Posts Tagged ‘Nia class’
Posted by terrepruitt on January 8, 2011
On Wednesday after my Nia Class in San Jose I was talking to one of my students. Some how we ended up on a subject that had her telling me about a friend of hers who is blind but has no issue navigating the step that is not too far from her front entry way inside her home. She was explaining that people have no problem with it on the way in, but on the way out they forget about it and usually stumble on it when leaving the house. This led to many other tangents in our conversation but one thing it had me thinking about was sight/seeing and our focus.
I was thinking that the sighted people were focusing on the door on the way out of the house. For me, I imagined myself leaving her house, part of my focus on her and saying our goodbyes, then another part on the door—–but with the door a multitude of other things would come into my mind and into my focus. I would see the door and begin to think about my car, which would make me think about my drive, which would lead me to think about what I need to do on the way home, which (depending upon the hour of the day) might have me thinking about what to cook for dinner and if I needed to stop at the store on the way home—-all of which would make me trip. I would not be focused at all on my feet and on the step and I am sure that I would stumble into the door.
With that in mind I had a focus and an intent for my next Nia class which was the one in Los Gatos. The focus was Awareness, the intent was to connect to one’s body. While I have used awareness as a focus before, and I have probably even used the same intent before, and I have even invited the participants to close their eyes, this time I did it more frequently. With this routine there is a song where we are completely stationary so closing one’s eyes to allow for complete focus on one’s body is perfect. There is also a song where we turn and face different walls (in line dancing it would be called a four-wall dance). When we turn it often takes me and other people out of the line of sight which can often lead to one “having” to be aware of one’s own body.
To me one of the fundamentals of Nia is being in one’s body and dancing in your own body’s way, but I think that we often get distracted by the things we see. I know that while I teach sometimes I will get distracted because I see my hair sticking up or I see something else I should not be concentrating on. So I think that having Awareness, with the intent of connecting to the body and adding “eyes closed” to be a great tool. We did not dance the entire routine with our eyes closed, just when it was safe to do so, when our movements were not far from our spot and there was no chance of bumping into someone. Also, it was just an invitation to assist with the focus and intent it is not something that was required.
As the teacher I do not close my eyes as much as I would if I were the student because I am teaching and making certain that all is well in the class, but I know that the few times I did I was able to really embrace the focus and the intent.
What do you think? Do you think that if you close your eyes you can focus more on your body?
Posted in Nia | Tagged: body's way, dance class, focus and intent, four wall dance, fundamentals of Nia, line dancing, Los Gatos Nia, Nia, Nia class, Nia dancing, Nia fundamentals, Nia Los Gatos, Nia participant, Nia San Jose, Nia student, San Jose line dancing, San Jose Nia | 6 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on January 4, 2011
When I first started teaching my Nia classes I was doing it three times a week, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at the studio in Willow Glen. Not every class had many students. I remember talking to different people about the low numbers. Some of them suggested not having that many classes in a week, not having that many dance lessons a week. Understandable. Most people didn’t know what Nia was. Since it is dance many people thought of it as a dance that you learn. But Nia is not like Salsa or Tango where you are shown steps, then asked to mimic them, then instructed to practice, then allowed to practice to music. Nia is not a dance lesson type of dance.
Even though Nia incorporates nine different movement forms, Nia is more comparable to Zumba or Jazzercise where the music is playing and the participants follow the lead of the teacher. No experience in or with any of the movement forms is required. Nia is a cardio dance workout, it is exercise so it is GREAT to do it three times a week. It is recommended to participate in a form of cardio exercise at least three times a week to maintain heart health. Depending upon your individual needs and goals cardio more often might even be in order. So Nia three times a week is great.
When I had the opportunity to hold a third class in a week that is exactly what many of my Monday and Wednesday students said, “Nia three times a week is great!” Now I have a third Nia class on Fridays in Los Gatos. (I know I have said that before, but I am excited. Plus I need to get the word out!)
Another point about Salsa and Tango is a partner is needed. Nia does not require a partner so it is often easier to actually do it three times a week since you are not trying to coordinate with another person to meet and dance three times a week.
