Posts Tagged ‘Nia class’
Posted by terrepruitt on June 6, 2016
You may know from reading my posts about Nia, or even other material about Nia, that it is made up of three groups of movement forms. Those three groups of movement forms are made up of three movement forms. The first group is Martial Arts, which include T’ai chi, Tae Kwon Do, and Aikido. In martial arts we can have moves like punches, kicks, blocks, and strikes. The elbow strike is one of Nia’s 52 Moves. Now remember, the 52 Moves of Nia are not moves that Nia claims are unique to Nia or that only Nia does. The 52 Moves of Nia are named that because they are incorporated into the Nia Routines. The Elbow Strike might even be able to be counted as three moves . . . perhaps not, but there are three ways to do it. I am betting you understand that all three ways involve the elbow. There is the elbow strike down, the elbow strike out, and the elbow strike back or the Downward Strike, the Outward Strike, and the Backward Strike.
To do this move you would first get into Riding Stance also know as Sumo Stance. Have a strong and stable base. Push into the earth with your feet. Engage through the core and the whole body. The fists are in ready position, which is palms up, at chest height and at the side of the chest . . . so elbows are drawn back past the rib cage. The downward strike is with the elbow moving downward into the open palm of the opposite hand. The outward strike is the elbow moving out away from the body using the opposite hand to push the power through the elbow. The backward strike has the opposite hand pushing the elbow backwards away from the body. All of these are done on one side then the other.
As I have mentioned with all the moves, there is an exact way to practice it or them, in this case, if you are just practicing each move. But when you are dancing the exactness can change. In a Nia class, we might do elbow strikes from an A Stance or while we are stepping into a stance. Or we might do them from a bow stance. Sometimes we might not use the opposite hand to help push the power, or strike down into the open palm of the opposite hand. It all depends on the dance. The above is just to help you learn the move and how you would practice it on its own.
The Nia Technique Book says: “Benefits: Practicing Elbow Strikes is excellent for releasing stress and anxiety. These moves will strengthen and define upper chest, back, hands, and arms and will enhance your sense of confident determination.”
Elbows strikes do feel powerful and give you a sense of confidence. It is really fun to do them while sounding, perhaps saying, “HA!” or even just saying, “Strike!”
Well, what do you think? Did you try it? Can you feel the power in this move?
Posted in 52 Moves (of Nia), Nia | Tagged: Elbow Strikes, Nia, Nia class, Nia routines, the 52 Moves of Nia, the three movement forms of Nia | Leave a Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on May 13, 2016
Finger Extensions, one of the Fifty-two Moves of Nia. Yeah, extending your fingers is a Nia move. It may sound odd, but it makes sense. Extending the fingers helps move energy. Each finger holds its own energy. The finger movements also have emotional connections so these type of movements tie in very well with the whole body experience, the Body, Mind, Emotion, Spirit (BMES) connection. The finger extensions are the thumb, the index, the middle, the ring, and the pinky.
Each finger holds specific energy and whether you can think about that and believe it or not, when you really think about it you can believe it. Each finger has an emotional association. The thumb is associated with nurture. It is the finger babies suckle, it gives them comfort. The index finger is the desire finger. It is the finger a child uses to indicate what she wants. We use our “pointer” finger to point to what we desire. The middle finger is our power finger. When used with an extended arm pointing down it is the Balance Finger. Sometimes when pointed up it is used as a way of communication.
The ring finger is the commitment finger. It is where engagement rings and weddings bands are placed to signify commitment. It is the point in which a hand hold is fully committed. The pinky finger is on the edge of the hand it represents the boundaries. Boundaries that are respected yet can be nudged and expanded.
With the emotional attachments of each finger, can you see how there can be energy linked with each finger? Can you acknowledge how extending your thumb might elicit energy associated with nurturing because we or babies we know have sucked their thumb? Can you fathom how extending your desire finger might cause you to have an emotional response? And with our emotions there is energy attached.
