Posts Tagged ‘YMCA’
Posted by terrepruitt on March 9, 2020
Sigh. I usually don’t post about the latest things going on in the news because that is not what my blog is about. Usually. I don’t USUALLY post about current events because I often feel that is just a way people try to get traffic to their blog . . . but in this case – the COVID-19 case – I am getting a lot of questions from students. You may or may not know that I teach classes. I teach Nia, yoga, and stretch. All of these things can be done at home, but there are several reasons people gather to do them. One reason – especially for Nia – is the energy, it is much more fun dancing in a room with other people than it is at home on your own. Another reason is motivation; it is much easier to actually do it (Nia, yoga, stretch) when you have paid for a class and made a commitment. Another reason is just the plain social aspect of it. Most of my classes have people that are friends and we care what is going on in each others’ lives. So since I teach in a class room setting I have students asking me about classes.
First of all, all of the places I work (City of San Jose, the YMCA, and even the dance studio) are taking extra precautions by cleaning things more often than normal. I have received e-mails from both the City of San Jose and the YMCA stating that both are working with the health department. Everyone is working together to find a way to navigate through this time.
As you know the best defense is hand washing. Wash your hands as soon as you can after you touch anything outside your home. Using hand sanitizer is second to hand washing and at this point I hear there isn’t anywhere you can buy it so those of you that have bought it, use it. But washing your hands with soap and water is still the best defense. It takes soap (or 60% alcohol) to break through the outer lipid membrane layer of the virus.
Also, try to keep your hands away from your face. This virus gets to us through our lungs so you don’t want it near your mouth and nose so it can have a chance to infect you.
Follow all the stuff you hear to do that is from reputable sources, I did not mean for this post to end up with me telling you what to do because I am not an expert at all. This post is meant to clear up some information around the classes.
The City of San Jose has decided to cancel some of the Active Adult (Senior) Classes at some of the community centers. Their focus is on LARGE classes. The more people in a room the more chances of infection. The closer people are the more chance of viruses spreading. So, they have cancelled LARGE Active Adult (Senior) classes. If you attend a small class with few people then – as of Monday, March 09, 2020 – the class is not being cancelled. I have not heard of a cancellation of any of the non-senior classes.
The yoga classes and the stretch class I teach at the community centers are small enough that we have plenty of room to spread out and not cough on anyone – and, by the way, if you have a cough – stay home!
The YMCA has not yet cancelled any classes that I know of. But I am talking primarily about the three branches that I work at and my classes.
Keep in mind that things can change. If you attend any of my classes please check my website frequently for updates. If my schedule changes I will send out an e-mail, but my site will be updated faster and first.
I personally feel that the media is all about fear-mongering. It is as if they think it is their job to cause fear and panic. But, I also understand this is serious and we don’t really know how it will turn out. I mean, if people would have just followed the safety guidelines in the first place it might not be as bad as it is. And since that seems to be such a challenge who knows what will end up happening. What you need to do is what is best for you. We all have our own unique situations and psyches so you need to protect yourself. You need to feel safe and comfortable. If not attending a class make you more comfortable then don’t. And we can all be kind and respect whatever it is that each person needs to do to feel safe.
Is there anything you are doing different than usual to feel safe?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: City of San Jose, community centers, COVID-19, hand sanitizer, Nia Classes, soap and water, stretch classes, YMCA, yoga classes | 5 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on February 5, 2020
I may have mentioned on my blog in a past post that I love candles. I love to buy candles. I love to receive candles as gifts. I love to burn candles. I prefer candles that are scented with essential oils. I also lean toward soy candles but I don’t necessarily restrict myself to them. There was a time when my husband didn’t like candles, they pose a certain risk and he didn’t think it was worth it. So I tried to make sure that the candles we had were in jars or were tea lights that could be placed in a holder that was jar like so at least the flames was somewhat contained. But now he is lighting candles even when I am not home. So it was really cool when I received this lighter for Christmas. We have a few like this, but they always seem to be out of fuel. And then we don’t think about it until we go to use it. So the butane doesn’t make it on our shopping list – ever, it seems like. So this one I received was an exciting change.
