Scapulae - Hands On the Back of Your Body!

"On your back

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you’ll find the scapulae, the two

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bones floating over your first seven ribs. These

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triangle-shaped bones are your shoulder blades,“bone wings” meant to be free, to slide and

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glide up and down over the back of your ribs.

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Extremely mobile, these “I’ve got your back”

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bones are only connected at the breastbone

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via my clavicles. Meant to move freely, I am designed to drop down and swing out when you

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lift your arms, to move up and down, to come

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together, hug close, and move away from your

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spine."  

​From the Voices of the Shoulder Girdle ​

by

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​Debbie Rosas, co-founder of Nia​

Your shoulder blades (scapulae), are flat triangle shaped bones that lie on top of your upper back and float and glide over the first seven ribs.  With the help of our rhomboid muscles, our shoulder blades like to slide and glide along the back of our body as we dance through life using our hands

​ to lift and lower objects, to reach out and to express! One of the best Nia moves we can do for our scapulae is palm directions. Reaching for the sky with our palms open and then lowering as I rotate towards earth...Yummy!!

​ I am currently healing my right shoulder to include the muscles that surround my scapulae that have accumulated stuck stress from an accident several years ago. Utilizing body work, Yoga, Nia, and awareness of my shoulder blades as I am dancing on and off the dance floor is helping my healing process.   And I am learning so much about my body and ME!  Yes there are gifts to be found in injuries!  Like the gift of a hug as I place both hands on my shoulders and draw inward to open my upper back.  And the opening of my heart and smelling the moment as I draw my hands behind me, squeeze my shoulder blades and look up towards the sky.  Moments to be fully present, moments to be fully in the sensation of my scapulae.  Hands on the back of my body, touching and supporting. 

Dance with me this week as we focus on the "Hands On the Back of Your Body".  I have pulled out an "older" routine called Going Home.  It actually was the 2nd Nia routine for me to learn, and I am still learning from this magical routine!!!

My Nia classes this week:

Monday (today) and Thursday at 5:30 pm

Saturday at 9:30 am

all at The Synergy Studio. 

I am also teaching a Hatha Yoga Flow Class with Essential Oils at The Synergy Studio.  It is every Monday morning at 8:00 am.  Great way to start your week!

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." 

Beauty In The World!!

"When I look around I see blue skies.  I see butterflies for us.  Listen to the sound And lose it in sweet music, And dance with me! 'Cause there is beauty in the world, so much beauty in the world.  Always beauty in the world.  So much beauty in the world!  Shake your booty, boys and girls, for the beauty in the world.  Pick your diamond, pick your pearl.  There is beauty in the world.  All together now!!"  by Macy Gray...Beauty in the World

Yes!  I love this song and it always reminds me to stop, look and be in the beauty of life.  It starts first when I wake up and notice the beauty of the day and continues as I Dance Through Life with the world.  We have a principle in Nia called Awareness and one of the components of Awareness is Life As Art (LAA).  LAA invites us to stop, look and change our perception to bring pleasure into our life.  For example, looking in the mirror I can stop and change my perception of myself and be in gratitude for who I am and my unique beauty I bring to the world.   As I dance, I can be in a beautiful relationship with my body and appreciate her unique size and shape, and act as if I'm a living sculpture that enhances the world with my beauty and grace.  It is a wonderful practice and can be used in so many situations!

Beauty is limitless, holds no bounds and YES is everywhere.  All we need to do is open our eyes and receive, and be in Life As Art.  The world is a museum.  Join me as we express our beauty on the dance floor this week in Nia, creating our unique shapes of beauty. 

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!

http://www.nianow.com/joanie#trainings

Enjoy this song from Macy Gray:  http://slack-time.com/music-video-9023-macy-gray-beauty-in-the-world

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. 

I am also teaching a Hatha Yoga Flow Class with Essential Oils at The Synergy Studio.  It is every Monday morning at 8:00 am.  Great way to start your week!

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."

Base - Our Foundation...YES!

