Balance and Harmony!

                     If you can create harmony
                             In your own life,
                        This harmony will enter
                   Into the vast world.- Sri Chinmoy

Good Morning EveryBody!
Our body is truly amazing.  Have you thought about how our body is designed in perfect balance and symmetry?  We are balanced with 2 legs, 2 arms, 2 eyes, 2 ears, 2 lungs, two kidneys, 2 brain hemispheres....just to name a few.  What can you think of?  We are also balanced in yin and yang energy in our body.  Yin, the soft female side of us that is nurturing, creative and receptive.  This energy is constantly being manifested by the body's smooth, circular, melodic movements.  Yang, the male side of us is more aggressive, decisive and outward.  This energy is reflective by more explosive, directed and rhythmic movements.   Our body needs both.  Our mind, spirit and emotions need both.  With yin and yang energy we find & create balance.  In Nia we nurture and balance the symmetry and the energies of our whole self through movement variety, through soft and hard movements, blocks, punches, circles and spirals.  Our body LOVES, NEEDS and THRIVES on this.  When we honor the design of our body we create a new relationship with our body that support us to make choices that bring pleasure into our body resulting in harmony.  See you in class!

My Nia Classes this week:

Monday and Thursday at 5:30 pm, Saturday at 9:30 am and Sunday at 4:00 pm all at The Synergy Studio.

Also, join me Friday at 6:45 pm for JourneyDance!!

Thinking of taking the Nia White Belt?  Learn more and go deeper into the connection with you body and your life by taking a Nia White Belt Intensive.    Sign up at http://www.nianow.com/joanie. 

Love & Light,
Joanie Brooks,  Nia Training Faculty, Nia White Belt Trainer,
Nia 5 Stages of Healing Facilitator, Journey Dance Guide, Mindful Change Coach
http://www.joaniebrooks.me/

 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."   

75 trillion cells in your body…Play with them all with Nia!

Conditioning the Nia Way!

Hello my Nia Friends!!
What comes into your mind when you hear or say the word conditioning?  Muscles, athletes, weights, pain, pleasure?  In Nia, conditioning is a holistic life style and fitness practice that follows the voice of the body - sensation. Nia conditioning is guided by pleasure and is infused with the Joy of Movement, which creates the perfect environment in your cells for well being and motivation.  What is Nia's secret?  Nia incorporates 9 movement forms that add different energy and variety for you to explore your potential.  Nia has a practice called FreeDance that invites you to move your body, explore your body sensations and create new movement vocabulary.  Nia uses the Five Sensations of Fitness (FAMSS): flexibility, agility, mobility, strength, and stability, that each have their own unique sensation quality.  These sensations invite you to be your own Conscious Personal Trainer so you can achieve the fitness results you want. Nia uses music that seduces you to move and create magic with your body.  Nia is based on 52 moves that 'works out' every muscle and moves every bone in your body! 

Nia conditioning is for your body, mind, emotions and spirit, and is practiced in the classroom and in life.  Are you ready to dance?  Are you ready to condition?  This is just the beginning...there is more.  Join me in class this week.

My Nia Classes this week:

Sunday (today) at 4:00 pmMonday and Thursday at 5:30 pm all at The Synergy Studio.

Then get ready for a weekend of conditioning and fun with the new Nia routine Touch.  Join Adelle and me for Touch classes on Friday, March 1 at 5:30 and Saturday, March 2 at 9:30... then again Sunday, March 3 at 2:30 for a "Learn the Move" experience of Touch, followed by the 4:00 class.  Many Nia teachers will be teaching with us on Sunday! Sign up here for the Sunday playshop, including the CD.

Teachers and Licensed Belts of Nia... Join us for Touch classes Friday and Saturday, and stay on Saturday for the Touch Routine Immersion learning experience! Contact me about receiving the bars and pearls.

Learn more and go deeper into the connection with you body and your life by taking a Nia White Belt Intensive.    Sign up at http://www.nianow.com/joanie. 

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 Brooks,  Nia Training Faculty, Nia White Belt Trainer,
Nia 5 Stages of Healing Facilitator, Journey Dance Guide, Mindful Change Coach
http://www.joaniebrooks.me/

 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."   

75 trillion cells in your body…Play with them all with Nia!

Reach out and Touch Life - Let Life Touch You!

Hello My Friends!!

