Terre Pruitt's Blog

In the realm of health, wellness, fitness, and the like, or whatever inspires me.

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Posts Tagged ‘teleconference’

Color Me A Reminder

Posted by terrepruitt on November 5, 2009

Recently I posted a bit about Focus and Intent.  One comment on that post was from someone who sets a daily intent, but hadn’t thought to carry the focus she has during her workout into her day.  She brought up that during her morning Yoga she is able to focus on her shoulders but during the day she forgets.

Well, a lot of us might do that, not remember to carry our focus and intent into the day.  There is so much going on it is easy to forget.  So there is a little helpful reminder that Nia’s co-creator does.  I heard her share it on one of the monthly teleconferences that Nia offers.  She said when she wakes up she thinks of a color.  I believe she indicated that the color presented itself or just came to her, as a thought.  If that doesn’t necessarily happen for you, pick one.   (I am amending this because the co-creator of Nia, Debbie Rosas, did say that she used a color for something, but it was not to assist her with the focus and intent.  It was for something else . . . . I don’t want to bring up what it was for because that is a subject that requires another post entirely.  I was reminded about picking a color in a Nia teleconference.)  So . .  .  Here is a little something to help you remember, when you wake up . . . . .

Pick a color.  Now what you do with that color is:  throughout the day, when you see that color think of your focus and remember your intent.

So if your focus is to remember to keep your shoulders down and in their place (this is something I struggle with, that is why I bring it up) you can be reminded of it every time you see your chosen color.  Doesn’t mean you have to stop what you are doing and examine yourself or rearrange yourself, it is just a gentle nudge. Green (for example) whispering, “shoulders”.

Or let’s say you’ve decided to drink more water.  So every time you see the color that you decided upon for the day you take a sip of water (or drink a glass—whatever you set your intention to be).

Do you get the idea?  You can set your focus and intent on whatever you would like, by having chosen a color is a tool to help remind you of your focus and intent.  Choosing a color can assist you in taking your focus and intent from your workout and/or from your exercise class into your day.

Share with me your stories.

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Setting Your Focus and Intent

Posted by terrepruitt on November 3, 2009

In a Nia workout class* there are seven cycles. The first cycle is setting your focus and intent. In my classes before we step in, cycle two, I state the focus and the intent of the class. Every once in awhile I do remind my students that they are welcome to set their own focus and intent, but there is always a class focus and intent.

Nia teachers are supplied with and can purchase routines. With our routines comes a focus and intent. We receive the routine DVD along with a pamphlet that explains what the routine’s original focus and intent was. Nia teachers are encouraged to change focuses and intents. In fact, in addition to the one main focus and intent, there is a list of optional foci and intents.

I was reminded on a Nia teleconference call recently, that a focus is what you give your attention to, in order to get a desired result. And not only can you have a focus and intent for the workout, but you can carry that focus and intent throughout the day.

As an example, let’s say the focus of the class is set on shoulders, with the intent of remembering to keep them down and not scrunch them up toward the ears. So during the entire Nia class, I will remind myself and the class that we are focusing on our shoulders. When we lift our arms to part the clouds we will be conscious of keep our shoulders down. When we swim as we do our side steps I might remind the class to keep a long graceful neck (which can be achieved by holding the shoulders down). Throughout the class with each movement we will be focusing on our shoulders which could assist in strengthening the muscles in our back and enable us to keep them down where they belong. Then after class the focus and intent can be carried out into the day.

If you find yourself holding your phone with your shoulder hunched up toward your ear you have the opportunity to stop, which would help you keep the intent. Since you have set your shoulders as a focus you would be more likely to notice. Or while you are on the computer you might notice your shoulders bunched up around your ears and you could be aware of that and choose to sit up straight and pull your shoulders down.

In class we move to music and sometimes students might be concerned that the first time they participate they cannot move their feet AND their arms, so I often set the focus as one or the other. I might set the focus on the upper extremities, with the intent to move them in a conscious manner connecting to the music. Then I remind them that as they concentrate on their hands and arms it is ok if their feet are not perfect. That sometimes helps people to move more freely and actually focus on the focus.

These are just examples of foci and intents. There are an endless number of foci and intents. These examples are body related, but you can, of course, make your focus anything to get the intent you desire.  If you were setting a focus and intent for your workout, what would it be?  What would it be if you were going to carry it from your workout into your day?

(Want a tip on how to remember your focus throughout your day?)

*I make the distinction because there is also the Nia 5 Stages classes which is different

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