I know that when I am dancing in a Nia Class and I extend my various fingers it often affects my feet. When I am extending my desire finger sometimes I feel happy because I am pointing at what I want. Sometimes that happy translates to strong movements of my feet because I am identifying my desire. Dancing my pinky, the edge, sometimes makes me feel brave. When I feel brave my movements, the energy, is different than when I am relaxed or feeling timid.
So now that you have an idea of how a simply hand movement can be used in an exercise class, in a cardio dance class, let me share how we do them. It really is somewhat simple. Just extend your arm and then point each finger one at a time, then take a moment to sense the “different qualities of energy”.
Some benefits to doing these extensions, as stated in The Nia Technique book, are that it “helps move energy in and out of the upper body, and keeps it from getting clogged in the next and shoulders.”. Finger extensions also help you move your fingers in a precise way which exercises the brain and the body.
So really this is an easy move and some might not even think of it as an exercise, but it is important to keep our hands strong and flexible. And if, when we do this it activates our brain, that is even better. And . . . if we can do it while we are dancing and having fun, then why wouldn’t we?
Posted in 52 Moves (of Nia), Nia | Tagged: BMES, Body-Mind-Emotion-Spirit, Fifty-two Moves of Nia, Finger Extensions, middle finger energy, Nia class, Nia Move, Nia Technique Book | 2 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on May 11, 2016
You may have seen me announce that I was producing another Nia class with a guest teacher. “Producing” just means that I communicate with the teacher, secure a venue, and promote it as much as I can. The guest teacher does the routine or playshop work and presents the material. I have had this guest teacher come teach a couple of times before. Jason Alan Griffin is a first degree Nia Black Belt and he travels the country with his dog River, and he teaches Nia. In March of 2015, he was going to be in our area so I invited him to present his FreeDance Playshop. Then since he was going to be here on Friday, I asked him to do his based-on-Nia-routine Frankie Say Nia. So we had a Nia class on Friday, then the playshop and a class on Saturday. He happened to be passing through our area in August so I invited him back to do Frankie Say Nia again because it was so fun the first time. This time around he was traveling with a few routines and the one I thought would be the best for the Nia community here was “Amazing”. It is appropriately named. A small group of us danced Amazing with Jason on Friday, May 06, 2016.
Amazing came about through Jason’s desire to share all the wonderful Nia energy he experiences during his trips. He said he was bringing his work and sharing it, but sensed a lot of creativity out there and he wanted to embrace it. So he invited Nia communities to contribute songs from their areas. Then as he visited each area and each Nia community the choreography was revealed. It was either revealed by the community already having done it or by a collaboration.
Now he is spending several months on the road bringing this routine to many Nia communities around the country. He has a few other routines that are on the menu Orchestra, Woodstock Experience, and Floorplay . . . all sound super fun by their descriptions.
The focus of Amazing is on connections and directions. We moved in all directions and were encouraged to sense the connection. As with many things in Nia the connection could be one of or all of the BMES. So we could have been connecting with the Body, the Mind, our Emotions, or Spirit. We were invited to connect with people in the room, in the Nia community, and any where. The intent was to explore something new and return home renewed. And again, as with many things in Nia, that could relate to the BMES. As an example we would extend our arm and try a new movement for our hand, then return our hand back to our center or our “home” and sense if there was a change or some new or different kind of sensation.
It was super fun. A question occurred to me today as I was thinking about writing this post, “Do I just think it is fun because I am not a student often and so any chance to dance Nia is fun?” Then I pictured the e-mails I received telling me it was fun. I remembered the comments after class. It was fun. We have fun when Jason teaches us. So, even though he is planning on taking a year off from traveling, I am hoping that a quick jaunt down the coast to us won’t be considered “traveling” and he will come back next year to teach us again. I really want to try that Orchestra class.
Below are some pictures from the class. I do hope one day you’ll come dance with me!
If you want to see MORE pictures and a video from the class please visit my site.