What a warm and sun filled weekend!! I love the sensation of the sun touching my skin!  Touching is a great way to transmit and receive pleasure all day long through sensation. Touching increases body awareness, can provide energy healing, and has the power to emotionally console, or kinesthetically guide the body. One of Nia's Hand Moves is called "Touching"; however, we can actually touch and be touched constantly via our skin.  Did you know your skin is your largest organ of your body?  The average human being has 21 square feet of skin and about 300 million skin cells. Your skin is constantly renewing itself from the bottom up and takes 52 – 77 days to shed its cells..  Our skin can detect hot and cold, pain and pleasure, and through your skin you receive receive love, compassion, consoling, and comfort just through the touch of your own hands. So be touched!  As you walk, let the earth touch the soles of your feet.  As you put on your clothes, let your clothes touch your skin.  When you take a drink of water, let the glass touch your lips and your hand.  As you listen to music, let the sounds and silence vibrate your skin.  YUMMM!!!  

Oh and once last fact about your skin...Goose bumps are actually little pimples that help retain a layer of warm air over your body.  I just got them thinking about dancing with you this week!  I'm Touched!  HA HA!  See you in class.  

And speaking of Touch...Adelle and I are hosting an Immersion weekend for the new Nia routine TOUCH for students and Nia Teachers, March 1-3rd.  Find out more at this link:  https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ASP/home.asp?studioid=2715

and sign up for the Sunday playshop that includes a TOUCH music CD.   

My Nia Classes this week:

Monday and Thursday at 5:30 pm

Saturday at 9:30 am

and Sunday at 4:00 pm.

I will also be teaching the 10:00 am JourneyDance class.  All at The Synergy Studio.

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 Brooks,  Nia Training Faculty, Nia White Belt Trainer, Nia 5 Stages of Healing Facilitator, Journey Dance Guide, Mindful Change Coachhttp://www.joaniebrooks.me/


 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."   

75 trillion cells in your body…Play with them all with Nia!

“I see you…I see your Greatness!!"

“I see you…I see your Greatness.”  I have just returned from Portland where 48 Nia trainers from around the world gathered to collobrate and co-create the new face of Nia.  Nia, just like our body and our life is constantly changing, growing and expanding, and I am so honored and grateful to be part of this amazing group of men and women.  Many times during our full days of dancing and sharing of wisdom Debbie Rosas, co-founder and CEO of Nia, thanked us and told us “I see you.  I see each of you and I see your Greatness.”   She constantly reminded us to see Greatness in ourselves.  Seeing our Greatness is not about being great.  It is opening our hearts and our eyes to the possibilities before us and our unique potential.  It is being a Sacred Athlete.  

The saying goes the eyes are the entry into our soul.  There is so much that is revealed through our eyes.  I can look at someone and by looking at their eyes be able to tell how they are feeling at the moment.  Our eyes are communicators and communicate all our emotions:  love, excitement, anger, sorrow, compassion, apprehension, curiosity.  Our eyes reveal what is happening inside.  Have you ever looked at a loved ones eyes and known they were not feeling well?

In Nia we learn to use our eyes in new and exciting ways.  In principle 5 Awareness and Dancing Through Life, we are invited to look out and change our perception, be inspired and see art in all of life.  In principle 8, The Core of the Body, we learn through Head and Eye movements, the most organic way to move our head and neck, and integrate the rest of our body is to use our eyes.  Look and let your eyes move you naturally with grace, ease and efficiency.  In principle number 10, X-Ray Anatomy we are invited to see without seeing and sense what is underneath our skin and make alignment changes that bring our body into homostatis..into peace.  We also learn to look at our body and the body of others through non-judgemental eyes for information so choices can be made to move our bodies toward pleasure and wellness.  

Nia always invites us to see ourselves with love.  Not until I can see myself with love, as love, and see my Greatness, will I be able to see others as love and see their Greatness.  Nia has opened my eyes to potential and possibilities and connected me to the visual magic around me so I can see and receive life with curiosity and wonderment.  As I step back into my life here in San Antonio I want to express my gratitude and love for each of you. I see in you the wonderful human being that you are, and the difference you make in this world and in my life.  I see you and I see your Greatness!  Below is a poem I offer to you.  It expresses how I feel about you.  See you in class.  

Through My Eyes

You are beautiful
Although, you may not see
the person that I see
when I look at you
And if the mirror you look into
could show your reflection through my eyes
you would see a smile so bright
it could light up the world
throughout the day and into the night
You are courageous
Although, you may not feel
all that brave
But I see, how strong you can be
And if you could take a minute
to look back at all your ups and downs
you would smile with pride
because you made it through
And then you would be believe
what I already know to be true
You are incredible, intelligent
fearless and strong.
Life is beautiful, wonderful and fun
and all your dreams can come true
if you start by believing in you.  (Author Unknown)

My upcoming Nia classes:

Saturday (Today!) at 9:30 am

Sunday at 4:00 pm

Monday and Thursday Nia at 5:30 pm 

all at  http://www.thesynergystudio.com/. 

