Archive for 2012
Posted by terrepruitt on August 9, 2012
It has been over three years since I posted about foam rollers. I know I post a lot about Nia because I teach it, but I am surprised I have not followed up with some additional posts about foam rollers. I think they might have become more common since my last post. I have seen them in gyms now, whereas I had not seen them there before. They have moved into mainstream exercise and are not just for the more therapeutic type of movements forms. It is nice to see them being used more frequently because they are a great piece of exercise equipment. They are affordable and portable. A great combination for exercise equipment. Typically they are 4 inches or 6 inches in diameter and they are 12 to 32 inches long. They are used in their whole form – round – or cut in half length wise. The different lengths are used for different things . . . obviously. So goes for the whole round or the half round.
Since the foam roller is a great tool to use for people ranging from “new-to-exercise” to serious athletes it is nice to have a variety of them. The halved rollers can be used in the beginning of an exercise program to allow the body to be accustomed to standing on a rounded surface. The flat sides would be placed on the ground while you stand on the rounded sides. This could be used as a first step in a conditioning progression. Flipping the rollers over and using them on carpet could be used as the next step. The halved rollers flat side up on carpet. The carpet would help keep the rounded side of the rollers from being really slippery. Then the progression could be the halved rollers on a hard smooth surface. The smooth surface of the floor would provide the additional challenge. Next graduating to the long halved roller. You could start on carpet then once mastered move the roller to a smooth surface. Eventually moving on to the whole roller.
That is just an example of how the foam rollers can be used for more than just stretching. Standing on foam rollers in the aforementioned progression would be a way to improve core strength and balance. And that was just a quick and easy example. There are many things that can be added to the information above to either make it easier or more difficult and/or to lengthen the progression.
So foam rollers are not just for stretching and improving flexibility and mobility they can be used for improving strength, coordination, and balance. They are a great thing to add to an exercise program. There are a lot of different exercise you can do with them. I am not going to wait another three years to share some of them with you. I am going to be posting some in my next few posts. So stay tuned.
Have you seen foam rollers in your gym? Have you seen people do exercises with them? Do you exercise with a foam roller?
Posted in Exercise and Working Out | Tagged: exercise program, foam roller exercises, foam roller posts, foam roller stretches, Foam rollers, foam rollers in gyms, improve balance, improve coordination, improve core strength, improve flexibility, improve mobility, Nia, Nia Teacher | 1 Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on August 7, 2012
Well, Palo Alto seems to be as close to as to what I consider the South Bay as we have gotten since I have been attending Nia. I really want to have a Nia Jam in San Jose. I am going to work on that for 2013. The Nia Jam for San Francisco Bay Area Nia Association in the South Bay in 2012 was at a Jewish Community Center in Palo Alto. As I have described before, a Nia Jam is a Nia class only longer with multiple teachers. It is like a Nia class on steroids. A typical Nia class is 60 minutes, a Nia Jam is usually 90 minutes. In a Nia Jam there is a group of teachers who take turns teaching. As with all Nia classes the Nia Jam had a focus and an intent. The focus of this Nia Jam was Yin & Ying of Creative Play, with the intent of providing both a high energy experience and a quieter, more reflective experience as Nia can support either or both. I have to be honest, I didn’t get a quiet, reflective experience out of this jam. We were on fire! The energy was so high it was tangible. It was amazing!
I am so glad that the energy is always so high because I had taught my Saturday morning class in San Jose. Then I stayed at the studio and took a class, then I raced over to Palo Alto to teach at the Jam. The energy energized me!
There were six teachers who taught. It is so fun to dance and be led by a variety of teachers. It is a wonderful thing to be able to experience a song, a kata, that you know, in a different way. While usually the basics are there, there is often a little nuance that the teacher adds to the song. It could be just a sound that is not normally made, a word not usually spoken, or it could be the addition of a different step or the removal of a step, it could just be their way of cueing that makes it different. Whatever the difference it is so invigorating to do what you know a little differently. I also love doing the unknown. I don’t know all of the Nia routines and I love to get to dance katas I don’t know.
At the same time a Nia Jam is perfect for someone new to Nia because they get to dance with many different teachers and experience different styles. They also can witness the warmth of the Nia community. New participants can also enjoy the astronomical energy that is present at Nia Jams. They can also confirm that Nia students and Nia teachers do sweat as Nia is a moving grooving cardio dance exercise. They can corroborate what I have been sharing — a great workout does not have to be done extremely fast and hard it can be done with movements of the whole body.