This lighter does not use butane, it is a USB lighter. Yeah, you plug it in and it charges. I received it as a Christmas gift after Christmas so it hasn’t really needed charging, but after we used it a few days I charged it anyway. The site claims it takes 1-1.5 hours to charge and that a full charge is good for up to 300 lights. Wow! It is easy to use once you get the hang of it. I find that putting the wick in between the prongs is not the way it works, so as soon as I got the hang of it, I can light a candle now without clicking it five times. So, with 300 hundred lights per charge I see it lasting a LONG time before it needs to be charged again. I think it is so cool.
I probably have six butane lighters in the house that need a refill. This one is awesome. And it is super awesome because my friend that gave it to me knows I love blue and she got me a blue one! They come in at least 13 different colors.
The site says it is “gas appliance safe” so even if you don’t light candles, if you have gas appliances to light it might be something you would be interested in.
It makes a noise that one of my cats DOES NOT LIKE. She runs away. The other day I lit a candle using a match and she didn’t even look up, but if she sees me pick up the lighter she runs. Which is fine by me, I would rather my pets be afraid of things that can hurt them then to be curious and get injured. But I try not to use it when she is around, I don’t like to scare her.
Aside from it scaring my cat, it is super cool.
So, what do you think? Do you think it is nearly as cool as I think it is? Do you use lighters?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: cardio dance, dance exercise, Nia Teacher, Nia Technique, San Jose Nia classes, Terre Pruitt, www.HelpYouWell.com, YMCA, Yoga | Leave a Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on August 11, 2017
I teach at several different places. I teach yoga at two different community centers and I teach Nia at one community center and two different YMCAs. This is what I consider the “backyard” of one of the YMCAs. It is so pretty with the different color trees. One day while I was waiting to teach class I noticed how gorgeous it was outside and I snapped a few pictures. When I am looking through my pictures I always see this and want to post it. I think I posted it . . . or one like it . . . on Facebook when I first took it. But I thought I would post it here as a Friday Photo.
Posted in Friday Photo | Tagged: Facebook, Friday Photo, Nia, Nia class, Nia Teacher, San Jose Community Centers, YMCA, Yoga class, yoga teacher | 12 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on July 6, 2016
So this past Monday was a Holiday, it was Fourth of July, on holidays often gyms, yoga studios, and fitness places have different schedules. Such was the case with the YMCA on Monday. Some Y’s were closed. The ones that were open had shortened open hours and adjusted group exercise schedules. I saw that one of the YMCAs in my area had an adjusted schedule on the Holiday. It had classes that it normally does not have on Monday. And not only did they have a class I wanted to take, but it was at the perfect time! So, I schlepped myself over there to try it out. I was hoping it was the same teacher that I had taken a class from before and I could ask her if I could post about a technique she had shared in that class. It was, I did, and she granted me permission. So this post is about a pain relieving technique for the wrists.
When I took a class with her before I was trying out a new-to-me type of yoga and in that class she did a technique to help relived some discomfort in our wrists because we had done a few poses on them. She did it again in this class, although a little differently, but we had not been on our wrists as long as we had been in the other class.
She, Cindy Piccoli – a yoga instructor at the YMCA, said that her chiropractor taught her this technique. She said she had carpal tunnel and did this movement to relieve it. She said she did this frequently for two years and she no longer suffers from carpal tunnel.*
Since having done it in her class that one day, I do it to relieve aching wrists after doing poses that make my wrists hurt. I also have had my students do it after we do poses that affect the wrist in class.
It is amazingly simple, perhaps it can help you after those “wrist” poses.
- Somewhat straighten out one arm palm up. The elbow can be relaxed. Then form a “U” with your index finger and thumb of the OTHER hand.
- Grasp the wrist of the straight arm, right where the palm and the arm meet, and squeeze. While you are squeezing bring each finger in one at a time on the hand of your straight arm. I recommend keeping the fingers that are forming the “U” straight as that allows for a strong squeeze. (My model allowed his fingers to close around the wrist . . . )
- Start with the pinky, them move onto the ring finger, moving all fingers until you end up with a “closed palm”. Do that a couple of times.
