Terre Pruitt's Blog

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Archive for the ‘Nia White Belt Principles’ Category

Post regarding the principles of the Nia White Belt.

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Nia Natural Time

Posted by terrepruitt on December 29, 2009

The Nia White Belt Principle #2 is Natural Time and the Movement Forms. I have posted about the movement forms, here I talk about Natural Time. There is the Natural Time of the Mayans with the 13 moons to a year and there is the Natural Time of one’s body and one’s own movements.

In a Nia workout class even as the teacher is leading the participants through a routine, the participants are encouraged to follow their own natural time. There could be a section of the exercise that consists of floating down and rising up. I might invite you to do it in “your own time”, your “natural time”, encouraging you to do it as you sense. The music could be motivating you to float down slowly and rise up quickly, or vice-versa, or slow both in the downward motion and the upward motion. But it is up to you and your body, your own natural time. So even though we are moving all together we are doing it in our own time. We are allowing our bodies to listen the music and move as we sense it.

The same goes, really for our choreographed moves, one might move it fast and big, whereas the person standing right next to them might move it slow and small. It all depends on one’s own body. Moving in natural time helps us connect deeply with our own bodies. Without being forced to move at a specific speed or “volume” we can ensure that we get the exact workout out bodies need.

The routines in Nia are choreographed in a way that allows for people to play with the moves.  Participants can move their own way and in their own time.  Most steps are simple and allow for simplifying or spicing it up.

Nia also considers 13/20 to be the code of Natural Time.  There are 13 major joints and 20 digits of the body.  Body movements moving all 13 joints and 20 digits is a way to receive information from the body.

Visit my site for details on my ON-GOING classes in San Jose (the schedule and the classes I mention on the blog might change from time to time.  The best way to find out about CURRENT classes is to visit: http://www.helpyouwell.com/nia-class-schedule.html .  Thank you!)

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The Joy Of Movement

Posted by terrepruitt on December 19, 2009

Nia White Belt Principle #1 is The Joy of Movement.  Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas were in the fitness industry back in the 1980’s when they felt the pull to do something different.  From what I understand they didn’t know exactly what they were going to do.  They just were seeing a lot of injuries in the aerobic industry and decided that working out in a way that injured one’s body was not the right way to be working out.  They decided they wanted to workout in a way that allowed for honoring the body and for appreciating the body.

Debbie and Carlos did not just meet one day and decided to put a bunch of things together and “Voila!  There is Nia!” . . . . it grew out of years of learning.  As you look through information regarding Nia you can see some of the transformations it has gone through.  Nothing big enough to make you think that it is not what it was when it start, but there are some changes.  But one think that they found constant from the beginning was an incredible feeling of Joy.

They recognized that as a special element of Nia.  They also recognized that as more of a sensation than a feeling.  They determined that it was something that the body actually sensed when it was allowed to move as it was designed to do.  Joy could be used as an energy to fuel the workout.  Joy, as a body sensation can be called upon no matter what one is FEELING.

The Nia White Belt Manual explains how Joy is more of an attitude toward the body, and attitude toward life.  When you sense this Universal Joy you work to stay connected to it.

In a workout or a dance you can actually choose to have Joy be your energy.  Then you sense Joy as a sensation.  While you are moving thoughts and feelings might come into your workout / dance, but ideally you are just noticing them but not dwelling on anyone in particular.  And you are retaining the Joy.

You are encouraged to sustain the Joy and the way of moving that allows you to sense Joy.  If you feel Joy slipping or that you are no longer sensing the Joy of Movement you can tweak what you are doing, the way you are doing it, to increase that sense of Joy.

During a Nia workout the teacher guides you through the moves of the routine, but it is up to you—the participant—to move in a way that brings you Joy.