Hello my Dancing Friends! "To the physical part of you, I offer a foundation upon which to evolve, a unique soul moving about in flesh and bone, in the vessel of a divine body. I am your connection to earth. Rise up through me, through the soles of your feet, out of the tops of my pelvic girdle, floating high into your dreams and desires. Stable, I am where you come for stillness. Mobile, I energize you to move about freely as an upright human being. Rest into me. Feel me give you power from underneath and behind." From "Voices of our Base" by Debbie Rosas, co-founder of Nia.  As we step into the holiday season, let's connect to the sensation of our base - our foundation. In Nia, our base includes everything from our hips, thighbones, knees, shinbones, ankle joints and feet.  Our base is where we begin and ground, and where we connect to the sensation of balance, strength and security.   When a new student steps into a Nia class, they are encouraged to first connect with their base.  In the Nia White belt training, our anatomy studies start with the base; for it is when we embody our base, the rest of our body can function as it is designed, and we can fully live in our body and express who we are.  Our base gives us freedom, our base gives us the gift of standing, walking, running, jumping, skipping, dancing...Oh so much!!!  Emotionally our base provides a foundation of trust that supports us in all we do, and allows us to feel life through our feet, the hands that touch the earth.  Step into class and life with me!!  My Nia classes this week: Monday and Thursday at 5:30 pm Saturday at 9:30 am ​All at The Synergy Studio​ Starting December 1st, I am excited to teacha Hatha Yoga Flow Class with Essential Oils at The Synergy Studio.  It will be every Monday morning at 8:00 am.  Here is the description of the class - I hope you can start your week with me in this new class:  "In this Hatha Flow class we will use movement and breath together, along with affirmations, mudras, sounding and meditation to enhance our mood and our overall state of well-being. In each class we will learn how to maintain a healthy nervous system, use techniques to release stress and anxiety, promote a stronger sense of self-awareness, and focus the mind. This class is appropriate for all levels of yoga students. Inspirational music and essential oils will be used to enhance your experience. Start your week feeling energized and inspired!" 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."    75 trillion cells in your body…Play with them all with Nia!

Thank You Body!

Hello My Dancing Friends!

We have a wonderful practice in Nia called "Body Gratitude".  "Body Gratitude" is a practice were we sense our body, notice sensations of pleasure and of self-healing that has occurred in the moment.  We then give gratitude to our body by speaking out loud what we sense.  For example after my Nia 5 stages practice or after a Nia class, I say out loud "Thank you Body, my lower back is relaxed.".  Or "Thank you body, my breath is deeper and fuller.".  My body hears this gratitude and creates a loving relationship that leads to optimal health and well being.  Plus it feels good to talk to my body this way!

As we step into Thanksgiving week and we reflect on all we are thankful for, I'm inviting us to give gratitude to our body - say it our loud!   Nia's philosophy is "Through Movement We Find Health" and our body loves to move, dance and play, and there isn't a better way to make our body happy and show our appreciation.  Join me in a dance of gratitude all week.    Such a wonderful way to stay youthful and no better way to thank your body!  See you in class!

And my 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!! 

My classes this week:

Monday at 5:30 pm

Thursday - Thanksgiving Day - 8:00 am Nia, team teaching with Adelle.  Our annual Gratitude Thanksgiving class!!!

Saturday at 9:30 am

and Sunday

at 4:00 all at The Synergy Studio

Starting December 1st, I am excited to start a Hatha Yoga Flow Class with Essential Oils at The Synergy Studio.  It will be every Monday morning at 8:00 am.  Here is the description of the class - I hope you can start your week with me in this new class: 

"In this Hatha Flow class we will use movement and breath together, along with affirmations, mudras, sounding and meditation to enhance our mood and our overall state of well-being. In each class we will learn how to maintain a healthy nervous system, use techniques to release stress and anxiety, promote a stronger sense of self-awareness, and focus the mind. This class is appropriate for all levels of yoga students. Inspirational music and essential oils will be used to enhance your experience. Start your week feeling energized and inspired!"

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

All We Need Is Music, Sweet Music!

