I just came across this most exquisite YouTube video/picture display by someone with the screen name of “skookumjam” on YouTube (who identifies herself as Anne Marie at the end of the video).

It’s set to Annie Lennox’s “You are a Shining Light” and I feel it is a tribute to ALL of us who are igniting Nia in our places of practice all around our beautiful country!

Please take 4:16 to watch it — -you will notice it features many of our Canadian dancers, including ME!

“…You arrive and the night is alive
Yeah, you are a shining light
Yeah, you light up my life

We made a connection, a full chemical reaction
Brought by dark divine intervention

An epiphany, you burn so pretty
Yeah, you are a shining light

You are a force, you are a constant source
Yeah, you are a shining light
Incandescent into the darkest night
Yeah, you are shining light”

DON’T EVER FORGET that you are the conduit of joy, YOU transmit your passion for Nia through your dance. That WILL shine through and inspire your students to “choose” joy.

Thank you for being my community

Beginning Sunday, January 16th – Sunday, Feb 13th
$65.00 for the full course which includes DVD and handouts.

Other five week courses will run

• February 27 – April 3 (excluding Mar. 6th)
• April 10 – May 8
• May 15 – June 19 (excluding May 22nd)

After attending the full course completely attendance fees:
$16.00 for a single Drop-In class
$130.00 for 10 pre-paid classes EXP. June 23,2011

Qi Gong is an ancient art in balancing and strengthening one’s life force. Practitioners use breathing, visualization, meditation and movement to collect and circulate life energy throughout the body.

Millions have benefited from the healing and restorative effects of Qi Gong. Regardless of our age or level of health, we can all learn Qi Gong and raise our energy and wellbeing. Qi Gong’s effects are concrete, and have been accepted by medical doctors and scientists. Among its benefits, Qi Gong can: – Strengthen the immune system and prevent illness – Reduce pain and promote deep relaxation – Improve circulation and digestive health – Slow the aging process and restore hormonal balance – Boost daily energy and improve sleep

Find 20 minutes to watch this video.

Dr. Brené Brown is a researcher professor at the University of Houston, Graduate College of Social Work, where she has spent the past ten years studying a concept that she calls Wholeheartedness, posing the questions: How do we engage in our lives from a place of authenticity and worthiness? How do we cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection that we need to embrace our imperfections and to recognize that we are enough — that we are worthy of love, belonging and joy? Brené is the author of I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t): Telling the Truth About Perfectionism, Inadequacy, and Power (2007) and the forthcoming books, The Gifts of Imperfection (2010) and Wholehearted: Spiritual Adventures in Falling Apart, Growing Up, and Finding Joy ( 2011).

All levels will enjoy this peaceful, rejuvenating class. Emphasis is on joining the breath with spinal movement. This in itself, quiets the mind, bringing about a wonderful sense of calm. Verbal and hands on guidance is offered to help each student become familiar with proper alignment. Modifications are recommended and explored to accommodate each individuals abilities. This class enlivens every cell of the body, releasing tension, detoxifying the body and creating a calm, clear and focused mind.

Nia – An integrated holistic movement class that empowers students and teachers to make their own movement choices by offering students a flexible structure. All movements can be personally modify and preformed at different levels of intensity to suit each individual’s needs. Nia combines a diverse blend of Eastern and Western movements, concepts and philosophies from the worlds of the healing arts (love), martial arts (mindfulness), and dance (technique).

Nia reaches people emotionally, in their hearts, motivating them to get fit and healthy by creating a deep personal desire to explore their potential and love their growth. Fitness, health, well-being, and self-love naturally result from the Nia experience.

What makes Nia so innovative is its unlimited adaptability. Not only can people of all kinds participate, but a wide range of therapeutic, wellness, self-growth and educational models can effectively integrate Nia.

Click HERE to read what participants say!

The Benefits of taking regular Nia classes

When you embrace an active healthy lifestyle you will increase the levels of your fitness, health, and well-being… Not only in your body, but also within including your mind, emotional being, and spirit. Nia is a unique holistic fitness practice that provides benefits in all areas. It is easily learned, can simply be built upon, and a joy to practice at ANY age. Some of Nia’s other benefits include:

• Cardiovascular conditioning
• Body mind spirit integration
• Increased grace, flexibilty, agility and mobility
• Improved strength, alignment and muscle tone
• Greater energy, stamina and endurance
• Improved self esteem
• Increased vitality
• Increased creativity
• Alleviation of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress
• Weight loss
• Weight management
• Improved circulation
• A stronger immune system
• Increased calm and relaxation
• Greater balance, centering and grounding
• Improved digestion
• Improved sleep
• A positive and pleasurable relationship with your body

Research show that kids learn through movement and by exploring their world in a tactile way. In this program we have incorporated a playful, kid-friedly approach
to keep your child engaged. Activities are designed to build coordination and challenge everyone’s imagination.
ENJOY!

We are thrilled to announce that Denis Karda will be holding classes at Riverdale Fitness Mill which is located in Caledon Ontario in the small village of Inglewood. Situated on the banks of the Credit River, on the Niagara Escarpment, this new boutique community fitness centre of 4000 square feet provides “an inspiring atmosphere” for local residents to work out at. See map

Situated in a 1871 Woolen Mill now a historical heritage building, the club has a unique ambiance with its limestone walls and wood timber beam construction. The site is rich in heritage, having first provided employment to locals in the early 1800’s. Back then, water meant power and the proximity to the Credit River and local markets made it an ideal site for Thomas Corbett to establish a Woolen Mill in 1837. Today, members working out in the centre can see charred wood in the stone walls, remnants of the first major evolution, the fire, which resulted in the present stone structure being built.

Riverdale Fitness Mill has had success offering unique specialty programs. These programs range from “ladies only” Exotic Dance and couples Salsa Dancing to Nordic Walking, and live Latin bands. The Canadian Cross Training Club which trains triathletes also calls Riverdale home.

Now Riverdale Fitness is please to add Nia as one of their specialty programs. Come and experience this holistic fitness class with one of the most expressive and dynamic teachers around… Denis Karda will MOVE YOU in more ways than you can imagine.

2. PAIN RELIEF: Yoga can ease pain. Studies have demonstrated that practicing yoga asanas (postures), meditation or a combination of the two, reduced pain for people with conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, auto-immune diseases and hypertension as well as arthritis, back and neck pain, and other chronic conditions. Some practitioners report that even emotional pain can be eased through the practice of yoga.

3. BETTER BREATHING: Yoga teaches people to take slower, deeper breaths. This helps to improve lung function, trigger the body’s relaxation response and increase the amount of oxygen available to the body.

4. FLEXIBILITY: Yoga helps to improve flexibility and mobility, increasing range of movement and reducing aches and pains. Many people can’t touch their toes during their first yoga class. Gradually they begin to use the correct muscles. Over time, the ligaments, tendons and muscles lengthen, increasing elasticity, making more poses possible. Yoga also helps to improve body alignment resulting in better posture and helping to relieve back, neck, joint and muscle problems.

5. INCREASED STRENGTH: Yoga asanas (postures) use every muscle in the body, helping to increase strength literally from head to toe. And, while these postures strengthen the body, they also provide an additional benefit of helping to relieve muscular tension.

6. WEIGHT MANAGEMENT: Yoga (even less vigorous styles) can aid weight control efforts by reducing the cortisol levels as well as by burning excess calories and reducing stress. Yoga also encourages healthy eating habits and provides a heightened sense of well being and self esteem.

7. IMPROVED CIRCULATION: Yoga helps to improve circulation and, as a result of various poses, more efficiently moves oxygenated blood to the body’s cells.

8. CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITIONING: Even gentle yoga practice can provide cardiovascular benefits by lowering resting heart rate, increasing endurance and improving oxygen uptake during exercise.

9. FOCUS ON THE PRESENT: Yoga helps us to focus on the present, to become more aware and to help create mind body health. It opens the way to improved concentration, coordination, reaction time and memory.

10. INNER PEACE: The meditative aspects of yoga help many to reach a deeper, more spiritual and more satisfying place in their lives. Many who begin to practice for other reasons have reported this to be a key reason that yoga has become an essential part of their daily lives.

Click HERE to read more and watch a super video that includes a “special choreography team” leading CYD with a taste of the New Nia Routine… “R1”

Classes on Fort Myers Beach
Sat & Sun 9am in front of Holiday Inn on the beach.

Meet front of the Holiday Inn and come have some fun!

Nia is a fitness class designed to help you dance through life with pleasure.

