Posts Tagged ‘Nia’
Posted by terrepruitt on January 17, 2015
Perception. Such an odd thing. I remember when I was 15 years old and working in an office with some young women. They were probably in their 20s so really still young. I remember all the stories they would tell me and how they would carry on like 20-somethings do. Then one day a child walked in and the woman I knew to be a young person who enjoyed to go out and have a good time became a mom. It was the weirdest thing. I am not saying this woman was a party animal, but it was just odd to see this woman go from working woman to working mom. Since she didn’t really talk about her kid all that much it was easy to forget that she was a mom. I am not saying she didn’t talk about her kid because she didn’t love her child or because she didn’t care. She talked to me more about things that a 15 year old is involved in or going through; relationships, school, and being young . . . . not kids. The group conversations in the office tended to be around other things since not everyone had kids. Also, there was seeing a tough boss lady with her spouse. Seeing the loving side of a meany. Seeing different sides. I didn’t know the woman as a mother, so it was odd to see her acting like one. I didn’t know the gruff boss lady as a wife so it was odd to see her act like one. Friends also might have different perceptions than family members because they’ve seen different things and experienced different things. Also new friends and old friends. Sometimes people modify their behaviors, mature, or just change so people who are just meeting someone for the first time might not have any idea of how it used to be. So the perception of the person is different for the new person than for the person that has been around. What you know to be true from your experience, can be different from what someone else knows because they have had different experiences.
So amazing how that is. It is amazing how everyone’s perception can be different. Our perception has a lot to do with ourselves. Someone who has been cheated on by a significant other might take “I’m working late,” completely different from someone who has never had that mistrust thrust upon them.
This is all just talking about people. What about “things”? Like viewing clouds or art. Two people look up in the sky, one person sees a dinosaur and the other a horse. And even if both people were to look up and see a horse it would probably still be different types of horses. As I was contemplating the “people” aspect it occurred to me that recently I had been thinking about perception in regards to Nia. I always say it is a practice like yoga, and for those people who think of yoga as a religion, I am wondering now if they think I mean that Nia is a religion. A recent conversation made me think so. Even though I was hoping I was explaining it well when I say that you can take some of the ideals and principles of Nia out into the world just like you do with yoga. I guess that could sound like a religion – especially if you think of yoga as a religion. Yoga being a religion is also a funny thing, because some people say it is and some people say it isn’t. I was hoping to get a regular Nia class going at a yoga studio a long time ago and I said something about “some people believe it is a religion” to the owner of the studio, she got very upset saying that was not true. Well, it is VERY true some people DO think it is a religion. I never got a class there.
I think of Nia as an exercise program with a holistic twist. Just like yoga. But yoga can be taken to the point of being a religion, but not everyone that does yoga considers it a religion. I actually don’t know anyone that teaches Nia who considers it a religion. But the more I think about it, the more I can see how some people could think of it that way. Perhaps comparable somehow to the people who have been cheated on. If they think of everything as being in competition with their own religion maybe anything outside of it that you practice would be considered a religion to them. I don’t know . . . that is one of the things I have been thinking about when thinking about how people see things. Perception is weird. The ol’ “glass half full, glass half empty” thing.
Do you ever experience the differences in perception? With people you know that your friends know? With co-workers? With family? How do you experience it?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: exercise program, glass half full glass half empty, holistic exercise, Nia, Nia class, Nia Practice, Perception, religion, Yoga, Yoga Practice | 2 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on January 8, 2015
Years back I created policies for the classes I teach. There are always different people and different circumstances, so it is important to have polices in place. So, I had these policies in place, but, like I said – people, circumstances – so once when I encountered “people – circumstances” I allowed something against my policy. Then I was upset. I thought about it for days. I was sad, I was mad, I was annoyed. I was upset. I was upset that this person asked me to break my policy. I was upset that I allowed it. I was upset that I took time to think long and hard about my policies and that I took the time, the effort, and the money to print and post disclosure of said polices. I was upset because when someone attends my Nia class at the studio I rent they sign a sign-in sheet stating they agree to the policies. I was upset that I felt unfair to everyone else that complies to the policy and doesn’t even ask to break the policy. I was so grumpy. I resented the entire situation — FOR DAYS! Then I realized, I let it happen. In trying to be nice and allowing the person to break my policy I ended up being REALLY upset. I created something I didn’t enforce. When I do something nice I love the feeling it gives me. I feel nice. I feel as if I am spreading joy. And this nice thing I did, did not make me feel nice. It made me feel stupid. I put all this effort into polices and then I just disregarded them. I learned my lesson. There are polices for a reason. Recently I enforced my polices and I found myself wanting validation. So in sharing my story with a friend she told me, “Don’t resent what you allow.”