"All we need is music, sweet music.  There will be music everywhere!  They'll be swinging, swaying, records playing.  Dancing in the street!"  Written by William "Mickey" Stevenson, Ivy Jo Hunter and Marvin Gaye.

​Yes sweet music!  ​

​Hello my dancing friends!

One of the many things I love and is unique about Nia is music, and how we as ia teachers use music to help you create magic!  This magic happens in your body, mind, spirit and emotions when you connect to the music and dance!  Music is the wind that lifts our sails!!!  Music is so magical and has such an impact in our lives that we study music in the Nia White Belt.  We explore rhythm, melody and harmony.  We "become seduced by the music" as we move, explore and create our own dance.  And we enhance our "art of listening" to the silence and the sounds of music.  It is fascinating, healing and so much fun!!!  

Sweet music - it is in the air!  Come be seduced by the music this week in Nia classes and discover your magic.  Move, explore and create your dance of silence and sounds.  See you on the dance floor!

My classes this week:

Wednesday (subbing for Jenn) and Thursday at 5:30 pm

Saturday at 9:30 am
Sunday Adelle and I are having GREAT FreeDance Playshop - I hope you can join us from 2-5:30... it will be a rocking time. Sign up HERE!.

On Saturday I'm also holding a MELT Foot and Hand Into workshop.  Cost is $25 if your pre-register HERE, $30 at the door.  Email me if you have any questions!

​

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."   

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

Energy Personalities of Nia!!

Good morning Friends!

"It is our tunnel vision and singular sense of identity that often limits our sense of our own possibilities - and yet it is the genius of humans to imagine being something we are not, and thus to extend what we indeed are."  Jean Houston, The Possible Human

Last week our focus was on Natural Time, which is the first triad or concept of Nia's principle 2 of the White Belt.  We expand our dance this week as we focus on the 2nd triad - 9 Movement Forms.  The 9 movement forms of Nia taken are from Martial Arts, Dance Arts and Healing Arts,  inspires you to create movement variety in a whole new way!!    When we move in a variety of ways we keep our nervous system attuned and healthy, and develop a sensuous relationship between our body and life by tapping into unique sensations.   
An easy way to tap into the energy of the 9 Movement Forms is by using the catch phrases associated with each one of the movement.  Maybe you want to write these down on a note card so you can carry them with you and build a relationship.  So here we go:

- Tai Chi…The slow dance; 
- Tae Kwo…The dance of precision; 
- Aikido…The dance of harmonious spherical motion;  - Jazz… The dance of fun, showmanship and expression;
- Modern Dance…The dance of shapes in space; - Duncan Dance…The dance of free-spirited honest movement;
- Work of Moshe Feldenkrais… The dance of conscious awareness of sensation;
- Alexander Technique…The dance of movement from the top - Yoga…The dance of conscience alignment of bones and joints.

Notice how each movement form's catch phrase starts with "The Dance".  This principle is about tapping into the sensation of the energy and chemistry of the movement form, and creating and expressing your dance.  Each Movement Form helps to make our body healthy and strong, and bring change into our body and life!  Endless possibilities and potential!

And as with all of the teaching of Nia, we can take the movement forms off the dance floor into life.  Nia is a lifestyle practice.   Imagine this.....
- Using the slow dance of Tai Chi as you wake up in the morning and start your day.
- Using the energy of Taei Kwon Do to access your personal power to ask for a raise or to get what you need from your family. - Using the energy of Aikido to bring harmony to your relationship with your family, friends and co-workers.
- Using the energy of Jazz as you walk into a meeting or party.
- Using the energy of Modern Dance to own your emotions and let it be OK to be in sorrow or anger. - Using the energy of  Duncan Dance as you skip down the aisle of the grocery store.
- Using the energy of Feldenkrais to sense pleasure when you are sitting at your desk.
- Using the energy of Alexander Technique to just use your eyes first to move your head as you gaze out at life. - Using the energy of Yoga as you lay down to sleep at night and align yourself so you can heal through the night.
WOW - you just created a fantastic day!  This week as we dance, we will play with the 9 Movement Forms of Nia and sense what this feels like in our body.  Then as we step out the real thing starts - our Dance of Life - imagine the life choreography you can create!!! 

