Nia Focus...Joy of Movement, Natural Time and The Movement Forms!!!

The Nia White Belt focuses on the foundation of Nia through 13 principles that guide you to place your attention on yourself, on your body, and on physical sensation.  The intent of these principles are to assist and inspire you to celebrate your body and your human potential.  Over the next 10 weeks we will be focusing on these principles, starting with the 1st 2 principles this week:  Principle 1, The Joy of Movement, and Principle 2, Natural Time and The Movement Forms.

The Joy of Movement teaches us to connect to Joy by choosing sensation through all movement.  As you sense your body, invite Joy in.  No matter what your circumstances are, you have the capacity to live and move in Joy, which is more than an emotion; it is a way of being in the world.  If at anytime you are not connected to the Joy of Movement, tweak what you are doing, and then look for ways to sustain and enhance this sensation!!

Natural Time and The Movement Forms invites us to be consciously aware of movement and measurement via our 13 joints and our 20 digits (fingers and toes).  Movement and Measure help you move in your own way and in your own time, increasing your awareness of sensation.  The 9 Movement Forms of Nia (3 Martial Arts, 3 Dance Arts, and 3 Healing Arts) add energy and variety to your practice which allows you to explore all the diverse aspects of your body, mind, emotions and spirit.  Natural Time and the Movement Forms help you to move in different ways, in your body's time and rhythm, in order to help you reach your potential and open up to the endless possibilities to heal!!!

WOW!!!  So let's have a wonderful week.  Find out more about the White Belt by visiting:  http://www.nianow.com/white-belt
See you in class!!
My classes this week:
Monday and Thursday at 5:30 pm
Saturday at 9:30 am,
and Sunday at 4:00 (team teaching with Adelle...52 moves playshop at 2:00)
all at  http://www.thesynergystudio.com/. 

Becoming a Sacred Athlete...Purpose-Potential-Possibility!!!

Happy 2012 EveryBody!

Wishing each of you love and peace as you step into 2012.  It is going to be a magical year...I'm excited!! As I reflect on 2011 I am grateful for all the beauty, peace and goodness that I have experienced in my life...my husband, family, friends and my Nia community of dancing beings have been instrumental in my life!  And my 2 lively dogs, Little Boo and Rocket!!!  In 2012 I will be collaborating with my Nia sister, Adelle, with the Nia White Belt intensive and I hope you will consider taking the Nia White Belt.  It is a wonderful exploration into the foundation of Nia and YOU, whether you would like to teach or take it for personal growth.  Check out our trainings at: www.nianow.com/joanie and click on "My Trainings".  Let me know if you have any questions.

2012's Nia focus for our community is the Year of Becoming a Sacred Athlete...a year of Purpose, Potential and Possibility.  A Sacred Athlete is a teacher and healer to all people.  Becoming a Sacred Athlete is a choice and is a journey of discovering your purpose, exploring your limitless potential and opening up to the endless possibilities available to you when you choose pleasure and love as your path for transformation and to self mastery.  We are all teachers.  We teach others with our actions, our thoughts and words.  We teach others through our choices.  Choosing to keep your body healthy through movement and dance shows others how you have chosen to love your body.  As we step in together to a New Year, let's all open up to our potential...it limitless.  Let's all open up to all possibilities life has for us...it is endless.  Your body's potential is limitless...200/700 (bones and muscles) unique ways to move and heal.  The possibilities of your body are endless...9 movement forms to connect to; 3 planes of movement and intensity levels to explore; Move/Explore/Create your FreeDance...ENDLESS. 

Becoming a Sacred Athlete is a choice.  Join me this week in class as we step into a wonderful year of movement and healing.  Happy New Year!!

My classes this week:
Monday and Thursday at 5:30 pm
and Saturday at 9:30 am all at  http://www.thesynergystudio.com/. 

Music - Movement - Magic...MMM!!

The sound of music is one of the most powerful underlying creative forces in our universe. It is a powerful resonance that lies deep within the very heart of creation and existence. It is considered to be one of the oldest healing forms used by the Greeks, Chinese, East Indians, Tibetans, Egyptians, American Indians, Mayas, Incas and Aztecs. Music is tangible!  Sound vibrates your nervous system and creates sensation in your body. The physical resonance in your body creates energy and triggers chemical responses that have effects on your body, mind, emotions and spirit.  Music touches souls and awakens spirits.