Participating in Nia with any regularity participants will learn, but it might not be dance steps. There are many things to learn when participating in Nia, but it is not taught as steps and or patterns are taught in a dance lesson. Instead of Nia being a dance lesson, you will learn lessons as you dance Nia. 🙂
Posted in Nia | Tagged: cardio dance, cardio dance workout, cardio exercise, cardio workout, dance class, dance class Willow Glen, Exercise classes in Willow Glen, heart health, Jazzercise, Nia, Nia class, Nia Music, Nia participants, Nia Practice, Nia students, Nia studio, Nia Teacher, Nia three times a week, Nia Willow Glen, Salsa, Salsa partner, Tango, Tango partner, Willow Glen Jazzercise, Willow Glen Nia, Willow Glen Salsa, Willow Glen Tango, Willow Glen Zumba, Workout in Willow Glen, Zumba | 2 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on January 1, 2011
So how was your New Year’s Day? Did you get to a Nia class? Do you think that the first day of the New Year dictates how the year will go for you? I was thinking about that today when I started to make something to eat. I went into our closet that we use as a pantry — we had ants. They were after a particular box of cereal. The entire closet had to be emptied out so that we could find out where they were coming from. I believe we live on an ant hill because every time it rains they get washed up. Anyway, I didn’t want to spend my entire New Year’s Day cleaning up after ants. I have other household chores that need to be done, but I am trying to rest my toe. So I thought for a moment, “Great. If this is any indication of how the year is going to go — oh my!” But then, my hubby jumped in to help.
He emptied the entire closet . . . . which was awesome because as you can imagine emptying a closet is just a lot of walking back and forth. As silly as it may sound (and it sounds pretty silly) I thought that it was pretty great that we had this project to do together. He seemed pretty happy to be helping and I was so glad to have the help.
So, I am thinking of two ideas:
The first day of the year is not really an indication of how the year is going to go. It is just a day and if was covered in ants, oh well, move on and make it a great year.
OR, the first day is an indication of how the year is going to go and spending the day working on a project – no matter that it wasn’t a fun one we would have chosen – with my hubby gives me an idea of what a great year this is going to be. I’ll get projects done and I’ll be with my hubby.
That leaves me with questions for you:
How was your New Year’s Day?
Do you think that the first day of the year might serve as a hint into how the year will go?
How is your year going to go?
NOTE: Please remember my Nia Class in Los Gatos has a new start time beginning Friday, January, 7, 2011 – the class is now at 10:30 am.
Posted in Misc | Tagged: 2011, bad days, Happy New Year, Los Gatos Nia, Los Gatos Nia Class, New Year, New Year's Day, Nia, Nia class, Nia Los Gatos | 6 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on December 30, 2010
Tomorrow morning is my last Nia class of 2010, it will be in Los Gatos at 9:30 am. I mention this because I am ending 2010 with three classes a week. I mention that because someone was reminding me that the end of the year Holidays (Christmas, Bodhi Day, Winter Solstice, Advent, Yule, Pancha Ganapati, Hanukkah, Yalda, Boxing Day, Kwanzaa, Hogmanay, and the New Year – just to name a few) are difficult for some because it is a time of reflection and sometimes dwelling on all that was not accomplished in the passing year and maybe even dwelling on 
some of one’s failures. Once when I was sharing with one of my Nia students all that I still had to learn just in regards to Nia, she reminded me of how far I had come. Instead of listing my goals and resolutions for the new year, I am going to share some of the things I did accomplish.
–completed my second year teaching Nia
–consistently taught Nia at least twice a week all year
–taught up to four classes in one week
–subbed several Nia classes
–taught classes at a Park and Recreation Center
–consistently posted to my blog
–penned at least 200 blog posts (I post on other blogs)
–witnessed an increase of number of participants in my Willow Glen Nia class
–paid studio rent with funds solely collected from teaching Nia
–taught at a few Nia Jams
–held a Nia workshop
–raised over $300 for the Multiple Sclerosis Society
–been married for 12 years
–went from two Nia classes a week to three classes a week
–started up a new Nia class in Los Gatos
While some of these may seem small or as if they didn’t require a lot of effort, that is not the point. The point of this post / exercise is to celebrate things no matter how big, how small, how easy, or how difficult. It is just a moment to do a Snoopy Dance because they are. It is a way to not dwell on all that has not been done or all that has yet to be done. It is just to say, “Aahhh.” and with that ahh turn my face towards the future and the excitement of what 2011 will hold.
