Can I Do Nia?
Posted by terrepruitt on August 31, 2010
People can contact me about Nia through my website at HelpYouWell.com. Here is a communication that transpired:
(click for CURRENT schedule! Thanks!)
A consumer has submitted the Contact Terre Pruitt form on your website.
The details are given below:
I am looking to: obtain information about Nia classes
[Personal information deleted for privacy]
Comments: How does one learn Nia? If the classes are drop in but if I have never done this before how will I know the moves? Do you have classes for beginners? If so, when do they start? How many classes must one attend in order to learn all of the moves? What is the nearest cross street to your location on Lincoln Ave.?
My reply:
Dear Lovely Spirit Interested in Nia:
Do you like to move? Do you like to dance? Do you care what others think of you? You are a Lovely Being and I invite you to let go of caring about that.
Nia is not about “the moves”, Nia is about fun. And moving and learning and not caring what others think. Do you think you might like something like that? Do you think you might like to remove your shoes and just get down and shake your groove thing? What makes Nia different than other exercise classes (well, ONE of the things that makes it different) is that we don’t judge. If you are not causing yourself or others harm then it is ok.
If one person goes left, and the other person goes right—as long as there is not a collision—it really does not matter. We are not performing. Nigel, Mia, and Adam are not there. It is just us. Those who want to move. We have fun. We don’t mind if and when we don’t do it “right”.
You, Lovely Spirit, will know the moves because you will be listening to the best, most perfect, most honest teacher there is—-YOU! YOU will be in charge. You will be the one that tells you what to do and how much to do. I might say, “raise your arm” and your arm might say, “No Lovely Spirit, not today.” And you will be moving PERFECTLY because you will have listened, and I and everyone in the class will know that you respected yourself and did what YOUR body needed. That is part of what makes Nia great.
ALL of my classes are for beginners. All of my classes are for experts. Because all of us are beginners and experts. Nia is about YOUR BODY’S WAY!
Come and see. Try not to be concerned about learning the moves. If you have looked at Nia’s 52 Moves, and are thinking about having to know all of them—don’t! We move as the body was designed to move so when you come you will be amazed at how your body just moves on its own. And because of that,
it will feel fabulous!
The NEAREST cross street is Garfield (it is where Rotten Robbies is), the “biggest one” with a light is Coe. The studio is between Coe and Willow in Willow Glen. Does that help?
I want you to come and feel comfortable. Nia is about JOY and comfort and feeling good. It is not about “moves” and “perfection” and performing. We listen to the music and I lead a routine, but you are not required to do exactly what I do. You are encouraged to move as YOUR BODY WANTS TO MOVE!
Sorry, my reply was so lengthy, but I was hoping to help you understand that it is more fun than form. Our bodies were designed to move, in society we sometimes restrict movement, so when you participant in Nia . . . it is
fun!
So, when can I expect to see you? 🙂
Jill Campana said
Love your blog…love how you answered this inquiring mind and love you!!!
On Monday I taught my regular Nia class using the 52 Moves as the focus. I did not have any choreography, just the 52 Moves. I’ve been teaching for almost 10 years now, and I was STILL amazed that the 52 Moves in and of themselves can be a great workout. Even one of my students said, “Wow, that was great! I’m sweating and I didn’t think I would!”
I love Nia. It is my passion.
Much love to you, Terre!
Jill
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terrepruitt said
The 52 Moves are a GREAT workout because you can do all the moves in different ways and at different intensity levels.
When I did my White Belt, I think that we were supposed to go through all 52 moves, but there was a specific amount of time allotted (as you know each intensive covers a HUGE amount of material) and we spent so much time on the stances we didn’t get through all 52 moves in detail. Carlos was explaining how each stance could be “tweaked” or changed. I remember him commenting at one point on how we could spend a lot of time on just ONE move. And we were all pretty amazed. You know when you are learning and engrossed and you don’t even notice how much time has passed? We were amazed that we had used up our entire time allotment on just the stances.
I am doing a workshop in October where I plan to play with some of the 52 moves. My intent is to do the same thing Carlos did; show us many different ways to do one move and allow the intelligence of the body to emerge which will encourage the magic of Nia to shine.
Thanks for visiting. XOXO
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