See? That is what I figured out long ago. I was so resentful that I allowed a break in policy. I realized that in order to not be resentful I have to stick to my policy. So when I shared with a friend the fact that I just stuck to my polices because I hadn’t once before then I was upset, she said it in this succinct way and told me the story of how she learned it and who told her. She said her friend had told her this when she was having an issue with something she allowed to happen.
Obviously you CAN resent something you allow, but the idea is to avoid that. If you are going to resent it, don’t allow it. So even though I didn’t say it that way, I learned it. I was visiting with a different friend today and we happened upon this same subject. We shared some stories. I was not certain about posting this but then when the subject came up again today, on the day I need to post, I decided it was serendipity.
One huge part in helping me stick to my policies is fairness. If one person asks for an exception and I allow it, then when that same situation happens with someone else in order to be fair I would need to pass on the same exception. But that is not a wise business practice. Policies are made for a reason. In the case of class passes there are multiple reasons. When a class pass is purchased in advance it helps the teacher with business expenses, like licensing, insurance, and rental fees. But first and foremost is it supposed to help motivate the student to attend class. The idea is “you already paid for it, you might as well go to class.” It is encouragement to stick to your fitness routine. So often times, having the policies broken cheats you, too. Because why do you need to go to class to use the pass before it will expire if you know that the expiration will just be extended?
When policies are in place and they are clearly disclosed everyone feels better because they know what is expected.
So that is my story with “Don’t resent what you allow.” Even though I learned the saying AFTER I learned the lesson, I still like it.
What about you? Do you know what I am talking about? Do you resent some things you allow? Is there some changes that you could – would like to – make, in order to be less resentful?
Posted in Misc, Nia | Tagged: allowed resentment, business policies, discount class pass, Don't resent what you allow, enforcing policies, fitness goals, fitness routines, Nia, Nia Classes, Nia students, Nia Technique, policies, resentful | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on January 1, 2015
This year we were lucky to have a visitor for our Goodie Jar reading. My niece was visiting and she helped us relive the moments that made us smile. I am a smart enough aunt to know that I have an amazing niece so she was mentioned often in my notes of “Good Things”. Here are some of the highlights from the jar:
~My niece treated us to the Nutcracker Ballet in San Francisco
~Nightingales
~May 29, (2014) was the first “coffee” visit with they Camden Community Center Nia Class
~Wicked
~Colleen came to say goodbye to Spot (06.24.14)
As you can see from the pictures there were a lot more. I’ve had some people ask me what to put in the Good Things Jar. It really is up to you. I am seeing a lot of different versions of “jars” this year so I really think it all depends on you. What do you want your jar to do? The point of my jar is to keep me focused on the GOOD THINGS IN LIFE. There are so many things that can be considered “not good”. It is very easy to get distracted and end up with a negative attitude and to forget all of the blessings that are around us. So, for me, it is a way to keep the blessings in my life at the forefront. That does not mean I can’t be sad or get mad or pout . . . .or whatever . . . it just is a reminder to not stay sad, mad, or pouty. Because that — to me is an insult to the good stuff.
There is another benefit to my Goodie Jar. In addition to making a note and helping me stay focused it really is fun for me to read the good things at the end of the year and to remember. While my family might not enjoy it as much as I do . . . they tolerate it. I even tell stories regarding some of the GOOD THINGS, if they will let me.
