Posted by terrepruitt on May 20, 2010
Part of the purpose of my blog is to share what Nia is and to invite people to take one of my classes. I have learned that when teaching people it is sometimes helpful to share what something ISN’T to help them understand what it is.
Nia isn’t a class where you won’t sweat.
Nia isn’t a class where the teacher shouts at you to motivate you.
Nia isn’t a class where you just think about moving.
Nia isn’t Jazzercise.
Nia isn’t sitting around.
Nia isn’t about pain.
Nia isn’t hard jumping.
Nia isn’t Tai Chi.
Nia isn’t Tae Kwon Do.
Nia isn’t Aikido.
Nia isn’t a mindless workout.
Nia isn’t Zumba.
Nia isn’t taught to Nia teachers in a day.
Nia isn’t new to the fitness world.
Nia isn’t Jazz Dance.
Nia isn’t Modern Dance.
Nia isn’t judgmental.
Nia isn’t a strict combination of linear movements.
Nia isn’t a class where you are told EXACTLY how to move your own body.
Nia isn’t Yoga.
Nia isn’t stiff.
Nia isn’t rough.
Nia isn’t (necessarily) just a workout.
Nia isn’t JUST Free Dance.
The BEST way to learn about what Nia isn’t and what Nia is, is to go to a class and see for yourself. Nia class finder. Want to find a class near you?
Posted in Nia | Tagged: Aikido, dance classes, Dance Workout, fitness, Free Dance, freedance, Jazz Dance, Jazzercise, Jazzercise classes, Nia, Nia Classes, Nia teachers, Tae kwon do, Tai Chi, workout, Yoga, Zumba, Zumba classes | 19 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on May 18, 2010
One of my best friends’ sister has been battling cancer for a year. When people say “battling” cancer, it is an accurate statement. When one “battles” cancer, it is for one’s life. The fight is messy, painful, tiring, expensive, costly, and heart breaking, just like all battles.
I questioned myself regarding posting about it, because I didn’t ask my friend. But I received a sense of knowing that if I wrote this and one person read it and it affected their life in a positive way then even though my friend’s sister lost the battle yesterday (May 17, 2010) she would be happy. SHE would have wanted me to write this, because she fought with all of her might and all of her faith until the very end. So she would want me to remind you of some of the signs you might want to pay attention to. She would want us to continue with the war with cancer.
—A change in bowel habits
—Diarrhea
—Constipation
—Feeling that the bowel does not empty completely
—Stools that are narrower or have a different shape than usual
—Blood (either bright red or very dark) in the stool
—General abdominal discomfort (frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness, or cramps)
—Change in appetite
—Weight loss for no known reason
—Feeling very tired
You might want to talk to a medical professional if you have any of the previously mentioned signs. These symptoms may be signs of rectal cancer. (1)
I would like to remind you that you need to listen to your body, you need to take time out from your schedule and you need to question things when things don’t feel right. We all suffer from, “Well, its nothing.” “Its this.” “Its that.” It is scaring and frustrating that as we age our bodies change so we never know if what is going on is part of the natural aging or if something is wrong. Then we rely on the medical professionals to tell us because that is their job, but they don’t know either. The last time I went to the doctor I felt as if I greatly annoyed her and was wasting her time because I was healthy. So, I understand hesitation in going to the doctor.
But we all need to be better about it, myself included. I learned some other things today that I didn’t know in regards to colon cancer*.
-According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States.
-Nearly all colon cancers begin as noncancerous (benign) polyps, which slowly develop into cancer.
-You have a higher risk for colon cancer if you: Have a personal history of breast cancer
-There is no single cause for colon cancer. What you eat may play a role in your risk of colon cancer. (2)
The Mayo Clinic’s definition:
*Colon cancer is cancer of the large intestine (colon), the lower part of your digestive system. Rectal cancer is cancer of the last several inches of the colon. Together, they’re often referred to as colorectal cancers.
You were brave and fought well, you will be forever missed and loved. When I think of the situation and your family I am sad, but when I think of you and your attitude during your battle, I smile. Thank you for positive energy.
(1) Information from the National Cancer Institute
(2) Information from Medline Plus
Posted in Misc | Tagged: best friend, cancer, colon cancer, Mayo Clinic, National Cancer Institute, positive energy, rectal cancer, rectal cancer symptoms | 13 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on May 15, 2010
People always ask me how I found Nia. Here is my story: I had just begun exercising. I had found Turbo Jam and I liked it. I did the DVDs in my living room before work. At the time I worked in San Jose not too from where I lived so I would get up early in the morning and do it before work. The women I worked with always told me that they loved to dance, but they couldn’t get their partners to dance with them. They also would tell me that they wished they could find a dance exercise.
