Archive for the ‘Nia’ Category
Posted by terrepruitt on January 3, 2015
Nia Technique comes out with four routines a year. I actually do not know if this is how it has always been or if this is how it has been lately. When I first started teaching Nia there were so many routines – to me – that I didn’t bother to keep track of the new ones when they were released because there was a stock of them I could order from. I do vaguely remember reading some teachers saying on the teacher forums that HQ needed to create some new routines as they hadn’t done any for a while. I remember thinking, “Wow! I can’t imagine having the need for new routines, look at all of them!!!” HQ just released four new routines in December. I think they are considering them 2014 routines, but I think of them as new for the New Year.
It is really great to have new routines to start off the New Year. Facebook is all a buzz about the new routines. I think, I don’t know, but I think some deliveries of the new routines were delayed due to the Holidays. Many Nia teachers are talking on Facebook about waiting by their mailboxes. Everyone is very excited about new routines.
There are four new routines. I only had enough credits for three so, I ordered three out of the four. I could buy the fourth one, but I will just wait until I renew my license. Four routines are included in the licensing renewal fee of $520.00. So when I renew in a few months I can just get the fourth one at that time. I am slow to learn routines so I will have not learned and taught the three I just bought by the time I can order the fourth one.
The new routines have great names: Magic, Beautiful, Dream, Reach. Could be that you Reach for your Beautiful, Magic Dreams. Ha. That is not what Nia HQ says, it is just dawned in me while writing this.
Anyway . . . . it really is exciting. Although, as I mentioned, it takes me a long time to learn a new routine. So I am still learning one that was released in 2013. I will admit to not being able to learn anything new for the first half of the year. It was like my brain just couldn’t concentrate and retain a new routine. I have moved past that now. And I am still current with my quota (we are supposed to learn four a year) so I don’t feel bad.
I do love how so many Nia teachers jump right in and on the new routines. Some Nia teachers have been teaching Nia since in the ’80’s so they have done ALL the routines there ever were and more so they really NEED the new stuff. I have only been teaching Nia since 2009 so there were twenty-six years of routines before I even started Nia. Although, as I said, I don’t think they came out with routines every year so there are not 124 routines to choose from. Especially, since a lot of the old routines are no longer available.
Well, I do hope I will see you in a Nia class in 2015. Come sooner than later!
Do you like to do the same routine for a bit before you move onto another one? Do you like to have a new routine to do every time you step into the class?
Posted in Nia | Tagged: 2014 Nia Routines Magic Beautiful Dream Reach, Facebook, four routines a year, licensing renewal, New Year, Nia class, Nia Headquarters, Nia HQ, Nia routines, Nia Technique, teacher forum | 6 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on November 22, 2014
I sometimes think life is always trying to teach us lessons. I admit that sometimes I am oblivious to the lessons. But I also think that sometimes I can see them. I also think that sometimes the lessons are a practice. It is not as if I go through life, have something happen, see the thing I am supposed to learn and then – BAM! I got it. Lesson exposed, lesson learned, I’m good. Nope. Sometimes it is a practice. Just like yoga and Nia or learning an instrument. Continuous or multiple exposures helps you learn the art of it. Last month I wrote about “The Art Of Letting Go“, where I went with a friend to an evening event called Paint Nite. The idea is to paint something in two hours being led step-by-step by an artist. My idea was to just let go. To know that my painting was not going to look exactly like the original, but it would look like something. It would bear a resemblance to the one I was taught to paint. I liked it because it was blue. Well, I have been doing things that remind me to concentrate and be in the moment. Yes, I write about this often because it is something I need to be reminded of constantly. I need to live in the moment. I need to concentrate on what I am doing. I need to enjoy what I am doing. I need to fully sense and experience what I am doing.
I think my first post about this was me talking about brushing my teeth. I stated that I brushed my teeth while doing a lot of different things — all the time. I am better now. I used to think that if I brush my teeth while doing something else I could save time, but what ended up happening was that I was concentrating on the other task so much so that I didn’t know if I brushed the upper left side so I would do it again. Then wonder if I brushed the bottom right . . . the point is, I think I ended up brushing a lot longer because I was not concentrating on just brushing my teeth, than if I would have JUST brushed my teeth. I am better at that now. I start to step away from the sink and I remember that I will be done faster if I just get it done than if I go . . . do whatever.