Posted in Nia | Tagged: BMES, Body-Mind-Emotion-Spirit, First Degree Nia Black Belt, Frankie Say Nia, FreeDance Playshop, Jason Alan Griffin, Nia class, Nia communities, Nia Playshop, Nia routine, Nia Teacher | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on May 9, 2016
So, I was so blessed yesterday to have two fellow Nia Teachers attend the class I was teaching. There are three of us that teach a Sunday Nia class at the Northwest YMCA in Cupertino on a rotating basis. We have general “dibbs” on Sundays; Anita likes the first Sunday of the month, I like the second Sunday of the month, and Joan has the fourth Sunday of the month. At one point we had a fourth teacher and she usually took the third Sunday. But now that it is just us three, we each take the third Sunday when we are available. It seems to work out amazingly well that when one (or even two of us) is not available the other two or at least one is. So it works out. Sometimes there is even a fifth Sunday and we make sure one of us is available. Plus we work together when something comes up and we have to switch Sundays. The class is at 12:30 so it is late enough that one can get up and enjoy a nice Sunday morning and not have to rush off to teach. Then we teach and are home in time for a late lunch. 🙂
Well, after class yesterday we were talking about Nia, of course . . . and Anita asked us if we had seen her list of top ten signs you are dancing in a Nia class. I had remembered seeing it, but I didn’t remember them until she started reading them. Then I remembered I saw the list. I had glanced at it, but saved the e-mail to read later. When she brought it up I had asked her if I could share the list on my blog and she kindly agreed. So here ya go:
___
“Anita Christensen’s top ten signs you are dancing in a Nia class:
1. They like to freedance without judgement of themselves or others.
2. They are the nicest people.
3. They are all so grateful for the day she, Debbie*, took off her shoes.
4. They make claws with their fingers and scratch the air….sounding grrr…healing emotional issues related to power, abandonment, fear, and anger.**
5. They shimmy and shake their shoulders to express sassy gestures that play with each other in seductive and joyful ways.**
6. They fully acknowledge and embrace that this is THEIR adult play time!
7. They kick to the front, side, and back with authority settling on a supportive leg.
8. As a collective group they yell out “yes” or “no” for all to hear.
9. They choose, sustain, and tweak their JOY of movement to sense life force energy….
10. They invite you to come and be open to a life affirming experience.
It is true Nia is fun, healing and joyful! Do you have anything to add to my top ten list? How I would enJOY hearing your top ten list! The bay area teachers are THRIVING and we want you to join us.”
*”Debbie” is Debbie Rosas is the founder and co-creator of Nia.
**Referenced from the Language of Nia
___
Anita Christensen is Nia Black Belt and she teaches several classes in the South Bay and the Peninsula. Check out her profile on NiaNow.com.
This is such a great list! I am going to use some of these as focuses and/or intents in my Nia classes!!
As Anita invited readers at the end of her list . . . do you have any signs to add to the list? Please share!
Posted in Nia | Tagged: afternoon Nia class, Anita Christensen, claw hands, co-creator of Nia, Cupertino YMCA, Debbie Rosas, freedance, Language of Nia, Nia class, Nia every Sunday, Nia teachers, Northwest YMCA, shimmy | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on May 2, 2016
Recently I attended a yoga class just to observe. Sometimes just observing is difficult because the desire to get up and participate is often there. But I thought this class was beyond my level of doing. I like slow mindful classes. I am not a fan of the speed of a flow class. I also know this teacher to be a bit of a tough cookie. And I have come to the studio AFTER this class – in the past – and the participants are just dripping and wobbly legged, so I had never thought to participate before. So . . . I thought that observing would be a piece of cake. There would be no desire to jump to participate. Now, let me explain this “observing,” it is for me to become a better teacher. I am not there to judge or criticize the students nor the teacher. But I am there to gain knowledge. Observe how one sequences a class. To observe how assistance is given. To observe the yoga teacher’s pacing and volume. To learn by observing. I have three separate papers for three separate types of notes. I have POSES, for poses I want to either do myself or bring to my classes. I have Cues and Things I want to bring to my classes. And I have just notes that I will refer back to. While I was doing my best to listen and look without staring at the participants I got a little misty eyed. My breath caught in my throat and I thought, “Damn! Bodies are beautiful!”
