Okay...well last week I was on summer vacation with the family. And even though I don't take a vacation from my relationship with my body, I do admit that I didn't spend any time to Week three of the lessons. So, I'm moving right to week four and will sneak week three's in at another time.  I'm choosing to not beat myself up about this. And instead to let go of "I should have" and just joyfully jump into this week #4's lesson. This may serve as a reminder to those of you who might miss a week--"don't sweat it". The lessons aren't going any where. You can engage with them whenever you choose. Even if it is just for a few potent moments!

This week's lesson is about: XRay Anatomy, Witnessing and Natural Time.  These tools are already biting me in the butt (getting my attention)! After being on vacation for a week, I'm "witnessing" some negative self talk about how I feel about certain body parts that took the burden of sitting alot. I'm feeling "flabby" and unconditioned. And I don't like it! How is that for Witnessing my self talk. I am Witnessing that I want to engage my body through conditioning more often. Witnessing that I personally like feeling more conditioned.  I also have been working with XRay anatomy--seeing my structure, and sensing my structure. I noticed that when I am in the car, my cervical spine collapses and I end up elevating my chin and dropping the back of my skull toward my shoulders. Not too comfortable on the extensor muscles in my neck, this kind of slouched neck position. Using Alexander technique, the energy of up and out from the crown of the head, I am able to get more comfort and length and ease. By using, Xray Anatomy and Witnessing, I catch myself in this awkward, and seemingly habitual, position of my head (especially while riding/driving in a car!).

I'm looking forward to taking a Nia Class tommorrow morning where I can continue with this week's lesson.

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? 

A very courageous woman asked me how much longer we were sticking to our current Earthsong routine. After telling her, "for a while longer", she honestly replied she was getting bored with it. And my reaction (in my head) was...you think YOU are bored with it, try teaching it every class of the week. What, a Nia teacher admitting, yup, I was getting bored. Now, I Love Nia...and I love teaching, so I knew there is more to this single element of wistfully feeling "bored". For me, this boredom meant I was stuck in my movement patterns and habits, had stopped really listening to the music with my body, and was lacking creative energy. Having just finished our first Welcome to Nia Class, where Lesley and I discussed how to energize movements, I turned to the 9 Movement Forms to break me out of my movement stigma and reenegize my body's conditioning. Any whew...what a discovery!

In Thursday's evening class, we still used Earthsong. The focus was on Energizing with the 3 Dance Arts: modern dance, duncan dance and jazz dance. WOW! What an entirely different experience allowing ourselves the experience and energy of these unique dance forms. Energizing our moves with modern dance we explored loading our legs with gravity, creating shapes in space and encouraging ourselves to be languid and emotive while connected to our base (legs). While energizing with Duncan dance, I found the upward magnetic energy in fully expanding the area around my heart and muscles in my chest. Allowing my movement to express a more carefree, child-like expression. With the energy of jazz, I found encouraging students to "be more out there" to "look and love it!". Nia movements laced with jazz have a snappy, confident-feel,--expressive and peppy!