On the 13 Moon/28-day calendar, tomorrow, July 25th, is called "The Day out of Time"; that is to say tomorrow is no day of the month, and no day of the week. It is in between the closing of the previous year (July 24th) and the dawning of the new year (July 26th). On July 25th, Sirius (the dog star) rises with the sun, and the day is observed as a day free of time. It is a day of reverence and cultural appreciation for the concept 'Time is Art, a respect for all life, a dedication to the beauty of eternal time, and an education relative to the concept of Natural Time. In short, it is a day to recognize unity and encourage awareness of the importance of our eternal time.....our Natural Time.
In Nia, the second principle of the White Belt is called Natural Time and the Movement Forms. Natural Time (NT) is the conscious awareness of movement and measure via the 13 joints and 20 digits (10 fingers and 10 toes) of our body. NT invites us to move in our own time, at our own pace and discover our own unique way of moving so we can make choices intuitively as we sense our body. NT is a way for us to be in touch with the Universe, and have a deep and rich relationship with our body.
I love this principle...it simply allows me to be me. To move in the NOW based on my sensations and how my body is feeling...sensations unique to me. I do not need to move like anyone else. I have my speed, my depth, my height, my range of motion!!! So, how do we do we practice this principle? We have 13 main joints in our body that we move and explore via sensation. Our joints are meant to open and close so we can move our body systemically with grace, ease and power. The 13 joints start with our left ankle, then travel up to our left knee, left hip, left wrist, left elbow, left shoulder, and then our spine...as one BIG joint. Then we travel down the right side of our body, our right shoulder, right elbow, right wrist, right hip, right knee and right ankle. Right NOW, explore the sensations of these joints!! Just move them, rotate, extend/contract....what do you sense? Do you feel a balance flow of energy? Any joints that feel stiff? Do you sense mobility, stability, pleasure?
Now connect to your digits...your toes and fingers..and walk around. This is how our body naturally measures. Measure through sensation the length of your stride, sense your distance from the wall, from the ceiling, etc. Now bring your palms together and then clap without touching your hands, stopping about 6 inches apart. WOW! Notice how your body naturally measures. This instinct is in all of us...it guides us throughout our day and helps us to make choices in the NOW, to avoid collisions and to safely cross the street. You may have wondered how we don't collide in a Nia class even though we are moving throughout the room. This is why!! Through our digits we enhance our whole-body sensory awareness helping us pay attention to our body sensations and move in safe ways.
Natural Time....Magical...natural...
So on this Day out of Time and through the week, celebrate your uniqueness, Your Body's Way, and disengage from mechanical time, and slip into the Natural Time of your body and your dance. See you in class!!!
My Nia classes this week:
Monday at 5:30 pm
Thursday at 5:30 pm
and Saturday at 9:30 am all at http://www.thesynergystudio.
I will also be teaching the DIVA Program class on Tuesday at 6:00 pm at TriPoint YMCA.
In Nia, the second principle of the White Belt is called Natural Time and the Movement Forms. Natural Time (NT) is the conscious awareness of movement and measure via the 13 joints and 20 digits (10 fingers and 10 toes) of our body. NT invites us to move in our own time, at our own pace and discover our own unique way of moving so we can make choices intuitively as we sense our body. NT is a way for us to be in touch with the Universe, and have a deep and rich relationship with our body.
I love this principle...it simply allows me to be me. To move in the NOW based on my sensations and how my body is feeling...sensations unique to me. I do not need to move like anyone else. I have my speed, my depth, my height, my range of motion!!! So, how do we do we practice this principle? We have 13 main joints in our body that we move and explore via sensation. Our joints are meant to open and close so we can move our body systemically with grace, ease and power. The 13 joints start with our left ankle, then travel up to our left knee, left hip, left wrist, left elbow, left shoulder, and then our spine...as one BIG joint. Then we travel down the right side of our body, our right shoulder, right elbow, right wrist, right hip, right knee and right ankle. Right NOW, explore the sensations of these joints!! Just move them, rotate, extend/contract....what do you sense? Do you feel a balance flow of energy? Any joints that feel stiff? Do you sense mobility, stability, pleasure?
Now connect to your digits...your toes and fingers..and walk around. This is how our body naturally measures. Measure through sensation the length of your stride, sense your distance from the wall, from the ceiling, etc. Now bring your palms together and then clap without touching your hands, stopping about 6 inches apart. WOW! Notice how your body naturally measures. This instinct is in all of us...it guides us throughout our day and helps us to make choices in the NOW, to avoid collisions and to safely cross the street. You may have wondered how we don't collide in a Nia class even though we are moving throughout the room. This is why!! Through our digits we enhance our whole-body sensory awareness helping us pay attention to our body sensations and move in safe ways.
Natural Time....Magical...natural...
So on this Day out of Time and through the week, celebrate your uniqueness, Your Body's Way, and disengage from mechanical time, and slip into the Natural Time of your body and your dance. See you in class!!!
My Nia classes this week:
Monday at 5:30 pm
Thursday at 5:30 pm
and Saturday at 9:30 am all at http://www.thesynergystudio.
I will also be teaching the DIVA Program class on Tuesday at 6:00 pm at TriPoint YMCA.
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