You probably know I have a tendency to ramble on and on when all I really wanted to tell you is – if you want to learn yoga stop staring at the Yoga Journal, stop looking at models on websites – GO TO A CLASS TO OBSERVE!!!!! Look at REAL people DOING yoga. Look at REAL bodies doing yoga. Just watch, just observe, don’t judge. We do this in Nia all the time, we call it witnessing. We “witness” without judgment. So just go to a class and witness. Appreciate what you see. Notice the strength. Notice the weakness. Notice the flexibility. Notice the stiffness. Notice the intention. Notice the determination. Notice the frustration. Notice the effort. Notice the triumphs. Notice the concentration. Notice the distraction. Notice the trying. Notice it all!
I was struck by it all when I looked up and saw someone in a pose perfectly. I thought, “Dang. I will glance back over throughout the class because that is awesome and I want to see more of that.” Then I looked back a few poses later and I thought the person had moved spots because what I saw was misery. The person could barely get into the pose. And the next person was Yoga Journal perfect whereas they couldn’t do the previous pose. A few of the people I noticed in pose “perfection” in one pose were in the total opposite of perfection in other poses. The class was full of perfect poses and not perfect poses . . . all at different times by the same and by different people. And I wanted to jump up and join in!
This was not a beginner class, it was a class of real people doing yoga in real bodies. Some bodies whose arms are not long enough to hold the foot when the leg is extended. Some bodies whose hamstrings are too tight or too short to do a straight legged fold. Some bodies whose bones or bodies get in the way. Bodies that come to class and do real yoga.
The models in the magazine and on the websites more-than-likely were chosen to do that particular pose because they can. Their limbs are just the right length to do the poses. Could also be that the model only did that one pose or was put into that pose whereas in a yoga class there is a sequence and it could be that by the time you get half way through your muscles are tired and so the poses might not be picture perfect. Yoga is a practice not a photo.
So, while there are correct and more importantly SAFE ways to do the asana try not to get caught up in doing it “perfect” or doing it exactly like someone in a magazine. Do what you can and keep practicing. Remember to breath.
Namaste~
Posted in Yoga/PiYo/Pilates | Tagged: asana, Mindfulness, Nia, Nia class, Nia Teacher, observing, witnessing, Yoga class, yoga flow, Yoga Journal, Yoga Practice, yoga teacher | 2 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on April 22, 2016
In my last post I told you how I was recently reminded of the Cootie Catcher. I explained how you can make your own. Did you? What did you use it for? Well, I also mentioned that I would be using mine for picking a focus and an intent for Nia class. Well, I used it today and I liked it. It worked. In Nia we set a focus and an intent for each class, which allows us so many different things. It could help us move differently to a familiar routine, it could allow us to help work out some kinks in the body and mind, it can do many things. It is a powerful tool in the Nia tool box. Most often I ask my students if they have anything they would like to focus on. Then we go from there deciding an intent. One of the most requested focuses is shoulders. So many of us hold tension in our shoulders. Rarely is there a time when no one has something they want to focus on, but I thought it would be fun to mix it up giving us an alternative for picking the focus of the class. Plus I thought it would be a good way to get some focuses in use that we don’t use that often. So I made a cootie catcher to assist us.
I wrote four of the seven Nia Class cycles on the outside. I used the number of the cycle. Warm-up is cycle 3, Get Moving is cycle 4, Cool Down is cycle 5, and Floorplay is cycle 6. I could have just used numbers but I wanted to remind people that Nia has cycles. I wish I could have used all seven. So we have someone pick the cycle, then we open and close the catcher that number of times. Then someone picks a focus or I might have them choose a number . . . that way they won’t really know what focus they are picking. Ha, I will probably do it both ways. Anyway . . .we now have our focus. Then the catcher is opened and closed as many times as the corresponding number. Then someone picks another number and we open that triangle and read the intent that is behind it and that is our intent for the class.
