NiaDivas

Whole-body energy flow - what I call mojo flow - is what the Nia Technique is designed to activate. That magically alive physical sensation of infinite time, space, and flow within our own bodies! Based on the Joy of Movement and Natural Time, Nia mixes the tools of music, dance, martial arts, and healing arts to put us in contact with that mojo flow that is already inside of each one of us! The Joy of Movement, Nia principle #1, is that universal Joy (with a capital J) that is experienced when we are connected with ourselves and all that is around us in a boundary-free way that still honors the uniqueness of every one of us, every Body. Natural Time, part of Nia principle #2, invites us to move at our own body's pace and space within the Nia movement forms. Give it a Try: Starting with your feet, sense their connection to the earth, start rolling the feet, and gradually bringing movement up through the ankles, knees, hips, spine (tip to tail), shoulders, elbows, and wrists (including hands and fingers). Now circulate the energy. You may want to start by imagining the energy, and then, by dropping the imagination, sense the circulating energy. Keep moving! Muscles naturally relax and engage in flow. Voila -- mojo flow!

Comments welcome! With Joy, Lesley

During the August Nia TeleCourse, I asked how to embody awareness of sensation -- not "in the head" awareness. Debbie Rosas, co-founder of Nia and leader of the TeleCourse, encouraged me to take more time for myself in sensing and not to be "looking" for sensation. What Debbie was talking about relates to two of the Nia principles: Natural Time and Awareness. In natural time, we are each moving at a pace and level that supports a physical sensation of awareness, which leads to choosing joy in our movements. You may feel a zing and the word, "alive," may pop up in your mind, or you may find yourself smiling spontaneously.

Give it a try: Next time you come to Nia, as you start warming up, let yourself be quiet, go into your own natural time, and allow sensation to arise. Play with it, and if it is evasive--which it can be, give it wink, laugh, and let it go. There will be another time, your time, natural time.