Monday in class my students were still talking about the Nia Jam. It was THAT fun! It was THAT energizing. It was great! I know Nia is a great workout. I invite you to go to a class, one of mine (click for schedule) or one you find near you (click for worldwide listings), but I implore you to go to a Nia Jam. If there is one not far from you, go. You will enjoy it for all the reasons I mentioned above, for reasons I have not mentioned, and for reasons of your own. Nia Jams are always fun and the Nia Jam for the South Bay on the Peninsula did not disappoint!
For more pictures go to: http://www.helpyouwell.com/nia-jams.html
Posted in Nia | Tagged: cardio dance class, cardio exercise, Jewish Community Center, Nia, Nia class, Nia community, Nia experience, Nia focus, Nia in San Jose, Nia kata, Nia participants, Nia routine, Nia Song, Nia students, Nia teachers, Palo Alto Nia, pictures of Nia Jam, San Francisco Bay Area Nia Association, San Jose dance exercise, Saturday morning class, SF Bay Nia, South Bay Dance exercise, South Bay Nia Jam, who does Nia, www.HelpYouWell.com, Yin & Ying | Leave a Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on August 4, 2012
I have a confession to make. It is one I might have even confessed before. I know I have done it before. It is easy for me to get caught up. I want to please people. I want the supervisor to know that I am working to keep the students IN the class. I want the students attending the class to like it and want to be there. When you are a substitute instructor leading a different format than is usually taught it is very different from when you are teaching a class of the expected format. Many people are taught that cardio – aerobic exercise – is extremely fast, high impact, and difficult so it is very hard to change that mindset. I was asked by someone who understands both the fact that cardio does not have to be extremely fast or high impact and that people are trained to think it is, if I could do Nia a little higher because people expect cardio to be a specific way. So caught up in wanting to give the students what they are accustomed to getting I put together a routine . . . kind of rushed . . . that didn’t have ALL the elements that a Nia class normally has. It was not good. It felt “off”. I was trying to make Nia something it is not. Nia is not Zumba. Nia is not Cardio-Sculpt. Nia is not extremely fast, rushed, and high impact. Nia is not Jazzercise. Nia is not UJAM. Nia is not all of or any of these other names that there are for classes that are fast, rushed, and high impact. Nia is an amazing practice. Nia is a great workout. Nia is a wonderful cardio dance exercise. And I need to stop trying to make it be something it is not just because people are used to cardio a specific way.
So I did a routine that didn’t feel right to me. I thought I would get up the next morning and do the same routine for the class I was asked at the last minute to sub, I was going to try to “bring it” to the students. As I was getting into bed a little agitated from the “not feeling right class”, it washed over me like a refreshing revelation . . . . DO NIA! Duh! Bring “IT”, and make that “IT” Nia. I got caught up and in my trying to bring the students what they are used to, I didn’t allow them the richness of something new. The richness of Nia.
Now, I want you to understand that the Nia Technique creates wonderful routines and all we teachers have to do is learn them and teach them. But we are also allowed to use other music, make up our own routines, mix and match the routines they have created, and make up our own katas. Of course, we need to follow the Nia class formula and the seven cycles which contain the traditional warm-up, move it, and cool-down. I also think when creating a routine/class – in general – it should be balanced; as an example not all songs/movements should be lateral ones or forward and back ones, there should be a mix of movement and the 52 Nia moves. I create routines from Nia routines all the time. So it was not the fact that I put songs together that created the not feeling right routine, it was ME. It was ME trying to make Nia something it is not.
I need to center myself. I need to stick to what I know and not try to give people the class they are used to. I KNOW Nia is amazing and awesome and does need to try to be anything it is not. I KNOW THAT. I just get caught up.
Another point I want to make is, I am not saying those other formats are bad. In fact, I like some of the other formats I have tried. One of these days I might even teach another cardio format. I am saying Nia is Nia, it is not any of the other formats and I need to remember that and let it stand on its own. I need to remember to trust Nia and allow it to touch the people it needs to touch and let the others attend the other dance classes. I need to remember that when I am asked to sub a class I am going to sub it with Nia and not try to make Nia be what that class usually is. I keep thinking to myself, “DUH!”
Thank you for letting me confess and do a public face-in-the-hand-plant!
Do you EVER do that in any section of your life – try to make something be something else even though what you have is just perfect the way it is?