I have mentioned before in posts that I like to use different types of paper. I like to fold them in different shapes and ways. It makes the jar look festive. I noticed last night that the ones my niece grabbed to read were the spiral ones, the ones folded in shapes, or the really festive looking. Yeah, it is fun.
Also pictured here is this post are the pieces of paper we are going to use to fill up the jar in 2015. Yeah, it started off as a one-time thing, but this will be our third year of doing it. I am really loving this tradition. I love the practice throughout the year. I love the decorative jar that sits out all year round reminding me that there has been good things. I love the “ceremony” (to me it is) of reading the good things.
I wish I could remember the origin of this aside from Facebook. I mean, I know WHO I got it from, but I don’t remember where/who SHE got it from. But the Good Things jar was not my idea. Using a beautiful pitcher is my idea and filling it with different types of paper is my idea. Re-using wrapping paper . . . my idea. But the original idea . . . . don’t know. But THANK YOU!
So, what good things have happened to you in 2014? Do you have a Goodie Jar? Are you going to have one for 2015?
Posted in Good Things in the Goodie Jar | Tagged: blessings, Camden Community Center, dance exercise, Facebook, good things jar, Goodie Jar, great idea, New Year's Eve, New Year's Visitor, Nia, Nia class, Nia Dance, niece, Nutcracker Ballet San Francisco, San Jose Community Centers, Spot the cat, Wicked, yoga classes | 2 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on December 20, 2014
Some of you may still think, I’ve got nothing. You may or may not know I spend a lot of time decorating for Christmas. I LOVE all the decorations. It is the one time of year where you can have glitter and sparkle everywhere and people don’t judge you even though you have your hand on the doorknob of 50! My friend always laughs at me and says, “Everywhere you look there is Christmas.” And that is truly my goal. I don’t have a beautiful Sunset Magazine set up, I just have CHRISTMAS EVERYWHERE. I want your gaze to land on decorations. So that’s what I do. This is the one time of year where my house is always clean. I don’t like the dull of dust to damping the sparkle. The rest of the year — MEH! But during the Holidays the house is always “picked up”. And by “house” I mean the downstairs. The upstairs is a disaster . . . . where do you think everything goes? Anyway . . . with the house all decked out I like people to see it. But we don’t usually have people over. But this past week we did have two friends over. It was just a quick visit. I knew they wouldn’t stay long because they have family obligations to tend to. Since it was just going to be the four of us I didn’t plan on serving more than a few cookies for dessert. But when I started looking at all of my serving stuff, I decided I wanted to use both of my three tired servers. But I was determined NOT to have more sweets. 
So I decided to use two of the tiers as decoration holders. YAY. Decorations instead of desserts. A treat for the eyes not the belly.
Ok, many of you might be looking at this and thinking it is no big deal. And it REALLY isn’t, but I totally love it. Ha! It makes me happy. When I love something and it makes me happy, I wanna share it. And, that my friends, is the “power” of having your own blog. You can do whatever you want.
The heart ornaments in the dish are actually something I already have sitting on a table. I LOVE those ornaments. They were one of those coveted things that were part of an office “steal present game”. Ya know, where you chose a gift and there is “stealing” involved? I no longer remember how I came to be the owner of them, but they are one of my favorite sets of ornaments. One of the things that make me “Consider decorations and ornaments gifts” as I posted in More Sparkle, More Shine, More Fun! Since I love them so much I decided to add them to my “Treat” display.
Then the other arrangement is what I really love. I was scrounging around for something to make a display with and I found the purple sparkly berry things in a cabinet. I decided to pair them with the pine cone flowers from last year’s Cookie Swap I attended. Then I added the homemade card from one of my Nia Teacher/friends. Her cards always end up as decorations in the house. They are so gorgeous!!!
After my company left, I did not dismantle that portion of the display. I might just keep it up. As a non-creative, I am very happy with it. It makes me super happy. I think the sparkly blueish-purple, with the “flowers”, and the gorgeousness of the card just make me really happy. So why not keep it.
Again, I imagine some of you thinking this is silly, but (fist pump) more power to me! I am just going with what I love. I am sure this is not one of the displays that you would find on Pinterest, but I like it. I think I might like it so much because normally I would have just put out more food, but this time I was determined not to. So this is like a double treat to me!