On Friday, Feb. 8th Adelle and I start a Nia White Belt!!!  Join us in classes and a special debut of the new Nia routine Touch on Feb. 10th!

Learn more and go deeper into the connection with you body and your life by taking a Nia White Belt Intensive.    Sign up at http://www.nianow.com/joanie.  

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 Brooks,  Nia Training Faculty, Nia White Belt Trainer, Nia 5 Stages of Healing Facilitator, Journey Dance Facilitator, Mindful Change Coach


 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."   

75 trillion cells in your body…Play with them all with Nia!

Traveling in Directions!!

Hello My Dancing Friends!

Practicing Traveling in Directions keeps your body agile for moving through space in all directions, giving you the ability to change directions with ease.  From the Nia Technique Book.

“Sometimes the slightest things change the directions of our lives, the merest breath of a circumstance, a random moment that connects like a meteorite striking the earth. Lives have swiveled and changed direction on the strength of a chance remark.” 
― Bryce Courtenay

This focus came to me as I was dancing at home in my studio and thinking about my upcoming trip to Nia Headquarters in Portland, Oregon.  I will be traveling this Friday with other Nia trainers across the world (including Adelle and Charlotte) for a Nia Trainer Wisdom Quest and graduation.  I am so excited!  The Nia move Traveling in Directions is very powerful and conditions not only our body, but also conditions our brain, creating new neural pathways and heightening the brain-body connection.   This move invites us to think about the direction you want to go, and then by using your eyes first, move in the direction you intend to go.  As we move, we are invited to express with our upper extremities, play with forward, backward, and lateral directions, and create circles and spirals.  Anything goes movement wise!  We are also invited to use precision, speed, play with patterns, and to use our imagination.  A simple and fun move that challenges us and builds strength and agility in our body, mind and emotions.  Using the sound "CHANGE" with determination as you make your change in direction can also build confidence!  1, 2, 3 CHANGE!!!

We do not always know what directions life will take us.  When we travel in Life's directions with grace, play, self expression, fun and make conscience decisions of CHANGE that are in alignment with our purpose, the change will allow us to step freely into life with ease!!  See you in class.       

A special Thank you to the Nia Teachers subbing for me while I am gone.  My classes this week are:

Monday and Thursday Nia at 5:30 pm (I will be teaching)

Saturday Nia at 9:30 am with Jan 

Sunday Nia at 4:00 pm with Sarita

all at  http://www.thesynergystudio.com/. 

Learn more and go deeper into the connection with you body and your life by taking a Nia White Belt Intensive.    Sign up at http://www.nianow.com/joanie.  

- 

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 Brooks,  Nia Training Faculty, Nia White Belt Trainer, Nia 5 Stages of Healing Facilitator, Journey Dance Guide, Mindful Change Coachhttp://www.joaniebrooks.me/


 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."   

75 trillion cells in your body…Play with them all with Nia!

The Joy Of Play!

Hello My Dancing Friends!

Play energizes us and enlivens us. It eases our burdens. It renews our natural sense of optimism and opens us up to new possibilities.

Stuart Brown, MD...Contemporary American psychiatrist

PLAY is extremely important for all of us. It is a form of release and connection that can help you tap into creativity and allow you the chance to connect with your inner child and the inner child of others.  PLAY is a state of mind, but it is also a state of body, emotion, and spirit.  PLAY is a natural teacher and a great way to open your world to possibilities giving you the gift of to ask “What if,” and explore options. Allowing yourself the freedom to play in the midst of your obligations, resolutions and tasks may help relax you and be the motivation to help your through the day.  We all need to play.  I can get wrapped up in my day and forget to stop and look at my world through the eyes of a child.  When I do, everything changes and it takes the stress and worry out of what I'm doing.  Just using the word PLAY, shifts the energy.  "I'm going to PLAY" instead of "I'm going to work."  What about PLAYing with your resolutions?  HMMMM....the possibilities!! 

So let's use the word PLAY this week and see what happens.  In class this week we will PLAY with bones, PLAY with our joints and connective tissue, PLAY with our muscles, PLAY with our creative source, PLAY with emotions, PLAY with balance, PLAY with gravity.....it goes on.  Cycle 6 of a Nia class is called FloorPLAY, and uses the power of PLAY to give us conditioning throughout our whole body.  Sounds more fun to me than floor WORK!  