I did another Paint Nite and I really had to concentrate on what I was doing in order to keep up with the artist. It is my opinion that she was going really fast. I couldn’t keep up, so listening and talking and participating in what was going on around me put me WAY behind the instruction. I just had to buckle down and concentrate on what I was doing so that I could listen to what she was saying so that I could do the next step she explained. I was concentrating so hard on what she was saying that I took a swig of paint water. YUP! I was listening to her, I reached behind my canvas, grabbed the cup and brought it to my lips and took a sip. I realized it tasted odd and spit it out – mostly in my cup, partially on my friend. (Thank God, she is so understanding and forgiving.) That was me not paying attention to the cup I was grabbing.
But I like this creation better than my last. I learned so much from my first time, that I was able to do this one better, but I actually had the opposite problem. I wasn’t using enough paint. But I think — still not, sure it was the water I need more of. Regardless, I learned some more and I really like this painting. No, it is lacking the soft lines of the original, but I like it.
One of the other things I am doing that requires one to clear one’s thoughts is archery. I wanted to see what shooting a bow was like. I wanted to use a “regular” bow, but that is not the popular bow to shoot. We were shooting one of those fancy things with what remind me of pulleys on each end. We weren’t even using what they call a “recurve”. Whatever bow you use the target is the target so learning how to get the arrow where you want it to go was the interesting part. Not that my arrow always went where I wanted to go, but I was taught the premise. But the instructor (Mike at Predator’s Archery) really emphasized concentration. He shared his (award winning) techniques regarding targeting and shooting the arrow, but he emphasized again and again how you have to concentrate. And you might be surprised on what you concentrate on, but that is not the point of this post, the point is you have to not think about distracting things. Live in the now and focus on the task at hand.
Focusing and concentrating really goes a long way in getting things done. We are always multitasking because that is just how life is. In most situations you cannot not think about more than one thing, but sometimes just DOING one thing really helps you get it done quick and with focus so that you can move on to the next thing. Things like to have your undivided attention. I will continue to practice focus, concentration, and living in the now even though the world around me as a whole thinks I need to do fifty things at once in order to be productive.
What do you thing? Do you think that less can be more? Do you think sometimes if you just do ONE thing (instead of multitasking) you can get it done faster and better?
Posted in Misc, Nia | Tagged: archery, concentrate, instrument practice, life's lessons, Mike, multitasking, Nia, Nia Technique, Paint Nite, Practice, practice painting, Predator's Archery, The Art Of Letting Go, Yoga Practice | 8 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on November 18, 2014
I have posted about Nia’s 52 Moves. They are moves that Nia has decided to include in the Nia Routines. They are moves that work the entire body. They exercise the brain and the nervous system. As I have explained before they are not moves unique to Nia. Many dance modalities and exercise modalities incorporate them into their practices. It is somewhat like Bikram Yoga in that they have a set number – 26 Postures – that they move through. The moves are yoga moves, but if you were to practice Bikram Yoga (Hot Yoga) you would know which poses you are going to be doing. That is what Nia has done. They have just gathered 52 Moves and we use them in our Routines. Of course, not ALL moves we do in a Nia Routine are part of Nia’s 52 Moves. We do more than just those 52 movements. Sometimes we do other dance moves. Sometimes the movements we do can be likened to actual dance moves. There is one move that we do that I compare to a Pas de Bourrée. Or more accurately what I learned as the Pas de Bourrée.
Today one of my students asked me what I was saying and I said it so fast and learned it so long ago I never really thought about it. So I decided to look it up and give it a little attention. After class I was thinking about when I first learned it and it was so long ago I don’t even know where I learned it from. It could have been my brief foray into tap and ballet. I am going to assume so. It seems like I don’t know where I learned things like Kick Ball Change, grapevine, Cha-Cha, and the Pas de Bourrée. I am also thinking that I learned it when I was young because I don’t remember ever researching it. Where I think I would be more intimately familiar with the name had I learned it as an adult. But then . . . I really remember also learning it as a “drunken sailor” so . . . I don’t know.
Carlos Aya-Rosas (Nia’s co-founder and the choreographer of the Aya Routine) does not call it a Pas de Bourrée in the routine Aya he actually just puts his feet together then out and that is how he describes it. I instruct it as a Pas de Bourrée. But it is not a Ballet Pas de Bourrée which has one lifting up on ones toes. So that could be why I think of it more as a “drunken sailor”. That visual really helps people do it. Although in some venues that might not be the best of descriptions. It is also like trying to walk on a swaying ship.