Today in class we picked Natural Time . . . to empower us to connect with our body. NICE!
Each focus can work nicely with each intent. So no matter what combination is picked it will work.
You may notice the underlining on the focuses (Joints is underlined, Extension is underlined), originally I was going to use the words, spelling them out to open and close the catcher, but I decided to go with the numbers. But again, I might try that way, too. There are so many ways you can do it. That is one thing that makes it so fun!
There are many ways we can decide on a focus and intent, this is just one. If you are going to make one to use to help with a focus and intent you need FOUR things for the outside (that is where I put the cycles). Then you need EIGHT focuses and EIGHT intents. So that would be the same formula for anything you are going to use the catcher for. Four, eight, eight.
I would love to make more and have all kinds of different focuses and intents. So, you Nia teachers and Nia students, share with me your favorite focus and intent!
Posted in Nia | Tagged: Cootie catcher, floorplay, focus and intent, Natural Time, Nia, Nia class, Nia class cycles, Nia students, Nia Teacher, Nia Technique, paper fortune teller, the seven cycles of Nia | 2 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on April 20, 2016
A few months ago I heard that there might be a Gilmore Girl Reunion. Then as things unfolded (ha, that will be a pun, wait for it) it turns out that there is going to be one. Well, I wanted to be up-to-date and refreshed on the series so I started re-watching it on Netflix. I am so happy that there is such thing as a start and a stop when watching some programs because I often have to stop this show – and quiet often – because I really cannot stomach Emily Gilmore. I can barely stomach Taylor, but I don’t usually stop watching because of him, but I do because of Emily. I just need a break. But then again when I started re-watching the entire series I was wondering why I had a vague feeling of not liking Lorelai because I love her, well, I did. I just got to the episodes where I don’t like her so much and now I know why I had a “bad taste” in my mouth regarding her. Season six the last episode. I am just now beginning season seven and it turns out I didn’t need to rush to re-watch the entire series because I think the word is that the mini-series won’t even be out until 2017, but we will see. Netflix is doing the revival. Anyway . . . a couple of seasons back . . . I don’t even remember which one now, they had a cootie catcher on the show. That had me thinking. How fun! I want to make a cootie catcher. So here you go.
First you need to have a square piece of paper. If you are using an 8 1/2 inch by 11 inch piece of paper you make it square by folding over one corner to meet the edge of the paper. Then you draw a line, then cut along the line. Now your paper is ready to go.
Next fold each corner into the line and to meet each other.
And you end up with a smaller square.
Then turn the square over and fold all four corners into meet each other. So now you have a smaller square.
Then fold it in half with the four points you just created on the INSIDE. So you have two squares on each half (the outside) of the fold paper.
You put your fingers in the four squares and work the catcher open and close.
Then you write on it allowing it to do what you want it to do. One version is colors on the four squares (spelling the color open and close . . ), then numbers on the eight triangles inside (then you would spell the number, opening and closing the catcher), then have the person you are playing with choose another number and open the number and read the fortune/quote inside. Ahhh, the simple things.
Some people call them fortune tellers, but they can be used for anything. You can use them to help assign chores. You can use them to help figure out what to have for dinner (hey, I might need to make one just for that). I am going to use mine with my Nia students to give us our focus and intent for our Nia class. That will be a post on its own.
What would you use your catcher for?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: Cootie catcher, dinner decider, fortune teller, Gilmore Girls, Netflix, Nia class, Nia students | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on April 1, 2016
Today is April Fool’s Day. I am not one to play pranks or enjoy pranks played on me. But today, I wished so hard that I was the victim of a cruel joke. I pulled into the parking lot where I teach Nia three days out of the week and I was so sad to see that ALL the trees are marked for removal. So the tree-lined parking lot that one must drive down to enter the main parking lot will no longer be tree-lined. There will no longer be trees and sky to look up at. I was running late today, but the supervisor of the center was walking by as I was getting ready for class and I asked him about the trees. I believe he said that they will be removed and relocated. I really was in a hurry so I was unable to get more details, but I think he said if they can’t fit in the parking lot most of them will go to parks. But that doesn’t change the fact that the trees will no longer be at the center. They are putting up those solar parking canopies.