Enjoy reading about the benefits of play form Marianne St. Clair, Life Coach, and author of the Art of Play.  

1.     Play can inspire you to think differently

2.      Playing can bring greater joy into your life

3.      Play is known to reduce stress

4.      Playing on a regular basis can increase longevity

5.      Play can reduce struggle, conflict, and worry

6.      Play can increase your sense of lightness

7.      Play can stimulate the imagination, curiosity, and creativity

8.      Playing softens the heart — as the heart becomes malleable, the risk of hypertension and depression decrease

9.      Play can greatly enhance your energy levels

10.   Play can provide you with an opportunity to take risks

Come PLAY with me..see you in class.  My classes this week are:

Monday and Thursday Nia at 5:30 pm 

Friday JourneyDance at 6:45 pm

and Saturday Nia at 9:30 amall at  http://www.thesynergystudio.com/. 

Learn more and go deeper into the connection with you body and your life by taking a Nia White Belt Intensive.    Sign up at http://www.nianow.com/joanie.  

--
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 Brooks,  Nia Training Faculty, Nia White Belt Trainer, Nia 5 Stages of Healing Facilitator, Journey Dance Guide, Mindful Change Coachhttp://www.joaniebrooks.me/


 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." 

75 trillion cells in your body…Play with them all with Nia!
 

Expand - Exchange - Express...Awareness of Our Chest

Hello My Dancing Friends!

                                                         

Take a moment before you read any further and place your hands on the sides of your ribcage, close your eyes, take a nice full breath and sense the expansion of your chest as new life force energy - breath - enters into your body.  Ahhh!  I love this. and this simple touch and awareness has the power to relax and calm me anytime throughout my day.  Awareness of our chest...Expand - Exchange - Express.  Our chest/ribcage is designed to Expand and contract; to move energy in and out.  When you inhale and take a breath into your body, your diaphragm drops and your lungs Expand and fill your ribcage.  Your chest is also designed to Exchange energy.  While you are inhaling and exhaling you are Exchanging old air for new air.  Your heart is constantly Exchanging blood...old to new.  And then your chest is designed toExpress.  One of the most important functions of your ribcage is to protect your heart, and it is here at your heart center, where you Express love, sorrow, anger, compassion, joy...the list goes on!  Anatomically your shoulder blades, clavicles, and sternum are attached to your rib cage, and when you move, dance and Express with your arms, you are moving and Expressing with your ribcage.  It is all connected!    

So as we dance in class this week, let's bring a heightened sense of awareness to our chest!  In class we will play with the 4 Moves of the Chest...Chest Isolations, Shimmy, Undulations and Spinal Rolls.  These moves support & condition the chest to Expand - Exchange - Express!  As you dance through life this week, see if you can bring awareness to your chest and use the 4 moves of the Chest. 

- When sitting at your desk take a break and isolate and move your chest...front, back, and to the sides.  Sense the mobility and the openness of your ribcage.  This will also relax you and release any tension in your upper back and neck.

- Stand up from desk and SHIMMY!!!  This is great to do in the middle of the afternoon when you may be getting a bit tired.  Works better than coffee and alot more fun!!

- As you are standing in line at the grocery store or at the coffee shop, undulate your spine.  It will help relax any tension in your upper and lower back, and the time just might go by faster.

-   As you are reaching down to pick up something off the floor take the opportunity to do a spinal roll.  This will increase the flexibility and strength of your spine.  Makes the task a bit easier and boy it feels good!  

Have fun...see you in class.  My classes this week are:

Monday and Thursday Nia at 5:30 pm 

Saturday Nia at 9:30 am
and Sunday Nia at 4:00 pm 

all at  http://www.thesynergystudio.com/. 

Are you signed up for the month Nia Headquarters newsletter.  Learn more about the chest this month and sign up by going to this link: http://www.nianow.com/node/453390

See what co-founder Debbie Rosas and 3 of my fellow Nia Trainers have to say about our chest.  It is wonderful!!!

Learn more and go deeper into the connection with you body and your life by taking a Nia White Belt Intensive.    Sign up at http://www.nianow.com/joanie.  

Love & Light,
Joanie Brooks,  Nia Training Faculty, Nia White Belt Trainer,
Nia 5 Stages of Healing Facilitator, Journey Dance Guide, Mindful Change Coach
http://www.joaniebrooks.me/


 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."   

75 trillion cells in your body…Play with them all with Nia!