I was also seeing a lot of people — at that time — that were my age or even younger that couldn’t walk up the stairs or sit on the floor and get up again. Plus there were some young people around me that were going on High Blood Pressure Meds and experiencing other health issues.
So I started looking online for an exercise that was dancey. I thought maybe I could find something that I could learn to teach others. I found trance dance, but from what I saw and what I read, it said that you closed your eyes and just danced. It didn’t sound like there was ANY rhyme or reason. I sounded as if you were in a trance and you danced. The information talked of having people watch so the people dancing didn’t run into or hit each other. So that didn’t sound like what I would be interested in.
Somehow I stumbled . . . . literally, I don’t know how, just clicking on this link and that link . . . .I found Nia. I checked out the main site and it sounded interesting. I found a class that wasn’t too far. I went. I liked it. I bought the book. I went to another class. Then months later, I found another class at a different time and I tried that. Then months later, I talked my friend into going with me one more time*.
In between the second and third class I was thinking about taking the training that would enable me to teach. But I wasn’t sure. Nia sounded a bit “woo-woo” to me. So I kept reading. I really focused on the fact that it is based on science. It is based on research. The movements are movements that our bodies were designed to do. The movements tie into the way it is taught. Some of the words that are used might give the impression that it is really “woo-woo”, but it is not. There are also some elements of Nia that are like ancient practices. I kept thinking that some of these practices have been around for hundreds of years and they really have a basis in health and wellness. It was all very intriguing.
*My fourth class I attended was my “deciding” class. I went to make a final decision. I decided to do it. I decided to get sign up for the intensive that would allow me to teach. It took me so long to decide I was signing up within 30 days of the training.
I had NO idea what the training would entail. And that my friends is what another post is made of.
Nia. It is awesome. It IS an exercise. It IS a cardio workout. But I will not lie to you to try to keep you interested, it IS so much more. For some reason I cannot (nor can anyone else I talk to) put my finger on, it makes you happy. Try it and see for yourself. Try MY classes, or try someone else’s. Get a DVD, I don’t care. Just try it and then let me know what you think.
Posted in Nia | Tagged: cardio dance, cardio exercise, cardio workout, Dance Workout, high blood pressure, Nia, Nia Classes, Nia exercise, Nia Intensive, Nia San Jose, Nia Teacher, Nia training, Nia workout, San Jose cardio workout, San Jose dance workout, San Jose Nia, San Jose Nia classes, San Jose Workout, trance dance, Turbo Jam, Turbo Jam DVDs, woo-woo, workout DVD | 6 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on May 13, 2010
This information is taken directly from The Nia Technique Book. Usually I use my own words from my own experiences and from what others have shared with me, I thought this time I would share with you a portion directly from the book. I am hoping that this information and the information that I have shared will interest you enough so that you will purchase the book for yourself.
—Classic Nia is for everyone—from neophyte to dancer to athlete.
—Classic Nia is a learning experience, with an emphasis on gaining new knowledge about your body and the best ways to move.
—In Classic Nia, it is reasonable and acceptable not to expect perfection in your movements.
—Classic Nia is noncompetitive, meaning you grow and change in your own time and in your own way.
—Classic Nia teaches you to play, have fun and express yourself.
—In Classic Nia teaches you to play, to have fun, and express yourself.
—In Classic Nia, you focus at least as much on your Body’s Way as you do on the Body’s Way.
This is information taken from pages 168 and 169 of the Nia Technique Book written by Debbie Rosas (presently Debbie Rosas Stewart) and Carlos Rosas (presently Carlos AyaRosas).
Please let me know if you have any questions. I love both questions and comments.
Posted in Nia | Tagged: Carlos AyaRosas, Carlos Rosas, classic athlete, classic dancer, Debbie Rosas, Debbie Rosas Stewart, Nia dancer, Nia movements, Nia teachers, Nia workout, The Nia Technique book | 2 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on May 11, 2010
There are a lot of tools used in Nia. The way that Nia describes each principle includes the Science of the principle, the Craft of the principle, and the Art of the principle.