That’s the main tenet, according to Nia black belt Loretta Milo, who has taught for six years.
I can get behind that.

Nia is described as a blend of martial, healing and dance arts. It’s an hour-long fitness class held in many different locations all over the city. I popped in on a late Friday afternoon at the downtown YMCA, where Milo was teaching.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect based on the description. Would we break blocks with our bare hands and then chant?

The class was overwhelmingly female, with one lone guy there with his partner. The age of the class was across the board, though most were in their 30s and older. One woman, back for her second time, brought her pre-teen daughter who she thought might love it as much as she did.

Milo calls Nia holistic fitness. Carlos and Debbie Rosas are the founders of Nia. They dreamed up the concept in the early ’80s because they wanted some sort of exercise that didn’t involve jumping around, jarring and, perhaps, harming the body. They took their shoes off and began to explore tai chi, taekwondo and aikido.

Each has a different sensation, Milo said. Tai chi is a slow dance. Taekwondo is masculine and punch intensive. Aikido is harmonious, spherical movement.

But they needed to add a splash of fun so people would want to stick with it. That’s where dance arts came in, with jazz, modern and Duncan dance, named after Isadora Duncan, who danced barefoot and child-like with swaying arms.

Now, the practice needed to incorporate body awareness, so the practitioner would not get hurt. They added a pinch of Feldenkrais, the study of how you are using your body, sitting and standing, and re-teaching the body to move more correctly. Then a dab of the Alexander Technique, an awareness of the head, and a splash of yoga, used to help decipher where the body is in space.

With all that swimming in my mind, I took off my shoes to join the other barefooted ladies who were champing at the bit to get going.

The music, thick with drums, made me sway. I tried to remember the advice from zumba class: bend the knees to shake the hips. Everybody else seemed to have this technique down pat. There’s plenty of opportunity to practice in a Nia class. Frequently through class, we stood in place, lightly shaking our hips with jazz hands, shimmying our chests and then rolling out our necks.

The pace of class was like most fitness classes. We warmed up slowly, gently, then kicked it into a higher gear, though the option is there to keep the impact very low. We moved sideways, forward and backward, and then began the martial arts section. It reminded me how much I enjoyed going to kickboxing classes several years ago. The arm workout, with its jabs, punches and uppercuts, will slice the fat right off your arms. The high kicks and roundhouses will firm up the fleshiest rump.

Interspersed were segments where Milo told us to “go for a walk.” The dancers and I free roamed through the gym, making up our own dance moves and creative walks to the beat of the music. The women were obviously loving it. Their faces glowed; they were in their own dance world.

We began to cool it down, winding up on the floor, literally. Using the slipperiness of the floor to our advantage, Milo had us get on our backs and slither around, rolling onto our bellies and back, waving our arms the whole time and whatever else our bodies naturally wanted to do. We did a bit of core work with planks, stretched out with a brief yoga interlude and eventually found child’s pose. Ah, a familiar position! And that was it, Nia was over.

It was an enjoyable hour. I moved, I sweated, I smiled. My heart rate increased and I felt I got a workout, but not to the point of feeling exhausted. This class is appropriate for anybody, all ages, all fitness levels. Regular attendance can result in increased flexibility, agility, mobility, strength and stability. And one nice thing: classes are always different. You won’t be doing the same choreography every time.

Before you think Nia is only about the physical movement of the body, there are five belts involved that allow a student to explore their mental and emotional worlds as well. It follows the traditional martial arts model, progressing from white to black. For instance, the white belt sets its sights on physical sensation, while the black belt is all about creativity and transformation.

There are 13 principles in the Nia world. Students study these as they move through their belts. Awareness of the body is a big one. As we live inside our bodies 24 hours a day, we don’t necessarily pay attention to what they need. Milo believes Nia can encourage people to listen to that body intuition and learn to honor it.

Sheri Slike has a black belt in karate and is a three-year student of Nia.
“I’ve always wanted to incorporate dance into martial arts,” she said.

LaSheryl Olson, a brown belt, has been a Nia lover for three-and-a-half years and now teaches as well. She brought her young daughter to class, trying to improve her grace for gymnastics and to become more comfortable in her own skin.

The practice helps the young and the old alike, she believes.

“I love that we go to the floor. In our aging population, it’s so important to be able to get yourself up,” she said.

“The primary purpose of Nia,” Milo said, “is to do it until the day you die.”

By Alicia Doyle Posted February 23, 2010 at 12:21 p.m.

Dee Volz, 87, a retired journalist, writing professor at Ventura College and professional dancer enjoys the free-form dance movements of a Nia workout.

She was a professional dancer at the Coconut Grove in the Ambassador Hotel and MGM. She was the co-owner of the Ojai Valley News while simultaneously earning her master’s in English Composition and Literature at UC Santa Barbara. And she spent three decades at Ventura College in the journalism department as a professor and adviser to the Ventura College Press.

Now 87, Diane Volz of Ventura spends several days a week at the Nia Center in Ventura, where she dances free style, modern, jazz and interpretive styles in her retirement.

“I dance four to five times a week, heavy cardiovascular, an hour or more,” said Volz, who is commonly known by her nickname, Dee. “Nia, is a mixture of jazz, modern and interpretive dance, planned in order to work out every muscle in the body while having fun in free style movement.”

As a dancer, “Dee is disciplined and consistent,” said Elizabeth Alvarez of Ventura, who met Volz more than 10 years ago when they were both taking traditional Afro-Brazilian dance classes in Santa Barbara.

At the Nia Center, “these classes are challenging for all age groups — Dee’s age is advanced, and I know she has had at least one knee replaced, but she dances several times each week.”

Volz also practices the wisdom of the words “do your best, with what you have, right now” Alvarez added. “I admire this exceedingly.”

Born Dec. 9, 1922, “I was brought into the world in Berlin, Germany, where my mother was studying Wagnerian opera and my father, a matinée idol of the time, was studying film technique,” Volz recalled. “I was brought up in the early Hollywood film colony until 6 years old, then in Mexico, Canada and New York City.”

She danced at MGM from 1943 to 1945, and before that at the Coconut Grove in the Ambassador Hotel. “It was commercial work, and included ballet, rumba, modern, East Indian, tap and whatever. I was in the ensemble.”

Volz has lived in Ventura County since 1962, when her husband, Fred Volz, bought the newspaper in Ojai.

“I had a wonderful professional background in Ventura County,” recalled Volz, a mother of two whose husband passed away in 2003. “I worked on our newspaper, The Ojai Valley News, until 1978, when I started at Ventura College in the journalism department as professor and adviser to the Ventura College press.”

She resigned from the full-time position in 1992, and taught English part time for 10 more years. “I also worked for FOOD Share for three years as resource development and public relations person. It was a great experience.”

An active older adult with tremendous zest for life, “Dee has danced under many dance luminaries, yet she is the most unpretentious person you can imagine,” said Alvarez, who is constantly inspired by “her smile, her moxie, her humor, her original and fun dance style … her enthusiasm for and devotion to ‘the real thing’ as she calls exceptional artists.” As a person, “Dee always has a smile on her face; she is always ready to notice something positive in an insightful, thoughtful way — never cloying, always intelligent — she is kind, generous and encouraging; she is also a very good writer.”

Looking back on her life so far, “the only wise advice I have to offer is to keep up the exercise that you did in your youth — that is the only thing that keeps me youthful,” said Volz, who is writing her life story.

In other advice, “just to remember Joseph Campbell’s Follow Your Dream. If you do what you love, you feel very well.”

To see inspirational pictures of Dee and the complete article click Ventura County Star

• Real Women – Real Bodies – Really Me

• Nia is a stealthy workout disguised as pure fun and energy sharing.

• Nia invigorates me…

• My Body moves with the music, my Mind lets go, and my Spirit dances like a child.

• I come to Nia because I can dance, forget the stress of my everyday life and can feel my body getting stronger.

• Nia has awoken a Spirit in me that has been dormant for a long time. I can be me.

• I come to Nia because it brings me back to my child self while getting fit and having extreme amounts of fun. Spirit, Mind, Body and Soul all connected.
  Nia is Freedom and Fun!!

• I keep coming to Nia to keep my body moving in a fun way.The fun part makes the practice of Nia doable – something I hope to be able to do when I’m very old.
  I come to Nia to exercise my Body and reconnect with my Spirit. I always leave with more energy and enthusiasm than I came in with.

• I love to come to Nia because the music and the movement are so freeing and wonderful. My Spirit flows. I don’t feel like I’m exercising.

