Posts Tagged ‘Nia’
Posted by terrepruitt on March 18, 2010
My husband does the grocery shopping. I know, cool, huh? Sometimes, when he is busy, I will do it. On my way home from teaching a Nia class on Wednesday, I decided to stop by the store.
Now, the store that is most convenient to us in San Jose we can’t always go to because they have bad milk and, I believe that my husband told me they also don’t have the bread I like. So we drive a little bit out of our way to go to the store where we can buy milk that will is not sour and bread that is what I like.
While standing in the bread isle I almost had to call my Hubby because I forgot what kind of bread we get. As I am scanning the packages I see this.
Oh yeah! THAT IS the bread that we get. But, I did a little dance because of that bright yellow label. See that is one of the reasons why that is the bread we get. The label made me happy.
Then while I was standing in line I was even made more happy because I was able to share with a woman in line why I looked like I just worked out (because I did) AND tell her about Nia. Awesome!
But, Honey, if you are reading this, I still don’t like grocery shopping. 🙂 It can still be “your job”. (Thanks, btw.)
Posted in Food | Tagged: bad milk, Bread Dance, Earthgrain bread, grocery shopping, happy, Happy Dance, HFCS, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Nia, Nia class, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Safeway, San Jose Nia, San Jose Workout, San Jose Workout class, Savemart, teaching Nia, Wednesday Nia Class, work out | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on March 16, 2010
First of all I thought it was Daylight SavingS Time. It is Daylight Saving Time. I am not a fan. I don’t know if they have ever done studies on it, but I don’t think it is good for our bodies to just up and change the time. And I REALLY don’t think that after 21 years it was a good idea to change the times of year that we adjust the time. I honestly believe that for the past four years I have had a VERY difficult time adjusting to the new times of year.
Let me share with you why I am not a fan and I do not think that changing the time is good for a body — at least mine. I am a night person. I am “more awake” at night than in the morning. Around 9:00 at night is when I begin to get my energy. When it is light later . . . it takes me even longer to wind down. It is very difficult to convince my body that it is night time when it is light out still.
A little history:
Daylight Saving Time had been observed in the United States spottily since 1918. From February 9, 1942 until September 30, 1945 it was observed all year long. Daylight Saving Time was not consistently observed for 21 years (from 1945 to 1966) because there was no federal law.
In 1966 the law stated DST ran from the last Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October, but states could pass a law of their own if they didn’t want to follow DST.
Then in 1974 an emergency act was passed setting the clocks ahead on January 6, 1974. It was amended on October 27, 1974 returning the clocks back to Standard Time. Then DST was observed from February 23, 1975 through October 26, 1975.
Then from 1986 to 2007 the United States observed DST from 2:00 am on the first Sunday of April until at 2:00 a.m. on the last Sunday of October.
After 21 years in 2007 it was changed to: DST beginning 2:00 am. on the second Sunday of March to 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday of November. So for over half my life, my body has been operating on a specific time frame for the time change and I can tell you that after four years, it is still not used to the change.
Hawaii and Arizona are among the states that do not observe Daylight Saving Time.
I was very fortunate that people love Nia and don’t let this time change affect them. The first morning of the time change I had a Sunday Nia class in San Jose as a follow up to a health fair I attended in Cupertino the day before. It was fabulous the students that showed up to get in their first workout of the DST! We had a great time.
What do you think about Daylight Saving Time? What do you think about the change? Or more accurately, what do you FEEL? How are you feeling when we change the time?
Or better yet, I wanna know, are you one of those people who efficiently goes around and changes all your clocks? Or do you do the math on a few until you just get tired of that and change them?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: Arizona, Cupertino Nia, Daylight Saving Time, Daylight Savings Time, DST, Hawaii, Nia, Nia Classes, Nia Cupertino, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, observe DST, San Jose Nia classes, Standard Time | 9 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on March 13, 2010
Ahhhh, so what are you thinking? Friends that you have all your life? Yeah, no. This is about friends for LIFE. As in friends for health. As in friends for well being. It is very important to have good friends. The definition of “good friends” is vast and we can have a lot of “good friends”, but I believe that we all can benefit from friends that we can connect with.
Most of us have an array of friends in our life, we have people we call friends but they might REALLY be categorized as acquaintances. We have friends that call us when they need something, and friends we call when we need something. We have friends that annoy us and friends that don’t. We have friends that we might not think of often, but that we are very fond of. And, when we are lucky we have friends that fill us up. That make us feel good. They make us feel grounded and connected to humanity.