So, I saw the solar parking canopies go up in school parking lots and I thought it was ridiculous that they need to add shade for cars. But then I was informed that they are solar. So I thought that was cool. The few school parking lots that I have seen them go up in were just barren plots of asphalt. That makes sense to me. But at this center they are taking down trees. This makes me sad.
There just seems to be so much metal and concrete around, I think it is so sad when a tree gets taken down/moved/removed to put up more metal and concrete. A comment made was “it is being done to be green”. I am just not convinced that removing green trees is the way to be green. It just seems so wrong. Also, I was told that now there will be shade for cars, more than there is already provided by the trees that they are taking down. Again . . . not convinced that cars having shade is more important than birds having homes and places to eat.
As I was standing in the parking lot talking to one of my students who was equally sad that the trees were going away we were listening to the birds and watching them flit around in the trees. While we enjoyed it, it was somewhat bittersweet because at one point, there will be parking canopies going up in place of the trees.
No April Fool’s joke here. Actual live trees, green trees are being removed so we can be green. Places that birds and bugs live and feed will be removed so we can have shade for our cars. Makes me sad.
The center is quite large and so I am bummed that trees have to be removed instead of some type of roof top installation of solar panels. I mean, solar panels are great to help with energy. It makes sense: sun, power — good. But it is so sad that the trees have to go. It is so sad that they will be replaced by metal and concrete.
It was even more prophetic that when I got in my car the radio was playing, “It’s The End Of the World as we know it.” I am not even certain that a more appropriate song would have been Big Yellow Taxi, ya know the one that says “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.”
Sigh. Good-bye pretty tree-lined parking lot. I’ll miss you.
Posted in Misc | Tagged: April Fool's Day, community center, Counting Crows, green not green, joke, Nia, Nia class, paved paradise, replanting trees, solar parking canopies, The End of the worlds as we know it, tree removal | 7 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on February 17, 2016
I know I have said that if you are trying an exercise class go at least three times before you decide you don’t like it. Have you seen me say that before? I think that in order for you to decide you honestly don’t like it you need to try it at least three times. I think there are enough factors in a group exercise class that you have to experience it more than once to make an educated decision. I also think that sometimes what you want is not what you need, so you might want to step out into the unknown.
As I said there are many reasons not to like a class, if you think it is the instructor, don’t condemn the whole modality. If you go to a Jazzercise class and the instructor runs around the room shouting encouragement at individuals and that is not your style, try a different teacher. If the Zumba teacher only plays one type of music instead of sticking to the Zumba formula, try a different teacher . . . but it doesn’t seem fair to you nor Zumba if you claim you don’t like Zumba. If you can, it is really nice to give that instructor another chance, but time is short and so sometimes that might not be the answer. Every teacher has her own style and it might not be one you like, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t like the exercise.
Also keep in mind that you are only seeing one routine, and those change. If you go to a Nia class and think you don’t like it, try it again because the routines can be vastly different. It is good to check out the different routines. Also, find an appropriate class for your level. If you take a circuit training class and it is too difficult try a different one or talk to the teacher.
When it comes to yoga, though, I would like to suggest a way to find the appropriate yoga class for you. Try the opposite of what you WANT. If you want to lie around on cushions in poses for 5 minutes at a time, try a more active class. If you want a super aggressive active fast-paced class try a restorative class (lying around on cushions). If you want gentle yoga try a class that you think might be tough. You might walk out of class thinking, “Wow! That was great. I never would have thought.”
It could be that while you are in the class you are thinking that you wish the torture would end. And by torture I mean, if you are a very active person and you want to be in a power yoga class and you take a restorative class and are having to lie still for ten minutes . . . that can be torture. If you just wanted to lie around on props and you are having to hold your left leg up for 45 seconds while twisting to the right and grabbing your right foot that might be torture. But with the right teacher you will be able to do the yoga that is being taught in the class and you will walk out saying, “That is exactly what I needed.”