• NIA brings me Joy, Balance, a huge sense of Peacefulness and a sense of Community. : )

• I come to Nia because it gives me the freedom to dance and laugh and be who I am. It heals my body and it nurtures my spirit.

• Nia helps me be aware of my Body, Mind and Soul.

• I like to come to Nia because it gives my Spirit a chance to dance and explore.
  Nia leaves me filled with Bliss and Gratitude.

• Nia is a Mind, Body and Soul workout.

• Nia makes my Spirit soar…(and my toes giggle)

• Nia energizes me and helps me to get centered!

• Nia is a beautiful blend of things I love – dance, yoga and music from different cultures.

• It’s relaxing and energizing all at the same time.

• Fantastic!

• For me Nia is a fun, energetic stress relief! A place to lose all inhibition and have a Great Time!
  There just aren’t enough opportunities for joyful movement (aka dance) in my life. Nia lets me cut loose!

• For me Nia is joyful. I feel my whole body and it feels wonderful. The music is great and since I also feel my whole body the next day, I know I’ve been exercising!! (And it’s fun!)

• Nia is… joy of movement to world music – keeping well – community – laughter!
  I love Nia because – my body loves it, needs it, wants it!

• It is really, really, really, fun, healing physically and emotionally.

• All aspects of fitness rolled into a 1 ½ hours of great music, friendship and fun!
  I keep coming back because I can be myself, exercise (dance) to my ability and mood and never feel like I am compared to anyone. Total freedom, fun and fabulous music. You keep coming back because it is about you.

• Fun / Friends / Freedom!

Join us for this rare opportunity! Winalee will be teaching Debbie Rosas’ new 2010 Nia routine “Butterfly” . These classes are open to everyBody, students and teachers alike. As an added bonus, we will kick-off the week-end with a Friday Night – Black Light Nia Class. Come dressed in WHITE or NEON colours to dance and glow under the Black Lights.

Who should attend: Open to EveryBody
Description: Classic Nia Classes
Location: Marie Ann Longlade School of Dance Inc. 1650 Dundas St E Ste 205. Mississauga, Ontario Canada Map

Dates, Times and Cost:

Friday, April 23, 2010 ~ 7:00pm – 8:30pm ~ $25 ~ Black Light Nia Class
Saturday, April 24, 2010 ~ 10am – 11am ~ $20 ~ Sat. AM Butterfly Class
Sunday, April 25, 2010 ~ 10am – 11am ~ $20 ~ Sun. AM Butterfly Class

Weekend Passes

Fri. Sat. & Sun, Apr 23, 24 & 25, 2010 ~ $60 ~ Three Class Pass

How to register:

To Register complete the form below and send any questions in the message box

Payment Options

1. Cheque

Payable to Denis Karda
Mailed to: Denis Karda 13937 Tenth Line, Halton Hills, ON. L7G 4S8 CANADA

2. PayPal

• Black Light Nia Class ~ $25

• Sat. AM Butterfly Class ~ $20

• Sun. AM Butterfly Class ~ $20

• Three Class Pass ~ $60

Contact:

Denis Karda
deniskarda@gmail.com
http://www.terrakardastudio.com
905.703.0454
Winalee Zeeb
517.719.2446

Join Winalee Zeeb for this 2 day workshop of playing and learning Debbie Rosas’ NEW 2010 Nia Routine “Butterfly”

Purchase of the Routine PRIOR to the workshop is not required. Winalee honours the fact that your renewal may be after the workshop. She trusts that if you attend the workshop, you will purchase Butterfly upon your next renewal.
Come fresh ~ ready to Plearn

Plearning Workshop Details

Who should attend: Open to all Nia Teachers and Intensive Graduates
Description: Plearning = Playing + Learning
Cost: $110 CAD
Location: Marie Ann Longlade School of Dance Inc. 1650 Dundas St E Ste 205. Mississauga, Ontario Canada Map

Dates and Times

• Saturday, April 24, 2010 ~ 12noon – 6:00pm
• Sunday, April 25, 2010 ~ 12noon – 3:30pm

Winalee will facilitate this amazing playing and learning process with FreeDance, Teaching What You Sense, Nia’s 7 Cycles, Music Appreciation and other Nia tools. Participants will recieve song by song handouts throughout the weekend. Winalee is a Black Belt Nia Teacher and Trainer from Lansing, Michigan. She began her career in the fitness industry in 1981. Since discovering Nia in 1991, Winalee has been passionately sharing the Joy of Nia throughout the world. Learn more about Winalee

After joining the Aya Plearning, Nia co-creator Debbie Rosas said: “The best approach to learning Nia choreography I’ve ever seen. This event will forever change how you Listen and Dance to the music. Most of all how you connect to the music and the choreography will become a true Expression of You!”

Nia Classes for the General Public

Join us for this rare opportunity! Winalee will be teaching Debbie Rosas’ new 2010 Nia routine “Butterfly” . These classes are open to everyBody, students and teachers alike. As an added bonus, we will kick-off the week-end with a Friday Night – Black Light Nia Class. Come dressed in WHITE or NEON colours to dance and glow under the Black Lights.

General Public Nia Class Details:

Who should attend: Open to EveryBody
Description: Classic Nia Classes
Location: Marie Ann Longlade School of Dance Inc. 1650 Dundas St E Ste 205. Mississauga, Ontario Canada Map

Dates, Times and Cost:

Friday, April 23, 2010 ~ 7:00pm – 8:30pm ~ $25 ~ Black Light Nia Class
Saturday, April 24, 2010 ~ 10am – 11am ~ $20 ~ Sat. AM Butterfly Class
Sunday, April 25, 2010 ~ 10am – 11am ~ $20 ~ Sun. AM Butterfly Class

Weekend Passes

Available to Nia Teachers and Intensive Graduates ~ $155 ~ Full Weekend Pass
Fri. Sat. & Sun, Apr 23, 24 & 25, 2010 ~ $60 ~ Three Class Pass

How to register:

To Register complete the form below and send any questions in the message box

Payment Options

1. Cheque

Payable to Denis Karda
Mailed to: Denis Karda 13937 Tenth Line, Halton Hills, ON. L7G 4S8 CANADA

2. PayPal

• Butterfly Plearning Workshop ~ $110

• Black Light Nia Class ~ $25

• Sat. AM Butterfly Class ~ $20

• Sun. AM Butterfly Class ~ $20

• Full Weekend Pass ~ $155 incl. the workshop and 3 classes

• Three Class Pass ~ $60

Contact:

Denis Karda
deniskarda@gmail.com
http://www.terrakardastudio.com
905.703.0454
Winalee Zeeb
517.719.2446

with Brown Belt Nia Instructor, Lainie Magidsohn

• Are you a new White Belt?
• Are you a Nia teacher struggling to master a FULL routine?
• Are you preparing for Green Belt?
• Do you feel overwhelmed with the process of learning alone?
• Would you like to expand your Nia Body of Work?

If you answered YES to any of these question…

Here’s your chance!

Workshop Details

When: Sunday, February 28th, 2010.
Time: 10:15am – 6pm (Including the 7 – 8pm Nia Class)
Cost: $75 for the workshop
Where: Terra Karda Studio 36 Armstrong Ave. Georgetown, Ontario

It is highly recommended to:

• Attempt your own barring and bring them with you
• Practise RAW with all the music
• Freedance all the songs and dance like no one is watching, seeking JOM.

Lainie Magidsohn is offering this full day Intensive Workshop that will leave you fully prepared to teach Sanjana. The workshop platform will be based on White Belt Principle #12 – Continuing Education. Following the triad of Embody, Learn, and Share, you will receive the tools necessary to Deliver the Nia Promise

Lainie has danced since she could walk, studying ballet, modern, jazz dance and theatre, and performing with “Village Folk”, an international folk dance group. In addition, Lainie has a Master’s degree in Adult Education. She is a psychotherapist in private practice, focusing on feminist counselling and women’s health.
She sees both her work as a Nia instructor and as a counsellor, as an opportunity to learn more about our lives, our bodies, our relationships, and our ability to be fully ourselves.

Nia Class ~ Open to the General Public

This is a special class being offered in support of the teachers who are learning to teach Sanjana. Spread the word about this special class.