So . . . I know many of you are very creative, so share! What have you come up with for your Christmas and/or Holiday decorating?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: Christmas decorations, Christmas Ornaments, Cookie Swap, decorating, glitter and sparkle, hearts, holiday decorations, homemade cards, Nia, Nia Teacher, office Christmas steal game, Pinterest, Sunset Magazine | 8 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on November 27, 2014
You may know that I post on Thursdays. Thanksgiving falls on Thursday in the United States that means that I will post on Thanksgiving. I say that every year. Even though I know that the day is coming, I don’t seem to ever have a post well planned. I am usually sitting at my computer at 11:30 pm trying to come up with something that isn’t just me being thankful. But I usually just give in to the fact that I spent all evening eating and not thinking about my blog. This year we had dinner a bit earlier than normal because the 49ers were playing and someone had tickets to go see them. I was a bit resistant to the fact that we were having dinner at noon because of a sporting event. But it turned out not to be that early. I do believe the 49ers lost, though. We had a very nice early dinner. The group was smaller than it used to be due to the fact that a lot of the “kids” were off being adults. Always so sad when the “kids” aren’t around, but so exciting that they are off living their lives. Exciting they are off with other people who love them. So, instead of sitting at my computer at 11:30 pm, I am sitting at my computer at 9:30 pm. I just want to continue the gratitude.
I am very grateful for my family on my husband’s side who provide a yummy Thanksgiving dinner (or lunch) every year. This year was very simple and very yummy. It was perfect. We even ran out of salad which hasn’t happened in YEARS!!!
I hope that you can tell from reading my blog that all year long I am very grateful for my family. I am grateful for my husband. I am grateful for my friends. I am grateful for my students. I am grateful for Nia. I am grateful to have a job teaching Nia with the City. I am blessed and I know it. I hope that I show it.
I am excited to get started on decorating for Christmas. I wish we had a week in between Thanksgiving and December (as I mentioned in my last post about a Christmas card Christmas tree), but that won’t happen until 2019. We will have days in between in 2017 and 2018, and a whole week 2019. But for now, Christmas is four weeks away. I love Christmastime!
Well, I know, every Thanksgiving is the same thing regarding my posts, but really I do like to state it in case you can’t tell from my posts all year long . . . I am very grateful.
Ooooh. Thanksgiving fact according to the website CNN Living: TV dinners came from Thanksgiving. When someone at Swanson misjudged the number of frozen turkeys they would sell in 1953, they decided to slice and package it up with the rest of a Thanksgiving dinner. Desperation IS the mother of invention and they had to figure out how to get rid of TWENTY SIX TONS (!) of frozen turkey!
Also remember, there is tryptophan (the stuff that people blame being sleepy on) in protein based foods eaten every day . . . so it is probably not the turkey making you tired.
I hope you all had a very happy and safe holiday.
What did you do? Did you celebrate? Was it Thanksgiving for you or just another Thursday? Pumpkin pie or pecan pie?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: 49ers, Christmastime, CNN Living, happy holiday, Nia, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, San Jose City Nia, Swanson TV Dinners, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving dinner, tryptophan, TV Dinners | 6 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on November 22, 2014
I sometimes think life is always trying to teach us lessons. I admit that sometimes I am oblivious to the lessons. But I also think that sometimes I can see them. I also think that sometimes the lessons are a practice. It is not as if I go through life, have something happen, see the thing I am supposed to learn and then – BAM! I got it. Lesson exposed, lesson learned, I’m good. Nope. Sometimes it is a practice. Just like yoga and Nia or learning an instrument. Continuous or multiple exposures helps you learn the art of it. Last month I wrote about “The Art Of Letting Go“, where I went with a friend to an evening event called Paint Nite. The idea is to paint something in two hours being led step-by-step by an artist. My idea was to just let go. To know that my painting was not going to look exactly like the original, but it would look like something. It would bear a resemblance to the one I was taught to paint. I liked it because it was blue. Well, I have been doing things that remind me to concentrate and be in the moment. Yes, I write about this often because it is something I need to be reminded of constantly. I need to live in the moment. I need to concentrate on what I am doing. I need to enjoy what I am doing. I need to fully sense and experience what I am doing.
