Posts Tagged ‘Nia class’
Posted by terrepruitt on November 27, 2010
This Thanksgiving, I was blessed with two different Thanksgiving dinners. On Thanksgiving we went to my in-laws in the San Jose area. Then after I taught my Nia class in Los Gatos on Friday, we went to another family members and had ANOTHER Thanksgiving dinner. What do you do with your leftover turkey meat?
If I am lucky enough to get any (my mother-in-law gave us a huge bag full—yay!), I usually make turkey sandwiches, but they are usually pretty plain. Bread, cheese, mayo, and lettuce. Well, that is for my hubby, I usually have cheese OR mayo. What about you? Do you make sandwiches out of your leftover turkey? How? Toasted whole wheat? A dinner roll? Do you use all the fixins? The cranberries and everything? What about avacado?
Do you make turkey chili? A turkey salad? Or turkey salad . . . . .like chicken or tuna salad but with turkey instead. If you have enough left over you can make a multitude of things and never really eat the same thing over again.
I am seeing information that turkey is a super food. Ya know, that “super food” stuff, but it is in a lot of the websites so it must be considered one of those foods.
Here is an idea of what you are getting when you eat your turkey. Either right after it is cooked or when it is remade into a new meal.
A portion of turkey about the size of a deck of cards is as follows:
–Breast with skin has 194 calories, 8 grams of fat, and 29 grams of protein
–Breast without skin has 161 calories, 4 grams of fat, and 30 grams of protein
–Leg with skin has 213 calories, 11 grams of fat, and 28 grams of protein
–Dark meat with skin has 232 calories, 13 grams of fat, and 27 grams of protein
–Dark meat with skin has 232 calories, 13 grams of fat, and 27 grams of protein
–Dark meat without skin has 192 calories, 8 grams of fat, and 28 grams of protein
From http://urbanext.illinois.edu/turkey/nutrition.cfm
I am just about to make myself a plate of leftovers, but I would still love to hear what you do with yours leftovers. Do tell!
Posted in Food | Tagged: dark meat, Los Gatos Nia, Nia class, Nia Los Gatos, Nia San Jose, San Jose Nia, San Jose Nia class, super food, Thanksgiving dinner, turkey chili, Turkey dinner, turkey leftovers, turkey meat, turkey protein, turkey sandwich, white meat | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on November 16, 2010
Nia is a non-impact aerobic exercise. I often get a quizzical look when I explain that to people. It is done to music so maybe that might make it a challenge for people to understand. It’s almost as if it is difficult to imagine a dance exercise class that is non-impact. Or maybe it is the idea that we have been programmed with–you have to jump to get a good cardio workout. But that’s when I need to remind them about:
—bicycling
—walking up hill
—elipical
—roller skating
—ice skating
—cross country skiing
—swimming
—rowing machine
—punching bag
All of these things can get your heart rate going without impact on the body. It is a matter of intensity. That’s what non-impact cardio is; getting your heart rate up with the level of intensity. With the aforementioned exercises eight of them involve your legs, four of them involve your arms AND legs. One of them doesn’t involve legs at all. intensity–enough to bring the heart rate up–can be done by moving your arms only. So, this is just a reminder, using exercises that most of us are familiar with, that you CAN have a cardio workout without the impact. So if you have knees that prefer not to jump, tender feet, or delicate ankles you can still find something to do that is a cardiovascular workout.
Posted in Exercise and Working Out | Tagged: aerobic exercise, aerobics class, bicycling, cardio workout, dance class, exercise class, Nia, Nia class, Nia dance class, Nia exercise, Nia exercise class, Non-Impact Aerobics, swimming | 3 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on November 13, 2010
The Fall weather, sometimes winter conditions upon us now–at least in my area — the San Francisco Bay Area —it is the perfect time to try out some indoor exercise. With the weather being unpredictable it is nice to have a class that you can count on. If you can find an indoor class that you can participate in three times a week that is great. It is often recommended to do a type of aerobic or cardio exercise three times a week — depending upon your goals. If you are doing cardio for weight loss or for cardiovascular health it requires consistent and frequent sessions. Sometimes it can be a matter of just having that class available three times a week so when the weather doesn’t cooperate with any other plans you might have you have the option of going to a class.
