Terre Pruitt's Blog

In the realm of health, wellness, fitness, and the like, or whatever inspires me.

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Archive for February, 2013

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Don’t Be Afraid Of Spirit

Posted by terrepruitt on February 9, 2013

Recently a Nia student came up to me after a Nia class to ask me a question.  She said that she had talked to another woman about attending a Nia class but the woman didn’t want to because we said “Om!”  My student asked me if Nia was religious.  I shared with her what happened in the Nia White Belt Intensive I attended and my thoughts on it.  What happened in the Nia White Belt Intensive I attended in December 2008, was Carlos Rosas asked one of the intensive participants what was in Nia.  Her answer was “God.”  Carlos said, “NO!  There is no God in Nia!”  I don’t know Carlos’ religious beliefs, if he has any, or how he feels about God or religion, but I think he was saying that there is no religion in Nia.  It is not associated with any type of religion.  It is meant for everyBODY and everyone and people of all faiths and all belief systems can participate and enjoy Nia.  It truly is based on the design of the body.  It is not based on ANY religion or God.

I personally feel that if you have God or any belief system in you then you will bring Him/it into whatever it is you are doing.  But that is not a reflection on the event or activity.  With any belief if you believe it you are going to carry it with you.  So if you believe in God, Gods, Buddha, Allah, or whatever that will come with you into Nia.  But Nia has none of that as a part of it.  What Nia DOES have as a part of it is spirit.  But that should not be confused with any type of religious spirit or supernatural spirit.  Wiki states:  “The English word spirit comes from the Latin spiritus, meaning ‘breath'”.  And an online dictionary says:  “The vital principle or animating force within living beings.”  Yet some people often think of spirit as religious, as in the Holy Spirit, or otherworldly, as in ghostly spirits.

Because of that conversation I had with one of my students I had been thinking of this and in a class I said, “Let your spirit out.”  And I noticed a few students stiffen.  And I continued on, saying, “That is not to be meant religious or supernatural, I mean spirit as in ‘your school spirit’, when people say ‘show some school spirit no one gets all wiggy’.  It’s like that.  THAT type of spirit.”  And I saw people relax.  I saw some say, “Oh.”  And then I saw some spirit.

I think of spirit as a passion or your inner child.  It is the part of you that wants to slide down the banister, run up the down escalator, balance on a curb, jump in the puddles, take your shoes off and slide in stocking feet across the length of the mall, or say “WAAAAHOOOOO!”  It is the breath that we often hold in.  If your beliefs have your spirit saying or doing something in class then that is fine, but that is not to say that your beliefs are a part of Nia, that is a part of YOU that you bring to Nia.

The type of spirit you would have with school spirit, class spirit, and/or team spirit that is the spirit Nia calls upon and what Nia invites to be released in a Nia class.  Let your inner essence dance and be free, don’t be afraid . . . . . . let go.

Posted in Nia | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments »

Goodie Jar – Check In #2

Posted by terrepruitt on February 8, 2013

This is my second “Goodie Jar” or “Good Things Jar” check-in. Since I am putting a note of “good things” that have happened into a jar to read on December 31, 2013, I think I might stick to this title and number.  Not sure yet, but as of now, it sounds like a good idea.

So far I have seven things in my pitcher.  I say things because most of them are notes I made to document the memory or event, but one is a “love note” I received from a friend.  She has created a set of cards from her doodles and I purchased a set.  A love note comes with the set.   The note made me happy and brought up additional memories so I thought it would be a perfect addition to the jar because it is a good thing and will be a reminder of many good things.  One of the other things is the jar is miniature copies of our tickets to a Sharks game.  It was my first one and it was really fun, so I added that as a good thing.

As I have stated, if you are participating you don’t have to share what is in your jar unless you want to tells us your good things.  I just thought I would share to give you an idea of what I am putting in our jar.

Since this is our second week hopefully you have at least two things in your jar.  So?  Are you putting things in your jar?  How many do you have? 

Posted in Good Things in the Goodie Jar | Tagged: , , , , , | 6 Comments »