For instance, the latest principle I posted about was Nia White Belt Principle #5, a portion of that being Awareness. The Science of awareness would be that you can make observations about your body as you move through your day. You can be aware of your hand as you pull it back from the mug of coffee that was too hot. You can be aware of the adjustment you make to your entire body to make it feel more comfortable in the seat belt. Notice how you scrunch your toes in your shoes. You can be conscious of the things that cause discomfort and maybe, in the future respond and change before the discomfort becomes pain.
With the awareness you can develop an ongoing conversation with your body that can help you move more freely and comfortable throughout your life.
The Craft of awareness is where you acquire the ability to sense with your entire body. Utilize not just your eyes and your ears but your sense of smell and proprioception. The craft are the exercises or the practices that we do in order to assist with the awareness.
Possible exercise, to increase awareness:
—brush your teeth with your eyes closed, sensing the tooth brush on each tooth
—brush your hair with your eyes closed, and notice the moment the brush comes in contact with your hair or head
—as you reach out to touch something image yourself touching it before you actually touch it
—then ask yourself; what will it feel like, what sensation will the nerves in my hand allow my brain to sense, will
touch it softly or roughly?
And as you go through your everyday movements observe if there is any tightness or discomfort. Ask yourself is there an adjustment that can be made to your habitual movement–to the way you do it normally–that could easy that comfort? Is there something you could do to tweak it and move your closer to pleasure? Try it that way.
Recognize the body as a work of Art. The Art of awareness is to be aware of the mechanics and beauty of the working body. Visuals could help with the art piece of awareness. If there was an area of the body that was uncomfortable or there was a constriction of the movement, picture the blood full of life giving nutrients rushing to that area. Picture the nutrients as different colors rushing in to saturate the discomfort and color as paint on a canvas.
Or picture any area of the body that could use relaxation as a tight ball of rubber bands and either just picture the ball become loose and opening and airy or picture it as you are moving and stretching that are. All the while being aware.
This is just an example of how the Nia applies all three tools, Science, Craft, and Art to a principle. The three are also used as tools for other purposes, but this is just to throw some light on the ways that Nia is shared, practiced, learned, taught, and enjoyed.
If you would like some tips on how to move with Nia, such as:
~Use visual imagery to make movements feel natural.
~Combine small movements with large movements.
~Use your Base, Core, Upper Extremities, breath and voice to add energy and power to your moves.
You can click here, and go to my website, HelpYouWell.com
I hope that you will have a day full of awareness that will allow you to dance through life.
Posted in Nia | Tagged: helpyouwell.com, Nia, Nia art, Nia craft, Nia exercise, Nia movements, Nia Practice, Nia science, Nia tools, Nia White Belt Principle #5, Nia White Belt Principles | 10 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on May 8, 2010
Nia White Belt Principle #9 is Arms, Hands, and Fingers. Through the years it has changed the exact name. My White Belt Manual says “Upper Extremities: Arms, Hands, and Fingers”. When I was in the training we actually learned it as “Creative Arm and Hand Expressions”. Whatever it is called it is using your arms, hands, and fingers in your workout and in life.
Ours arms, hands, and fingers can be used to hug, touch, caress, bringing comfort. They can be used to express ourselves to aid in communication. In the dance that is Nia, and in life they can be used to exercise our spirit with playfulness using our imagination to become wings, scarves, rain, water or whatever it is your arms, hands, and/or fingers sense.
When we use them to punch and block or catch our bodies as we push off from the wall or the floor we build strength both in our arms, hands, fingers, back, and upper body muscles. The many circular motions incorporated into our routines help condition our muscles as well as our ligaments and tendons. Nia is not a linear cardio dance class. The idea is to move to promote health in the entire body.
The hands have the capability to gather information and to move energy, to bring it in or send it out. We use our hands in Nia a lot. Not all movement classes include hands in the exercises. Nia understands the importance of hands and fingers.
In addition to moving our limbs to promote flexibility and strength Nia weaves relaxation into the mix. It is understood that many people can hold tension in the upper body, in the shoulders and neck. We benefit from the opening and closing of the shoulder joints. We learn to recognize the different ways to move to promote relaxation.
We can do all of this while we follow the moves of a routine or when we choose to activate the freedom that is encouraged in Nia. Either way, whatever you decide you will see how Nia does use the Upper Extremities: Arms, Hands, and Fingers a lot in Nia.