I believe that you need to find something that you like, no matter what it is be it Zumba, Jazzercise, Cycling, or Kickboxing or a cardio workout that engages your body, mind, and spirit like Nia. Whatever you find that you like you need to do it and not let the weather — the cold-I-want-to-sit-on-my-couch-in-sweats weather — sit you down. What is so great is that you have all of these things available to you. If you live in San Jose or around San Jose anywhere in the Bay Area you have all of the aforementioned classes and more available to you. I myself lead Nia classes three times a week. That alone gives you at least three opportunities for you to move, groove, and get your cardio on.
I look forward to you joining me for at least one cardio session a week! So yes, I am using this post to promote my classes, but I am so excited to have added a third class, I just can’t help it. I had one student say to me, “This is perfect because I was just thinking about adding a third day of cardio to my routine. I am so glad to have three days of Nia.” Perfect timing. I hope you will think of it as perfect timing too and take the opportunity to come to Nia, one day, two days, or even all three days.
What do you do when the weather turns cold? Do you have an exercise you turn to for the cold winter months?
Posted in Exercise and Working Out, Nia | Tagged: aerobic exercise, cardio exercise, Cycling, fall exercise class, Jazzercise, kickboxing, Nia class, Nia exercise, Nia San Jose, San Francisco Bay Area Nia, San Jose exercise class, San Jose Nia, winter exercise class, Zumba | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on November 11, 2010
Recently in my San Jose Nia Class we used elbows as our focus for the class. The intent was to sense the connection that our elbows have to our entire body. As we moved we connected them to our hips, our ribs, our thighs, our knees, even our toes. An easy and almost automatic connection is elbows to shoulders. Well, for me, this focus allowed me to move my joints to a state of complete and utter looseness. I felt very loose and relaxed all day long.
That same evening I went to an Ecstatic Dance class and I almost felt as if I could bend like a contortionists. Notice I said ALMOST. In reality I could not bend like that, but I was sensing a greater flexing in my joints than normal. Since I was actually aware of this and sensing it I decided to move with caution. When I get the opportunity to just Free Dance with others that are doing their own thing I really end up moving. I work up a sweat and get a really great workout. But this time since I felt my joints might be able to bend more than normal I kept reining myself in. I didn’t want to end up injuring myself.
I thought of my former dance teacher who used to do very deep stretches with her legs. Since she COULD stretch so deep she would do it all the time thinking she was doing her body good. But it turned out that all of that stretching ended up putting too much strain on her ligaments. She ended up having to have several surgeries on her knee. She was double jointed or had knee joints that hyperextended. If you are double jointed it is good to use caution when moving because just because you CAN move like that doesn’t mean it is good for you to do so repeatedly. The focus of this post is more about loose joints and not double-jointedness.
It is very important to stretch and be flexible, but there sometimes is a point when we are too loose or more accurately too loose to just let loose. We need to know when to rein it in and take it easy. Listening to our body and using body knowledge and awareness we can help from allowing ourselves to get injured. If you normally cannot do a particular move but today you sense that you can, stop and think can you really? Is your body ready? If you are sure then by all means do it because doing what we couldn’t do before but can do now, is how we grow and progress. But if you are not sure then maybe you want to wait until you are certain because you don’t want to end up having to start all over if you injure yourself. If your joints are not used to a deep stretches then work slowly into it. If you have done a juicy yoga class or Nia has all your joints open and saying “Ahhh!” but your joints are not always that loose – proceed with care doing any additional exercise. Be sure to enjoy the sensation of happy joints.
Have you ever sensed the sensation of loose joints?
Posted in Helpful Hints | Tagged: dance class, Dance Workout, dance workout class, Ecstatic Dance, flexible joints, focus and intent, joints, Nia class, Nia class focus, Nia class intent, San Joe workout, San Jose Nia class, San Jose Workout class, San Jose Yoga, San Jose yoga class, workout class, Yoga | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on October 26, 2010
On the way home from teaching a Nia class a week or so ago, I went shopping and I remembered — finally — to take a picture of the non-dairy powdered creamer. Since I never got back to putting the picture in my original post about my powdered creamer I decided to add the picture here to a new post giving you an update. Its been about a month and a half and I am still NOT using that white powder. Seriously, that is what it is. It is not food. Just because the ingredients have been deemed edible by the FDA, does NOT mean it is FOOD. It is DEFINITELY NOT NUTRIENTS.