Posted in Nia | Tagged: 52 Nia Moves, aerobic dance class, cardio, Cardio-Sculpt, class format, dance exercise, dance format, exercise format, fast formats, high impact, Jazzercise, Nia, Nia Music, Nia Practice, Nia routine, Nia student, Nia Teacher, substitute instructor, Ujam, Zumba, Zumba routines | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on August 2, 2012
I learn A LOT when I teach Nia. I learn a lot when I teach anything, but since my focus now is teaching Nia, I say I learn a lot when I teach Nia. One thing I learn or I am reminded of is not everyone has taken a class that has taught them basic steps. It is like when I take a Zumba class and the teach calls out a basic Latin dance and I have no idea what she is talking about. I always laugh to myself and say, “I don’t know what the steps are to that basic Latin dance!” But then I remember my Nia training and my Nia practice and while I try to do whatever dance it is she says we are doing, I remain in Joy and just allow myself to move my body in a way that is dance to me. But not everyone has had Nia training and not everyone practices Nia so it is not as easy for them to just allow their bodies to move and not think so much. One of the tools that Nia uses to help teachers instruct the dance and to just help one dance in general is the clock. I posted about how we look at the clock in a Nia class — ok that is just me because I need the actual reference. I have posted about our step called the “Slow Clock” . This post is about the movement called the Fast Clock. The Fast Clock is one of Nia’s 52 Moves
The Fast Clock is similar to the Slow Clock in that we are stepping on the “hours” of a clock (oh, imagine that!), but with the fast clock we don’t return to center before stepping on another number/hour. So if you stand with your feet together imaging you are in the center of the clock, then step your right foot to 12 o’clock, then back to 6 o’clock (without stopping in the center) that is the fast clock. There are a lot of combinations that can be done when doing a fast clock. You could step to 12 o’clock, then 3 o’clock, then 6 o’clock, then return to center. Then your other foot could step to 12 o’clock, then 9 o’clock, then 6 o’clock, then return to center.
POP QUIZ: Which foot would step to 12 o’clock, then 3 o’clock, then 6 o’clock, then return to center? 🙂
Just the same as the Slow Clock you can actually take a step where you place the weight on the foot that is on the number/hour or you can touch or make it a tap. Sometimes you might even get fancy or really dancy and just do it in the air. But all that fancy stuff is obviously added after you learn the basic Fast Clock. As with many things, Nia does have basic steps and proper ways to execute them, then as we dance we add on to them to make them a more animated part of the dance.
As with many of the moves in Nia the participant is responsible for providing their own desired intensity. You can easily work up a sweat in Nia if you make your movements bigger or louder. We sometimes refer to it as turning up the volume. But again, that is up to you and how you are feeling during that class. A “louder” fast clock could have lengthier steps making the imaginary clock face you are dancing on very large. Or your “bigger” could be going deeper into the steps, bringing your body closer to the earth. Having tools like the face of the clock to assist in knowing where to step, allows the Nia student to focus on their body and what it needs and not be so caught up in whether they are “doing it right”. With the clock it makes it easy to teach and easy to follow!
Ok, now get up and practice your clocks! Which foot goes to 12 o’clock? Which foot goes to 9 o’clock?
Posted in 52 Moves (of Nia), Nia | Tagged: fast clock, Latin Dance, Nia class, Nia Dance, Nia focus, Nia Move, Nia participant, Nia Practice, Nia student, Nia Teacher, Nia training, Nia's 52 Moves, slow clock, Zumba, Zumba class, Zumba dance, Zumba moves, Zumba teachers | Leave a Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on July 31, 2012
I know that sometimes people might allow the number on the scale to affect their mood and/or their feelings about themselves. I know people can get upset when they are eating healthy and/or cutting excess calories, exercising and/or being more active and their goal of losing weight does not show every day on the scale. I know some people get upset if their weight does not go down every day. I know that sometimes a scale can actually affect what you eat for the day. Perhaps the scale isn’t even moving one way or the other so you think it is ok to eat that extra whatever and you might even skip working out. As I have said many times everyBODY has a different goal. Sometimes we allow the number on the scale plays a more important role than it should because it is truly not the only way to measure health or fitness. As you know if you are cutting calories to lose weight, but you are also doing some type of resistance training it could be that you are building muscle too. While these two things are difficult to achieve at the same time it can be done, it just might take longer to see the results you are hoping to see. But the scale might not be the best way to measure progress. If you are one of those people who allow the number on the scale to affect you, how about taking a challenge? How about not using the scale for a bit, while you are continuing on your path to change? Maybe the number doesn’t affect your mood, but how about a change? How about if you track your progress with a tape measure?