A Look Back

Posted by terrepruitt on February 7, 2013

I found Nia back in 2008.  I was looking for an exercise that was more like dance.  I had several people in my life at that time that loved to dance, but their partners wouldn’t dance with them.  They claimed they would love to do exercise if it was more like dance.  I also had people in my life at that time that were younger than me, my age, and just slightly older and they couldn’t move very well.  They moved with pain and/or it was an extreme challenge for them to balance and just a mixed bag of things.  I believed that movement could help some of the issues facing them and many others.  I also loved to dance and thought it would be great to have an exercise class that was dance.  I looked at doing Jazzercise, but I think at the time the franchise thing (or however they did it/do it) was not something I wanted to do.  And back then Zumba was not yet the rage and I had thought it was ALL Latin music (I know better now).  I remember I came across a website that was talking about Trance Dance.  So I researched that a bit.  That sounded interesting, moving your body in your own way to music.  But the information I found said that you kept your eyes closed and/or were blindfolded while dancing and someone would watch to make certain people didn’t injure themselves.  That part and the fact that some sites stated there actually was a form of “Trance” that people entered into kept me from wanting to do that.  But somewhere there was a mention of Nia.  So I tried to find all the information I could on this Nia.  Back then it might have even been NIA.  I don’t remember when it changed and even now some places still call it Neuromuscular Integrative Action.  It has gone through a few name changes, but at present it is just The Nia Technique or Nia.

It IS non-impact aerobics and it IS Neuromuscular Integrative Action, but the name is Nia and it no longer “stands” for anything.  And in the four years that I have been doing it and learning about it, it has changed.  It was originally created by Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas in the early 1980s from a desire to help people exercise in a different way, a way that addressed more than just the physical body.

When I joined Nia there were really starting to talk a lot about the next phase of Nia.  You see, even though Nia remains true to the original concept of a Joyful workout, it does change and it does grow.  Anything that wants to survive has to change or at least be flexible enough to endure the change that happens around it.  Nia changes, they change the way they deliver training from the routines to the intensive — so the continued education changes. Nia’s training material is phenomenal.  When you read through a newsletter or a manual or listen to a conference call you can sense the care taken in creating the material.  It is nice to be a part of Nia.

It is interesting.  It is amazing to see how far Nia has come and how much is has changed in the short time that I have been a teacher.  The roots of Nia are still there they are just always finding new ways to share it.

As with any an all certifications I have earned I did my research beforehand.  It is important to know how much the initial training cost and how the licensing and/or certifications works.  It is important to know about continued education and re-licensing or re-certifiying.  I liked everything I saw about Nia.  It took me four classes before I decided to invest the time and money needed to teach.

I took the training in December of 2008.  I started teaching in February 2009.  I have been teaching Nia ever since.  I have had the same Monday and Wednesday class since February 2009.  I have had other classes at other studios and gyms on different days and different times.  At this writing I am teaching Nia five times a week in San Jose – not including subbing dates.  I have three classes for the City of San Jose; a Tuesday morning and a Tuesday evening class.  I also have a Thursday evening class.  My schedule is update regularly on www.HelpYouWell.

I took a second Nia training in November 2012.  I just finished posting my way through the #13 principles of that belt (Blue Belt).

I am excited to have so many opportunities to share Nia with people each week.  As I said, I have five classes and as I said things change.  So when you are ready to join me in one check my site to confirm time and place and all those details.  I would like for the number to grow.  Just as Nia is growing, in leaps and bounds and for the better.

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Vertical Routines – Conscious Transubstantiation

Posted by terrepruitt on February 5, 2013

I believe that in 2013 the training material for the Nia Blue Belt is going to change.  While it is not changing significantly the change will be significant.  🙂  The ideas will remain the same, but the verbiage and way it is delivered will be updated.  While I was attending the Nia Blue Belt Intensive in November of 2012 we were being shown the new slides.  The word that was used most often — or that I remember most is – simplify.  The idea was to simplify the training.  The Nia Blue Belt principle #13 in the manual* shows it as Vertical Routines. We were told it is going to change to Conscious Transubstantiation with Creating a Vertical Body and Life as the tagline.  Not a simplification to me, but . . . . there you have it.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, ZumbaI will state again as I have been stating in many of my posts about the Nia principles, what I am sharing is somewhat off the top of my head, what I remember being discussed and it barely scratches the surface of each principle.  The principles are deep, I could write pages about them alone and the taglines add yet another dimension with even more information.  Here I am just sharing a little portion, just one aspect. Now for the purpose of Nia, transubstantiation does not mean the bread and wine will change into the body of Christ.  But Nia is using it to mean change and change the body.  🙂  So, maybe that is the tie in and the reason to use that word.  Nia is using the term Conscious Transubstantiation to mean consciously change your body to match the body of the teacher.

This somewhat ties back to Nia Blue Principle #12, which is funny because that also helps explain the vertical portion.  It is common for a participant in a lead follow type of dance exercise class to do the move and follow the leader trying to change at the exact moment the leader changes the move.  Even if the leader is excellent at cueing the participant could feel rushed into the next move.  Sometimes the participant is concentrating and doesn’t hear or see the next move only to look up and realize they are a step behind or not matching exactly so they rush to catch up and do what the teacher is doing.  Well with the conscious change it’s ok not to rush to catch up.  Get there when you can.  No need to disturb the nervous system and interrupt the flow, just catch the next round or the next step.  Consciously changing instead of rushing into the move because that is where you are “supposed” to be.  Allowing yourself to change consciously allows for a smooth transition.  While this is not exactly the same as Nia Blue Principle #12, it is similar in that you are not having to rush to the next move.