I think I need to have this label adhered to my arm as a reminder.
Corn syrup solids . . . . doesn’t even sound good. While the label might tout 0 grams of trans fat (I don’t know if the label does say that because I didn’t look) it has partially hydrogenated soybean oil in it . . . . so it has trans fat. Then it has sodium casinate . . . something they know no one will know what that is so they kindly describe it for us as a “milk derivative”. . . . then more “stuff”. Yeah, I really needed to be drinking that EVERYDAY!
Again . . . . . I am not a perfect eater. I wish I was, but I am trying to eat healthier than this stuff.
As I said in my other post . . . this (the first picture) was my powder of choice . . . the store brand, whichever store I was at. I preferred that over the “national” brand, but I took a picture of that too.
White powder free 2.5 months and counting. 🙂
Posted in Food | Tagged: Nia, Nia class, Non-dairy creamer, non-dairy powdered creamer, partially hydrogenated oil, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, powdered creamer, teaching Nia, Trans fat, transfat | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on October 9, 2010
In my last post about the Nia workout I referenced an index I created for the Nia Technique Book. I want to point out that some of the section titles you see might be different than some of the information you hear now coming from Nia. The Nia Technique Book was published in 2004. The creators of Nia – Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas wrote the book to explain how Nia came about and to share its principles and moves. As you read the book you will see how Nia was not just thought up over night — actually it wasn’t thought up at all — it was born and it was grown and continues to grow and change. That is my point here, the names you might see of sections or principles in the index and in the book, might be different now because Nia is always moving, changing, and growing.
The basics remain the same. The core principles themselves have not changed but, they might have morphed a bit. In my post about Principle #11, I have said some of this before. I try not to repeat myself in entirety but often times it is ok to repeat some things. I like to repeat that Nia has been around for 26 years, the main ideas of moving to increase health, moving as the body was designed, and many more are still the same, but at the same time Nia has changed.
As I was typing up the index for the Nia Technique Book I noticed that, aside from Principle #11, Principle #9, #12, and #13 had different names then when I learned them and as we move forward the names change. But that is just a natural way of things. Things need to adapt a bit in order to survive. The core of it does not have to change, but it might need to be tweaked a bit. Even as the things have changed the book is still great information. Things have not changed enough for the book to be obsolete or have to be rewritten. The book is still an excellent starting point if you are just beginning and an excellent tool if you’ve been doing Nia for years.
Another thing I like to remind people is that I am a Nia Teacher and Nia Student. I post information on my website and blog about Nia. I might voice my opinion or my understanding about Nia, but the concept and the idea of Nia originated with Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas. I am just helping to promote Nia. It is a workout, an exercise, a dance that makes one feel energized and happy. It is something I love to share. Come to one of my Nia classes or find one near you!
Posted in Nia | Tagged: Carlos Rosas, concept of Nia, dance exercise, Dance Workout, Debbie Rosas, exercise dance, how Nia originated, Nia, Nia book, Nia class, Nia Dance, Nia exercise, Nia Principle #11, Nia Principle #12, Nia Principle #13, Nia Principle #9, Nia principles, Nia student, Nia Teacher, Nia Technique, Nia workout, The Nia Technique book | 7 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on October 5, 2010
I teach Nia in the San Francisco Bay Area. One thing I am trying to do is increase awareness of Nia and also, at the same time, increase my class sizes. So recently I hosted a Playshop in San Jose at the studio in Willow Glen where I hold my Nia classes. My topic for the Playshop was some of the 52 Moves of Nia. It was a success. I felt good about it, even though I put my students to work.
I had spent a day and a half or so preparing what moves I wanted to go over in the Playshop and what Nia katas from the various Nia routines I wanted to use in the Nia Class. I wanted the class routine to include all the various moves we explored in the Playshop. I spend a couple of days between doing other things reviewing to make certain I was comfortable with my presentation and to make certain I could get through it within the allotted time. So I was confident the Playshop and the Nia Class would go smooth. What I was nervous about was being able to get in and set up.