These friends could agree with us when we need it and tell us to get it together when we need that too. They could agree with us on something and disagree with us on others. They can see our faults and ignore them or try to help us with them, but either way, they are there and they are our friends. I believe that is vital to our health. I believe that sometimes life needs to be suspended—in between appointments, and kids athletic games, around the Nia classes, the gym, and the yoga practice, regardless of work and responsibilities–you need to be with those types of friends.
Enjoy time visiting with these friends no matter how frequent or infrequent it is important to connect, to refill, to recharge. It is awesome.
It is as important as good nutrition and exercise . . . . .at least, I think so . . . . I think there are friends for life.
Do you believe that friendships play a role in life/health?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: athletic games, connected, exercise, friends, grounded, gym, humanity, life, Nia, Nia Classes, Nia Practice, nutrition, yoga classes, Yoga Practice | 6 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on March 9, 2010
I don’t really like tomatoes. I have never liked tomatoes. I used to NOT eat pizza because of the tomato sauce. Spaghetti and tomato sauce? Forget about it. BUT . . . . tomatoes are really good for you. And so I try to eat them and I try them every once in a while.
Since they are good for you I think they make a healthy snack. This is what I had as a snack prior to doing a Nia workout.
I don’t really like them so I add a little special seasoning (pre-made garlic and salt mix).
Tomatoes contain antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, and iron. They are even touted as having cancer fighting properties. Amazing for a fruit with so little calories. Do you like tomatoes?
Posted in Food, Fruit | Tagged: healthy snack, Nia, Nia workout, tomato, Tomatoes | 8 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on February 25, 2010
I had an appointment this morning where I auditioned Nia in Palo Alto. (So I could be teaching a Nia class in Palo Alto in addition to San Carlos . . . interesting how it all unfolds.) On my way back to San Jose, I was able to stop and have lunch with a friend. I am so blessed to be able to spend the afternoon with a friend who so kindly made me lunch. She made an awesome pizza and salad . . . . a perfect meal in my book.
I didn’t know what to post today and so when I got home and had an e-mail from another friend I thought, “Perfect! People REALLY love the Marilyn Monroe Albert Einstein Optical Illusion. They will go crazy for these.”
So here you go:
Posted in Just stuff | Tagged: Albert Einstein, baby, frog, horse, Illusions, Marilyn Monroe, Nia, Nia class, Nia Palo Alto, Nia San Carlos, Nia San Jose, Optical Illusion, pizza, San Jose Nia, San Jose Nia class | 6 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on February 23, 2010
When we do a Nia routine we set a focus and an intent. In my classes I set a class focus and intent but participants are always welcome to set their own. To focus on whatever they need at that moment. I am not sure if I have mentioned it before on my blog, but a focus and an intent can greatly alter the Nia routine. Recently I subbed a Nia class for another Nia teacher, in a different part of San Jose. I had planned and practiced the routine I wanted to teach. I had a feeling that the teacher had taught it because it is a new routine and a lot of teachers tend to start teaching those right away. When I arrived I announced to the class that I would be teaching Sexi. A few of the women, voiced some concerns. They mentioned that their shoulders hurt. They said that it was the routine that made their shoulders hurt.
Well, there is so much to be said about that. Nia is designed specifically NOT to hurt. So it could be that their shoulders had been pushed too hard, but not by the routine. 🙂 It could be that their shoulders weren’t injured but were just sore. Sometimes soreness, because it is a form of “pain”, is perceived as pain that one needs to be concerned about because there is an injury instead of just the “pain” that comes with moving a body part that has not been moved in a long time or has been moved in a way it is not accustomed to. And that is just a FEW things that can be said. At the beginning of a class where there is other classes that follow and a group of people to be attended it is not always possible to give each individual personal attention required—as they would get from a personal training session. So what I suggested was for them to NOT move so vigorously.
Before we started, I gave them the option of changing the routine. I would have gladly done a different Nia routine in order for them to have a good time in their workout and to not be doing a routine they were tired of or a routine they felt injured them. But they said that it was ok, I could do Sexi. And I was so happy, because I knew it would be different. I advised them that even though we were going to do the same routine, we were going to use a different focus.