Class Details

When: Sunday, February 28th, 2010.
Time: 7m – 8pm
Cost: $10
Where: Terra Karda Studio 36 Armstrong Ave. Georgetown, Ontario

To Register complete the form below

Payment Options

1. Cheque

Payable to Denis Karda
Mailed to: Denis Karda 13937 Tenth Line, Halton Hills, ON. L7G 4S8 CANADA

2. PayPal

• Sanjana ~ Workshop for Nia Intensive Graduates ~ $75

• Nia Class ~ Open to the General Public ~ $10

Map and Directions to our location. Click the map for further information.

View Larger Map

Please note that the Organic Movement Playshop on Sunday, November 15th will be held at:
The Karate Church
14 Main St. S.
Georgetown, On. L7G 3G5
There just happens to be a church service on Sunday morning at the other location. They have asked that we not use any music which is not an option. So I have found an awesome venue with a superb surface for us to do FLOORPLAY. The church has been fully converted into a dojo with beautiful flooring. Take a look! WOW. What a great space to play in. This venue is located 7 minutes south of the Ballinafad Community Centre.

Read the original newspaper article

Nia is for everBody! Let the sun shine upon you and exhilarate your spirit to dance. When set free to lift our feet we begin the process of joyous rebirth in the dawn of each days new light. Dance the Nia way. Check out www.niaca.ca and www.nianow.com for lots of fun information about the Nia Technique and classes. Hugs! Barb

On Wednesday, October 28th a group of 60 passionate women gathered to raise the roof off the Forest Hills Jewish Center in Queens, New York. Helen Terry, a global Nia teacher trainer, made a rare appearance in Queens, offering a powerful workshop. Helen guided us through a brief introduction to Nia Five Stages which involves five movements that can be done everyday to bring about healing of body, mind, emotion and spirit. We then grooved to Nia’s new routine “Sexi” set to music by Queen Latifa and Santana. This was an amazing event.

Check out some of the photos…

I am in the midst of reading another great book. It’s a story filled with science to explain the “reading brain”. The book is called Proust and the Squid, by Maryanne Wolf, a professor at Tufts University. This is yet another book that spoke to me while walking past a bookstore in the airport – and the second to call out to me with the name Proust in the title. Since I have trained myself to listen to my inner voice, I went into the bookstore to seek out this book, calling to me. It was actually the message of the subtitle that caught my attention: “The Story and Science of The Reading Brain”. As a dyslexic, my interest was both personal and professional. I hoped reading this book would give me information about the brain, how it works and doesn’t work. I got this and more.

One quote in particular resulted in a wonderful conversation between my body and mind: “Those who can read see twice as well” (Menander). As a dyslexic always attempting to improve my ability to read, I wondered if this statement could also be true for the body, as in ’reading the body’. I wondered, “If I can read the body, do I see twice as well?” I came to a “yes” as I realized I can and have always been able to read. I’ve always had a ’reading body‘. I can read!

I love how Wolf synthesizes cutting-edge interdisciplinary research: psychology and archeology, linguistics and education, neuroscience and history. How she looks at what she calls ’the reading brain’, chronicling our human development and detailing the neuroscience behind writing and reading, the magic and mechanics. I now have a greater love for my reading brain and a deep curiosity for will happen as we live in a technological world and shift into a digital brain.

When people ask me what I am ‘here to do’, I always say, “I am here to help people to feel so they can heal.” I have always known this is my work. As we move into a digital world, I can’t help but wonder if we need a linking intelligence. Something we can use to unite our sensory, ’reading body‘ with our ’reading brain‘, an intelligence to reconnect what I believe is a missing link in developing a new kind of evolutionary intelligence, one that includes sensing and thinking.

What will happen if we create a new kind of communication by developing a psychophysical alphabet, which integrates our ‘sensing body’ and the ‘reading brain’? By developing this alphabet, would we be able to consciously communicate with others and ourselves in better ways, even as we develop a digital brain? As a biological species coded to think and feel, would this help us intelligently evolve in a more loving and conscious way? By integrating feeling and thinking, two forms of intelligence, could we more successfully technologically evolve without loosing what I believe to be one of the most valuable gifts and attributes of being human: feeling? I think so.

With nothing other than what Nia has taught me, through The Body’s Way and feeling, this is the vision I believe will help us to socially evolve, teaching us to learn from what we think, do and say by feeling and sensing. Will the result of communicating with a psychophysical alphabet help to eliminate pain and disharmony, replacing it with love? Will love create more pleasure, kinder people and a more compassionate world? I hope so.

Wolf believes reading is one of the single most remarkable inventions in history, and our ability to record history has been one of the consequences of reading. Like other scientists researching the brain, she points out the brain’s extraordinary ability to change and make new connections due to the plasticity of its design. A design coded to change. A plasticity that forms the basis for much of who we think we are and can be. It’s now up to us. No more excuses. The brain is plastic. We can be different.

While this book tells the story of the reading brain, the context of which explains our evolutionary development and unfolding, I continue to wonder if what I was reading could be applied to a ‘reading body’. Is a ’reading brain‘ the same as a ’reading body’? I couldn’t help but wonder if combining the two could create a more holistic context to guide our evolution. I think, or should I say, “I feel so”. While the physical parts may be different, the interpretation and processing of information, the decoding, is the same and no matter how mentally capable one may be seem, normal or dyslexic, given the opportunity to learn, everyone can learn. I’m a perfect example of finding my way.

Use what I share to inspire and motivate you to develop your own psychophysical alphabet. Communicate using information from both your reading brain and your sensing, feeling body. Everyone and anyone in a body can do this. In this issue we share with you the Nia Principle of X-Ray Anatomy, a simple 3-step process to help you tap into your body’s psychophysical alphabet anywhere and anytime. Above all, The Body’s Way is a way of thinking and sensing combined!

Marcel Proust said “I believe that reading, in its original essence, [is] that fruitful miracle of a communication in the midst of solitude.” I believe sensing, in its original essence, is that fruitful miracle of communication in the midst of thinking. If you commit to cultivating sensing and feeling Pleasure in every moment, through your thoughts, words and actions, you will change your brain, body and quite possibly, the world.

Love,
Debbie

References:
Maryanne Wolf, Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain, (New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2007)

It’s easy to see how profound it is when Mother Earth touches us. Her hands reach out and touch us with her creations. She touches us with her trees, flowers, and plants that entertain all of our senses. Whether it’s by smelling, tasting, seeing, hearing or touching, it’s almost impossible not to breathe deeper, linger longer with our eyes or touch longer with our fingertips to feel the essence of a tulip petal when dancing with and being touched by the earth.

I love to wander through Mother Earth’s museum, nature, for no other reason than to receive her beauty. To me, there’s no doubt that spring is the best time to experience the fullness and richness of Mother Earth’s art and the way her hands touch me with her bounties. When I do, I truly understand the meaning of Life As Art, just one of my many favorite Nia tools and practices that helps me live an extraordinary life in a body. In New York, I did just that. It was raining, something I seem to bring with me to any city I visit – probably a residual from living in Portland, Oregon way too long. Rain is now just a part of me! As I walked along looking at the tulips arranged in such perfection, I thought, “How can I possibly give back and say thanks for all this beauty and for the art that to the earth is so natural?” The only thing I sensed to do was to stop. I did.

I paused, foolishly thinking I was in charge of energetically expressing what I was feeling. As I paused, I sensed my hands moving up to hug and hold me without a conscious command from me. Next, I noticed my hands magically finding themselves resting on the center of my chest over my heart in prayer position. I took this as a sign of my body being guided by The Body’s Way, just doing what it does on its own to express through my hands what I was feeling. Just like we refer to the feet as “the hands that touch the earth” I refer to my hands as “the feet that touch the universe.” My hands and feet uniquely connect me to the world I live in and make me aware of both my physical and energetic experiences.

I now, more than ever, understand the brilliant connection that exists between my hands, my heart, my feelings, energy and the universe. It was the gesture of my hands moving to give gratitude and speak to the Mother Earth to let her know, “I see you; I recognize your gifts, and I honor this planet” that reminded me that I experience all this through my body, thorough The Body’s Way. And there is my way too.

My way is to ceremonially gesture with my hands to the sky and to the earth, giving gratitude for living on such an amazing planet. It is my simple way of reaching out and touching the universe, Dancing Through Life The Body’s Way. But what about Nia’s Way?

