Archive for Nia

The 52 Moves In Order

 STANCES
    1.    Closed Stance
    2.    Open Stance
    3.    “A” Stance
    4.    Riding (Sumo or Horse) Stance
    5.    Bow Stance
    6.    Cat (One-legged) Stance

 

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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→

Yoga Practice First Wednesday

Getting Into Yoga

Yoga class tonight was very challenging.  Not only do I not yet know the all asanas and the right way to do them, I am very sore from Tuesday’s activities (75 minute of yoga, two Nia classes, 20 minutes elliptical machine, and 75 minutes weight lifting Chest and Triceps). 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.

Girls Night Out

Nia Technique class

Teaching the Nia Technique routine, Girls Night Out, is an opportunity to share the Joy of Movement as well as Our Selves As Women; connecting to the other women in the room, The Goddess, Mother Earth, the feminine side of each of us, and Women Outside of Nia Class. 

When dancing this routine I like to layer on an additional a focus. Recently, I chose to add the focus of dancing energy through the spine, so that each chakra from root to crown can get a clearing from the movement and create a better flow and bigger space. With this, my intent is that we leave class with greater awareness of our Woman Power and feel energized to dance that power and femininity out into the bigger world as we dance through life.  It pretty much always works. Read More→