- Then draw your fingers toward you allowing your hand to move toward you. Straighten the fingers out, flexing the hand, then bend the wrist pointing the fingers toward you. Do that a couple of times.
If your other wrist is bothering you, don’t forget to do this on the other one.
Give it a try after you have had your weight on your wrists and see what you think.
Do you have any techniques or remedies for sore wrists?
*Keep in mind this site/post makes no claims as to this technique or any others mentioned on this site healing or curing any ailment, affliction, illness. This post is sharing an a persons individual experience.
Oh, and thank you to my wonderful hand model. 😉
Posted in Misc | Tagged: Cindy Piccoli, fitness places, Forth of July, wrist pain, wrist pain relief, YMCA, YMCA yoga, yoga classes, yoga instructor, yoga studios, yoga teacher | Leave a Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on September 1, 2015
What better way to start a month than with a Goodie Jar check in? Any of you still doing a goodie jar or any version of one? A Goodie Jar or a Good Things Jar is where you make a note of a good thing and put it in the jar to read later. That is the basics so how you go about it is up to you. The possibilities are endless. You could decide upon guidelines on what is allowed in the jar or just put whatever you want. My idea is whatever is a “good thing” that makes you smile. You can assign yourself a schedule as in “you have to do it once a day/week/month”. Or you can do it whenever you experience something that makes you smile. When you read them is also something unique to you. Our Goodie Jar is read on December 31st. It is kind of nice since we are past the age of going out and getting crazy. We usually are home all night and so this is a little tradition, a way of celebrating. Now, many of you, perhaps people who frequently read my blog, already know about this because I think I am on my third year of doing it, but there are many people out there that don’t know about it. And for a lot of people it is a good way to keep focused on the good things in life. There is always something good so it is nice to have a way to keep that at the forefront. So, I am happy to report that I have had to go back to using my first goodie jar. But that is in addition to the new container I had moved, too. We now have two “Goodie” locations!
How awesome is that? Our Good Things filled up one container so we had to move it to another one! That is good stuff. Granted some of our things are full sized pieces of paper. John used that as documentation for one or two good things. Plus we use all types of paper and all types of sizes. There are also a few tickets in there. So they take up a lot of space, but still! A lot of good things.
There are always good things to say about the Nia classes because of the fabulous students that come to class. In fact, as I type this I was reminded that the attendance I had at this past Nia class on Sunday at the NW YMCA was the largest I have ever had. So that is going in the good things jar. That was a good thing!
My yoga classes are a consistent good thing, too. There seems to be a lot of good revolving around those, too. Currently, yoga in the park. So nice to be out in the gorgeous day . . . even when the lawn maintenance people are there.
Our cats are doing well. We decided to stop the medicine for the little cat. We had three days left and we decided that she was just getting, too upset and it was just causing too much stress in the household. So we stopped that. She has yet to realize that evening time is not “torture” time. But she will get there. I even got an exposed belly and purrs today. The whole situation around us getting the cats and all that mess was really a great time to utilize the goodie jar because that is when I need it. When a happy situation turns to muck, it helps to have a process in place to help concentrate and focus on the good things. So we are rolling along.
So, what about you? Are you doing a Goodie Jar? Do you have a way to help you stay focused on the Good Things? How is it going?
Posted in Good Things in the Goodie Jar | Tagged: adopted cats, focus on the good, good things jar, Goodie Jar, Nia, Nia at the YMCA, Nia class, shelter cats, things that make you smile, YMCA, Yoga | 8 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on February 21, 2015
I think I am very correct in saying that Group Exercise Instructors and Nia teachers love to hear students ask, “Where else do you teach?” and “What else do you teach?” Isn’t that the greatest thing? It is such a huge compliment. The student is asking where else can they get more of you. The student is asking in what other ways can they get more of you. I had never thought of that as a compliment. I had never even realized it was a compliment. When I was asked that, I used to feel bad because I didn’t teach anything else other than Nia. I also felt bad when I just taught at one place. I was always so focused on not being able to meet their additional needs I didn’t “hear” the compliment. I didn’t hear the un-spoken, “You met my need here.” Last year, I actually was in a required continued education class instructed by the YMCA when the teacher mentioned that if a student asks you those questions it is a compliment. Ha. Silly I had never thought of it as a compliment. I was focused on something else entirely. It strikes me as funny when I go into a situation to learn one thing and something totally different is taught to me. I was taught to see it as a compliment.