I am blessed to be teaching Nia these days, using movement as medicine and helping others to deal with life that sometimes seems to force change, even when we don’t want it. Sometimes it can be challenging to see Life As Art while the life cycles move without stopping, without giving us a heads-up to get ready. The Nia Way has prepared me more than any other thing to live Life As Art. I can honestly say I have greater reverence for what my hands and arms do on their own after my Mother Nature experience, and I have great appreciation for The Nia Way, for what Nia has given to me that makes it easier to deal with feelings, emotions and change. All of my training, from Mother Nature to my Nia training, has taught me receive pleasure and to use pleasure to adapt and avoid struggle. Don’t get me wrong, I do my share of wriggling and arguing with change and seeing and living Life As Art, but I give into pleasure and it all happens more quickly. My life and the Business of Nia continue to give me opportunities to challenge this philosophy and my beliefs around choosing pleasure.

The life of Nia brings us all to the wall of choosing pleasure and being responsible for our own change, transformation and growth. It’s the work we do, and the line between what is personal and professional is thin, almost invisible for us warrior-healers. I guess it’s all in a day’s work of Dancing Through Life and living Life As Art. It’s a good thing we all study the art of moving in a body, tripping on the line of change and growth as the only way to get to the other side. So when you don’t know what to do, stop. Let The Body’s Way show you how to use your hands to give gratitude for what is in the now, connected to this moment.

Here’s to us all Dancing Through Life together, connecting to Joy and Pleasure, and moving to find a totally amazing kind of living, fitness and ecstatic health.

Love,
Debbie

By Barry Schlouch, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, United States

The very first time I danced Nia, I was filled with tears of joy and also tears of letting go of pain. What I experienced was so freeing, so in flow with my spirit and felt so good to my body that I knew I had found something more than an exercise program. I’d found something for my whole being. Since that day, I have kept dancing Nia and I have no pain in my joints or body, only Joy!

My wife, Deb and I are adventurers, and we own a very successful construction company. I’ve always kept my body strong so I could pursue adventures and run our business. Before I found Nia, I had been working out in gyms for 20 years with various trainers. About a year ago I began to feel bored with my exercise program. My body joints were inflamed and I had an inguinal hernia on the rise. I had prostate surgery in May 2006 and afterward I went back to working out in the gym. Instead of feeling better, my workouts were making me feel worse.

I felt it was time for a change, so I called my long-time fitness trainer over Christmas 2006, thanked him for everything he did for me and let him know I wanted to pursue other opportunities. I did not realize until after I made my decision to quit my long-time fitness practice that letting go of my old path of exercise would open up the opportunity for a new path with far more than just exercise as the benefit. It would open up the opportunity for whole-being fitness – Nia!

Two weeks before our vacation in Sarasota Florida, I had surgery for the inguinal hernia. It was January, 2007. In Sarasota, Deb and I discovered Nia.

After discovering Nia, Deb and I wanted to keep practicing. There is no Nia class near our home, so we bought the Nia routine, Global Unity, on DVD and worked out with it every week. After dancing to Global Unity the first time, led by Nia founders Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas, I was really taken by the Joy of Movement they shared in the workout, and I knew I wanted to meet them and take the Nia White Belt intensive.

In June, Deb and I attended the White Belt intensive in Portland, Oregon with Debbie and Carlos. The depth and thoughtfulness of the Nia program really took my breath away. Debbie and Carlos are fantastic trainers and people. Since the White Belt, I feel I am more in synch with my own rhythm, and I manage stress better. From consciously experiencing the Joy of Movement in the White Belt, I feel like John Travolta going down the street in Saturday Night Fever – full of total joy and power!

As I am embodying the Nia principles and sharing them in my life, I’m seeing my friends and family smile and resonate with me even more. Also, Deb and I attending the training together was an amazing thing to deepen our relationship. We’ve been married for 30 years and have had many adventures. Doing the White Belt together was a whole new adventure for us as individuals and as a couple. It has meant a lot for our relationship. I love dancing Nia with Deb every chance I get.

Although I went into the White Belt for personal growth, I found that the principles and practices are really applicable to business and can be used to create a space where people are happy and therefore creative and productive. I see the connection between my business relationships and my Nia practice. I now have a vision of Nia dancing with a heavy construction piece of equipment such as an excavator – just for the Joy of it! The Joy I feel dancing Nia is awesome. I am so thankful for the Joy I feel from my Nia experience.

By Laura Min Jackson, Brown Belt Nia Teacher, Orange County, CA

I haven’t yet shared the Crystal Bowl CD in a class or workshop, but it has helped with my own self-healing and wanted to mention my experience.

I was on a medication that’s known for causing 8-12 hours of painful side effects. I was very fearful, and that’s the day the CD arrived.

I played it and mentally didn’t “like” the music. But I thought it might help me, so as I restarted the CD (long version), I felt immediately drawn to the floor. I followed the written meditation and could feel the music deep in my body.

I did the long version twice through, the 2nd time allowing pure organic movement without following the text. Much of it was embryonic as in the Nia 5 Stages.

Throughout the process, my pain ranged from fleeting and tolerable, to nonexistent. My doc insisted I have painkillers on standby, and I’d been warned to expect a sleepless night, but after Crystal Bowls, I had almost no pain at all.

When my doc saw me the next day, she was astounded. And I was happy, and further down the road back to health than I’d been in a long time.

Through Movement We Find Health. In my experience with Nia, it is true again and again.

with love,
Laura

PS. You can purchase this CD by contacting Denis Karda

By Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas

Stimulate health for your body, mind, emotions, and spirit by moving your bones!

• Be conscious of moving your bones as you get up and down from a chair. In what ways can you move your bones and find more pleasure and ease?
• Breathe deeply in and out, and sense the bones of your ribcage moving apart and back together.
• Sense your arm bones hanging freely, allowing the muscles of your neck and shoulders to stay relaxed.
• To release tension, walk and shake your bones; “shimmy” your bones to wellness!
• Rock your pelvis side-to-side as you walk to integrate your leg movements with your core.
• Push back from the computer and extend the bones of all ten fingers out into space, then squeeze them around an imaginary ball.
• Stand up and roll the edges of your feet around, allowing the bones of your feet to spread out.
• Stand tall and allow the bones of your skull to float up toward the sky as your lower jaw hangs down, keeping the muscles of your face relaxed.
• Develop bone density by changing shapes and altering the amount of weight bearing-pressure applied to your bones.
• Throw the bones of your hands in the air to express Joy, energizing your spirit.

By Debbie Rosas

“Every brilliant experiment, like every great work of art, starts with an act of imagination.” – From Proust Was a Neuroscientist – by Johah Lehrer

It is the first day of spring and the air reflects change and growth. The colors are beginning to emerge and the poetry of the world we live in is about to sing. I love this, as I feel like I am in the midst of the earth taking care of herself – self-healing. For some reason I love to read in spring. As usual, the books I am most attracted to are scientific in nature.

My favorite new book, Proust Was a Neuroscientist, by Johah Lehrer, is a book about artists who, through their own journeys and art, anticipated the discoveries of neuroscience. It is a beautifully written book about writers, painters, and composers who, through their shared and yet individual methods of art, explored and discovered real, tangible truths about the human mind – truths that science is now re-discovering. Their imagination foretold facts about the future we are now hearing about.

Lehrer describes how Whitman, Eliot, Darwin, Proust, and Woolfe all lived to witness the birth of science. He explains how each wanted to understand consciousness, not from science but from the inside, from their work and personal experience. They looked inward to create their art, and for each of them, their art was exquisitely self-conscious. In light of science questioning the essence of human nature, they never stopped believing in art, and said, “Our truth must begin with us, with what reality feels like!” We Nia people can relate.

Many scientific theories have come and gone since then, but the work of these artists has endured, as wise and resonant as ever. While Lehrer said, “We need art to frame the mystery,” Carlos and I say, “Life is Art.” We are the art and the artist. Our body and life is the canvas, and Nia is the medium we use to frame the mystery of life. Nia is what we use to experience and sense the landscape of what it means to live a full and passionate life as a spirit in a body. Nia is what we do to experience our selves, moving and Dancing Through Life. It is our practice, workout and lifestyle for sensing through emotion, pleasure and sweat. We sense our beauty and power as we listen and dance to the music. It is what we are privileged to do and teach. It is our art, what we use to explore and discover truths about our self, the body, and the world. It’s a good job — becoming the best we can be while working! At the end of the class and day, ask yourself, “What have I learned and received that has changed my body and life this moment?” Never forget that Nia is your healing work. Nia is yours to feel better, look better, and live better in joy and in pleasure.

Love,
Debbie

By Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas

X-Ray Anatomy is a Nia tool to help practitioners find more comfort in their bodies, both inside and outside of class. The practice of X-Ray Anatomy while Dancing Through Life involves becoming aware of your bones, noticing how they relate to your body sensations, then consciously rearranging them in order to seek more comfort.