So? What about you? What is on your list of things you did?
Happy New Year.
Posted in Misc | Tagged: 2010, 2011, Boxing Day, Christmas, Hanukkah, Happy New Year, Kwanzaa, Los Gatos Nia, Multiple Sclerosis Society, New Year, Nia, Nia class, Nia Jam, Nia Los Gatos, Nia sub, Nia Teacher, Nia workshop, Park and Recreation Center, Snoopy Dance, teaching Nia, time of reflection, Willow Glen Nia class, Winter Solstice, Yule | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on December 18, 2010
As I was getting ready for my Nia class the other day, I thought “How cold is it?” I was trying to decide how to wear my scarf. Then I thought this would be a great blog post because when I first learned how to wear a scarf I was amazed. Then as I grabbed the laptop to type this up I realized that a lot of my readers probably already know this because they are from colder areas than California. Maybe if you don’t live in the Bay Area then you might not know how we wear our scarves so I will be sharing that with you.
A few years back I was getting ready to leave work, I hung my scarf on my neck then grabbed one end and started wrapping. My co-worker saw me and started chuckling when I asked her what she was laughing about she explained that people in California wear their scarves different from people back East. She was from back East and was accustomed too much lower temperatures. I was so curious. I had never thought about wearing my scarf a different way so I asked her to show me. She took my scarf, folded it in half, hung it around my neck and tucked the loose ends into the folded end. WHOA! I laughed. I instantly recognized how much warmer that is.
Here in the San Jose Bay Area – maybe all over California we wear scarves more as an accessory than for warmth. Then when we want to be warm we throw one end over our shoulder. If we want to be REALLY warm we wrap the scarf around our neck a few times. All of these methods leave our lower neck/upper chest area exposed. But when you fold then hang it around your neck then tuck the loose ends your lower neck/upper chest area get completely covered. It is so warm and cozy that way.
I actually wear my scarves these two different ways. Usually on my way TO my Nia class I fold and tuck. On the way home because I am usually hot and sweaty from working out I just throw it over my neck and wrap. This helps me stay a little warm but not as warm as when I fold it and tuck it. So? What do you think? Did you know this?
How do you wear your scarf? Do you wrap? Do you tuck? Do you do one or the other depending on the need?
Folded in half then tucked.
Posted in Helpful Hints | Tagged: Bay Area Nia, California weather, cold weather, East Coast, Nia, Nia class, Nia San Jose, San Jose Bay Area Nia class, San Jose Nia, scarf | 14 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on December 16, 2010
I had a friend visiting from Colorado that actually came to one of my Nia classes this week. I am so blessed to have friends that come to my class when they are visiting California. So many of my friends have moved from the Bay Area so when they come visit they often have a list of people to visit so I am always very grateful when they take time out of the schedule to come to a Nia class. After Nia we went out to breakfast in Willow Glen. My friend was telling me that she had employed a Red Light, Yellow Light, Green Light tactic for her children in regards to food. Instead of saying “bad food”, she uses the lights. I love that. I told her I was going to use it for a blog post and she told me who she actually got it from, but I forgot. My mind was already racing—GREEN LIGHT!
She used “Red” as treat food; hot dogs at a summer cookout, cup cakes at a birthday party, food that is served on special occasions. I would imagine that red could be used for foods you don’t eat at all. I think that the method is awesome and it can be tailored to fit the family, individual. I just like it instead of saying the food is “bad” or I was bad. I could say, “Oh, I had some red light food.” The idea for the red light is to stop and think before you proceed.
Yellow is food you eat but with caution. You might have it more often than a red light food, but it is still not the food you eat freely.
After I started typing this I looked up “red light food” and I see that on one site someone mentions Weight Watchers doing the red light food, I see on another site that it has been attributed to a Lola O’Rourke (“of the American Dietetic Association”). I am seeing a lot of different ways to design it and — as with anything — it should be tailored to your own individual needs. But it can be a useful tool in how you think about what you are eating.