Nowadays, I am not so focused on not being able to meet their need for an additional class or another venue, because I am teaching six classes at four different places. Although people still would like an evening Nia class. This schedule can change at anytime, but for now, at least, I feel more varied.
Do you ever go into a situation expecting to learn one thing and come out surprised at what you learned? I like when I can learn what I was expecting AND something I wasn’t expecting. That always makes me feel happy. I feel like I got a bingo or hit the lotto. A two-for-one kind of thing. A real deal. Something completely worth my time. Ya know?
Do you ever miss a compliment? Are you ever so focused on something else you don’t even realize the person talking to you / asking a question is really in a sense giving you a compliment? Sometimes it is kind of nice because later on it might hit you and bring a smile to your face, but then I feel bad I didn’t take the opportunity to show gratitude. But sometimes that happens.
For a second I thought of listening with love, but I don’t think this is the same as that. But perhaps. Maybe if I had been listening with love instead of feeling bad I could help I would have noticed it was a compliment. But then I would have been so excited about the class I had to take. I wouldn’t have gotten that “extra” bang for my buck. Ha, ha!
This same type of compliment would be said to a performer, “Where else do you perform?” “What else have you performed in?” Yeah, that is a compliment all right.
So how about it? Have you ever experienced any unexpected learning? Have you ever totally “missed” that someone was complimenting you? What other situations would that type of comment fit?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: Group Ex instructors, group exercise, Nia class, Nia students, Nia teachers, YMCA | Leave a Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on January 6, 2015
So I always thought the Twelve Days of Christmas were the days LEADING up to the 25th. It was about 2009 when I was talking with one of my Nia students about Christmas and taking down the tree and decorations that she mentioned it. She is quite savvy when it comes to etiquette, traditions, and customs so she said something about waiting until the Epiphany. And I didn’t know what she was talking about. She said she didn’t take her tree down until January 6th. I did like the sound of that because it was a date in January. Usually we take our tree down the weekend after New Year’s Day. I need help as there is so much packing to do. That is the worst part to me. I hate putting everything in its own box. But I will not just put all of my ornaments into those ornament holder boxes . . . . OH NO WAY! So, yes, I cause my own misery. Thankfully I have a husband who helps. I take stuff down and hand it to him with the box and he puts it in. He gets to sit and “relax” and watch a movie and I get my ornaments put in their original boxes. Yay. This year on the day we typically would have taken down the tree, I just didn’t want to. I wasn’t ready. We were gone for – what I think of as – a long time so I felt as if I “missed” some days of Christmas decorations. Plus I knew it would take longer than one day and I had a Nia Class at the YMCA on Sunday so I knew we wouldn’t get it all done. We decided that I would start this week and we would finish this weekend. This is when I said that we could abide by the “whatchmacallit?”, ya know the days after Christmas? The . . . I couldn’t remember so I had to look it up. The day my Nia student had referred to was the Epiphany. But when I looked it up there were some other days I don’t ever remember hearing about.
Could be that I didn’t know about these dates because they look as if they are related to the catholic faith. At least the website that I found is. My family was once catholic, but we stopped going to a catholic church before I had to go through all of my catechism classes and take my first communion.
The website states the below:
“What are the other feast days and holy days during the Christmas season?
In addition to Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Christmas and Mary, Mother of God, Catholics celebrate:
The Feast of the Holy Family, honoring Jesus, Mary and Joseph as a family. It is celebrated on the Sunday after Christmas or on December 30. When Christmas falls on Sunday, it is celebrated December 31.