Step 1: Witness

Witness the alignment of your bones, both in stillness and in movement. Imagine you have X-Ray goggles that allow you to see your bones clearly through your skin, muscles and connective tissue. Without judging or interfering, simply observe your bones. Notice the bones that are horizontal, the bones that are vertical and the bones that are rotational. Practice this technique of witnessing, using your “X-Ray vision”, with and without a mirror. For example, as you are reading this article, what does the placement of your forearm bones look like? Your upper arm bones? Your spine? Your shin bones?

Step 2: Sense

Become aware of your body sensations as they relate to the placement of your bones. For example, right now, what do you sense along the muscles of your spine? Do they feel uncomfortable or comfortable? How about the muscles along all sides of your neck? Your shoulders?

Step 3: Adjust

Based on what you sense in Step 2, seek more comfort by adjusting the arrangement of your bones in any areas that are not feeling comfortable. For example, if the right side of your neck is feeling uncomfortable, you may choose to tweak the placement of your skull, clavicles (collar bones), scapulae (shoulder blades), and/or humerus (upper arm bone), until you find an alignment that feels more pleasurable. Remember, the Nia way is to say “No” to discomfort and “Yes” to creating more pleasure in your body and in your life.

Throughout the day, you can use the following mantra to remind yourself of the power of X-Ray Anatomy. Say to your body, “I love you, you are my partner. Thank you for helping me to witness what I do. Thank you for providing me sensation-based cues. Thank you for helping me find more comfort through adjusting the arrangement of my bones.”

The above steps are only a small slice of the practical wisdom of Nia White Belt Principle #10 (X-Ray Anatomy). To learn more about X-Ray Anatomy, join us in a Nia White Belt Intensive!

By Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas

Touching is one of Nia’s 52 Moves and 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. Throughout every day, you have the opportunity to receive love, compassion, integrity, humility, lust, loyalty, union, consoling, and comfort through the touch of your own hands.

Here’s how to receive the gift of Touch every day: Every morning, consciously set the intent for your day. Close your eyes and repeat, “I love my body. My body is the partner I dance through life with, and touch connects me to the sensation of Pleasure.” Briskly rub both hands together for 60 seconds and then stop with your hands facing out into space to feel the pleasurable sensation and buzz of chi moving through your hands. Use your hands and the healing energy of chi when you feel the need to—

Here is Israel’s Channel 23 featuring Nia Black Belt, Yonit Lerner Ofan. (in Hebrew)

Join us in changing the lives of ill children and families nationwide.

A message from Jeff, Debbie and Carlos:

We are excited to share an amazing opportunity with you!

In 2005, Nia Technique supported a wonderful charity called Soaringwords, by becoming a National Community Partner in the nationwide Make A Difference Day event. Many of you joined in, using the power of Nia to help raise funds for healing. This year, we are pleased to renew our collaboration with Soaringwords, a charity dedicated to inspiring millions of hospitalized children and their families to “Never give up!”

What is Soaringwords?

Founded in 2001 by Nia White Belt Lisa Buksbaum, Soaringwords uses the power of the internet, supported by hands-on community service programs, to help hospitalized children and their families cope with catastrophic, chronic or terminal illness. In the 2005, Nia Teachers like you led 15 “Nia Dance Jam and Decorate to Heal” events around the country and decorated hundreds of SoaringQuilts® and SoaringPillows®, which were donated to hospitalized children.

We have again chosen to support Soaringwords as our charity of choice for 2009, because like Nia:

• Soaringwords is a charity of The Body’s Way, using the hearts, minds, bodies and spirits of people to help others in need feel better – self-healing at its best!
• Soaringwords offers an entirely new kind of healing program.
• Soaringwords does not focus on a single illness, to the exclusion of others.
• In supporting Soaringwords, Nia Teachers have a unique opportunity to connect with new audiences, gaining broad exposure while changing the lives of all those they touch – both directly and indirectly.
  We invite you to join us and find out about all the fun ways you can get involved. The grand finale of our collective efforts this year will be the “Make a Difference Day 2009” event on Saturday, October 24th, which will include “The World’s Largest (Nia) Dance Jam” in Times Square, New York City!

How can I get involved?

• Join the conference call with Lisa Buksbaum and Nia CEO, Jeff Stewart. Lisa will explain all the fun, easy ways your can get involved, while gaining new students and great exposure!

• Visit our website for more information.
  Be sure to log into the website, then go to:
  http://nianow.com/charity/soaring-words-2009
  (Or click on “Soaringwords” in “My NiaNow”)

• Email Soaringwords to express your interest and get going right away at: heal@soaringwords.org

Thank you for believing, sharing and participating in this healing cause. We hope you will join us on the July 9th call to find out how you can help. Or send an email to express your interest to heal@soaringwords.org to get going right away.

We can do it!

With Love and Grattitude,
Jeff, Debbie and Carlos

To learn more about Soaringwords:

• Visit soaringwords.org

• Join Soaringwords Causes on Facebook

• Watch this video

Nia enthusiasts participate in a workshop in Toronto on Thursday, June 18, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

Lauren La Rose, THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO – People expect to break a sweat during their workout – what they likely don’t anticipate is a celebration. If that’s the case, they’ve probably never been to a Nia class.

The atmosphere was one of jubilation among the vibrant, barefoot enthusiasts of the fitness program who packed a recent special class in Toronto.

Denis Karda, one of the 120 participants who filled out the vast, dimmed room at a cultural and education centre, thoroughly enjoyed soaking in the soaring rhythms, shaking loose and clapping to the beat.

Members of the mostly female group cut across a wide swath of ages and levels of agility and flexibility. Yet as the music streamed from the speakers, the participants seemed to ebb, flow and float throughout the space effortlessly in sync with the pulsating beats, which ranged from uptempo numbers to slower-paced tunes.

They transitioned seamlessly through varied movements, from full body stretches to powerful outward blocks, punches and leg kicks, swirling hip circles and shoulder shimmies.

Yet unlike other group-led aerobics programs where participants try to keep up by modelling their moves to mirror the instructor, Nia adheres to a different philosophy: move in a way that best suits you.

“You’re constantly bringing it back to your own body, not looking out to the teachers,” said Nia co-founder Debbie Rosas. “The teacher really inspires and motivates, but the modelling is not about ‘Do it my way.’ The modelling is about do it in a way that feels fun, expressive, comfortable.”

The formula behind the body-mind-spirit program seems to have resonated. A quarter-century since Nia’s creation, the specialized technique which blends movement forms and Eastern and Western traditions from martial arts, dance arts and healing arts, like yoga, has approximately 2,000 licensed teachers in more than 37 countries around the globe.

Co-founders Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas are making the 25th anniversary a global event by embarking on a tour that has already stopped in 20 cities. The latest leg of the journey for the formerly married couple has brought them to Canada.

Debbie Rosas said the tour is a way to honour the support and passion demonstrated by Nia instructors over the years.

“The best way we can give back to a community is to go to that community and to really celebrate with those teachers and honour those teachers for what they’ve created,” she said hours before leading a high-energy Nia class.

The fitness professionals created Nia in the early 1980s as they sought out a smarter and less painful way for individuals to work out and keep in shape.

In addition to blending various forms of movement from influences as varied as jazz and tae kwon do, Nia’s emphasis is on a holistic approach integrating the mind and inner emotions to bring them in sync with the outer body.

Debbie Rosas said one of the reasons Nia is so popular across a wide range of ages is that people are taught to adapt the movement to fit their body’s way.

“Even though they’re following the music and they’re doing movements that are choreographed, the choreography is actually a blend of structured movement and unstructured movement,” said Rosas, who is based in Portland, Ore.

“People explore the movement and dance to the music but in the process, they discover their way and we call that moving in your body’s way, and that’s how people really make a personal connection to what they’re doing. It’s the personal connection to moving that really creates the mind-body connection.”

Core foundation movements in Nia include basic heel-leading steps and martial arts moves like outward and upward blocks, punches and strikes, as well as kicks and knee sweeps. Dance elements incorporate the use of hand movements and stretches.

In a nod to martial arts, Nia has its own belt system, where students progress through different levels of education, skill sets and proficiency.

And it’s not just the body that gets a workout in Nia – participants are also encouraged to put their voices to use.

As participants in Debbie’s class stretched and raised their arms above their heads repetitively during one sequence, they looked towards the ceiling and emphatically shouted “Yes!” each time they reached skyward.

