spontaneity, freedom to play with nature and to explore the world with the eyes and mind of a child.
• Emotionally, Duncan Dance unfolds into the magic of life, guiding us into expressing our authentic ease.
• Spiritfully, Duncan Dance connects us to play, joy, love, and creativity.

Isadora Duncan, early 20th century diva of her own dance, traveled the world expressing and teaching her unique style of free authentic movement.  Known for dancing barefoot and wearing a white tunic with little underclothing to bind, freedom was always available.

Watch in your everyday life how Duncan Dance expresses.  What free playful movement and spontaneity do you see?  The tree tops swaying with leaves reaching high into the sky.  Birds swirling and dipping through currents of air. Children skipping across a playground.  Summer!  What else do you see?  Duncan Dance your way through your week and experience what happens.  

Sway & Shift. I'm taking the course with everyone else so I'm going to post my notes, experiences I'm having. Beware...I'm not going to censor and I'm not going to check for proper spelling or english. This is my off-the-cuff- journal entry. I'm just making it more public.

Week One: One Pleasure. I've been walking the dog alot for exercise and my feet, calves and hamstrings are paying for it. They are sore. In particular the tip of my heel where the achilles tendon connects. The soles of my feet are sore also. I think that is from all the flip flops and I've been doing a lot of standing. Another area of tenderness has been the back of my ribcage. It's from working on the computer. I sit forward, I lean to one side. I cross my legs and bundle myself up in all sort of positions. I also get caught up in my computer work and lack paying attention to when my body is saying enough sitting!! Get UP! I'm learning to listen.

This week my movement activities were walking, using my pilates machine, a few nia songs, the 5 stages of self healing a few times a week this am, and some yoga. I've been waking up early so I can spend some time with my body before the kids and the full day arises. I like that.

The story of my body is that it is strong. And also doesn't like to sit. However lately, I haven't been feeling as strong and that bothers me. Doing gardening or grabbing a bag of dirt seems heavier. I carried my son (he's almost 8) up the stairs to his bedroom one night when he fell asleep on the couch and I could feel my legs straining. I want to challenge and improve on the strength I have without giving way to mobility and flexibility.

Welcome to NiaDivas' Nia Summer Groovin'! 

July 4, 2009

Starting now, weekly for 9 weeks, Lesley and Jill invite you on a summer journey of Nia's nine movement forms in your everyday life.  Jazz, Duncan Dance, Modern Dance, T'ai Chi, Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, Yoga, Feldenkrais, and the Alexander Technique.  We will also highlight x-ray anatomy of the body's structure, plus provide Nia Fit Tips.  By seeing how Nia expresses in everyday life, how your body's bones are arranged, and playing with Nia Fit Tips, it's likely that you will find yourself moving in ways you didn't know you had in you, and loving how it feels!

Let's get started!

Jazz Dance--Fun, Showmanship and Expression

• Physically, Jazz moves energy quickly, in short, precise, explosive lines.
• Mentally, Jazz helps organize chaos into order.
• Emotionally, Jazz splashes expression all over your face and body.
• Spiritfully, Jazz offers the opportunity to explore sassy, soulful, and sexy.

During the week, watch in your everyday life how jazz expresses.  What snap, crackle and pop do you see?  What better jazz expression than the glitter and glamour of Fourth of July Fireworks! Another example, the jackhammers I see at the downtown construction sites on my way to work remind me of jazz -- quick, short, precise movement.  If I were a jackhammer, how would I move?  How would you move? 

Last weekend a group of 8 NiaDivas Members and Jill headed over to Blue Heron Ranch (Nia Teacher Randee Fox's Nia Studio) for a master class and play shop with Nia Trainer (Houston) Helen Terry. Oooh, what fun we had! First off, Blue Heron Ranch is stunning. Especially so for us "city folk". The expansive ranch lawn, gorgeous horses and adorable Labadors is both relaxing and stimulating. The studio, featuring artwork by Randee, is comfortable, spacious and inviting. For me, it was like a mini-retreat!

 Helen Terry is a dynamic and centered Nia Trainer from Houston. She invited us into the music of Queen Latifah while integrating the moves from Nia Routine Sexi. Oh, yes...and she through in a little Santanna (Sex is the song, I think) to really get us moving. The "master class" was blissful---the group glowing!

 The play shop invited us to listen more intimately. Taking a beautiful song from I believe Dead Can Dance, each Nia teacher at the playshop represented a different instument. While that instrument played the teacher freedance their interpretation. And when the instrument was silent, so was the teacher in stillness. This was a very effective and quite beautiful way to train our ears and also to experience the relationship between sound and silence. All students practice together finding a deeper appreciation for the many sounds of that make up a song.

The two-hours flew by and we certainly all agreed how we wanted MORE!

Last weekend a group of 8 NiaDivas Members and Jill headed over to Blue Heron Ranch (Nia Teacher Randee Fox's Nia Studio) for a master class and play shop with Nia Trainer (Houston) Helen Terry. Oooh, what fun we had! First off, Blue Heron Ranch is stunning. Especially so for us "city folk". The expansive ranch lawn, gorgeous horses and adorable Labadors is both relaxing and stimulating. The studio, featuring artwork by Randee, is comfortable, spacious and inviting. For me, it was like a mini-retreat!

 Helen Terry is a dynamic and centered Nia Trainer from Houston. She invited us into the music of Queen Latifah while integrating the moves from Nia Routine Sexi. Oh, yes...and she through in a little Santanna (Sex is the song, I think) to really get us moving. The "master class" was blissful---the group glowing!

 The play shop invited us to listen more intimately. Taking a beautiful song from I believe Dead Can Dance, each Nia teacher at the playshop represented a different instument. While that instrument played the teacher freedance their interpretation. And when the instrument was silent, so was the teacher in stillness. This was a very effective and quite beautiful way to train our ears and also to experience the relationship between sound and silence. All students practice together finding a deeper appreciation for the many sounds of that make up a song.

The two-hours flew by and we certainly all agreed how we wanted MORE!