Posted in Nia, Nia White Belt Principles | Tagged: arms, fingers, Hands, Nia Moves, Nia White Belt, Nia White Belt Principle #9, Principle #9 | 2 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on May 6, 2010
Ok, not a typical health, wellness, Nia post, but I am changing sheets today and it had me wondering. How often do you change your bed sheets? I try to do it once a week and I have been pretty good. The schedule has been Thursdays. It just works out that Thursdays has been the day it seems to work into my schedule. Sometimes I miss a Thursday so it might turn into a Saturday or a Sunday and then depending on the schedule for the week following I might do it on Thursday or wait until the following Thursday but that is usually it.
I vaguely . . . .I say vaguely because I purged the “who” and the exactly “how often”, from my mind, but I vaguely remember someone telling me their schedule and I was kind grossed out. But since I don’t know yours and I am not sure if that person’s schedule was more to the norm, I am not going to say how “not-often” his/her sheets were changed, just in case that is your schedule to, I don’t want to offend.
So? How often or not do you change your sheets?
I guess how often you sleep in your bed would help determine how often you change your sheets. Or if you have pets that sleep with you. I would imagine that sheets would get changed more often if there are animal butts involved. Also, activities, I would also imagine that if the bed sees a lot of “activity” there might need to be a more rigorous changing schedule. That brings to mind more questions, like “when?” Do you change your sheets before the weekend or after the weekend? Or more accurately before the more frequent “activities” or after?
When you do change your sheets, do you put on sheets out of the linen closet or do you wash the sheets and put them back on? I hate folding sheets (although, for the record, I am not ALLOWED to fold the sheets in our house because I can’t do it well. They are never flat enough to fit in the cupboard. My husband is a MASTER-sheet folder . . . so the job falls to him. Since the job falls to him, I try not to leave the sheets for him to fold.) I try to wash them and put them back on the bed. And I say “try” because I am famous (did you know, do you want my autograph?) for putting stuff in the washing machine and forgetting about it. So it could be all day until I go back upstairs and realize that I didn’t put the sheets in the dryer and it is time to go to bed so I end up having to get sheets out of the cupboard.
So, are you a wash and fold or wash and put back on the bed person? I guess this could depend on how many sets of sheets you own and if you have to go to a laundry mat or you have your own washing machine.
Whew! A lot of questions running through my head about sheets. Will any of you help answer them? I am curious. What are your thoughts on bed sheets? What is your changing schedule? How do you do it (wash and put back on? wash and fold?)
I recently heard from someone who hangs their sheets outside to dry, they like the fresh air dried smell (they don’t live in San Jose because they wouldn’t smell very fresh dried outside here). I can’t remember who that was. I wonder how they do their sheets. Hmmm? So many questions.
Posted in Entertainment, Misc | Tagged: bed sheets, Nia San Jose, Nia schedule, Nia workout, rigorous workout, San Jose Nia, San Jose Workout, sheets, washing sheets, workout schedule | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on May 4, 2010
Nia White Belt Principle #5 – Awareness – Dancing Through Life
I have been avoiding this principle because it can be very complex. To me, all of Nia’s White Belt Principles can be complex because they can be applied strictly to the cardio workout that is one aspect of Nia, they can be applied to Nia as a practice—which translates into, they can be applied to life, or they can just be applied to life.
Debbie Rosas Stewart talked about Principle #5 in this month’s Nia Teleconference for EveryBODY. She kept it simple. In all the calls she talks for about 15 minutes then she takes questions for the last 15. The call is 30 minutes. I will share with you what she said, but I recommend you listen to the call when they have it up on the site. They record each call every month.
Since I like to keep my posts relatively short, I have realized that I can post short summaries of Nia information and re-visit the information in additional posts.
One of the first things she said is very true, and I would like you to think about it. She pointed out that we are often aware of pain whereas we are not aware of pleasure. If we have a sore body part, we are aware of it. It makes its presence known and we listen. I personally don’t think we always listen to what it needs, but that is topic of another post. But we certainly don’t always pay attention to pleasure.
With Nia we seek pleasure. We seek to move away from the pain and go towards the pleasure.
There are a few things we can do to assist with that. One way is to be aware. Be aware of what brings us pleasure. As we move throughout our day we can make our movements a dance. While we are “doing”, we can dance through life. As you are reading this and you shift in your chair, notice the movement of your hips, notice to tilt of your head, do it like a dance.
While you are not moving, while you are “not doing”. Notice the stillness in your body. Allow the stillness to bring calm, relaxation, a sort of meditation, if you will. Notice what it is you are touching. Not just touching with your hands, but with your entire body. Are you sitting on a chair? Are you leaning on a desk? Benefit from that touch and that “not doing”.