Just decide to not get on the scale for either 21 days or 30 days. Really, that’s it, that is the challenge. Let’s track measurements instead. And while we are at it be aware of how you are feeling. I know for some it is a habit to step on the scale. You might not even realize you are doing it. Right before you get in the shower it is almost as if it is the first step into the shower. Disrobe, step on the scale, and then step in the shower. Habit. Especially if you do it early in the morning when you still might be a bit sleepy. So in order to keep yourself from doing it out of habit remove the scale from the bathroom or remove the batteries. Of course you will have to make sure the other members in your household that use the scale know what is going on. You don’t want them to put the scale back or replace the batteries and then you — out of habit, step on the scale despite your best effort.
Now I’m not suggesting you share any numbers or anything. This is not a competition to see who sees the most change, this is just a time to experience something different. To free yourself from the scale. To allow yourself to forget about that number.
So without that number to affect our mood, our feelings, our courses of actions we might be surprised. We might get a different sense from our bodies and follow a bit of a different path. Instead of being upset that the number hasn’t budged which in turn might cause us to eat more, we might just feel good and full and satisfied. Instead of seeing the number go down and giving ourselves permission to have more, we might just sense that we’ve had enough and let it stop there. We might stop judging ourselves by that number. And if you want to track changes you can use a tape measure. I was thinking you can take the measurements on day 1/August 1st and then not again until the 21st. If you decide to do the 21 days then that would be the last day, but if you decide to do the 30 days, then the 21st could be just a check in. Then do it again on the 30th.
Taking measurements takes a bit longer than stepping on a scale and as I mentioned in the other post you want to make certain you measure the same spots. Having to set aside time to measure will keep you from doing it every day. There is no need to do it every day, that is also part of the freeing oneself from the numbers. I made a form that you can print and use to track your measurements if you would like. The “Notes” column can be used for noting the spot where you are going to measure. If you are measuring (as my example stated in my first post) around your calf an inch below the low part of the knee cap, then you can make that note there so the next time you measure you will remember where.
Of course you can decide to continue on past the 30 days. Maybe you will decide to step on the scale at 30 days then try an additional period of time where you closet the scale. I think for some removing the scale from the picture will be very freeing and even stress relieving. For some they might want to just try something new, maybe the scale does not play a big role to them. You could even decide to ditch the scale and not do any measurements that is fine too. Again, as I’ve said before everyBODY is on their own fitness journey so they can do what they feel is right. This is just a place to start. An idea of looking at it in a different way.
So what do you say? Will you put your scale away for at least 21 days? If so will you take measurements?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: 21 day challenge, 30 day challenge, body measurements, scale, tape measure, weight | 5 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on July 28, 2012
I think most people use a scale instead of a measuring tape. A scale is easy and common. We’ve been taught it is all about how much we weigh. You might be familiar with the false statement that muscle weighs more than fat. That of course is not true (that is why I called it a false statement), a pound of muscle weighs 16 ounces and a pound of fat weighs the same. The space taken up by muscle is less than the space taken up by fat, but they WEIGH the same. So measuring is another way to track changes to your body.
Professionals; personal trainers, doctors, therapist, etc. – people who measure for a living or who need to share information have a specific way of measuring. So if you were to go to one and pass on your measurements the other could document changes. So it is nice to have a standard. Because the most important thing about measuring is to measure in the same place every time so you can track the changes!
One way to keep it the same is to measure from one point to the point you are going to measure. Say you are going to measure your calf, well measure from the bottom of your knee cap to the point you are going to measure and use that point every time. This is a little more exact than “measuring at the largest point” or the “smallest part”.
Again the standard for measuring are things like: “across the umbilicus” and “1/2 way between the umbilicus and xyphoid process”. But you just really need to know where you did it last time so that you do it the same the next time.
Places you want to measure are your chest – for men and women the flexible measuring tape goes around the back and across the nipple. Then women measure around the chest where the band of the bra rests. Measure around the hips. Measure around the waist. Measure around your neck. Measure around each bicep. Measure around each forearm. Measure around each thigh. Measure around each calf.