I think my first post about this was me talking about brushing my teeth. I stated that I brushed my teeth while doing a lot of different things — all the time. I am better now. I used to think that if I brush my teeth while doing something else I could save time, but what ended up happening was that I was concentrating on the other task so much so that I didn’t know if I brushed the upper left side so I would do it again. Then wonder if I brushed the bottom right . . . the point is, I think I ended up brushing a lot longer because I was not concentrating on just brushing my teeth, than if I would have JUST brushed my teeth. I am better at that now. I start to step away from the sink and I remember that I will be done faster if I just get it done than if I go . . . do whatever.
I did another Paint Nite and I really had to concentrate on what I was doing in order to keep up with the artist. It is my opinion that she was going really fast. I couldn’t keep up, so listening and talking and participating in what was going on around me put me WAY behind the instruction. I just had to buckle down and concentrate on what I was doing so that I could listen to what she was saying so that I could do the next step she explained. I was concentrating so hard on what she was saying that I took a swig of paint water. YUP! I was listening to her, I reached behind my canvas, grabbed the cup and brought it to my lips and took a sip. I realized it tasted odd and spit it out – mostly in my cup, partially on my friend. (Thank God, she is so understanding and forgiving.) That was me not paying attention to the cup I was grabbing.
But I like this creation better than my last. I learned so much from my first time, that I was able to do this one better, but I actually had the opposite problem. I wasn’t using enough paint. But I think — still not, sure it was the water I need more of. Regardless, I learned some more and I really like this painting. No, it is lacking the soft lines of the original, but I like it.
One of the other things I am doing that requires one to clear one’s thoughts is archery. I wanted to see what shooting a bow was like. I wanted to use a “regular” bow, but that is not the popular bow to shoot. We were shooting one of those fancy things with what remind me of pulleys on each end. We weren’t even using what they call a “recurve”. Whatever bow you use the target is the target so learning how to get the arrow where you want it to go was the interesting part. Not that my arrow always went where I wanted to go, but I was taught the premise. But the instructor (Mike at Predator’s Archery) really emphasized concentration. He shared his (award winning) techniques regarding targeting and shooting the arrow, but he emphasized again and again how you have to concentrate. And you might be surprised on what you concentrate on, but that is not the point of this post, the point is you have to not think about distracting things. Live in the now and focus on the task at hand.
Focusing and concentrating really goes a long way in getting things done. We are always multitasking because that is just how life is. In most situations you cannot not think about more than one thing, but sometimes just DOING one thing really helps you get it done quick and with focus so that you can move on to the next thing. Things like to have your undivided attention. I will continue to practice focus, concentration, and living in the now even though the world around me as a whole thinks I need to do fifty things at once in order to be productive.
What do you thing? Do you think that less can be more? Do you think sometimes if you just do ONE thing (instead of multitasking) you can get it done faster and better?
Posted in Misc, Nia | Tagged: archery, concentrate, instrument practice, life's lessons, Mike, multitasking, Nia, Nia Technique, Paint Nite, Practice, practice painting, Predator's Archery, The Art Of Letting Go, Yoga Practice | 8 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on November 18, 2014
I have posted about Nia’s 52 Moves. They are moves that Nia has decided to include in the Nia Routines. They are moves that work the entire body. They exercise the brain and the nervous system. As I have explained before they are not moves unique to Nia. Many dance modalities and exercise modalities incorporate them into their practices. It is somewhat like Bikram Yoga in that they have a set number – 26 Postures – that they move through. The moves are yoga moves, but if you were to practice Bikram Yoga (Hot Yoga) you would know which poses you are going to be doing. That is what Nia has done. They have just gathered 52 Moves and we use them in our Routines. Of course, not ALL moves we do in a Nia Routine are part of Nia’s 52 Moves. We do more than just those 52 movements. Sometimes we do other dance moves. Sometimes the movements we do can be likened to actual dance moves. There is one move that we do that I compare to a Pas de Bourrée. Or more accurately what I learned as the Pas de Bourrée.