The original focus of Sexi is the spine. When the spine is mentioned one thing people might think of is the back. Even though this routine employs many movements to move the spine, with the focus being the spine one might be thinking “back”.
Well, I changed the focus to the front. The focus I set forth was actually the Fourth Chakra, the Heart Chakra. And I read out of the Nia Technique Book, as Debbie Rosas is always encouraging us to do. The book states that this energy center is affected most by the motions of your rib cage and chest. With that information it moved the physical focus to the front.
So we danced Sexi. We danced Sexi sexy. Oh yeah. With our focus being the heart chakra and the intention being to allow a connection with love, compassion, joy, and sorrow–we danced.
While we danced I reminded the group to be aware of their shoulders and to try NOT to move them in the way that caused the pain. Afterwards, the ones that had voiced concerns said they were glad that we did it. They were able to do the same routine, but change the focus and therefore changing the routine. I love that about Nia. Because the focus is different the same routine is different. Because I am different the routine is different. Because the moves are basically the same, but the focus is different they were able to get an entirely different workout. Just another wonderful aspect of Nia.
Posted in Nia | Tagged: dance, Dance Workout, Debbie Rosas, focus and intent, fourth chakra, heart chakra, joy, Nia, Nia class, Nia Dance, Nia routine, Nia San Jose, Nia Technique, Nia Technique Book, Nia workout, personal training, San Jose Nia, San Jose Nia class, San Jose Nia Workout, San Jose Personal training, San Jose Workout, Sexi, Sexy, workout classes | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on February 18, 2010
Nia thinks of the pelvis, chest, and head as the core of the body. Nia is not defining the core muscles or a core muscle group, Nia just includes these three body weights as the core of the body.
The core is Nia White Belt Principle #8.
Alignment of these three weights affects so many things; energy, bones, muscles, organs. If the alignment is not as it should be all of these things could be affected.
Movement can help properly align these three weights. Often times some areas of our bodies are stiff and/or tight and by moving our body as it was designed to be moved the stiffness gets worked out and the tightness goes away. Sometimes that is what is needed to assist in proper alignment. Other times it might be strengthening or just moving your body in a way it is not accustomed to move.
As an example of how we guide a body to alignment, we utilize the bow stance in Nia routines. A great exercise while in the bow stance is to move the pelvis in all directions. Moving the pelvis in all directions while in this stance allows for the body to gain or retain mobility. Mobility in the hips and the spine. Movement of the pelvis releases energy and muscle tension. This type of movement also requires strength in the torso and leads up to the chest and head. While circling or waving the hips the body falls on and off balance and the chest and head must be used to stay upright. All of this contributes to stability, flexibility, and strength.
We often dance our chest in Nia. We move our ribs to open them and keep the muscles in between mobile. We breath deep. We makes sounds. We use our chest to guide us in our workout, giving us a different way to move. This releases blocked energy.
Nia encourages movement of the head in our routines. We are often moving our head on its own or to lead us through a move. We employ our hands and our eyes to help us move our head. Not all cardio workout classes employ the use of the head and it seems as if a lot of people are just plain ol’ not used to moving their head. So caution is always recommended. Since moving the head stimulates two chakras it is sometimes very powerful and some people get dizzy until they are used to it.
When these three body weights are in alignment sense calm. When our body is strong yet flexible and capable of mobility it assist us in keep our body weights aligned correctly even when we move we feel confident and have a sense of wellness.
The Nia White Belt Manual* has over 15 pages addressing the pelvis, chest, and head. I think that means that there will be more posts regarding the core and/or its parts, because Nia has a lot of information that I can share about the core.
*The Nia White Belt Manual was created by Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas as was Nia (the Nia Technique). All of this information is based off of information from their trainings and the White Belt Manual and the Nia Technique Book
Posted in Core Muscles, Nia | Tagged: Bow Stance, Carlos AyaRosas, Carlos Rosas, chakras, core muscle group, Core Muscles, Debbie Rosas, flexibility, Nia, Nia and the Core, Nia routines, Nia Technique, Nia White Belt, Nia White Belt Manual, pelvis movement, Principle #8, strength, three body weights, White Belt | Leave a Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on February 11, 2010
Nia has been around for 26 years now, and I believe it is a company and a practice that will be around for a long time to come. Companies that survive they survive by changing, by growing and by adjusting. Nia is in a big adjustment phase right now.