Red light foods would be sweets, treats, cookies, cupcakes, ice cream, soda, maybe even cheese and dairy (depends on the needs of the individual). Yellow light food could be healthy fats. Even though they are healthy we don’t want to consume too much. Meat could be in this category. Veggies, for most people, would be a green light food. As with fruit and whole grains. But there are people who can’t eat certain vegetables due to medication and then there are those who are gluten sensitive.
So what food are included in your light scheme would be up to you. I just thought it was a cool way to think about it. I really thing it is a great way to teach kids. I’ve mentioned before that I am not a fan of (even though I still say it!) saying food it “bad”, or I’ve been “bad” when referring to eating unhealthy food.
So what do you think? Might you want to play “Red light, Yellow Light, Green Light”? 🙂
Posted in Food | Tagged: American Dietetic Association, bad food, Bay Area Nia, California Nia, green light food, healthy food, Lola O'Rourke, Nia, Nia Bay Area, Nia California, Nia class, Red light food, sweets, treats, Willow Glen Nia, yellow light food | 6 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on December 11, 2010
Ok, so every year at Christmas my friends and I get together to celebrate. Today is our 24th year. I am explaining that because I am in a rush but I want to post something. I know if I don’t do it before I leave I won’t do it when I come back. Since I have my injured toe all I was able to do yesterday was teach my Nia class and decorate the tree. It takes me a long time to do anything so my posting is a little rushed. But . . . . I still think this is a great idea . . . .and that is why I am posting it. Its about the Honey Do List.
Are you lucky enough to have a partner that helps with things? Do you make a list? Well, I am lucky enough to have a hubby that does things. He always helps me a lot when I have company coming over and he is REALLY doing a lot because he wants me to rest my foot. I am going to share something with you that I think should be on EVERY Honey Do List all the time.
I think it is nice to let your honey know that s/he is appreciated. So I include that on the list of things to do. Yup. The list might look like this:
Silly, maybe, but I think this is part of wellness. My hubby works hard and I think it is important to let him know that he is appreciated. Everyone likes to know they are appreciated. I think it goes a long way. If your honey is looking at the list of things to do and sees that it could make his/her day. I think happy and positive go a long way. If your partner is running around doing things in a state of “grump” that just adds to the negativity out there. If s/he is running around in a state of “I’m appreciated”, it adds to the positivity out there.
Well, that is my take on it. What do you think?
Posted in Helpful Hints | Tagged: appreciated, chores, Christmas, Christmas celebration, happy vibes, Honey Do list, how to get your honey to do things, Nia, Nia class, Nia Teacher, positive vibes | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on December 9, 2010
I have to save up most of my “vertical” for my Nia classes right now. Even though I have injured/broke my toe I am still teaching my classes because Nia really is about the individual moving in his or her own way. But I still need to rest it as much as possible. Even though I am “letting go” of doing a few things this season, I am still trying to make it look “Christmasy” in the house. Since I was moving a lot today I was trying to come up with an easy dinner. Also, since I need to rest my foot my hubby has been cleaning the kitchen every night. So needing a quick easy dinner AND trying to use as few dishes that need hand washing as possible, AND trying not make a mess I was not thrilled with the thought of the mess that preparing broccoli makes.
I am going to admit that I have been making less broccoli than I think we should eat because I do not like to deal with the mess it makes. I usually just cut it in the sink so I can just rinse all the little particles down the drain, but I didn’t even want to stand that long. So I realized that I could just cut it while it was in the bag. YAY!!! No broccoli mess. No little particles all over the place.
Ok, I know this is a silly thing, but I thought it was a good idea. Saved me a lot of time. Since I am short on time that I can be ‘doing’, both this quick post and the quick tip are part of doing what I have to do in order to get to resting my foot in order to be ready for my Nia class in Los Gatos tomorrow.
Do you have any quick tips about dealing with broccoli?