Today one of my students asked me what I was saying and I said it so fast and learned it so long ago I never really thought about it. So I decided to look it up and give it a little attention. After class I was thinking about when I first learned it and it was so long ago I don’t even know where I learned it from. It could have been my brief foray into tap and ballet. I am going to assume so. It seems like I don’t know where I learned things like Kick Ball Change, grapevine, Cha-Cha, and the Pas de Bourrée. I am also thinking that I learned it when I was young because I don’t remember ever researching it. Where I think I would be more intimately familiar with the name had I learned it as an adult. But then . . . I really remember also learning it as a “drunken sailor” so . . . I don’t know.
Carlos Aya-Rosas (Nia’s co-founder and the choreographer of the Aya Routine) does not call it a Pas de Bourrée in the routine Aya he actually just puts his feet together then out and that is how he describes it. I instruct it as a Pas de Bourrée. But it is not a Ballet Pas de Bourrée which has one lifting up on ones toes. So that could be why I think of it more as a “drunken sailor”. That visual really helps people do it. Although in some venues that might not be the best of descriptions. It is also like trying to walk on a swaying ship.
So as I said, Carlos, brings his feet together then steps out. When I do it I cross my foot behind, shift my weight and come up a little bit on one foot then step out. It is more of a Jazz Pas de Bourrée than a ballet one. So three steps (Jazz) as compare to four to five steps (Ballet), with no pliés or pointes.
The Free Dictionary says:
pas de bour·rée (pä d b-r, b-)
n. pl. pas de bourrée
“A small stepping movement, often executed on pointe, in which the dancer either skims smoothly across the floor or transfers the weight from foot to foot three times as a transition into another movement.”
I am grateful for my students who remind me to revisit things I know, in order to refresh or learn something new. It is somewhat like the beginners mind when I go back and revisit something. I know how I learned to do the step, but it is nice to take it further and learn more about it.
Are you familiar with the Pas de Bourrée? Have you taken Ballet?
Posted in Nia | Tagged: bikram yoga, dance, exercise for nervous system, grapevine, hot yoga, Kick Ball Change, Nia, Nia 52 moves, Nia class, Nia Dance, Nia routines, Nia San Jose, Nia students, Nia Technique, Pas de Bourree, Yoga | Leave a Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on November 15, 2014
Once a month or so . . . I think my last check was September . . . I like to check in on your Good Things Jar project. Are you putting things in your Goodie Jar? If you are not participating the actual container do you take time out of your busy day, your busy week, your busy month to thing about the good things? Do you have a moment when you are grateful? I always have good things, but I will admit, last month for some reason I was really “busy” and I didn’t put much if anything in the goodie jar. This month -so far- I did stop and put a few things in. I was able to make note of a few things at once. One of my latest documentations for my good jar is a Nia Class I just did on Friday.
I have a student who really likes Nia and
she wanted a class closer to her home. So she approached a gym or actually a club near her home and asked them if they would consider having Nia classes. Well, we met with the club and we agreed to have a “demo” class. A regular Nia class but one that would I would do free of charge and they would allow anyone that is not a member of the club to attend and they would invite their members. Well, first of all, I am thankful that I was allowed this opportunity. At this point we don’t know that we will have another demonstration there. Along that line we don’t know if Nia will ever be a class that is offered there, but it was nice to have the opportunity. It is always nice to introduce people to Nia. This was probably the first time many people had heard of Nia or even seen the name.
But I am especially grateful to and for the five students of mine that showed up. Actually there were five regular students, one who is a Nia teacher herself and another Nia teacher in addition. So six showed up from what I am thinking of as “Camp Nia”. I am so honored to have such wonderful students that they came to support me and Nia. They came to help show the members of the club how great Nia is. So that list of people is going in my Goodie Jar.