So as I said, Carlos, brings his feet together then steps out. When I do it I cross my foot behind, shift my weight and come up a little bit on one foot then step out. It is more of a Jazz Pas de Bourrée than a ballet one. So three steps (Jazz) as compare to four to five steps (Ballet), with no pliés or pointes.
The Free Dictionary says:
pas de bour·rée (pä d b-r, b-)
n. pl. pas de bourrée
“A small stepping movement, often executed on pointe, in which the dancer either skims smoothly across the floor or transfers the weight from foot to foot three times as a transition into another movement.”
I am grateful for my students who remind me to revisit things I know, in order to refresh or learn something new. It is somewhat like the beginners mind when I go back and revisit something. I know how I learned to do the step, but it is nice to take it further and learn more about it.
Are you familiar with the Pas de Bourrée? Have you taken Ballet?
Posted in Nia | Tagged: bikram yoga, dance, exercise for nervous system, grapevine, hot yoga, Kick Ball Change, Nia, Nia 52 moves, Nia class, Nia Dance, Nia routines, Nia San Jose, Nia students, Nia Technique, Pas de Bourree, Yoga | Leave a Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on October 28, 2014
Whew! I am so relieved. Yesterday while I was thinking about starting to write my post for today, my computer froze. Well, it was doing the “not responding” thing. I had been in the process of shutting all my program so that I could start over, when one of them did that thing. Usually it doesn’t respond for a few minutes then the program closes but this was taking longer. I was impatient and I used my master switch to shut my computer down. Well, it wouldn’t turn back on. I don’t mean it started to boot up and then when wanky, I mean there was nothing. Usually when I press on button the fans start working then the computer slowly turns on. There was nothing. My first thought was “OH NO!” and “Well, at least I know what to ask for as a Christmas present.” I sent out a warning to my hubby. I was warning him that he needed to be available as my “fix-it” guy. Then I started to think about it. The way it didn’t turn on. The way there was NOTHING. I was hoping it was an easy fix. I couldn’t remember exactly what it was but there is a part that is the first place you start when the computer goes wanky. Sometimes, as was the case with me the computer just won’t turn on, other times when the part is going bad it affects other things. Anyway . . . I was hoping it was an easy fix. I talked to my hubby and he reminded me of the part – power supply – and I told him that that was it. The way it was not turning on was definitely power. He agreed after he came home and looked at it. So he grab me one during his day, came home and installed it and I am up and running again. But I didn’t use the day without a computer to think of something to post.
I have a lot of things to post about and whatnot on my computer so when I don’t have something jumping out at me then I scrounge around my computer and find something. Not having a computer would be the same problem I had on Saturday when I didn’t know what to post about. I didn’t have access to my computer then either so I was floundering.
So, I am going to tell you what we did in Nia class today. You know — if you’ve read a few of my post about my Nia classes — I am always wanting the participants in my Nia classes to sound. I want them to make noise. You may also know that many of the Nia students are getting much better. You may also imagine that for people to make noise in a class while they are exercising it helps if they are all making the same noise. People feel more comfortable. One thing you probably don’t know is that I have one student who loves when we have “information” posted on the mirrors or in the class. So I thought I would combine my desire to help people sound with her love of “post-ups”.
I have posted about Healing Sounds that I came across and I have posted about the sounds associated with the Chakras. Well, I decided to use a combination of them. I have a routine I put together of Nia songs. I went through each one and thought of the prevailing sound in the song or a sound that would fit with a move in the song. I made signs and taped them to the mirror.
In the first song the vocals are “AH” so we used AH as associated with helping to balance the Heart Chakra. The next song, I don’t think are actual words, but to me it sounds as if the singer is saying, “Geee” so we had EEE (associated with the Crown Chakra). We did some kicking in the third song so we sounded HAA, which is a healing sounds attributed to calming the heart and alleviating anger. We used SHEE in our next song, the healing sound to relieve stress, tension, and anxiety. Our fourth song had us dancing on one leg a lot so I thought the healing sound to help with balance would be good, SSS. In one song we did something I call the Yo-Yo because I thought Carlos has called it that. When we make that sound we say, “yo-yo”, so I thought the sound associated with the Solar Plexas Chakra – OH, as in “go” – would be good with that song. In one song we danced stances and used our hips so I thought the OOO sound that helps with the Pelvic Chakra would be good to make while we danced. The second to the last song, I picked SHOO, just because I like it and I think the situations associated with that healing sound is something to clear out. That sound is for alleviating problems associated with depression. The last song I decided that we could make the sounds associated with body temperature. The Nia students could pick the one they felt they needed at the moment. There is HOO for warming the body and FOO for cooling the body.