The Epiphany, the oldest of the Christmas feasts, is also known as Three Kings Day for the three magi who found the Christ Child after following a star to Bethlehem. It is celebrated on Jan. 6 and is the major holiday of the Christmas period in the Eastern Church.
The Baptism of Our Lord brings the Christmas season to a close. It is celebrated on the first Sunday after the Epiphany.”
So basically what this timeline is telling me is that the Christmas season comes to a close on January 11 this year. Which is pretty perfect because that is when I hope to have all of our Christmas decorations taken down and stored away.
I really thought the Twelve Days of Christmas were the days LEADING up to the 25th. So that is why I am not familiar with the Epiphany. If I knew the Twelve Days STARTED on Christmas, then I would have “got” the whole Epiphany thing.
Am I the only one? Did you know what the Twelve Days of Christmas were?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: Catholics, Christmas, Christmas decorations, Christmas feasts, Christmas season, Christmas Tree, Epiphany, Immaculate Conception, Mary and Joseph, New Year's Day, Nia class, Nia student, Twelve Days of Christmas, YMCA | 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 »
Posted by terrepruitt on October 9, 2014
This week I met with a friend and she asked me, “So how do you come up with things to post on your blog?” It was very funny that she asked me that on that day because that day I was struggling to come up with something. It is funny how some days it is as if something to write about is RIGHT there and other days I can think about it from the moment I get up until the last minute and still be struggling. I am very particular about my posting schedule. There are blogs that I like to read and I will go to them and there is nothing. I will continue to go and there is nothing and after a week or two I forget to keep checking. I like to post on a schedule so if you come to my blog you know something will be here. But that is not always easy. Especially since my idea was to post something about health and fitness. There are so many blogs and websites about that. The magazines all have both and you know how many magazines there are so the market is inundated with the same stuff. And it is like the cooking shows. If one is cooking with eggplant that week, they all are. They are all talking about the latest fad, the latest exercise, the latest study. Sugar is bad, eggs are bad — eggs are good, sugar is the devil — eggs might be ok, sugar is crack. Just as examples. And, for me, sometimes there is so much going on that I don’t have time to do the research and check the latest facts. Life is busy. Sometimes I have to concentrate on teaching. Sometimes I have so much other stuff going on (you know in the last year I’ve had a lot of “stuff). Sometimes I feel my blog suffers. But I also think that when I just sit down and write . . . tell you what is going on (ya know when I don’t have time to research and fact check) . . . you guys seem to like that. How about a nice share today? You know I love to share.
I am lucky enough to be a part of a teacher rotation for a Nia class on Sunday. So this past Sunday I taught at they YMCA. It was the largest class I have taught there. It was really nice. The students were really into it. It is always such a moving experience to have twelve bodies enjoying the dance. Monday I am subbing for someone the month of October. That class was a joy.
My Tuesday/Thursday class is making me so proud and happy. Most of the people who attend Tuesday also attend Thursday. This group is really beginning to “get their Nia on”. They are actually sounding. It used to be that I could tell the area of the room where the “whoo” (or whatever) was coming from . . . but this week, I didn’t know. There were so many “whoos” and things I didn’t know who was making the noise. There were doing so well, that I said I was going to listen. So I was silent and they “ooed”! It was magical! I was so happy. I was silent a bit more just to hear them. And they kept going! It used to be they would stop after the first check. I would say, “I’m gonna do a sound check.” And the whole room would make noise, then the next time . . . . crickets! But not this week . . . they kept right on making noise!
One thing that happened, I already shared on Facebook, but I am going to share it here too, is the collective expression of dismay at our music being interrupted by lobby noise! There are a lot of lovely songs in our Nia music. We had just begun to get into the movement of the dance. And the majesty of the song was settling in over the room when there was this LOUD noise from the lobby. And the whole class went, “Awww!” Even though the noise would not have ruined the song or the dance, it just BURST into the sacredness of it. Two people went to shut the dance studio doors and I turned up the music and we danced on, but it was nice to see that other people appreciate the music and sacredness of it as well. We like to experience without BIG LOUD noise.
