Shake, Rock and Roll Your Bones!

Good Morning Friends!!!
 

How are your 206 bones today??  Do you know:

• We all had more than 300 bones at birth, which transforms to 206 bones as an adult. Over time, many small bones making up the skull and the spine fuse together as the body grows and becomes older.
• The only bone in the human body not connected to another is the hyoid, a V-shaped bone located at the base of the tongue.
• Bones are made up of calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and other minerals, as well as the protein collagen.
• Every second, our bone marrow produces two million red blood cells.
• Over a period of about seven years, each bone in our body is slowly replaced until it is a new bone.
• Human thigh bones are stronger than concrete, the Femur bone is the biggest and strongest bone in our body. It is easily capable of lifting or supporting 30 times its own volume and weight!
• Our ribs move about 5 million times a year, every time we breathe!

I love these fun facts and it reminds me that my bones are ALIVE and it is important to keep them healthy and happy.  Our bones love to Shake, Rock and Roll and that is just what we do in a Nia Class.  Our bones give our body form, protect our internal organs, and allow us to be mobile in our world.  In a Nia, we create shapes with our bones; we fold and unfold our bones; we spiral our bones; we punch, block, and kick; we vibrate, shimmy, snap, crackle and pop our bones; we walk, skip and play on the floor with our bones; and we create healing in our bones and the rest of our body with the 5 Fitness Sensations of Nia...Flexibility, Agility, Mobility, Strength and Stability.  So vital to keep our bones healthy and strong.

Last week I had my yearly wellness exam and I am so excited about my bones!!  I was diagnosed with osteopenia several years ago. Osteopenia refers to bone density that is lower than normal peak density but not low enough to be classified as osteoporosis.  This is diagnosed via your hips and spine.  Through diet and conscious weight-bearing exercises, my spine is back to normal (YAY!) and my hip is on the way up!!!  What is the

​weight-bearing ​

exercise

​ I do?​

  Primarily Nia.  Yes!  In Nia we shift body weight, balance, and create endless variety and energy through the 9 Movement Forms (Principle 2 of Nia White Belt) th

​at​

help keep bones strong, resilient and adaptable to all kinds of forces and stress.  We also move through 3 planes of movement - low, middle, high - (Principle 7 of Nia White Belt) which adds positive stress to your bones.  We do this in class and we can also do in life.  Join me in these daily ways to build strength in your bones.  We call this Dancing Through Life!

• Use the Nia base move, Whole Foot, as you walk through your house.  Shift your weight completely to each foot and hold for a couple of seconds.  Change the pressure by acting as if you are going to fall, but don't.  We call this on-off balance - great for your bones!!  Great for your hips and spine!
• ​ You can add some intensity to the above movements by holding and moving through high, middle and low planes of movement on 1 foot.  Hold onto a chair if you need to.  You can also do this while waiting in line at the grocery store!!!​
  
  
• Get up from your computer or from watching TV and shimmy/shake your bones!!  Vibration increases circulation and re-aligns your bones.  And it feels great!!
  ​   Shimmy on 1 foot!!!​
• Extend the bones of your fingers way out into space and then draw back in with strength like you are squeezing your fingers around a ball.  We call this Flexibility and Strength.
• Stand up and lift your arm bones to the sky, smell the moment, and open your your heart!  Sense your ribcage expanding and contracting.  We have 24 bones that create our ribcage!
• And take your shoes off!!  We have 26 bones in our feet and the best way to keep them strong and agile is to go barefoot!

Have fun and I hope to see

​you in ​

​m​

y classes this week:

Monday (TODAY!) and Thursday at 5:30 pm

Saturday at 9:30 am

and Sunday at 4:00 pm at The Synergy Studio

AND - have you heard???  Adelle and I have added a Nia White Belt intensive to our schedule for July - a split weekend at The Synergy Studio.   There is still time to sign up!!   It is a great opportunity to take the Nia White Belt and only take a couple of days off from work. The training starts at 3:00 pm on Thursday, July 23 and will go through Sunday, July 26.  The 2nd weekend is Friday , July 31 - Sunday, August 2.  Here is the link to the registration and where you can get additional information:  HERE!

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