The idea was for them to have sounds in each song that we all would be making. Although it was a set sound or even time. We all made the sound as we wanted. Sometimes someone would make it and we thought that sounded good so we would join in. Sometimes I would lead, like for our kicks we said, “HAA!” and with our “yo-yo” move we said “OH, OH!” But they were free to do what the were moved to do. Also . . . we did not stick to the specifics of the sounds. We were just saying them. Sometimes we said it with our exhale in one long sound, sometimes we made it a chant . . . it was all up to the individual. And, as I said, sometimes we would follow someone’s lead and do what they were doing.
It was great. It was nice to have so much noise going on. It was nice to have people making it their own. It is always great when the Nia students sound.
Don’t you wanna join a Nia Class? Don’t you wanna make some noise?
Posted in Nia | Tagged: alleviate stress, Carlos Aya Rosas, Chakra Vowels, computer fixes, computer problems, crown chakra, Healing Sounds, heart chakra, Nia, Nia class, Nia participants, Nia Sounds, Nia students, power supply, sounding | 2 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on October 18, 2014
Sometimes when I need to write a blog post I am inspired. Sometimes I have an idea. Sometimes I have something to say. Sometimes I even have a few ideas lined up and I have to make a schedule of what I am going to post and when. Then sometimes, like today, like now . . . I got nothing. When I have nothing I usually look at all my books, all my pictures, all my notes on “things to blog about”, all my “stuff” and I usually can find some inspiration to come up with something, but today nothing is coming. I have been sitting here for hours and I’ve gone through what I have access to and I am not feeling a particular pull, so I am going to share some information from my Nia White Belt Manual. I am going to remind you that I participated in the Nia White Belt Intensive in 2008. My manual says, “The Nia Technique – White Belt Manual, March 2001, V3” Which is not to say the information I am going to share is out of date . . . because a lot of it is pretty general to many, many, many fitness forms. I state date and volume information for those of you that might have a Nia White Belt Manual but perhaps this information is no longer a part of it. Or it is worded differently. Because Nia is always adapting and, even though these guidelines are — for the most part — general, Nia might have changed the wording or taken this piece out of the manual.
These are the basics of Basic Fitness Guidelines found in the Nia White Belt Manual *directly from the manual*:
1. *Do not eat for at least two hours before you work out.*
2. Wear comfortable clothing you don’t mind sweating it. Something that makes you FEEL good, but that you don’t mind getting down on the floor while wearing.
3. *Start easy.* As you become familiar with the moves you can add more intensity. But, like all things, get the basics first – crawl before you walk, walk before you run, that type of thing.
4. *Move the way you walk, using your whole body.* – If that is not how you walk, practice it. Move through the Nia workout using your entire body. *Step heel to toe when you move to the side or to the front, and shift your weight from one foot onto the other. Lead with your heel, gently rolling forward to the ball of your foot, and then push off to change directions as you feel your toes lightly touch the floor.*
5. *Don’t force a motion. Don’t strain. Strive for a balance between control and relaxation as you listen to your body’s signals.*
6. *Make the movements an expression of you. This is your workout.*
7. *Use “belly breathing.” When you inhale, first feel your belly expand, then your ribs, laterally expand, and then your chest and clavicle rise.”
8. *Step back onto the ball of your foot, keeping your knees soft and your heel high as you lower your body weight.*
9. *Draw your knee up toward your chest before you kick out.*
10. *Use your arms to express your feelings, emotions, or mood.*
11. *Contract your abdominals to round the spine, don’t lean.*
12. *Get in as much non-stop movement as possible.*
13. *Take at least three classes a week.*
14. *Combine a good diet with internal and external exercise to balance your fitness program.*
Pretty basic stuff. Some – perhaps – a little unique to Nia, but not so much so they can’t be applied to other fitness/dance exercise classes.