My Wednesday class was full of new students. And by full I mean, my “regulars” we not in attendance so it was just new students. Fun stuff!
Also, thanks to one of my Nia students I had the opportunity to share information about Nia to a club in the area. While it was understood prior to the meeting that nothing may become of it — as in, Nia may not be taught at the club — it was nice to be able to introduce people to Nia that had never heard of it before. I love to talk Nia so to be able to explain to people who might host it was awesome.
My yoga class turned into a private session of sorts. I was able to give one of my students some information that will assist her with something that she would like to improve upon specifically. It is one thing for me to do asanas that can help, but we were able to target some movement habits that she will be able to pay attention to. We both left feeling accomplished!
Then at the last minute when an instructor who became ill asked me to teach Nia for her students tomorrow, I said yes. So instead of teaching one Nia class, I am doing two . . which I have done before but at different facilities. Not two . . . back to back at the same place where I have already taught twice this week. So what that means is . . . I need to get my post up and get going on deciding on something to teach. So like I said in the beginning, sometimes I have to concentrate on teaching Nia!
So thank you for listening. It was a nice week. How was your week? Do share?
Posted in Nia | Tagged: dance exercise, dance studio, eggplant, Facebook, fitness blogs, fitness magazines, fitness websites, Nia, Nia class, Nia Music, Nia students, Nia Teacher, personal training, private Nia session, private yoga session, San Jose Fitness Club, sounding, YMCA, Yoga | 2 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on May 27, 2014
I teach Nia which is a cardio dance available to any age. At both the low end of the age spectrum and the high end of the age spectrum, if you can safely move about the floor and follow basic movements you can do Nia. So there are young and old Nia dancers. I teach at facilities that have age restrictions, but that is only the facilities, not Nia. Then I also teach gentle yoga to older adults. The classes are held at the “Senior Centers” so while some of the classes are open to those 18 years and older the population in class tends to be older. As I am sure many of you that teach at a facility with older people will attest, it is amazing to work with these people. They come week after week and keep trying. In my class I have a wide variety of experience levels. They come back every week and do the poses to the best of their ability. I am inspired by their drive to keep doing.
I check in with them to confirm that they are seeing and feeling some benefit to the class. With many I can see it, but I want to confirm that they recognize it. Recently one of my students was sharing some things he learned and he said, “I learned that I need to learn how to relax.” I laughed and agreed. It is not easy to do for some. It is not always second nature to breathe and “rest” into a pose. The corpse pose at the end of the class is one of those poses. In fact one class asked if we “had to” do it. I said yes. To me that is part of yoga. That is part of my class. I believe that quieting the mind and relaxing for 5 to 10 minutes after a class is necessary. For many it is a Challenging Easy Pose, it is difficult to be still. Just now as I am typing I remember this person not being able to be still at all when we first started doing yoga. Now there is stillness. I believe every one can benefit from this moment of restfulness. I love that even those who think it is unnecessary, keep trying.
A bit ago we did a pose that several students said is “hard”. I agreed with them. It is hard . . . that is why we are doing it. We are doing a very modified version, but it is one of those poses that works many if not all the muscles in your body, so yes, it is “hard”. And we do it so that they can benefit from it. In working on so many muscles it is a balance pose, that requires flexibility and strength. One of those awesome poses that does so much . . . so we do it. And what spurred me to write this post is that while they were saying it was hard they were not saying, “It’s hard, I don’t want to do it.” They were just saying, “Wow, this is hard.” And then they moved into position to do it again. Love it. Love those inspiring active people in my classes!
I just wanted to share with you that I have some amazing inspirations in my life.
What about you? Do you know any older adults that cause you to think, “I wanna be like that when I am their age”? Some of those people that just keep trying? They might not be doing it in a clearly recognizable way but they are still trying?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: active adults, cardio dance, City of San Jose, corpse pose, dance floor, easy pose, flexibility, learning to relax, Nia, Nia Classes, Nia dancers, Nia teachers, older adults, Senior Centers, seniors, YMCA, yoga classes, yoga teachers | Leave a Comment »
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