The chest measures are obvious; nipples and bra. With the hips you can use over the bone or the widest part. The waist is at the smallest part. The neck, arms, and legs are good ones to use the “measure to the measuring point” method. You can also use the “measure to the measuring point” method on the waist and hips too! Just make sure you document the measurement to the measuring point. If you are going to measure your calf an inch below the lowest part of the knee cap, make note of that so you do it the same way every time.
Since every BODY has different goals it could be a moment to cheer if the measurements go up, or when the numbers go down. Whichever the case it is your own personal journey and if you are working for a change in your body then measuring is a different way to track it. Sometimes the scale can be frustrating if your goal is weight loss and you are building muscle and losing fat. Or if you are just gaining weight and not paying attention to how much closer you have gotten to your muscle hypertrophy goal.
Stay tuned for the next post for a challenge that we will begin on August 1st. All you will need is a soft tape measure and to continue on your own personal path of wellness that you are already on.
Do you use a scale? Do you ever feel frustrated by the number on the scale?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: flexible tape measure, measure, measurements, measuring tape, muscle hypertrophy, Muscle Weighs More Than Fat, scale, tracking goals, weight loss, wellness path | 2 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on July 26, 2012
As I mentioned in my last post about using the clock in Nia, we have a move called the Slow Clock. Using an imaginary face of a clock on the ground assists us in knowing where to step. The slow clock can be used to incorporate any “hour” on the clock into the dance. The move starts with the feet in the “center” of the imaginary clock. The “slow” is in reference to always returning the foot to center before allowing the foot to go to another number on the clock. To practice the slow clock move begin with a march in place. If you begin the march with your left foot touching the ground on the one count, then use it first to touch on 12:00, then return it to its original position in the center of the clock. Then place the left foot at 6:00, then return to center. Then use the other foot, touch to 12:00, then center, then 6:00, then center. Hour then center, that is the basis of the slow clock.
As with almost any move it can be done in slightly different manners and still be the same. The slow clock can be done with just a tap or a touch to an hour, with the foot returning to center. Or it can actually be a step, where the weight is put full upon the foot stepping to the hour. To keep it the slow clock the foot would return to center before any other move was made. So it can be a tap, a touch, a step. It can even be a slight shift in the weight. As long as the foot returns to center.
In some Nia routines we do sumos out to 3:00 then return to center, then we sumo to 9:00. Now if you were thinking about that you would know without me saying, “Move your right foot to 3:00, then to center, then your right foot to 9:00.” Remember? I mentioned how efficient it is to use the clock to help instruct with moves instead of saying directions and which foot to move every time. With the instruction of sumo 3:00, you know you are stepping your right foot out to the right so you land in a sumo or riding stance.
With the example above you see that the slow clock can be done with opposite feet. It does not have to be one foot stepping to an hour, then returning to center, and then that same foot stepping to another our. It can be — as example, the right foot to 12:00, center, left foot 6:00, center. Add some rhythm and a little bounce and you have the Charleston! Add some rhythm, a little bend at the knees, and some hips and you have a salsa!
In addition to improving precision and grace, moving with the slow clock does many things depending on how you move with it. For instance dancing the slow clock to a specific rhythm can also improve coordination because the tendency might be to just skip over returning to center. Also, sometimes it can be something to help keep your mind focused because sometimes when the mind wanders your foot can forget it needs to return to center unless it is focused.
So that is the slow clock, another one of the 52 Moves of Nia.
Using the tool of the imaginary clock are you able to move in Slow Clock?
Posted in 52 Moves (of Nia), Nia | Tagged: 52 Moves of Nia, Charleston, dance moves, dance steps, Nia, Nia Dance, Nia routine, salsa rhythm, slow clock | 2 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on July 24, 2012
In Nia we use the clock a lot. We don’t actually USE the clock, but we use the idea of a clock face on the ground. When we are moving and dancing we often times refer to the hours on the face of the clock to indicate where to put our feet or move our body. I had mentioned this in my post about Katas. I find that it works well when I am learning the routines. I note the “o’clocks” on my bars. I find it works well when sharing the moves in my Nia classes. And I find that Nia students appreciate having a reference point. It REALLY helps me when there is an actually clock in the room in my line of site. I know that probably sounds silly because the reason we use a clock to assist in the dance is because it is something familiar and constant, but sometimes it just helps to be able to glance up and be able to say, “Step to one o’clock.” I use the clock a lot.