If you are a teacher of almost anything, you know that here is time needed to set up. Showing up early to set up and be ready to greet your students is not always possible with the time allowed in between workout classes. In exercise class situations sometimes there is NO time in between classes. They are scheduled to end on the hour and start at the same time. So I had scheduled 15 minutes in between, but there was still things that needed to be done and I wasn’t wanting to rush the class before us out.
So I came up with an idea . . . . now, I would bet I am not the only one to come up with this and I bet if I were to do minimum research I would find all the “Planning a workshop” information to tell me exactly this, but I am still going share it.
I realized that I could put my students to work! So I did. Most of the time people are more than willing to help. One of my students showed up really early—before me even. So I knew she was ready to do something. So I set her on one task. Then two of my students who I had been plotting to do this work all along were assigned tasks.
This assigning of tasks can also be connected to my post about “If You want something done right“. Because I had to be willing to “let go” and let my students do the tasks. And I have to say they did them beautifully. I was so proud. I was proud of myself for having thought of having them do it and I was proud of myself that I just let them do it. And I was especially proud that they did it so well. I believe they did better than I could have–it was awesome.
It was a great learning experience for me.
My hubby (thanks, Hubby!) also came to help. With him mopping the floor and some of my students setting up the room, I was able to concentrate on the participants coming in that needed to sign waivers and get settled. All of this allowed us to start on time . . . which allowed us to end on time — for the Playshop at least. The Nia routine I put together was a little longer than an hour so we went over on that. But all-in-all it was my students that allowed me to have a successful Playshop.
(Thanks Students!)
Posted in 52 Moves (of Nia), Nia | Tagged: exercise class, katas, Nia 52 moves, Nia class, Nia exercise, Nia exercise class, Nia katas, Nia participants, Nia Playshop, Nia routines, Nia San Francisco, Nia San Jose, Nia students, Nia Teacher, Nia Willow Glen, Nia workout, Nia workshop, San Francisco Bay Area Nia, San Francisco Nia, San Jose Nia, San Jose Nia class, SFBay Nia, Willow Glen Nia, working students, workout class | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on September 30, 2010
With Nia you get a workout. It is not necessary to have any experience in any type of dance modality or martial arts, or any type of practice (Yoga, Pilates, etc.). Any BODY can walk into a class and join in and following their own body’s way get a great workout.
In the Nia practice there are three stages. So if you want you can take your workout into these areas. The stages are:
1—Learn the Move
When you learn the move you are learning the name, you are thinking about the move. The concentration is on placing your feet in the proper place, learning where your limbs are supposed to be. Maybe trying some of the different intensity levels and the different planes. This is the stage where you are actually doing a lot of thinking.
2—Move the Move
This is the stage we you move the move. You are doing a routine and just moving. Getting the moves into your muscle memory. Your body is learning the move. Here is where you are learning the combinations. This stage is where you let your body lead and you don’t think too much. The body has an intelligence of its own and if you let it sense it can flow.
3—Energize the Move
This is the stage that you can achieve once your body knows the move. This stage could be during a song the first time you do it, if you feel comfortable and your body senses the moves you might be able to just put the energy into it from one of the Nine Movement Forms. Or it could be the stage you get to once you have done the song a few times. It really depends on the you. It depends on how you feel and how you sense the music. But this is where we really get to play with our routines, where we can energize with the energy of T’ai Chi, Tae Kwon Do, Jazz Dance, or Yoga.
This weekend (10/03/10), in Willow Glen/San Jose I am holding a Nia Playshop where we will Learn the Move. We are going to play with some of the moves that make up the 52 Moves of Nia. Then after we are going to have a Nia Class where we Move the Move. Since we will have spent an hour Learning the Moves I am hoping that some of you will be able to Energize the moves. See you Sunday!