What do you think? Do you follow these guidelines?
Posted in Nia | Tagged: dance exercise class, fitness class, good diet, Nia, Nia Classes, Nia White Belt, Nia White Belt Intensive, Nia workout, The Nia Technique | Leave a Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on October 16, 2014
I am learning a Nia Routine and the focus is the Nine Movement Forms (of Nia). All routines can be an opportunity to connect with the Nine Movement Forms, but when it is the designed focus of the routine it really helps to emphasize each one. There are nine songs to the routine and each song was created with the specific movement form in mind. It is an easy way to practice each form. It is a wonderful way to learn more. There are three arts and three movement forms from each art. The Arts are Healing Arts, Martial Arts and Dance Arts. The movement forms are the Teachings of Moshe Feldenkrais, Alexander Techinique, Yoga, T’ai chi, Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, Jazz Dance, Modern Dance, and Duncan Dance.
Each movement form can be used to guide the movements. Each movement form can energize the moves.
The below is from the Nia Technique (page 101)
(Healing Arts)
“Teachings of Moshe Feldenkrais: Reflective, healing, conscious. Move with sensory awareness and feel life as it happens.
Alexander Technique: Transformative, exploratory, natural. Move as a whole person, connected up and balanced.
Yoga: Timeless, linked, expansive. Move in ways that link your body, mind, and spirit to the outer world.
(Martial Arts)
T’ai chi: Flowing, tender, fluid. Float like a balloon, and move like a willow tree in the wind.
Tae kwon do: Sharp, powerful, active. Move with confidence, and feel* your own speed and strength.
Aikido: Harmonizing, peaceful, cooperative. Connect and blend with everything around you.
(Dance Arts)
Jazz dance: Playful, peppy, sexy. Move with pizzazz and express your most passionate emotions.
Modern dance: Languid, moody, balanced. Create different shapes with your body. Play with balance and contrasts.
Duncan dance: Soulful, spontaneous, unbounded. Move like a child enchanted by life.”
*I believe that should say “feel”
In the song matched up with the Teachings of Moshe Feldenkrais we move in the space. Sensing our bodies and the space around us. Sensing the space with our bodies. The T’ai Chi song has us moving fluidly both slow and fast. The movement is a flow. The third song takes us to a dance art and it is jazzy. We do jazz squares and move with pep and we snap our moves. In the song where we are focusing on Modern dance we make shapes with our bodies. We also sense the moods created by the different shapes. In the Duncan dance focus song we play rushing in and rushing out. The sixth song has moves that are to be done sharp and powerful. It is presented first slow than fast. And that gives the participant options to do either speed. In the song that focuses on Aikido we do a lot of turns . . . Aikido turns or four point turns. With the eighth song we are doing a cool down and use the idea of “long bones” and “short bones” which allows us to expand and stretch connecting to the sensation of yoga. The last song inf our floorplay, we explore the Alexander Technique by moving from the top.
Just a different way to experience the Nine Movement Forms (of Nia). A great way to delve deeper into Nia and its movement forms.
What do YOU think of when you think of these movement forms? What do you think of when you think of Moshe Feldenkrais? Are you familiar with the Alexander Technique? What comes to mind when you think of Yoga? What do you know of T’ai chi? Have you ever done Tae kwon do? Does thinking about Aikido make you dizzy? What could you show me about Jazz dance? Are you into Modern dance? Do you know who created Duncan dance?