Samantha Lowes has been practising Nia for about 5 1/2 years. The self-employed bookkeeper and mother purchased a Nia video at a yoga show, did it the next day at home and recalls feeling “blown away by how great it felt, how it was all about the joy of movement, feeling pleasure in my body.” The day after that, she went to a class.

“I just felt energized and alive in a way I normally don’t feel; an extra layer of enjoyment that I didn’t get from regular exercise, even doing yoga,” said the 36-year-old.

“I think the component of creativity and being told there’s no wrong way to do it, being told that I can create a beautiful movement – there’s an artistic angle to Nia that is very freeing.”

Anna Schantz, a black belt Nia instructor, said she finds her students not only connect with themselves on a deeper level but with each other.

“There have been very fast friendships made in the classes, and if you look in the room tonight, you’ll see that this is not your basic step aerobics class; this is a celebration of people.”

For Nia black belt trainer Roberta Mohler, who has been teaching the technique for 13 years, what she said she loves about Nia is that it allows her to “dance every day.”

“The movements are sensitive to the body and very natural so that I feel like I can dance till I’m 100 – and that’s exactly what I plan to do.”

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On The Net:

Nia: www.nianow.com

Nia Instructors Association of Canada: www.niac.ca

© The Canadian Press, 2009

The Nia Blue Belt Intensive begins by strengthening one’s relationship with four unique realms: body, mind, emotions and spirit, to enhance all aspects of life and/or develop one’s ability to provide a multidimensional Nia experience for others. The thirteen Nia Blue Belt Principles provide the Nia practitioner tools to develop personal and professional communication skills, nurture relationships (with self and others), and pay greater attention to detail (intimacy). The Nia Blue Belt Intensive expands upon the White Belt Principles to further develop one’s ability to live and/or teach in a more conscious, holistic and joyful way.

Location: Marie Ann Longlade School of Dance – 1650 Dundas Street East. Suite #205, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

These events are open to everyBody and Nia Teachers alike. Space is limited so book early to avoid disappointment. This weekend is guaranteed to rejuvenate and energize you. Nia bursts boundaries of age, gender and fitness levels, delivering an enjoyable and effective practice for everyone. Special guest Nia Black Belt, Winalee Zeeb, will help you to lighten up, relax and enjoy Nia classes and playshops all weekend long. EveryBody welcome. Bring your curiosity, a towel and water. Be prepared to dance, play and re-awaken something very powerful from within.

Register NOW!

• On-Line registration and Payment – completely fill out the information on the Contact Page with a message to indicate which events you have purchased online through PayPal
• If you are paying by cheque – completely fill out the info on the Contact Page with a message to indicate which events you wish to attend. To complete your registration mail your cheque to Denis Karda, 13937 Tenth Line RR#5, Halton Hills, Ontario. L7G 4S8 Cheque payable to DENIS KARDA
• You may also print out a Weekend with Winalee Registration Form Complete the form and mail with your cheque to Denis Karda, 13937 Tenth Line RR#5, Halton Hills, Ontario. L7G 4S8 Cheque payable to DENIS KARDA

List of Events and Details

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Friday Night Blast Class

Celebrate Music/Movement/Magic sensation! EveryBODY welcome!
WHO: EveryBody
WHEN: Friday Night November 13th 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
COST: $25
TICKET AT THE DOOR: $30 Space permitting

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Nia Teachers – Deepening the Dance Workshop

Winalee will focus on the 13 White Belt Principles sharpening your teaching skills. Take a journey deeper into the dance to developing your natural ability to Deliver the Promise of Nia.
WHO: Nia Teachers Only
WHEN: Saturday Morning November 14th 10:30 am to 12:00 noon
COST: $30
TICKET AT THE DOOR: $35 Space permitting

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Elegant Elements Playshop

Explore the gifts that dancing the elements – earth, water, air & fire – bring you. This Nia playshop is inwardly guided with Nia movement and personal reflection time. Winalee’s gentle guidance holds heart-full intent for enhancing balance in your life’s dance.
WHO: EveryBody
WHEN: Saturday Afternoon November 14th 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
COST: $25
TICKET AT THE DOOR: $30 Space permitting

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Saturday Night Nia Class

This Nia class is guaranteed to fill you with `electric’ energy!
We will be exploring the natural rhythms and power of your body with the Nia Technique. Set to great music, Nia is fitness with self-expression that is easy to learn, no matter your age or fitness level.
WHO: EveryBody
WHEN: Saturday Night November 14th 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
COST: $25
TICKET AT THE DOOR: $30 Space permitting

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Organic Movement Playshop

Playfully discover and awaken your own conscious personal trainer within. We will creatively blend organic precision, emotional expression and self-healing sensation as consciously chosen tools for conditioning your body/mind/spirit in a balanced and effective, natural way…’your body’s way!’
WHO: EveryBody
WHEN: Sunday Morning November 15th 10:30 am to 12:00 noon
COST: $25
TICKET AT THE DOOR: $30 Space permitting

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Teacher – Weekend Pass including all 5 events.

Purchase a Teacher – Weekend Pass and your Deepening the Dance Workshop with Winalee is FREE!
COST: $100

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Nia Weekend Pass

Save money and buy a weekend pass to all the events that are open to the general public. Come and play all week-end long!
COST: $85.00

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Map to the Ballinafad Community Centre 9382 Wellington Road
View Larger Map Exit off the 401. North on Trafalgar. Turn left onto Wellington Road and the driveway is on your right. This road is also called Ballinafad Road, 32nd Sideroad and Wellington 42. I would not trust a GPS for this country address.

In August and September 2008, Team Nia raised thousands of dollars and participated in two volunteer building days with Habitat for Humanity Halton. Team Nia’s Video Clip from our first build date in June 08 Team Nia’s Video Clip from Sept. 08. Part of the proceeds from this weekend will be donated to Habitat for Humanity on behalf of Team Nia.

About Winalee

Winalee Zeeb will dance into your heart, give it a lift and a light, as in “lighten up, relax and enjoy” – life is for living. Her exuberance is deeply and honestly rooted in the depths of her own soul searching, as her journey continues to feed her.

Winalee is a First Degree Black Belt Nia Teacher and Trainer from Lansing, Michigan. She is a certified instructor for Yoga for Health, American Red Cross First Aid, and CPR. Winalee has been teaching fitness classes since 1981. She also enjoys sharing her passion for life through motivational speaking and singing.

A Passion for Sharing Movement

I began teaching in the fitness industry in 1981. I had a passion for exercise, and although teaching aquatics courses, water exercise and aerobics filled that passion, they were based in traditional fitness practices. That unconscious form of fitness ultimately led me to exhaustion, burnout and physical pain. In 1984, as a result of being in the traditional mode of exercise, I severely injured both my knees. I had numbed myself to my body’s voice of pain, which led me to requiring surgery.

Then, in July of 1991, I was really on the edge of quitting teaching. I attended the IDEA Fitness Conference and I saw a sign that said ”Body, Mind, Spirit Workout.” I had not seen the word ‘spirit’ used in any other courses offered. Immediately, my curiosity drew me to take the workshop. It was a Nia workshop, and I clearly recall watching Debbie and Carlos enter the room and sensing every cell of my being recognize their radiance. They took the stage, and did something unheard of at that time in the fitness industry – they invited us to take off our shoes and move barefoot. Those first barefoot seconds of passionate movement had my hurt knees saying “ahhhhhhh” as they experienced healing through movement. After tearfully dancing a deep healing awakening, I registered for the White Belt Intensive. I sensed a deep knowing within myself that Nia had much to teach me. I eagerly attended the Blue, Brown and Black Belt trainings in annual succession.

In February of 1997, after years of practicing Nia and many hours of teaching, I Winalee Twirlwas blessed with the honor of becoming a Nia Trainer. Words merely cannot express the infinite gifts my heart receives from the privilege of being a Nia Trainer. I travel internationally teaching Nia, and I am passionately in love with what I share. I sing professionally and am a motivational keynote speaker, as well as a Rising Star energy practitioner and Yoga teacher. My ability to balance all that I love I owe to the teachings of Nia. I am honored to joyfully dance in the sea of life with all of you!

The 918 Cultural Arts & Education Centre – 918 Bathurst St, TORONTO

Featuring our honoured guests Debbie Rosas & Carlos Rosas, Co-Founders of Nia

A CommUNITY Nia Event For EveryBody! Experience an energizing 2-hour Nia jam followed by a celebratory wine & cheese reception. Dance with the creators of Nia and learn more about our commUNITY. This event WILL move your body, mind and spirit

Next session runs from September 8th – November 30th 2009. Register for your 10 class pass before June 30th and get 2 extra classes for FREE!