Posted in Nia | Tagged: 52 Moves of Nia, Jazz Dance, Nia class, Nia Class in San Jose, Nia Playshop, Nia Practice, Nia Willow Glen, Nia workout, Nine Movement Forms, Pilates, San Jose Nia, San Jose Nia class, San Jose Nia practice, San Jose Pilates, San Jose Yoga, Tae kwon do, Tai Chi, Willow Glen Nia, Willow Glen Workout, Yoga | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on September 9, 2010
Whether I am teaching a Nia class or participating in a Nia class I sweat . . . . a lot. I used to think I sweat too much, then I heard that when you sweat your body is sweating out toxins. So then I went on thinking that it was good and ok that I sweat a lot because I was ridding my body of toxins. My plan for the post today was to jump on the computer and find all kinds of information regarding the toxins that are sweated out and to provide information about why we sweat. The first thing I read said there is no scientific evidence that proves bodies sweat out toxins. What? Did you know that?
Sweat is not just water, it does contain other things (minerals, lactate, and urea) but it has not been found to contain toxins or maybe more accurately, it has not been found to contain enough toxins to conclude that we actual sweat toxins out. Sweating is the bodies way of cooling us down. The mechanisms that produces sweat is not constructed to filter out toxins like, say, the liver or the kidneys.
When our bodies get hot the 2.6 million sweat glands (average person) produce perspiration or sweat. There are two different types of sweat glands and they produce two different types of sweat. There is the armpit and genital area type and then the rest-of-your-body type. Sweat itself does not have an odor, it is mainly made up of water. It is the bacteria in the areas of the body that mixes with the sweat that sometimes causes odor. Our bodies constantly sweat, but for some, most of it is absorbed back into the body before it even reaches the outer layer of the skin. When too much is produced to be reabsorbed that is when it comes out of the body. When it does come out of the skin some of it is evaporated to help produce a cooling effect. When there is more perspiration then can be evaporated it rolls or drips off the skin (or soaks into clothing).
Like many, many things there is just not scientific evidence showing that toxins are sweat out. Many people swear by saunas and bikram or hot yoga to sweat out the toxins. When you are sick some of us have been taught to sweat it out. I am just surprised that I have heard it for so long, but when I go to find supporting evidence I can’t. Maybe I just can’t. Maybe it is out there, but I am unable to find it.
The only information I found that supported the idea was webpages that had to do with the sale of saunas or one that has to do with a Detoxification Program created by the late L. Ron Hubbard. What do you think? Do you believe that we sweat out toxins?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: bikram yoga, Detoxification Program, hot yoga, kidney toxins, L. Ron Hubbard, liver toxins, Nia class, Nia Teacher, perspiration, saunas, sweat out toxins, sweaty yoga, teaching Nia, toxins, yoga classes | 7 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on September 4, 2010
Nia, at one point, was called NIA or Neuromuscular Integrative Action. Neuromuscular pertains to both nerves and muscles. Our movements involve both muscles and nerves. In a Nia cardio class, we stimulate and activate both during the workout. While leading a group of elder adults in a mobility-enhancement exercise (in a job unrelated to Nia) an observer commented, “It is like kindergarten.” My response was, “Yes, and isn’t it fun?” As I continued to watch these 90+ year olds toss around the ball, she said, “Yeeaaaahhhh!”
Adults just lose it. The stigma that comes with adults playing just to play is too great. Yes, there are competitive teams that adults can join, and those that do are exercising their inner child and having fun, but what about playing just to play.
If a suited adult were to skip down the cubbed corridor they probably would be put on leave of absence. If an adult were to be alone, without children, and were to walk down the street balancing on the curb, they would receive stares from others. Breaking out in song is only acceptable for children and actors in musicals. As adults society does not generally allow us to let out our inner child in everyday life without thinking we are a little off balance.
That is where Nia comes in. In a Nia class we get to play. Also our dance is something that allows you to release that inner child. Nia invites and encourages you to skip, jump, run, walk, shout out, crawl, and move as you did when you were a child. In a non-judgmental freely accepting atmosphere we get to play.
Does that sound like something you could enjoy? Doesn’t it sound like something your body longs to participate in again? Come to a Nia class and find out.
Posted in Nia | Tagged: dance class, inner child, Muscles, nerves, Neuromuscular, Neuromuscular Integrative Action, Nia, Nia cardio class, Nia class, Nia Dance, Nia play, Nia workout | 4 Comments »
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