There are so many different types of yoga and yoga is only regulated when it is trade-marked and there are licenses to teach otherwise yoga class definitions vary. Classes with the same names can vary greatly.
I am not saying to go to a class that is way beyond your level, but I am suggesting to try something you may not have normally thought of doing. As I said, you might end up getting what you really need when you don’t go after what you want.
What type of yoga do you normally do? What classes have your tried?
Posted in Yoga/PiYo/Pilates | Tagged: exercise class, gentle yoga, Jazzercise, Nia, Nia class, Nia routine, Nia Teacher, power yoga, Restorative Yoga, restoriative yoga, Yoga, Yoga class, Zumba | Leave a Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on February 3, 2016
I think my last cat update was in October. So I thought I would share what is up with the cats. You may have read about me saying that I was fascinated by Esmeralda’s paws because they were so big. It was guesstimated that the cats were done growing pretty much when we got them so I didn’t understand how such a tiny cat could have such big paws. Well, she doesn’t. She got big. Her and her sister are not big cats but they both grew a lot since we’ve had them. We used to be able to see a cat’s in shadow or silhouette and know who it was, but now we can’t tell because they are the same size. Smokey is heavier . . . she is a solid cat, but they are the same length and height. Esmeralda grew into her paws.
They learned pretty quick that when I come home the first order of business is kisses. They are usually waiting by the door when I open it, but when I get home from teaching Nia, I usually have my arms full of stuff, and I have to run to the turn off the alarm. I drop the stuff as I go, then swoop up the nearest cat and give her a bunch of kisses!
They pretty much rule the house. We are having a few things that have just started happening that we are going to have to work on. Esmeralda has figured out that she can jump from the cat tower onto the wall-mounted speaker and walk across the top of the curtain rod and jump on the entertainment center. Sometimes it takes a bit to figure out these things are happening. I was wondering why our curtains were beginning to come off the rod, then one day I look up and I see Emmy WALKING across the curtain rod. So we are working on altering that behavior.
It is difficult to discipline two cats because you don’t know who did what. With one cat you know if something is amiss it was THE cat, but with two, it is hard to tell. There are habits and behavior patterns so you can guess, but you don’t really know unless you see them do it.
They both love the sun. So they have been enjoying the sun the past few days. They both love to play. And to our delight they actually love to play by themselves. It is super cute. I’ll have to do another post to post the videos. They also love to play together. Sometimes it is a challenge to know if they are playing or fighting, but either way they seem to work it out.
They snuggle together and bathe each other.
Esmeralda isn’t a fan of me being on the computer. I usually have about 20 minutes before she comes in and “murphs” at me.
Esmeralda doesn’t “meow” she makes these little noises that sound like “murph”. Smokey meows and in a big way. She always sounds as if someone is disemboweling her.
Because of Smokey’s meYOOOOWWWLLLING and Esmeralda’s odd and painful kneading, I think they were taken away from their mother too young. Esmeralda doesn’t knead in a milking-mamma-kind-of-way. She stands on us and then marches. Pressing really hard using ALL FOUR paws. She dances around in a circle. It is odd. And Smokey will just knead the air every-once-in-awhile . . . but she YEOOWWLL often.
She will be dead asleep and then wake up meYOOOOWWWLLLING. She will meYOOOOWWWLLLING all the way through the house until she finds us. It is that blood curdling type of meYOOOOWWWLLLING.
Cats are funny. Which is one thing that makes them great. They are a great source of laughter and entertainment.
We love our kitties and consider ourselves very blessed to have gotten such great cats. They are very good and super sweet.
What silly thing does your pet do? (I ask because they ALL do something silly!)
Posted in Cats, Teagan and Nessa | Tagged: adopted cats, Nia, Nia class, Nia Teacher, Teagan and Nessa | 2 Comments »
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