Posted in Just stuff | Tagged: broccoli, broccoli mess, broccoli particles, broccoli tip, Los Gatos Nia, Los Gatos Nia Class, Nia class, Nia Classes, Nia Los Gatos, Nia Teacher | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on December 7, 2010
In my most recent Nia class, I decided that I wanted to help people focus on the good of the season. I think that sometimes there is a lot of negative emotions around the Holiday season. By negative emotions I mean the way people actually feel during this time of year. There is always the ever present I-don’t-believe-in-Christ-so-I-don’t-agree-with-any-of-it, the it-makes-me-sad-so-therefore-I-am-going-to-be-sad, the WHAT?-ITS-CHRISTMAS! The feelings of inadequacy; there is not enough money, goals for the year were not accomplished, baking isn’t getting done, cards aren’t being sent, house isn’t getting cleaned, nothing is enough, there is too much . . . . .oh my the pressure! I was thinking all of this is negative stuff. So in class the focus was pushing away the negative, somewhat rejecting it, with the intent of bringing in the positive.
Both the “negative” and the “positive” is different for everyone so that was a very individualized point. We didn’t discuss anything that I mentioned above, so everyone could rid themselves of whatever they needed and attract whatever they wanted. It was very nice. It is a focus and an intent that can be used any time, I just thought we’d give it a spin this season.
As with all focuses and intents we use in a Nia class they can be carried into one’s day and/or daily living. This is where the thought of “letting go” keeps popping into my head. I love this season. I love cleaning my house, getting it all ready to put up the decorations. Then I love spending days . . . at least two or three days decorating the tree and the house. I always laugh because sometimes I can’t remember where I “normally” put something and it might end up in a new spot. Then I spend the season either saying, “Yes, that’s good.” or “No, that really doesn’t work.”
I sometimes feel very foolish for the sheer joy I feel when I look at a silly Christmas decoration that I cherish. But I do. I feel joy at the beauty and the sparkle of Christmas. This year since I am a bit limited in my movements I am having to really draw on that joy. I am going to have to strategically place things so that I can see “Christmas” everywhere yet not have as many decorations out and up.
Things tend to work in concert. We ended up with a much, much smaller tree than usual. Cool, since my hubby had to handle it without my help. Since it is smaller it will require less ornaments which will allow me to stay off my foot. Also a small tree requires less maintenance and the couches didn’t have to be moved. See? It is all gonna work out fine, I just need to let it go. Reject the negative when I start to feel a pout coming on. It’s ok that it is my favorite time of year and I can’t run around. Oh well. I can walk. My toe/foot IS healing. It is all good. For heaven’s sake its Christmastime. Let the negative go, embrace the season, embrace the unity.
Posted in Just stuff, Nia | Tagged: Christmas, Christmas cards, Christmas decorations, Christmas Tree, Christmas tree ornaments, Christmastime, Holiday season, Holidays, Nia, Nia class, Nia focus, Nia intent, unity | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on November 30, 2010
After my Nia class this week, my students told me soak my toe in an epsom salt bath. I had actually been told about them before. They have been around forever. Ya know one of those things that used to be used in simpler times when there wasn’t something fancy to take its place. It is a natural mineral, magnesium sulfate.
I had originally been told about them for sore muscles. In fact a lot of bath salt products on the market contain magnesium sulfate. The instructions on the container state to use two cups of the salts in a tub of water and soak. The mineral is absorbed into the skin and it helps reduce inflammation and soreness. This can help with sprains and strains and muscles that have been exercised. A soak in water with epsom salts can also help relive itching of some illnesses or issues.
Epsom salt is thought to help relax the body as well as the mind and draw toxins out of the body. Soaking one’s feet can help both neutralize foot order and make the skin soft. Soaking in water with salts in it can help soften the skin, but the salts themselves can also be used as an exfoliator. Rubbing the skin while wet then rinsing throughly. Also the salts can be used to help with acne and breakouts.
Now that I actually have a container of them I might start using them more often to soak my feet and exfoliate them. How about you? Have you used them before?
Just as a note: Table salt is sodium chloride it is different substance than magnesium sulfate.
Posted in Helpful Hints | Tagged: acne treatment, epsom salt, epsom salt bath, natural mineral, Nia class, Nia students, skin softener, sore muscles | 9 Comments »
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