I have another thing associated with this class that I will make a note of and put in this jar. This is something I have never put in the jar . . . but I am grateful for EVERY DAY! That is the bodies amazing ability to heal. While I was leading the class I scratch the back of my left hand. I didn’t really make contact with my right thumb very hard, but it was hard enough to draw blood and it was at just the right angle and spot that my left hand went numb and tingly at the same time. One of the next moves was a fast small chop that we do from the wrist, somewhat as if you are giving someone a “karate chop massage”. Well, I could not do that with my left had without a lot of pain. So I didn’t.
I finished the routine and was only slightly aware of the odd pain-numb sensation until I went to get up on the floor and push up with my left hand. OOOOO! That didn’t work.
The rest of the day I was VERY aware of my hand. It started to feel better than I would do something and realize it was not better. But as the night wore on it got better and better. I am convinced I hit my hand in such a way that I temporarily injury a nerve. I am soooo grateful that it is almost 100% back to normal. So THAT is going in my goodie jar. WHEW!
What about you? Thanks for listening to my good things. I would love to hear about yours? What have you got? C’mon, if you are not doing the Goodie Jar project perhaps you would like to make note of the good things here?
Posted in Good Things in the Goodie Jar | Tagged: Bay Club, club, good things jar, Goodie Jar, gym, nerve damage, Nia, Nia class, Nia demo, Nia student | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on November 13, 2014
Ok, not really, but Salsa is a dance. In my post where I had asked what to make with all the winter fruits and veggies I said I had about seven persimmons and I did. I didn’t know what to do with them and I know we are going to be get more in the next delivery. I know I can always make Fancy Toast, but I wanted something else to do with them. All I found when doing a quick search on the internet were cookies and cakes. I wanted a savory persimmon recipe. So I searched for “savory persimmon recipes” and I found one on the ad infested Organic Authority. It is a persimmon salsa. I thought, “Why not?” So below is my version of Persimmon Salsa, which is not too much different from theirs. I just cut up the persimmon smaller, used tablespoons instead of teaspoons, and used a different, milder, pepper.
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Persimmon Salsa
5 small Fuyu persimmons
2 tbsp minced shallots
1 tbsp PLUS 1 tsp lemon juice
1 tbsp minced fresh basil
2 tbsp minced fresh mint
1 tbsp minced fresh ginger
1 tbsp minced Anaheim pepper
salt
pepper
Peel the persimmons and cut into tiny chunks. Mix the shallots, lemon juice, basil, mint, ginger, and pepper in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Let the flavors meld together for at least two hours. Then serve however you would like.
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My idea was to let my hubby munch on it as an appetizer. I wanted to serve it on crackers. That is why I cut up the persimmons really small. If I were just going to plop in on some meat, I might not finely “chop” the persimmons. Even though I thought I would have leftovers and would end up putting some of it on chicken (or perhaps pork), I thought I’d start small since its original purpose is to pile it onto crackers.
Next time I make it, I will pair it with some meat. Instead of using it to flavor the meat during cooking, like I do with marinades, I will just use it raw as a topping.
I also think the next time I make it, I might use a little more pepper since he couldn’t taste the pepper at all. Before the flavors all settled it wasn’t too hot. I was careful to avoid the peppers though when I tasted it. We will see. My husband really liked it even though he didn’t experience any heat.
Anaheim peppers are supposedly less hot than the jalapenos that the original recipe called for. I was going for “less hot.”
So now I have another type of relish, salsa to use during the holidays. It can be used as an appetizer with crackers or used to add flavor to meat, just like the cranberry relish recipe I just posted. (click here to go to: A Quick And Yummy Way To Use Cranberries). I normally try not to post recipes so close together, but I had Nia class this morning and have to rush off to yoga tonight. I don’t know where the day went. I had this post all typed up and ready to go. . . . so two recipe post close together!
I won’t be eating this salsa by the spoonful because of the peppers, but the cranberry relish . . . . no telling.
What are you doing with all of your persimmons? Do you just eat them as you would an apple? Do you have a favorite recipe?