They have adjusted the Nia White Belt Principle #11 from “Business and Marketing” to “Creating A Sacred Livelihood”. This adjustment is to help principle number 11 be more in alignment with the body centeredness that is the core of the White Belt.
But even though the name might sound a little different than other current courses of business that have surfaced recently, its not. It is pretty much in keeping with the trend that is right now. That is one thing I love about Nia. It really is not anything new, so it is not as if you are having to accept a handful of new ideas and “woo-woo” thinking, it is pretty much the same stuff that all “authentic” “live your truth” marketing people are preaching at this time.
Ya know, have a philosophy and a purpose. Know that your purpose is alive so that is will be allowed to flex, change, and grow.
In addition there is the “social purpose enterprise” aspect . . . believing that we are contributing to a higher purpose.
Its the way Nia packages things is that help make it unique. With this adjustment to the principle we are taking “Business and Marketing” and making it more personal. The woman that came up with this, Karri Winn, spent over 4 years doing so. And from the video* made of the presentation it is evident. She is so comfortable talking about it and sharing it, you can tell she has lived with it for a while. She connected business to “me”, which assist with goes right back to the body centeredness, as I mentioned. Making it about “me” as in my life is an extension of my body is how it relates to the body-centeredness. Then using Nia to help us achieve our purpose. And with all of that together we will be able to create a livelihood.
Pretty exciting stuff!
As I said in my last post, for me, Nia is a journey.
Here is an article on the Nia Now site regarding Creating A Sacred Livelihood. (The article is no longer available on the Nia site.)
Posted in Nia, Nia White Belt Principles | Tagged: body centered, Business and Marketing, Livelihood, Nia, Nia White Belt, Sacred Livelihood | Leave a Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on February 9, 2010
Nia is a workout, and a great one at that. It is fun and interesting. We get to play and move our bodies and work our muscles. Our exercise consists of all types of movements.
Presently I teach at two facilities. I teach in San Jose at a dance studio where I rent time by the hour. And I teach at a city recreation department. Here is a picture of my class. This is my San Carlos City Park and Recreation class. This is not all of them, but the ones that were there a few minutes before class.
I took this picture because I wanted to document this. I am posting it on my blog because I want to document this and share it.
For me, Nia is a workout, but it is more. It is a journey. I am learning a lot with these ladies. I am learning a lot with this space. I am learning a lot on this particular path of my journey and I wanted to have record of it.
I asked for permission to post this, but I didn’t get anything signed so I will not be naming anyone, but we are having fun. These ladies are on a Nia journey with me too.
We are starting a new session next week, and I have agreed to do more after that, but this one is special because it is the first one. The first one for me, the first one for San Carlos, and the first one for a lot of these women. I have been contacted by some men and hope to have them in our future sessions, but for now it is just us girls.
I am posting this to remember and honor these wonderful women who are on a wonderful journey with me. Cheers to us!
Posted in Nia | Tagged: muscle exercise, Nia, Nia class, Nia exercise, Nia journey, Nia San Jose, Nia studio, Nia workout, San Carlos, San Carlos Workout, San Jose Dance Studio, San Jose Nia, San Jose Nia class, San Jose Workout, teach Nia | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on February 6, 2010
Nia is a technique that starts with fitness and ends with comprehensive healing of the body, mind, spirit, and emotions.
Nia is to exercise what holistic medicine is to health care. It has many different components that help many different conditions such as asthma, depression, and pregnancy. Nia is movement as medicine.
Nia is an advanced form of fusion fitness—the combining of classic movement forms. It encompasses the martial arts. The healing arts (including yoga), and dance. The combination creates a synergy that no isolated technique can match.
Nia is a cardiovascular program that uses whole-body, expressive, grounded movement, rather than repetitive jogging or lifting.
Nia is adaptable to every level of fitness, every age and type of body, even those with special limitations.
Nia is a worldwide fitness movement with more than twenty six years of technical advancement.
Nia is a non intimidating way of appreciating your body—indeed yourself—in class, or in the privacy of your own home.
Nia is effective and fun.
Nia is the Body’s Way, a new way of being and living in your body.
This information is taken from The Nia Technique book authored by Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas
Posted in Nia | Tagged: body's way, Body-mind, dance, health care, holistic exercise, Nia, Nia Dance, Nia fitness, Nia Technique, Yoga | 2 Comments »
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