Often times our stepping isn’t exactly on an hour. Often times I feel as if it is BETWEEN the hours, say between one and two, but it is still a great reference point. As with many of our moves in Nia it could be that we are stepping on the foot we have placed at a specific hour or it could be that we are pointing or tapping on the hour. Using the hours of the clock as a reference can help prevent confusion when required to state which foot is being used. Since we are moving to music one does not always have time to state, “Cross your left foot to the right diagonal and stop.” And saying, “Left right diagonal” could be confusing, so it is nice to have a set “direction” by using the hours on a clock. So I can say, “Left at 1:00” and that is even more clear than saying either one of the instructions previously stated. It is clear that the left foot is to cross over and land at 1:00.
Also it seems to even work better than just saying the directional left and right. If I were to say, “Put your left foot out” I have not actually indicated WHERE to put your left foot, but when I say, “Left to 9:00” it is clear where the left foot should go when it goes “out”. Another example is a bow, it could be executed with the leg directly behind or crossed back so again the clock adds a greater level of instruction.
Of course, the participants in a dance exercise class are watching the instructor but giving them verbal instructions allows them to do it in their own body’s way instead of just trying to do it the exact way the teacher’s body is doing it. Some people might have a LARGE clock face on the ground on which they are dancing and other’s might have a smaller one. It all depends on where they leg reaches, but at least they know what direction.
In Nia there are even moves that refer to the clock. Within Nia’s 52 moves we have a “slow clock” and a “fast clock“. So as I said we use the clock or at least the idea of a clock a lot in a Nia class.
Makes Nia sounds easy, huh? It is. And it is fun. Find a class near you nianow.com or check out my Nia class schedule on my website (www.HelpYouWell.com).
Posted in Nia | Tagged: clock dance, clock face, dance, dance moves, fast clock, katas, looking at the clock, Nia class, Nia Class Schedule, Nia Dance, Nia katas, Nia participants, Nia routines, Nia students, Nia teachers, Nia's 52 Moves, NiaNow.com, slow clock, www.HelpYouWell.com | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on July 21, 2012
On my way home from teaching my Nia class in San Jose on a bright and beautiful Wednesday morning, I noticed a man at a utility box. I had seen him out of the corner of my eye so it did not register what he was doing until I was passed the box. So I looked at him in my review mirror. I pulled over to the side of the road to be able to really look to see if he was doing what I thought he was doing. Then I decided to back my car up, park, and get out to see. It just so happened that the day before I was on my way to the Roosevelt Community Center, and I took a wrong turn and found myself driving around not sure exactly how to get where I wanted to be and I noticed a set of utility boxes. Do you ever notice utility boxes? Probably not, huh? They are one of those things that are not that attractive so we learn to ignore them. Well, while I was driving around being lost, I noticed them. There was one that was painted with a bunch of flowers and then the one right next to it looked like a big red rose. I thought, “Wow! That is so cool.” So as I was driving home from Nia and I saw a man painting a utility box, I wanted to see what it was all about.
We talked briefly, he said it was a project in the City of San Jose. They are lumping it in as an “anti-graffiti” project, but I like to just think of it as disguising something not attractive AND adding beauty at the same time. The artist, Scott Willis, was sitting on the grass by the box painting it. He handed me a fact sheet. I skimmed it and tried to hand it back and he said I could keep it. (YAY!) Because now I have the facts to share with you.
The project is “Art Box Project SJ”. The project goals are to integrate art into San Jose neighborhoods, grow the project throughout San Jose, and “encourage community participation by engaging neighbors, neighborhood associations, and local artists by sponsoring boxes and paying artists a small stipend for their work.”
The benefits are: bringing art into the neighborhoods, encouraging community engagement, offering temporary work for local artists, deterring and/or reducing the blight of graffiti.
Additional information on the fact sheet says the “project was inspired by photos of utility boxes with murals painted on them, taken by self proclaimed “Anit-Man-About-Town” and world traveler Gary Singh (a local Metro News columnist). It’s being pushed along by Tina Morrill; an idealist [who] believes anything is possible.”
I know San Jose isn’t the first city to do this but I am excited to see these boxes around. In fact the Fact Sheet states, “According to the Contra Costa Times, Hayward has found their art on utility boxes has reduced graffiti problems by 97%”. Wow. Ninety-seven percent.
In addition to the sponsors paying the artists’ stipend they can pay an additional amount to have the box sprayed with an “anti-graffiti coating”.