Posted in Movement Forms of Nia, Nia | Tagged: Aikido, Alexander Technique, body mind spirit, dance arts, Duncan Dance, floorplay, Jazz Dance, jazz squares, martial arts, modern dance, Nia routine, Nia songs, of Nia, Tae kwon do, Tai Chi, the Healing Arts, The Nia Technique, The Nine Movement Forms (of Nia), the Teachings of Moshe Feldenkrais, Yoga | Leave a Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on October 9, 2014
This week I met with a friend and she asked me, “So how do you come up with things to post on your blog?” It was very funny that she asked me that on that day because that day I was struggling to come up with something. It is funny how some days it is as if something to write about is RIGHT there and other days I can think about it from the moment I get up until the last minute and still be struggling. I am very particular about my posting schedule. There are blogs that I like to read and I will go to them and there is nothing. I will continue to go and there is nothing and after a week or two I forget to keep checking. I like to post on a schedule so if you come to my blog you know something will be here. But that is not always easy. Especially since my idea was to post something about health and fitness. There are so many blogs and websites about that. The magazines all have both and you know how many magazines there are so the market is inundated with the same stuff. And it is like the cooking shows. If one is cooking with eggplant that week, they all are. They are all talking about the latest fad, the latest exercise, the latest study. Sugar is bad, eggs are bad — eggs are good, sugar is the devil — eggs might be ok, sugar is crack. Just as examples. And, for me, sometimes there is so much going on that I don’t have time to do the research and check the latest facts. Life is busy. Sometimes I have to concentrate on teaching. Sometimes I have so much other stuff going on (you know in the last year I’ve had a lot of “stuff). Sometimes I feel my blog suffers. But I also think that when I just sit down and write . . . tell you what is going on (ya know when I don’t have time to research and fact check) . . . you guys seem to like that. How about a nice share today? You know I love to share.
I am lucky enough to be a part of a teacher rotation for a Nia class on Sunday. So this past Sunday I taught at they YMCA. It was the largest class I have taught there. It was really nice. The students were really into it. It is always such a moving experience to have twelve bodies enjoying the dance. Monday I am subbing for someone the month of October. That class was a joy.
My Tuesday/Thursday class is making me so proud and happy. Most of the people who attend Tuesday also attend Thursday. This group is really beginning to “get their Nia on”. They are actually sounding. It used to be that I could tell the area of the room where the “whoo” (or whatever) was coming from . . . but this week, I didn’t know. There were so many “whoos” and things I didn’t know who was making the noise. There were doing so well, that I said I was going to listen. So I was silent and they “ooed”! It was magical! I was so happy. I was silent a bit more just to hear them. And they kept going! It used to be they would stop after the first check. I would say, “I’m gonna do a sound check.” And the whole room would make noise, then the next time . . . . crickets! But not this week . . . they kept right on making noise!
One thing that happened, I already shared on Facebook, but I am going to share it here too, is the collective expression of dismay at our music being interrupted by lobby noise! There are a lot of lovely songs in our Nia music. We had just begun to get into the movement of the dance. And the majesty of the song was settling in over the room when there was this LOUD noise from the lobby. And the whole class went, “Awww!” Even though the noise would not have ruined the song or the dance, it just BURST into the sacredness of it. Two people went to shut the dance studio doors and I turned up the music and we danced on, but it was nice to see that other people appreciate the music and sacredness of it as well. We like to experience without BIG LOUD noise.
My Wednesday class was full of new students. And by full I mean, my “regulars” we not in attendance so it was just new students. Fun stuff!
Also, thanks to one of my Nia students I had the opportunity to share information about Nia to a club in the area. While it was understood prior to the meeting that nothing may become of it — as in, Nia may not be taught at the club — it was nice to be able to introduce people to Nia that had never heard of it before. I love to talk Nia so to be able to explain to people who might host it was awesome.
My yoga class turned into a private session of sorts. I was able to give one of my students some information that will assist her with something that she would like to improve upon specifically. It is one thing for me to do asanas that can help, but we were able to target some movement habits that she will be able to pay attention to. We both left feeling accomplished!
Then at the last minute when an instructor who became ill asked me to teach Nia for her students tomorrow, I said yes. So instead of teaching one Nia class, I am doing two . . which I have done before but at different facilities. Not two . . . back to back at the same place where I have already taught twice this week. So what that means is . . . I need to get my post up and get going on deciding on something to teach. So like I said in the beginning, sometimes I have to concentrate on teaching Nia!
So thank you for listening. It was a nice week. How was your week? Do share?
