Monday, September 26, 2011

Dance, Smile, Laugh....When You're Smiling, The Whole World Smiles With You!

Whenever I think of Louis Armstrong, the vision that comes to me is his BIG smile!!   His smile lights up his whole body!!  It's true when we smile, the whole world smiles with us.  It is small facial gesture yet it is BIG in its potential to shift the sensation of the moment...of NOW!  When I'm smiling my spine lengthens, my chest opens and I have a sensation of lightness throughout my whole body.  Just with a simple upward curving of my mouth, my body naturally lifts which in turn lifts my mind and my spirit.  Take a moment right now to smile.  What do you sense in your body?  Now do the opposite, allow your smile to curve downward.  What do you sense in your body? 

Smiling has the opportunity to relieve tension, bring relaxation into our body and can bring ease and pleasure into any and all life situations.  Even if I'm doing a task that I do not particularly enjoy, when I take the opportunity to smile, it changes my experience.  And it requires very little physical effort on my part.  Smiling connects us to each other and is a gift that keeps giving even after the smile has faded.  It is Universal...requires no words, and has the power to connect us to everyBody. 

I believe when I smile all my cells inside of me are smiling with me, and supporting me throughout my day.   Dancing, smiling, laughing...expressing, and being fully engaged in the moment.  Join me in a week of SMILEs...in class and in life.  I'd love to hear how it changes your day!  See you in class this week!!
***My classes this week: Monday and Thursday at 5:30.  Then get ready for a new Nia routine!!!  On Friday at 5:30, Saturday at 9:30 and Sunday at 4:00 pm Adelle and I will be co-teaching  the brand new Nia routine Cadence!  I'm SMILING just thinking about it!!!   We will also have a learning opportunity on Sunday at 3:00 before the 4:00 class. Join us to learn the moves, and get a Cadance CD to take home with you! $30 for the Playshop, CD and class! You can sign up online under 'workshops' on the schedule page... www.thesynergystudio.com.

AND....considering the Nia White Belt intensive?  You can sign up now for 2012 intensives that Adelle and I will be holding. Go to:  http://nianow.com/joanie and click on My Trainings. 

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Personalize Your Nia Workout...Personalize Your Life!!

This week we will explore Nia White Belt Principle #7, 3 Planes of Movement & Intensity Levels.  I love this principle - it liberates me and allows me to personalize my Nia workout for MY needs, MY goals, MY desires.  This principle gives me the freedom to choose how I can move, and in return has given birth to my body new places and spaces to explore and heal.  It also invites me to craft my 'workout' and be my own Conscious Personal Trainer (CPT).  Through sensation I can determine how much, how far, how high, how low and how deep I want to take my movements.   This principles also provides a path for me to reach my full potential and to open to all possibilities.  And I love that!  Sensing comfort, harmony and balance as I sink and rise through my High, Middle and Low planes of movement.  Playing with the intensity Levels 1, 2 and 3 as I choose what is best for me moment by moment by monitoring my comfort, breath and sensation of ease.  All of this making my body feel yummy, conditioned, and wanting more. 

And as with every principle of Nia, I can carry it with me into my daily life to monitor and adjust how I am performing in life.  What intensity level am I at as I walk across the street, conduct a meeting, brush my teeth, shop, speak to my husband, respond to emails, complete my projects?  Sensing and making adjustments. 

Sensing my high plane as I reach for a cup in my cupboard, my low plane as I bend down to pet my dog Rocket, and my middle plane as I load clothes in my dryer.  Dancing through my day as I fold and unfold my bones, and lubricate my joints.  This is the art of Nia!  Personalizing your life....How fun is that!

Join me in class this week at The Synergy Studio:
Monday and Thursday at 5:30 pm

​Saturday at 9:30 am
Start your day with me on Monday morning at 8 am for Hatha Flow with essential oils.  We will use Eucalyptus oil - the Oil of Wellness.  Encourages responsibility for our own health and how to claim wholeness.

Learn more about Nia and go deeper into the connection with you body and your life by taking a Nia White Belt Intensive.   Our next intensive is February 2015. Sign up and receive pre-training gifts!

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



Nia - Somatic Education for EveryBody.  Nia is an expressive movement form & lifestyle practice that uses The Body's Way to achieve physical, mental, emotional & spiritual fitness & well-being."