In Nia, we have a triad called Music, Movement and Magic. Music is the canvas upon which your body Moves.  Magic is what happens inside you. Imagine every cell in your body is an ear. As you use your body to listen to music, sound impacts you on a kinesthetic level. Your body instinctively responds to the music it hears, and if left to its natural impulses, will move effortlessly to it.  When you connect Music and your Movement, Magic is created.   MMM...our focus in class this week.

Beyond class and throughout your day, allow yourself to become fascinated with the sounds and silences of life. Practice the
Art of Listening while waiting in line at the grocery store, waiting for the pizza to cook, or waiting for a lecture or movie to
begin.  Listen to the sounds of your family, your friends, your co-workers.  Life is magical!!!  See you in class!

My classes this week:
Thursday at 5:30 pm
Saturday at 9:30 am and
Sunday at 4:00 pm all at  http://www.thesynergystudio.com/. 

Dancing Through Life with Your Fingers, Hands and Arms...Expressing the Real You!!

As most of you know, last week Adelle Brewer and I held our first Nia White Belt Intensive.  We have 3 wonderful and enthusiastic trainees, and together we dove deep into the 1st 8 principles of the Nia White Belt.  I have been practicing and teaching Nia for over 17 years and I am still learning and discovering.  The Nia practice is rich and I love this work!! We continue with the intensive on Friday morning with Principle # 9, The Upper Extremities, our arms, hands and fingers...Creative Arm and Hand Expression. 

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 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 these lovely body parts.  They add so much to our dance!!!  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!

So this week as we prepare and step back into the Nia White Belt intensive we will focus on Principle #9 of the Nia White Belt - Creative Arm and Hand Expressions.  As as you Dance Through Life pay attention pay attention to the movements and sensations
of your upper extremities throughout your day.
- Notice how you use your arms, hands to express your thoughts and feelings in every environment.
- 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. 

I love this work...see you in class!
My classes this week:
Monday at 5:30 pm
Thursday at 8:00 am
Friday at 5:30 pm team teaching with Adelle
Saturday at 9:30 am team teaching with Adelle
Sunday at 4:00 pm team teaching with Adelle
all at  http://www.thesynergystudio.com/. 

Body Gratitude..."Thank You Body, I Sense...."!!!!!!

Hello EveryBody!!
"Thank You Body, I Sense....".  This is a practice we do in Nia and I love it!!  What better way to give gratitude to our body than to shout out loud Thank You Body!  Our body is incredible AND it functions most of the time w/out our awareness.  Nia invites us to be in awareness of our body by paying attention to our body sensations.  If we sense any discomfort, all we need to do is affirm and then move to create self healing.  For example: "Body I sense tightness in my lower back."  Now move up and down from the floor 7 times, taking advantage of the floor by rolling around (embryonic/fish-like) before coming up.  Then walk around and sense your body and say:  "Thank You Body, I Sense relaxation in my shoulders...Thank You Body, I sense relaxation in my lower back."  It is that simple!  You will be amazed at the relationship you will create with your body and the healing that can happen. 

So as we enter into Thanksgiving week and we reflect on all we are thankful for, don't forget about your body.  Nia's philosophy is "Through Movement We Find Health" and our body loves to move, dance and play.  Such a wonderful way to stay youthful and no better way to thank your body!  See you in class!

And my Nia Friends, Thank You for all of your love and support, and your passion for Nia.  You fill my heart with love and joy every time I dance with you.  I am very grateful!!  See you in class!  Please note the change with Thursday's class!

My classes this week:
Sunday (Today!!) at 4:00 pm
Monday at 5:30 pm
Thursday at 8:00 am team teaching with Sarita
Saturday at 9:30 am
all at  http://www.thesynergystudio.com/.   

My first Nia White Belt intensive with Adelle is almost upon us, starting at 5:30 pm on Dec. 1st.  There is still time to sign up if you are interested.  Go to:  http://nianow.com/joanie and click on My Trainings. 

Great Nia holiday gifts!!!  Go to my link & get 40% off of Nia clothing, music & much more!!  Look for the 40% off purple button:  http://nianow.com/joanie

Love & Light,
Joanie BrooksNia Black Belt/Trainer, Nia 5 Stages of Healing Facilitator, Mindful Change Coachhttp://www.joaniebrooks.me/

Step Into Your Greatness!

 

 

Hello All!