The “Vertical” means how things are connected and built upon one another.  The Nia Blue Belt Principles are built upon and woven into the Nia White Belt Principles.  Nia’s 52 Moves are built upon each other.  The “vertical” routines speaks to the moves in the a kata and how we change from move to move, the songs in a routine and the transition between the two and even the bigger picture of routine to routine.

So . . . in a Nia class you are encouraged to move in your own body’s way and “get to” the next move in your own natural time.  The idea is not to upset the body, mind, and spirit by feeling as if you are not doing it right because you are not RIGHT ON the mark of the change as it first happens, Conscious Transubstantiation.  Take your time and enjoy the movement and the moment you are in.  Allow yourself to change when you are ready enabling you to sense the “vertical-ness” of Nia so your workout can be one of Joy.

It might be a challenge to break the habit of interrupting your move to match the teacher when you notice the change, but you might be surprised at the effect it has on your body, mind, and spirit once you do get the hang of it.  What do you think?  Are you willing to give it a try?

*The Nia Technique – Blue Belt Manual August 206, V4.0

Posted in Blue Belt, Nia | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Observe, Listen, Guide

Posted by terrepruitt on February 2, 2013

This is Nia Blue Belt Principle #12, Observe, Listen, Guide, Co-Creating Movement.  This is something that we can do as part of the practice of Nia.  This is something we can do in a live Nia class or even while doing a Nia DVD.  Observe the teacher, listen-observe ourselves, then guide our own bodies to match what the teacher is doing.  So watch and follow.  Then really pay attention to what it is you are doing.  Sometimes we might think we are doing the same thing but we are not.  Then guide yourself to match what the teacher is doing.  It does not have to be rushed.  The moves do not have to match right away.

All of it is done with X-Ray Anatomy which is principle #10 of the Nia White Belt.  X-Ray Anatomy does not mean we have X-ray vision, but it does mean that we see the way the body moves.  We look at the body and observe the movement of the bones.  As we dance and observe the teacher we see the placement of the bones.  We see the vertical and the horizontal.  We see the different planes.

Then, with X-Ray Anatomy, we listen to our own bodies.  We acknowledge where our bones are.  We notice the alignment.  We pay attention to the structure.  We monitor our vertical and horizontal.  We discover how our bodies do the move.  We witness it.  We can stay here until we are ready to guide ourselves to match the teacher.  If we are playing with the principle in a live class it is recommended to speak with the teacher beforehand so that they understand that we might not move onto the move they are doing until we are ready.  It is also a good idea to stand in the back of the class so as not to distract the other students.  Most people will move on to the next move, following the teacher, within one or two repetitions, but with practicing, play with, and the dancing of Nia Blue Belt Principle #12, Observe, Listen, Guide an entire sequence of moves could possibly be “missed” while in the “listening” stage.

Then when you are ready — no rush — you move onto matching the teacher.  Have your bones and your angles match hers/his.  Have your alignment match, your vertical and horizontal match.

This also works as a teacher observing the student.  We can observe the student.  We can watch the way they are doing a move.  Then we listen to our body.  We pay attention to how we are doing it.  Then without rushing we can model our student’s move.  It is a way of Co-Creating Movement.  The practice of this principle also entails Nia Blue Belt Principle #6, because there is going to be some Split, Ellipt, Blend with this.  But the order would be more of an Ellipt, Split, Blend.  We would be ellipting onto the teacher or student to observe.  Then splitting into self to listen.  Then blending in the guide portion.

This is another interesting aspect of the practice of Nia.  This is another way that Nia is unique.  We Co-Create Movement to dance with our students.  With music as our main guide we have all these principles to play with.

Can you see how the practice of Observe, Listen, Guide is a way to Co-Create Movement in a class?

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Goodie Jar – Check In #1

Posted by terrepruitt on February 1, 2013

This is my first “Goodie Jar” or “Good Things Jar” check-in.  Where we are putting a note of “good things” that have happened into a jar to read on December 31, 2013.  The idea of this — for me is to remember to notice the good things that happen.  No matter how big, no matter how small.  It is to also serve as a reminder that even if or when there are things that might not be considered things that are a cause for celebration going on there are still good things happening.  Have this jar will be a fun way to review some of the good stuff that has happened throughout the year!

If you are participating you don’t have to share what is in your jar unless you want to tells us your good thing.

So far I have two things in my “jar” and they are both Nia related.  How about you?  Do you have good things in your jar?

Posted in Good Things in the Goodie Jar | Tagged: , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

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