Archive for joy

Prep-Halloween Nia Jam

Costume or Comfort; You Decide

I am not putting together a play list for the halloween jam.  I’ve asked the other teachers to bring their own music and use the theme. Much of the time teachers come and teach a regular song selection.  That is fine with me. 

Based on my last Jam repertoire, I’ve decided that I will lead a few songs from the routine that we created at Kripalu last month on a Nia choreography weekend with Casey Bernstein.  I’ll be playing around with the idea of funny walks, scarey faces and a lot of hand gestures. 

Really, any routine could be transformed into a Halloween routine if you make the focus Halloween. Here’s how: Read More→

The Thrill of Nia Technique

untitled-1One of my newer students said to me, “I am just so intrigued by this.  I don’t know what it is about Nia, but something definitely happens to you during class.” 

This student is an inspiration to me while we are dancing.  She really looks like she’s enjoying herself in the expression and exploration.  She is comfortable with sounding and with movement.  She likes to dance right up close to me, which I understand.  I am the same way in a class.  It’s like she doesn’t want to miss a beat. 

Nia is never boring.  If I ‘stay in my body,’ really listen to the music (even if I already know the music), remain very present with the work, something refreshing happens every time.

Here’s another testimonial from a class a couple weeks ago: 

“First of all, I wanted to let you know just how much the class on Monday lifted my mood.  You know that I dragged myself in, and I left feeling much better about my body and life in general.  I hope that when you are having a hard time getting “up” for teaching that you know that you can have a tremendous positive effect on a student’s mood and outlook.  And you’d have no idea that happened. But remember that it does happen – and I think it happens pretty frequently.”     M. P. (Arlington, VA

Yeah. It’s pretty cool to have something that you can count on to bring you Joy. If something makes you feel good, tell the person.  It spreads the Joy.