A Design System for Sustainablity in the Body

Great video on the ways Nia sustains the body

7 Tips for Beginning Nia

Laurie Bass, Nia dancer, teacher, somatic practitioner and yoga teacher writes about how to come to a Nia class.  This photo and article are from her website: Laurie Bass: Living Well

Nia’s way of getting fit, dancing barefoot, “like nobody’s watching” is a tune up for body, mind and spirit. If you are new to Nia, you may have noticed a very passionate community of movers around you. To put you at ease, here are 7 simple tips to maximize your experience as a beginning student:

1. Relax. Breath. Welcome to your practice. Enjoy being new to something. Start with smaller movements, allowing your body to adjust to moving the Nia way. Allow your breathing to support you. As you learn the steps, add range of motion and intensity when you feel ready.

2. Be in the moment. In Swahili, Nia means moving with purpose. Dedicate each moment to moving with the power, pleasure and purpose of being in your body – in the NOW. Minimize your inner critic, judge, or saboteur, maximize your sense of adventure.

3. Tune in. Always listen to your body. Allow Nia to move you from the inside-out toward pleasure, “body-based” sensations. If a move doesn’t feel right for you, tweak or adapt it – move smaller, slower or take fewer steps. Always move away from pain. Movement is medicine.

4. Start with your feet. Capture the rhythm of the feet and leg movements first, then slowly add the core, arms and hand motions. Keep your feet under hips and your joints “spring-loaded” to ease your knees. Over time, your body will learn the language of Nia, the language of the body and love the dynamics infused into the movement. 

5. Go Barefoot. Experience the 7000 nerve endings in your feet to help you move in safe and efficient ways from the ground up. While barefoot is best, you can wear shoes with a soft flexible sole for comfort or support for medical purposes. Moving barefoot develops foot strength and whole body balance.

6. Seek “Dynamic Ease.” Never force a motion. Avoid getting breathless or fatigued. Move within your own comfort zone. Move with energy efficiency.

7. Express Yourself. This is your dance. Express your own unique rhythm and body language within the moves. Be jazzy, luscious, lyrical, snappy or sensual. Most of all, be yourself and have fun.

Visit the class finder at NiaNow.com to begin your journey!

Laurie is a creative mover, athlete, artist, yogi, somatic educator, wellness coach and member of the Nia Training Faculty. She is a teacher-trainer of the Nia White Belt and Nia 5 Stages programs. Her collegiate education includes degrees in Mathematics and Psychology from Pacific University. Laurie lives near Portland, Oregon, home to the international headquarters for the Nia Technique where she teaches classes, workshops and holds trainings both locally at StudioNia, home to Nia international headquarter in Portland and global, traveling to Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

 

Last Day of School 2015 Ridgeway Community School Part II

Our end of the school year event for health and wellness is a walk/run around the West Lake in Winona scheduled for the Saturday following the final school day.  This year was an especially exciting year with celebrity runners  joining us for our before school Workout Wednesday and then sharing stories of their love of running and staying healthy.  Students were encouraged to get fit with running or walking the track at Ridgeway Community School.

Another thing to get the students excited was to get small donations and for each dollar, the homeroom group received a shoe that was taped to the wall.  The Homeroom with the most shoes would be able to duct tape their teacher and Ms. Jodi, our school coordinator to the wall!  That bit of fun play got students very excited!  Two homerooms for going very close to being the winners--Mrs. Meyer and Mrs. Johnson.  Who would win?  Oh, my goodness, it was a tie and they both got the fame of being taped to the wall.  

 Ms. Jodi, duct taped to the wall.

Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Meyer, the two tying Homeroom teachers!

Students in each homeroom along with their teacher.

Smiles and hugs all around.

After lunch, the very exciting kickball game began with 5th Graders verses Teachers.  The rules were gone over and agreed on by both sides before the game.  Mrs. Cindy Smith making sure all was fair for both teams.

Students and teachers getting ready for the very exciting game.  The game goes for 4 innings or one hour which ever comes first.  This year, though the teachers were winning 5-4 after 4 innings, it was agreed to continue for the full hour.

In the end Teachers won 5th Graders--10 to 6.  Good game by all.

After the game, everyone excited a freezy including Mrs. Hundorf, our Special Education para-professional and out fielder.

Mrs. Langlie, our music teacher and second base player.

Mrs. Maynard, Special Education para-professional helped keep all the children safe on the playground and in the bounce house.

 

Mrs. Conway, our Special Education teacher and 3rd Base person.

 

Ms. Geier joined us for our final day.  She student taught in Mrs. Johnson's 1st Grade through the spring semester.

Mrs. Meyer, our 2nd & 3rd Grade Teacher and 1st base player.

Mrs. Anderson, 4th & 5th Grade Lead Teacher and our fabulous out fielder with some of her students, Nyah, Elise, Jocelyn. 
There were many more teachers playing and having fun with students that missed my photo eye.

Mrs. Anderson and Tyler.

Ms. Eischen, Art Teacher and Nyah.