Posted in Nia | Tagged: dance exercise, dance studio, eggplant, Facebook, fitness blogs, fitness magazines, fitness websites, Nia, Nia class, Nia Music, Nia students, Nia Teacher, personal training, private Nia session, private yoga session, San Jose Fitness Club, sounding, YMCA, Yoga | 2 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on October 7, 2014
I often tell my students at the end of class that making them get up is the worst part of my job. I have posted blog posts about savasana. The restful period of time at the end of a yoga class where you take time to relax letting the body and mind absorb the benefits to be had from the asanas that were just practiced. Let the body remember the stability and strength. Give the body time to become accustom the space that was created. Allow the mind to reflect on the stillness. Well, in Nia we often end the routine in Floorplay. Floorplay is either playing with gravity to experience the muscles or stretching or . . . it can be a combination of both. There are a lot of ways to play on the floor. There are a lot of ways to end the class. Our Nia training DVDs have floorplay and ending movements, but they are not choreographed. So there is a lot of freedom in the last songs. Nia teachers can either duplicate what the trainer does on the DVD or they can create their own movements to the songs and end the class in their own way. I know I sometimes do what I sense the class needs so sometimes I lead the class through movements and sometimes I instruct them to do their own free dance. Often times we end by lying on the floor in a restful pose. Just like in my yoga classes I don’t like to have to make my students get up.
In the studio I rent, I think that I should rent an extra 30 minutes so we can just lie there. Sometimes I sense the class could easily just stay there for an extra 30 minutes beyond the one hour Nia class. In the classes I teach for the San Jose Park and Recs Department, I sense they could do that too, but we need to end on time. Sometimes there is a class right after us so our restful period is interrupted. But when it is not, it is a challenge to know when to interrupt the peace.
Recently I taught a class and I really didn’t want to tell them to get up. The clock in the room was not working so I snuck up to check my phone and as I was returning to the circle I saw such peace and relaxation I didn’t want to bother them. I toyed with the idea of just letting them stay an extra 5 or 10 minutes. But without having planned that in advance, I didn’t want someone lying there past the hour and not knowing it. Many people workout on their breaks so they need to get back to work. Or they just need to get on with their day. So as much as I don’t like interrupting their peace and as much as I would like to just let them relax, I need to keep to our schedule. But it really is the worst part of my job when I feel they would love to just stay.
But, on the other hand, it really is a great part of my job when I can be in the presence of those that can just relax and let go. After dancing and getting all sweaty it is so nice that they can just take a deep breath and melt into the earth and relax. I get a huge sense of peace when I am in the presence of their stillness . . . . that is why it is so hard to disturb them.
Do you take moments out of your day to just relax and experience peace?
Posted in Nia, Yoga/PiYo/Pilates | Tagged: asanas, body weight exercises, Body-mind, dance exercise, gravity exercises, Nia class, Nia DVDs, Nia flooplay, Nia Free Dance, Nia Practice, Nia routine, Nia routines, Nia songs, Nia students, Nia training, Nia workout, restful period, San Jose City Nia classes, San Jose Park and Recs Department, savasana, shavasana, Yoga class, Yoga Practice | Leave a Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on September 27, 2014
I teach a cardio dance exercise called Nia. But it is more than that. At one point in its history Nia was NIA and stood for Neuromuscular Integrative Action. I have mentioned this before. I have also mentioned that I am not sure why the name has gone through many changes. I personally think that Nia has changed its name trying to find a wide audience. Trying to become more popular. It is sometimes the way with things that there has to be a catchy name or something in order to get people’s attention. Sometimes the name that best describes something is not catchy or marketable enough to attract people. Neuromuscular Integrative Action is really a great name. It describes Nia very well. But I don’t think it is very catching. It is difficult for some to remember, perhaps, and it might not come easy to understand to many people. But it really is a perfect name for Nia.
The Merriam-Webster online dictionary states:
Full Definition of NEUROMUSCULAR:
of or relating to nerves and muscles; especially : jointly involving or affecting nervous and muscular elements
A Google search shows the following:
integrative:
serving or intending to unify separate things.
[In] • Medicine — combining allopathic and complementary therapies.
So the actions during the workout will have to do with nerves and muscles. The movements, in addition to moving the entire body, also bring together the Body, Mind, Emotions, and Spirit (BMES). So it truly is Neuromuscular Integrative Action. But that truly is a mouthful. Even though it is a great, descriptive name, I think it might have been decided it was too difficult. I don’t know. I am just speculating.
I mentioned in my post about Knee Sweeps how it is beneficial to the brain for our limbs to cross over the midline of the body. I want to write a little more on that . . . . imagine you have a string that starts at the top of your forehead and it fall down the middle of your forehead, down the middle of your nose, in between your breast down the middle of your chest, over your belly button, continuing down in between your legs. That is the MIDLINE of your body. So when your cross your left hand/arm or foot/leg over to the right side of that line you are crossing the midline. And vice-versa. This type of action is good for your brain. This type of action is good for your nervous system. It is action relating to nerves and muscles. You use your muscles in action and this stimulates your nervous system.