Posted in "Recipes", Food | Tagged: cranberry relish, Dancing, Fancy toast, Nia, Nia class, Nia on Thursdays, Organic Authority, Persimmon salsa, Salsa, savory persimmon recipe, shallots, winter vegetables, Yoga class | 2 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on November 11, 2014
It is Veterans Day today. A day where we stop and thank our Veterans. Many thank our Veterans all year round, but this is the day that the government and some stores are closed, other stores have sales, cities have parades, and Facebook feeds are full of black and white pictures in a proud display. I am grateful for the freedom that has cost so many so much. Thank you, Veterans, for your sacrifices and service. Since it is a city Holiday the community centers where I teach my Nia class and yoga class on Tuesdays were closed. So I decided to take advantage of my morning off and attend a class. I went to Tai Chi at the YMCA. The schedule indicates 30 minutes “Intro to Tai Chi” followed by 45 minutes of “Tai Chi”. My plan was to attend the first one then I would just hang around for the second one to see if I could do it without disturbing the class too much. Well, at one point several people exited the class. But the other woman who was new to the class stayed . . . so I thought, “Ok, I’ll stay too.” We didn’t really follow the clock. The first portion of the class seemed as if it was Tai Chi exercises, then the second portion was the actual Tai Chi moves. I learned that there are different styles of Tai Chi.
The instructor went through the beginning slowly as we all followed along, a couple of times. Then he told us to do it on our own a couple of times. I couldn’t remember the moves so I was following my neighbors. Then the instructor did it again with us, then he said to do it on our own without watching our neighbors. Well, that kind of worked. Then he asked another woman in the class to take the intermediate people and he would take the beginners. I felt bad because if there had been a cut and dry end and start I would have left so as not to disturb the intermediate people. But at the end of class, as I was leaving I thanked the woman who took over the intermediate students and she said that it was ok that is how they do it. So I felt better.
Right before we broke into the two groups the instructor asked us if we had any questions. I was going to ask how many moves he had just shown us, but I let it go thinking it was about five. Then the instructor said to us (me and the other newbie), “So those first two moves are called . . . “. And I laughed, because what I thought was about five moves was actually only two. He also explained that he practiced and taught the Chen style.
Just like yoga there is more than just one type of Tai Chi. In looking for the names of the first two moves (I forgot what he called them. “Pestle Warrior” did not bring up the move.) I came across this explanation on WikiHow:
#5 of part 1 of 4
“Experiment with different styles. Because all Tai Chi is good, it’s more important that you do any rather than worry about which style is right for you. But once you get immersed in the world, you may want to experiment. Here’s a brief rundown:
—-The Chen style mixes up the tempo, going very slow and then being explosive. It can be difficult for beginners.
—-The Yang style is the most popular. It has a steady tempo and, as discussed above, uses large frame movements. It’s probably what you think of when you think of tai chi.
—-In Wu, the movements are almost microscopic. This makes it easy to do, but difficult to master — there’s a lot of focus on powerful flows of energy and inner, pressured movements. The movements are very slow and deliberate.
—-The Hao style isn’t very widely spread. You probably won’t find a teacher that practices it.”
So as this says I DO think of the Yang style when I think of Tai Chi. However, I think the Chen style with mixing up of the tempo is good. It really aligns with the “balance” of it all. Fast – slow. Hard – soft. Steady – explosive. Reminds me of the song in the Nia Routine, Zensation, where the focus of the Kata is Tai Chi and we move fast and slow. We change the tempo. That is the Chen style of Tai Chi.
I was very happy I was able to take Tai Chi class. I even came home and practiced. I don’t know when I will be able to get back to the class, but I want to try to remember the first two moves. I am not certain I am doing them exactly right, but I will practice what he said was the most important part and then if I need to be corrected at least I will have a solid base.
And thank you again to ALL the Veterans!
Did you know there are different styles of Tai Chi? Do you think that you think of the Yang style (as the article states)? Have you ever taken a Tai Chi class?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: Chen style Tai Chi, city Holiday, community centers, Facebook, Hao style Tai Chi, Nia, Nia at the YMCA, Nia class, Nia for the City, Nia routines, Tai Chi, Veterans Day, WikiHow, Wu Tai Chi, Yang style Tai Chi, YMCA, Yoga, Yoga class, Zensataion | 4 Comments »
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