This is the tip of the iceberg!!!  In the Nia White Belt intensive we go deep into 13 principles of the Nia White Belt.  It is 7 magical days dedicated to you, your body and your life.  Whether you want to teach Nia or take Nia for personal growth, it is an amazing experience!!!   The October training is a split weekend.  The training starts at 3:00 pm on Friday, October 17 and will go through Saturday and Sunday.  The 2nd weekend is Thursday, October 23 - Sunday, October 26.  It is a great opportunity to take the Nia White Belt and only take a couple of days off from work.

Check out other dates at: http://www.nianow.com/joanie#trainings.

My classes this week:

Monday (today) and Thursday at 5:30 pm

Saturday at 9:30

Sunday at 4:00 pm at The Synergy Studio.  (note: Angie will teach my Saturday and Sunday classes - I'm taking a Yoga training!)

Love & Light,
Joanie Brooks,
http://www.joaniebrooks.com
Nia Training Faculty, Nia White Belt Trainer, Nia 1st Degree Black BeltJourney 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."   

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

Business of Your Body and Life - Sensation of Sacred!

”Your body is boundless. It is channeling the energy, creativity and intelligence of the entire universe. At this moment, the universe is listening through your ears, seeing through your eyes, experiencing through your brain. Your purpose for being here is to allow the universe to evolve.” — Deepak Chopra, Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul

Sacred:  "Dedicated or devoted exclusively to a single use, purpose or person." - The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language.

Nia White Belt principle number 11 is called Creating a Sacred Livelihood, Business of My Body and Life.  This principle invites us to move, explore and connect to the sensation of sacred, and make choices that support our body and life. It invites us to sense joy and fulfillment by following our purpose.  I love this principle!  It used to be called Marketing and Business, and was not body centered at all!  Now this principle teaches how each of us are sacred, how our body is sacred and dedicated to us, and the sensation of sacred respects your body's way. Meaning, you make the choices that bring pleasure and joy to your dance and to your life. 

What is the sensation of sacred?  Do this with me:  Inhale and smell the moment and become aware of your breath.  Now tap into the sensation of pleasure you get from breathing. Your breath is sacred, dedicated to you and to fill you with life force energy.  Dedicated to you to cleanse, renew and heal your body.  Now stand and sense your feet.  What do you notice?  Your feet are sacred, dedicated to creating a foundation, allowing you to rise and sink, to dance through life, run, skip...many things!  The Nia 52 moves are sacred as well. Each of the moves are dedicated to you - to your conditioning and safety.    A closed stance is dedicated to give you the sensation of stability.  An outward punch is dedicated to give you the sensation of power and maybe to punch through any fears.  So the answer to "What is the sensation of sacred?" is BIG and unique to each one of us.

In class this week we will play with this sensation and seek the sensation of sacred in all our moves, with the intent to recognize the healing and conditioning benefits that are available when our dance becomes a sacred expression ourselves.  Potential and possibilities.   It may invite us to move slower so we don't miss the energy sensations our sacred movement!!!

My classes this week:

Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 pm

Saturday at 9:30 am

and Sunday at 4:00 pm

all at The Synergy Studio

Also, on Sunday I will be facilitating another JourneyDance Prayer Circle from 10-11:30. YAY!!! Cost is $15 or a punch on your studio card.  Read about it HERE! 

What to do deeper into Principle 11 and the other Nia principles?  Take the Nia White belt intensive in October!  Whether you want to teach Nia or take Nia for personal growth, it is an amazing experience!!!   The October training is a split weekend.  The training starts at 3:00 pm on Friday, October 17 and will go through Saturday and Sunday.  The 2nd weekend is Thursday, October 23 - Sunday, October 26.  It is a great opportunity to take the Nia White Belt and only take a couple of days off from work.

Check out other dates at: http://www.nianow.com/joanie#trainings.

Love & Light,
Joanie Brooks,
http://www.joaniebrooks.com
Nia Training Faculty, Nia White Belt Trainer, Nia 1st Degree Black BeltJourney 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."   

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