I often remind my class how we are “working” the brain when we cross the midline of the body, when it really is so much more than that. Because, as you know, each side of the body is controlled by opposite sides of the brain so when you cross the midline both sides of the brain are forced into working. Both sides must communicate with each other. This communication with the nerve-cell pathways linking both sides, but strengthening them.
Many exercise classes do this. That is because it is important (I believe I have said this before.) Even yoga does it in some of its asanas. So the crossing does not have to happen in a cardio class or during a cardio exercise. Crossing the midline in stretches also helps “stretch” the brain. So even if you don’t participate in Nia, you can do things to help your brain. But I just wanted to share again – I know I’ve mentioned some of this a few times – how Nia is a lot more than a dance exercise, it really is neuromuscular integrative action.
So, with the reminder that it is good for your brain and nervous system, are you gonna cross that line?
Posted in Nia | Tagged: BMES, Body Mind Emotions Spirit, cardio, cardio class, cardio dance exercise, cross the midline, dance, dance exercise class, exercise, exercise the brain, exercise the nervous system, exercises, Knee Sweeps, marketable, midline, Neuromuscular Integrative Action, Nia, Nia class | 2 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on September 23, 2014
It only takes one. One person, that is it. One person besides me, that is. I have observed different groups of Nia students and I have seen them alter their sounding practices. It is so fun to witness a silent class become noisy. I feel that making noises in a dance exercise class, or “sounding” as it is called in Nia, depends a lot on the music. There is specific music that just lends itself to making noise. There is some music that people instinctively just join in singing or making the appropriate sounds during the music. There is also specific moves that lend themselves to sounding. Chopping seems to cause “Hi-yas!” to erupt from the practitioner. Blocking tends to cause loud “Has!” But not all the time. It does help when they are made a part of the choreography. It helps when the sound is the same or at least consistent throughout the song. My sounding often just comes out. I am dancing to the music and perhaps thinking of the next move or discovering a pearl and noise just comes out. It is not always the same as the last time. I feel that sometimes makes people shy. They want to have others saying it with them. And it really only takes one. That ONE person who seems to just have noises inside that have to come out. That one person who doesn’t need the teacher to lead them. That one person to just make a noise and it encourages others to do so.
I often feel that there are some that want to make noise, but they don’t. There are many reasons people don’t make noise. I think I mentioned it before, but I kind of remember it being a “thing”. I am not saying we were told NOT to make noise, but you would never have walked into a women’s gym and heard grunting. (Eye roll) I guess that is because we aren’t allowed to breathe. HA. I don’t know, but I do have a sense that it was not something women were encouraged to do. Exercise was done in silence. So I think that has a lot to do with it. We were not taught to make noise while exercising. So we don’t.
But I sense there are those that want to. What I see happening, is we will do the move with me making the noise for seven times. The eighth time comes around and since we are changing to a different move I might be at the point when I need to use that time for instruction. It just happens that on that eighth time the person finally got up their nerve to make a sound and then it is as if they are left hanging because I didn’t do it with them because I had to introduce the change. Yup . . . I feel that happens a lot.
But not when there is that ONE person. All it takes is ONE person. That one person can — by example — encourage the rest of the group. I love it. I silently cheer that person on. I send waves of gratitude out to that one person that is not me that is sounding and helping the group find their voice. I have some GREAT sounders in my Nia groups. And I am so happy and excited that they are finding their voice.
I know how it is to move silently through a class. Nia is wonderful and freeing, so the dance is meditation to me. But when I first decided to join in on that sounding — YEOWZZZAAAA! Whoa! That just took the movement, the dance, the freedom to an entirely different level. It was invigorating. So I know how it is to be shy about making noises in class (I know if you have ever taken my class you might not believe that). I know how it is to take up almost the entire song before you allow that sound out. But I also know how it FEELS and the senses my body experiences after a really loud and noisy class. So I will keep sending out waves of applause to that one sounder as they lead the entire class into becoming sounders.
Do you make noise when you work out? Perhaps you sing? Do you breathe loudly?
Posted in Nia, Sounding | Tagged: dance exercise, Nia, Nia clsas, Nia group, Nia Music, Nia sounders, Nia students, sounding in Nia | 2 Comments »
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