Terre PruittNia and Feldenkrais
Posted by terrepruitt on December 12, 2009
Now Feldenkrais in Nia is not so much a movement as it is the feeling, the sensation of movement. With this technique as our guide we slow down, we become aware, we witness our movement. The creators of Nia wanted a movement form that resulted in health, both physical and mental.
The Feldenkrais technique is specific and Nia does not claim to practice this technique, instead the idea of being able to create change in the body, by moving it and by focusing on the movement is what is incorporated into Nia. The idea of change being possible. The idea of slowing down and paying attention. Or even if going fast—the idea is to pay attention.
I like to refer to Nia as a body-mind* practice/exercise/workout, because in White Belt we are instructed to go to the body. Moving in the body’s way and in our own body’s way in particular is one reason why I think of it as body-mind. But even though we go to the body that does not mean that we are not being aware. We need to use our mind to listen to the body. If a movement is being done in class and you copy it exactly, you need to be aware of the sensation your body is returning back to you. Is doing the move EXACTLY how the teacher is doing it really what YOUR body needs? Do you need to do it bigger? Or smaller? What is it that YOUR body is telling you?
Adding some of the concepts of Moshe Feldenkrais adds body awareness to Nia. We feel the body as it moves. We respond to it, we are aware of it. We are connected to our bodies. It is somatic movement. It is movement with ease.
This is how a Nia workout includes elements from Feldenkrais.
The Nine Basic Movements Forms of Nia
*I think that is how Carlos Rosas (AyaRosas) refers to Nia also
MaryBeth Smith said
Thanks for mentioning the work of Moshe Feldenkrais as an influence within Nia. Most Feldenkrais teachers will agree that the Feldenkrais Method is as much about ideas as it is about movement. The most powerful ideas from Feldenkrais, incorporated by Nia, are that 1) sensory experience is high-quality information that is valid and should not be ignored: 2)improvement results much more quickly when you pay attention, than when you don’t, and 3)YOU get to choose, in each moment, what is best for YOU.
Further exploration of the Feldenkrais Method can greatly enhance the Nia experience. I have LOVED my association with the NiaMoves studio in Houston, TX.
Happy moving with ease!
MaryBeth Smith
Director, the FELDENKRAIS Center of Houston
terrepruitt said
Nice that you mention “sensory experience is high-quality information that is valid and should not be ignored”, because that is what we are so often programmed to do. Have a pain?—-ignore it, push through it, take a pill if you have to, but DON’T give it attention and find out what is wrong. But in Nia we look at a “pain” first to identify that it is “pain” and not just a tightness or something else. Then we give it ATTENTION, as you said, it is “high-quality information” so we need to see what we can learn from it.
Even athletes know that when you pay attention you get better results, so as you said in your next point “improvement results much more quickly when you pay attention”.
Your number #3 is tricky, huh? Because if you aren’t paying attention then it makes it difficult to decide what is best for you, right? So #3 really has to follow number one, then you can choose and see the improvements!
I love my association with NiaMoves in Texas too! I love Helen Terry. She is amazing!
Thank you sooooo much for stopping by and taking the time to comment.
iSpirit Dancer said
Awesome work Terre! I’ve been wanting to take a Feldenkrais class for a while. Simply because I do need to slow down.
Tina Kiely
http://www.cincynia.com
terrepruitt said
I think I need to pay more attention.
I spend so much time looking for stuff that I set down somewhere. Where? I don’t know I wasn’t paying attention!
hollybona said
Hi Terre,
I am a Feldenkrais practitioner in Omaha who also loves Nia. My first exposure to your wonderful method was during a visit to Portland for a meeting of the Feldenkrais regional representatives. One of the southern Californian reps was an avid Nia student and was able to get us invited to the Nia headquarters to meet Carlos and Debbie and to take a couple classes. Wow!
I really enjoyed this post and have previously posted an entry on my blog, A Midwest Adjustment, about Nia and Feldenkrais. Keep writing!
terrepruitt said
I read your post regarding Nia. Nice post: http://hollybona.wordpress.com/2009/04/10/nia-and-feldenkrais/
Hello,
Thank you so much for reading my post and commenting. I am always thrilled when people comment and share information and stories.
You were very fortunate indeed to dance with Debbie and Carlos. There is nothing like that.
I read your post about how you healed your ankle. I liked that, you didn’t heal it, nor did Feldenkrais, you learned from your experiences and chose to let your ankle find its way and heal itself. You gave it attention and assistance. I believe that sometimes we are so programmed to do things quickly and fix things that we forget we need to sometimes gives things a chance to heal on their own and in their own time. But we also need to give it the proper attention. With an ankle it can’t be ignored and “business as usual”, but it probably could use to move with care.
Thank you again!
I