Movement from the Top - Our Nia Focus!

"So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there is so much to smile about!"  Marilyn Monroe

Hello my smiling, dancing friends!!

Did you know your head weighs between 8 and 10 lbs?  To sense this weight, take two 5 pound bags of sugar or flour and hold them with one hand.  Now cup your hands and allow your head to rest in your hands, and sense the weight and also sense your upper back.  Our head is so important in our daily activities and plays a vital role in our alignment and health, and that is why in Nia we integrate our head in all our movements.  Through Head and Eye movements (HEM), we organically move our head by using our eyes to follow our hands or follow a butterfly through the room.  This allows us to learn and sense the design and function of our head and help us move with mindfulness and pleasure.  One of Nia's 9 movement forms is the Alexander Technique, with the catch phase "movement from the top".  The Alexander Technique teaches us to be in relationship with our beautiful head, and to connect with electromagnetic energy from above as we initiate our movements to keep the energy upward.  I like to call this Heaven's gravity!!  We can do this by imaging a feather is connected to the base of our neck, lengthening upwards toward the sky. Imagine that the feather is so tall you can tickle the belly of the clouds. This image draws attention upward, gently lengthening our neck and all seven cervical vertebrae.  Now release your jaw and say 'AHHHHH" and then SMILE!!

Movement from the top - our Nia focus.  I will SEE U in class at The Synergy Studio!

Thursday (today) at 5:30 pm

Saturday at 9:30 am

Sunday at 4:00 pm

And Monday (May 4) at 8:00 am and 5:30 pm.

Nia White Belt for U!!!  I had an incredible Nia White Belt Training with Adelle, graduating 5 new Nia belts, and teaching with the extended family of CaliforNia in our classes. It was an amazing and heartfilled 10 days!!  In six weeks, we are ready for YOU to join us! Our next Nia White Belt will be at The Synergy Studio. We will teach with a split weekend format, allowing space for you to work around weekly schedules. Mark your calendars and register here.  June 4-7 & 12-14, 2015... a transformational week dedicated to YOU. Be sure to talk to our newest White Belt in San Antonio, Shannon Kratky!  She traveled with us to Ventura, CA for the experience! 
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Love & Light,
Joanie Brooks,
http://www.joaniebrooks.com
Nia Training Faculty, Nia White Belt Trainer, Nia 1st Degree Black Belt
MELT Certified Hand & Foot Instructor
Yoga Teacher (certified in the YogaFit Warrior Program)
Journey Dance Facilitator Nia 5 Stages of Healing Facilitator
Mindful Change Coach
Laughter Yoga Leader

Dancing Through Life with Your Fingers, Hands and Arms!

Happy Thursday!!!

Expressing ourselves with our upper extremities is a natural part of living in a human body—we do it all the time! Our arms, hands and fingers express joy, pain and pleasure; intimacy, protection and excitement. When we are hurt, our hands reach for our injuries. When we are deeply moved, our hands reach toward our hearts. When we are excited by our achievements, our arms burst up to the sky, toward unlimited possibility. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are always communicating our thoughts, feelings and emotions through the movement of our upper extremities. Tuning into your upper extremities—your arms, hands and fingers—allows you to tap into your full range of movement and expression, naturally healing and conditioning your body by simply interacting with the world.

This is the Body’s Way, and that is why 18 of Nia's 52 moves are dedicated to our Fingers, Hands and Arms.  They add so much to our dance and conditioning!!!  All of a sudden a bow stance is your dance in flight as you imagine your arms as beautiful white wings of light; a heal lead is an opportunity to paint the space around you with your fingers; and stepping onto the ball of your foot is a determined reach toward your dreams with your hands! 

Join me in dance at The Synergy Studio.  I'll be teaching some songs from the new Nia routine called Reach, which is an excellent routine for conditioning and expressing our upper extremities.  Fun!!

Thursday (today) at 5:30 pm

Saturday at 9:30 am

Monday at 5:30 pm
 

Right NOW give yourself a hug and receive the healing touch of your hands on your skin.  I then invite you to give that hug to someone and allow them to sense your healing touch.  It just might be the best gift they have ever received!!!

April 17 Adelle and I are leaving for Ventura, CA for a Nia White Belt intensive.  We have 6 radiant beings stepping in, and who knows, maybe more!!  Get ready for our June Nia White Belt intensive here in San Antonio.  It is a split weekend - great opportunity to take the white belt and only miss a couple days of work.  Click HERE to find out more and register!

And...one last thing.  Dancing Through Life.  See how these tips can potentially change your day and your life!!
- As you walk, allow your arms to swing freely to relaxed shoulder joints.
- As you work at the computer, set reminders throughout the day to notice the sensations in your neck and shoulders. Then, consciously relax the muscles of your neck, shoulders and upper back as you type.  Use Creepy Crawlers to stimulate movement of your joints in your hands.
- When you finish working for the day, practice Palm Directions to release your shoulder joints and stretch the front of your chest.
- To release tension and stretch your hands, integrate Webbed Spaces into various activities in your day, such as when walking from your car to the store, as you wait in line, etc. 

Love & Light,
Joanie Brooks,
http://www.joaniebrooks.com
Nia Training Faculty, Nia White Belt Trainer, Nia 1st Degree Black Belt
MELT Certified Hand & Foot Instructor
Yoga Teacher (certified in the YogaFit Warrior Program)
Journey Dance Facilitator Nia 5 Stages of Healing Facilitator
Mindful Change Coach
Laughter Yoga Leader