There are criteria for both the box locations and the art, but that is to be expected and the criteria even makes sense, such as the utility box can’t be on the replacement list. Nice that they don’t want an artist to spend time beautifying it just so it can be replaced. And the are must be tasteful, respectful, and not political, commercial, or religious.
While the artist do get paid a small amount I am hoping that it will be advertising for them. I mean, if you see really compelling work on a utility box maybe it could lead to other things for the artist!
The rose I saw the other day just keeps jumping into my head, it was so gorgeous. The art I saw on Wednesday was unfinished, I interrupted the artist. But since it is a box I pass at least twice a week on my way home from my Nia classes in Willow Glen, I will see the work in progress and post pictures upon its completion. For now you get to see the artist and his work in progress. I am relating this to health and wellness because beauty causes a good feeling. It is nice to see the plain utility boxes beautified.
Here is the Facebook page for it (click here).
So what do you think of this project? Do you have something like it in your city? Would you like to have something like it in your city?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: anti-graffiti, art box sponsors, City of San Jose, City of San Jose Nia, Contra Costa, Contra Costa Times, Facebook, Gary Singh, graffiti reduction, Hayward, local artists, Metro News, Nia class, Nia San Jose, painted utility boxes, San Jose Art Box, San Jose Art Project, San Jose Nia, San Jose Nia class, Tina Morrill, utility box | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on July 17, 2012
Because I teach Nia I am not used to wearing shoes when I workout. Nia is a workout done in bare feet, so I don’t wear socks and shoes. Yoga, Pilates, even resistance training can be done without shoes. Recently I was in a training that required me to wear shoes. And it was an all day training, eight hours. Since my feet do not really like shoes AND my tennis shoes are kind of old, I decided to wear some additional cushion in my shoes to help my feet. My right foot is very sensitive because the middle toes no longer straighten fully so the middle of my foot does not lie flat on the ground. The ball of my right foot and the pinky edge get sore. They get more work than they should. So I decided to employ a method that I used when I was young, in addition to the extra cushion I had added relief later.
Maybe this method can help some females that wear those REALLY high-heeled shoes that are so popular now-a-days. When I was younger the style was to wear pumps. I have a wide foot and pumps were not always comfortable. What I would do was, I would put a gym sock on my foot but I would roll the sock down to around the ball of my foot, then I would shove my foot – with the sock on – into my shoe. Then I would get ready. And back then I was one of those girls who took a ridiculous amount of time to get ready. So I would end up wearing the gym sock-shoe combination for at least an hour and a half. This accomplished two things: 1) It somewhat stretched out my shoe and 2) (after walking around and standing while getting ready to go out with my foot squeezed into the shoe) ANYTHING felt better than that!
One time I was getting ready and I was walking around the house and after passing my dad three or four times he finally said, “You’re not going out like THAT right?”. And I laughed and I had to explain it to him. No rolled gym socks were not part of the outfit.
So while I did not wear rolled up gym socks in the training I wore these foot huggers that have a little gel in them. So I had extra cushion and I had something that felt nice when half way through the day I slipped them off. While they were not hurting me as my gym-sock-wrapped feet did they did feel more roomy and happy after I took them off.
I think this method could possibly be applied to many things. When you have to wear shoes all day if you wear something to help cushion your foot, but might take up a bit of room in your shoe, it will feel nice when you take the cushion off in the middle of the day. At least that is what happened to me, plus it helped when I was young and smooshing my feet into pumps.
You know everything is just easier to handle when your feet are comfortable. That is why they make those “gellin'” insoles. That is also why I don’t wear uncomfortable shoes any longer. I don’t think it looks nice when a female has on a pretty shoe, but you can tell she is in pain with every step she takes. I would rather walk with comfort. So sometimes using the stretch-y method might help. The “No Pain, No Gain” is just a play on that famous saying . . . although when I was young I did it just while I was getting ready, I did not do it recently. My feet were comfortable all day. It was just that halfway through when they were a little sweaty and tired, I took off the huggers, changed my socks and gave them more room. Ahhhh. I was very happy that I had thought to do that. It worked out very well for me.
Do you have shoes that you wear that you might benefit from if applying this method? C’mon we all have at one time in our lives.
Posted in Helpful Hints, Misc | Tagged: high heeled shoes, Nia, Nia training, Nia workout, No pain no gain, Pilates, pumps, resistance training, rolled gym socks, tennis shoes, training, Yoga | Leave a Comment »
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