If you remember anything about Nia, remember this:  that the soul of Nia is the Joy of Movement.  It is the physical celebration of the body.**

**Direct quote from The Nia Technique – White Belt Manual by Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas  March 2001, V3

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Nia Free Dance

Posted by terrepruitt on May 14, 2009

In Nia (TM) we have FreeDance.  It is not easy for most people to do.  It is not easy for me to do.  I am still learning.  With Nia the purpose of FreeDance is “to stimulate movement creativity”.  Whoa.  Stimulate movement creativity.

Per an online dictionary:

Stimulate:  to excite to activity or growth or to greater activity

Movement:  the act or process of moving; especially: change of place or position or posture from the same source as above

And creativity:   the quality of being creative or the ability to create

So we FreeDance to excite growth or greater activity in changing our place, position, or postures into new places, positions or postures.  Hmmmm.

I will take this time to remind you that our bodies are built to move.  And they are built to move a certain way.  Our joints allow for certain types and amounts of movement.  Now barring any ailment or disease our bodies should move like they are built.  But we often don’t move that way.  Our way of life keeps us from moving as our bodies were built.  Sometimes social stigma keeps us from moving the way our joints would like.  So in FreeDance you are invited and encouraged to break habits and to move like your body was built.

I have experienced that for some, moving their head is a new thing.  Think of the old way models were trained with a book on the head, some of us were taught to walk and be in that position.  Can’t move your head with a book balanced on it.  So moving your head could be something new in FreeDance you could do and be amazed at the result.  Something as simple as moving your head, breaking that straight neck habit could release oodles of tension.

Same with rigidly straight spines or tight backs.  When you Free Dance you are not dancing like you would in a club, you are pushing the limits, you are moving your body to experiment with it.  You are Stimulated Movement Creativity.

There is so much more to say on this.  This is Nia White Belt Principal number 4.  This principal has 8 stages, so that alone is a lot to talk about, but for now, I will leave it at FreeDance – To Stimulate Movement Creativity.  See if you can add a little FreeDance into your day.  It doesn’t have to be wild, it could be done where no one even notices, just move one move a little different than you normally do, and you will be on your way to FreeDance!

Posted in FreeDance, Nia, Nia White Belt Principles | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments »

Nia Or Nia Technique Is A Specific Practice

Posted by terrepruitt on April 11, 2009

I want to remind everyone that Nia™ or Nia Technique® is a specific practice.**  It was created in 1983 by Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas.  They were married and now they are not, but Nia is such an important part of their lives and so important to them, that they continue to work together.

Nia has different belt levels; White Belt, the newly added Green Belt, Blue Belt, Brown Belt, and Black Belt.  Each Belt has its own set of principles, except for Green.  You must wait a year in between belts before you can take the next intensive.  (Except for green because it a newly added in the system to assist teachers.)

Click here for more info on classes and Nia

I am a White Belt, so I continue to work with the thirteen White Belt Principles:

1–The Joy of Movement
2–Natural Time and the Movement Forms
3–Music and the 8BC System
4–FreeDance
5–Awareness – Dancing Through Life
6–The Base; Feet and Legs
7–The Three Planes and the Three Levels of Intensity
8–The Core of the Body; Pelvis, Chest, and Head
9–Creative Arm and Hand Expressions
10–X-Ray Anatomy
11–Business and Marketing
12–Continuing Education
13–Dance What You Sense / Teach What You Sense

When I talk about Nia it is based on what Debbie and Carlos have created.  They have been working and growing with Nia for 25 years.  And if you look at their work and information you will see that it has morphed a little.  It is the same basic practice but I believe it gets refined as they grow and change.

So please keep in mind when I talk about Nia, I am talking about something wonderful and specific and it is entirely based on the work of Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas.

Please join me in San Jose for a Nia class.  Visit my website for the schedule http://www.helpyouwell.com/

**This post is to explain that “Nia” and “Nia-things” I talk about are primarily from the creators of Nia BUT please keep in mind . . . . Nia is also a workout that can be experienced, just like a Yoga, Zumba, Jazzercise, or any group exercise class.  One can show up to class and just move and get a great workout.  One does not have to participant in the intensive and the belt levels.

Visit Nia’s main website at:  www.nianow.com

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