    Last month I became a certified Mindful Change Coach.  This certification, along with becoming a Nia Trainer, are steps on my journey to fulfill my life purpose to bring love and healing light to everyBody.  The training process was transformational...both personally and professionally.  What is so wonderful about this training is I was a coach AND I was also coached.  I applied the tools and processes to bring about change withing myself, AND I partnered with others to bring change within their lives.

I love how this practice and profession synergizes with my Nia practice and profession.  In fact, this was one of the key reasons I chose this profession and in particular the Guiding Mindful Change certification.  At the heart of mindful coaching is awareness...sound familiar?  Through awareness, the coaching process naturally and powerfully reveals wholeness, balance, order, choices and action.  As a Mindful Change Coach I partner with individuals who want to take action towards greater fulfillment, to embrace their passions and desires so they can reach their potential and achieve their personal and professional goals.  I call this "Step Into Your Greatness".

 

I believe Greatness is unique to each of us and comes in endless shapes, sizes and outcomes.  I believe that doing what you desire, what you intend to do, no matter what it is or how others perceive it, is a Step Into Your Greatness.  This step can lead to other steps and ultimately lead each of us to our potential. 

Please check out my website:  http://www.joaniebrooks.me/Guiding_Mindful_Change.html to find out more about my coaching practice and if interested, sign up for a free coaching session.  Please forward this email to anyBody you think would be interested. 

Vision Board Event:

One of the fun things I did during my training was a vision board.  It was a Dance of Life as I shaped my vision with pictures, symbols and words.  This has inspired me to hold a facilitated Vision Board sessions.  It’s simple, fun and very inspirational, and surrounds you with images that you want to become, to do, or to obtain.  Please join me!!! 
For more information and to sign up go to:  http://joaniebrooks.me/Special_Events.html

Love & Light,
Joanie BrooksNia Black Belt/Trainer, Nia 5 Stages of Healing Facilitator, Mindful Change Coach
http://www.joaniebrooks.me/

Dancing Through Life with Your Pelvis, Chest and Head!

Hello everyBody!!
Principle 8 of the Nia White Belt invites you to move your three body weights (pelvis, chest and head) as you dance. Your pelvis, chest and head together form your core, the powerful center of your body where you contain, exchange and direct the flow of energy.  When correctly aligned, these weights allow us to move energy along and through our vertical axis, so we can move with intrinsic balance, core power, spinal flexibility and greater relaxation.  This then transcends to our breathing, improves our self-confidence and provides a foundation for physical, mental, and emotional health.  In class this week we will explore isolating each of the body weights and discover how to integrate them into your dance...your steps, your stances, your kicks...all movement.  Through isolation we will discover the voices of the pelvis, chest and head and how to move with dynamic ease.  When moved as a whole they become integrated with the spine, which affects the flow of energy into and out of the body. 

As Nia and The Body's Way both reveal, one of the most beautiful things about living in a body is our ability to find healing and realignment through movement.  By paying attention to your 3 body weights, you become intimate with your Dance of Life, and can discover ways to make "tweaks" throughout your day to gain power, grace, balance and PLEASURE!!!!  Here are a few ways to integrate your Core in with your daily life and create healing:

• As you stand in the shower, pay attention to the alignment of your pelvis, chest and head.
• As you at stove cooking dinner, practice pelvic circles to relax your lower back.
• As you walk, allow your tail to gently wag from side to side to integrate your base with your core.  Say "NOW I am healing my lower back."
  
• As you sit at the dinner table or at the office, pay attention to how your three body weights are aligned.
• As you read or work at your computer, notice whether your head is aligned over your chest and spine.
• Give yourself at least one 60-second “shimmy break” midday to release tension in your spine, shoulders and neck. your head. I want to hear from you on this one!
• Walk with a halo of light around the crown of your head and sense lightness in your being.

Consider the Nia White Belt intensive to go deeper into this principle and 12 more!! You can sign up now for intensives I will be holding, to include this December. Go to:  http://nianow.com/joanie and click on My Trainings. 

See you in class!

My classes this week:
Monday at 5:30 pm
Thursday at 5:30 pm
Fun Friday at 5:30 pm (subbing for Adelle) and
Saturday at 9:30 am
all at  http://www.thesynergystudio.com/. 

Love & Light,
Joanie BrooksNia Black Belt/Trainer, Nia 5 Stages of Healing Facilitator, Mindful Change Coachhttp://www.joaniebrooks.me/