Life as art so notice the art around you. Notice the noises and allow them to filter in as sound. Breath in the sensation of life. Not talking about “art” that would be in a museum art, but just the beauty of the world. Whatever you find beautiful.
There is so much about Nia I always find myself saying, “Another thing . . . one thing . . . Nia this . . . and Nia that. . .” but really. Another thing about Nia is that it is kind. Nia believes that we receive what we need to receive. We are not expected to hear something and walk away knowing it all or knowing it perfectly. With that in mind, understand that this is what I heard. These are the notes I took. Please, I invite you to listen for yourself and glean from it what you need. Focus on what resonates with you. Take away something you can share.
My site shows Nia class schedule in San Jose and San Carlos. On Nia’s main site you can look up classes in your area. There are classes all over the world.
Touching and Being Touched / May 3, 2010 Teleconference call is the call I have summarized here.
Presently in your life, do you dance through it? Do you practice awareness? Do you notice life as art?
Posted in Nia, Nia White Belt Principles | Tagged: Awareness, Cardio classes, cardio workout classes, Dancing Through Life, Debbie Rosas, Debbie Rosas Stewart, Nia, Nia Awareness, Nia cardio class, Nia Classes, Nia Dance, Nia movements, Nia pleasure, Nia Principle #5, Nia San Carlos, Nia San Jose, Nia Teleconference, Nia White Belt, Nia White Belt Principle #5, Nia workout, San Carlos Nia, San Jose, San Jose Nia, workout classes | 5 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on May 1, 2010
I have never been one to know the season for particular fruits and vegetables. I have never paid attention. I do think one reason for that is is that California has such great weather we can pretty much grow all kinds of fruits and vegetables. Plus, it could also be that, San Jose and the area in which I have lived has always been very diverse so we always have so many different fruits and vegetables.
Now-a-days it seems like you can get anything in any type of weather. It gets shipped from here or there. If you are interested in eating locally grown food and eating it at the peak of its season this site might help you.
Seasonal Ingredient Map (check it out)
You pick the state and the month and it gives you a list of what fruits and vegetables are in season in that state during that month. I think it is cool. It is especially helpful for people like me who think the grocery store is where things are grown. Ha, ok, I am not THAT bad, but this will help me exercise a bit of caution so that I can buy veggies at the peak of the season. Although, sometimes prices and the selection at the store help with that, huh?
I would like to thank @thegoodmixer for tweeting the website. Thanks, Janet.
Posted in Food, Vegetables | Tagged: California exercise, epicurious, food map, Fruits season, San Jose exercise, thegoodmixer, Vegetables Peak Season | 7 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on April 29, 2010
Sodalite – From the things I have read the main thing sodalite is believed to do is bring calm, inner peace, and balance. I have often seen it associated with helping make clear and rational decisions. (Which I would imagine would be easier if your mind was calm and you had inner peace, so those two things seem like they would go together.) In addition to clear and rational thinking, some information states it helps with creative thought too. I have also seen that it helps with inflammation which goes along with the information I have seen that says it assist with immune systems. (Because inflammation is part of that system.)
Moonstone – I see that this stone is said to also bring calm. Most information states, “Moonstone is a stone of inner growth and strength.” Also, it is said to stimulate balance of hormones. (Which we must remember is necessary in males as well as females.) Several things say it is a stone of protection and that it is a healing stone.
This is stuff that interests me. At one time I thought it was pretty (what I call) woo-woo, but then when I start looking into Nia I started seeing things a little differently. When I first discovered Nia I bought the book (The Nia Technique Book). As I started reading it I thought it was too “woo-woo”, but then they related it to science and it made sense. Then I started thinking that there had to be things on this earth that we were given before we had science that could assist with our health and wellness. So I thought, “Why not energies in a stone?” So, I am just interested in this. I feel more comfortable when I read the information out there (and there is so much out there) and it states basically the same information. Then I feel like at least everyone is on the same page.
I was interested in some of the properties these two stones were said to have. I have not listed them all but just some. I have a few in the house. Not sure they are doing any good, but they are pretty.
Do you think stones have energies? Do you think stones have healing properties?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: Amazon, healing properties, healing stone, health, inner peace, Moonstone, moonstone healing properties, Nia, Nia energy, Nia Technique, Nia Technique Book, Sodalite, sodalite healing properties, stone energies, wellness | 4 Comments »
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