Join us in New York City on Saturday, May 16th for Dance Parade 2009

We are proud to announce that Nia is an “Electric Slide” Sponsor for the third annual New York Dance Parade. Over 110 Nia dancers are already signed up to dance down Broadway, on and around the Nia float! I can’t believe I am a part of something so awesome!

Together we will shimmy our way to DanceFest in Tompkins Square Park, where workshops, performances, Nia demos and classes are just the tip of the iceberg. Debbie Rosas will be leading a Nia demonstration onstage, along with Nia communities from all over, even on crazy CanadiaNIAs. Sign up and join us for this once-in-a-lifetime celebration!

Want to participate? You can—

1. Sign up (free) to dance with Nia in the parade
2. Volunteer to help with the event by contacting Kristin DeGroat at Kristin@danceparade.org
3. Create a Nia Field Trip with your friends to dance, tour the city and play with other Nia Teachers and students from around the world!

I’m so excited that 5 brave Canadian Nia teachers will join me as I venture down to New York , New York for the Dance Parade. Shelley Farrow, Jenn Hicks, Marla Gold, Brigita Roube and Didi Wilson will be my traveling buddies. My cousin, Krista Saab has offered up her home which is just 15 minutes from the start of the parade route. We will be dancing our CanadiaNia Pride in honor of all our beautiful fellow teachers. Who Rocks? Nia Rocks EH!

Schedule of Events

• 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM: Check-in for Nia registration Sign in and pick up your Nia Dance Parade t-shirt with Kristin DeGroat
• 10:00 AM: Pre-Parade Nia float decorating party Meet new Apassionia friends from all over while helping us “style-up” the float! BYOC (Bring Your Own Coffee!)
• 12:15 PM: Nia Strategy Huddle Don’t miss the informational huddle, where we will go over strategy, music and choreography. Nia Brown Belt Teacher Kevin VerEecke has put together a choreography for the parade which he’ll lead from atop the float. Check out the choreography here.

• 1:00 PM: Dance Parade begins! Hop on or around the float and let’s start celebrating the Joy of Movement!
• 3:00 – 7:00 PM – DanceFest at Tompkins Square Park

Dancing, dancing and more dancing! Debbie Rosas will lead a 30-minute, participatory Nia demo on the Dance Floor stage, and Kevin VerEecke will be featuring a short Nia performance on the main stage. Exact times TBD.

For more detailed info CONTACT Denis Karda

Saturday, June 13th

Rain date is Sunday, June 14th

Join us at 3 different locations along the Lakeshore in Toronto to kick off our 5 Stages/Green Belt trainings and events. Come to 1 or all of the locations below, create a poker hand & WIN PRIZES!
At the beginning of each of the 3 classes, each participant will draw 2 playing cards. At the end of the day the dancer with the highest poker hand wins. You can even win by attending 1 of the 3 locations by drawing 2 high cards!

Locations and Routines Schedule:

PORT CREDIT YACHT CLUB – 12:00 PM – (Routine: Global Unity)
Please click HERE to see the map.

SUNNYSIDE PARK – 3:00 PM – (Routine: Opal)
Please click HERE to see the map.

ASHBRIDGES PARK – 6:00 PM – (Routine: Sanjana)
Please click HERE to see the map.

Printable flyer with maps

Cost: FREE!!!!

First prize FREE admission to the Big Public Event (June 18, 2009)
Second prize A set of 3 routines: Sanjana, Opal & Global Unity
Third prize A choice of one of 3 routines: Sanjana, Opal or Global Unity

East to West, come join the Quest!
It’s a 3 stop Nia Bop!
Sanjana, Opal and Global Unity,
Come join the Nia caravan community!
For more detailed info CONTACT Denis Karda

Nia has the power to change that! Through movement we find Health.

Watch this video clip of Jenn Hick’s Nia Demo that we did on Saturday, April 26th, 2009.

Jenn Hicks did a wonderful job of leading us during Toronto’s International Dance Day. We performed at Yonge and Dundas Square to an amazing crowd. It was a cold and blustery day, but we warmed the crowd up by inviting them to come up on stage to find the Joy of Movement. Were you there? Can you find yourself up on stage or in the crowd?

Nia is exercise in disguise. Those who participated in the Demo said they has so much fun that they forgot that they were actually doing exercise. Nia is holistic and has the potential to transform your Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spirit realms. The movement forms in a Nia class are influenced by Martial Arts, Dance Arts and Healing Arts. As teachers we guide you through sensations in the body, imagery created in your mind and feelings drawn from your emotional history. This is all blended perfectly with music which brings about sheer magic. If you haven’t tried a class, this is definitely something to put on your “TO DO LIST – Take a Nia class with a friend”

In a nutshell, it was great and exciting for me. Knowing that little ol me could make a huge difference in Nia awareness on the internet.

I will share a synapses from what I was able to scribble down:

This teleseminar was for Nia teachers worldwide and was based on “The New Rules of Marketing and PR”. But the ideas can be used by anyone for anything. This is the book recommended by Jeff Stewart, CEO of Nia Technique for all Nia teachers to read.

The seminar started with David asking four simple questions about how we obtained information, either personally or for business, in the past 1-2 months:
1. Have you participated in answering a direct mailing?
2. Have you pulled out the printed Yellow Pages?
3. Have you gone to the main stream media such as magazines, newspapers, TV etc?
4. Have you used something like Google search engine?

David predicts that most will answer NO to the first two questions. That 1/3 will say yes to #3. And that 100% would answer yes to #4.

His next question was, Have you tapped into your personal network or contacts (such as email or phoned family or friends) to inquire about a product and were provided with a web address? David predicts that 90% of us would say YES.

What does this mean? The way problems are solved or researched in today’s day and age, is through the INTERNET. In other words BE ON THE INTERNET.

David gave an example of Cindy Gordon who was to market the NEW Wizarding World of Harry Potter @ Universal Orlando Resorts. Cindy pitched to ONLY 7 Harry Potter bloggers and within 24 hours 350 million people had now read about the new theme park.

• buy it
• beg for it, using the media
• use direct marketing, which reaches out to one person at a time

OR to use Social Media, which he referred to a WORD OF MOUSE. To do this we need to create something on line to bring about interest in Nia. He gave us some great ideas how we can easily do this even if we do not have a website. The first step is to identify the different Nia Buyer Personae. What problems do my buyer personae need solved. What do we want our personae to BELIEVE.

The question and answer portion had questions coming from USA, Netherlands, New Zealand, and from CANADA (my question was aired, Yeah!)

Things to do before the next teleseminar: to purchase THE NEW RULES OF MARKETING AND PR By David Meerman Scott
Read some great blogs:

• www.webinknow.com David’s site where you can read 3 FREE EBooks to get started
• www.chrisbrogan.com
• www.sethgodin.typepad.com
• identify the different Nia Buyer Personae
• create something online that is of value to at least one of these personae

If you do not have a website, David suggested searching for local chat rooms where ONLINE, you can write about a (Nia) story that could strike a chord with ONE of the personae you identified.

If anyone else was on the call please feel free to add, correct or support my synapses.

I would highly recommend purchasing the book.

Join Debbie Rosas for this month’s topic:

X-Ray Anatomy

Monday May 4, 2009 8pm
Dial: 1-269-320-8200
Access Code: 647901#

Telecourse Details

X-Ray Anatomy is a practice that helps you integrate The Body’s Way with Your Body’s Way. It is a process of looking inside to understand your unique and beautiful structure. You use this information to move safely and to realign and heal your body. X-Ray Anatomy uses your real eyes, your imagination, and intuition to see and perceive beneath your skin. Your vision, both literal and figurative, is used to gain insight. X-Ray Anatomy is a way to discover where bones sit and how muscles spiral and rest over bones and over joints. With the information you gather from X-Ray Anatomy, you can use movement, dance and stretching to realign your muscles and bones. The more you know about your body and the way it works, where muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, and organs lie, the more you can move safely, guide self-healing changes and inform you about the movement choices you need to make.

In this call you will learn about –

• Creating a kinesthetic relationship with your body to sense alignment from the inside out and to see from the outside in
• How to feel, look, sense, and perceive what is going on inside you
• What it means to create a perfect, aligned and movable boney frame
• Sensing Muscles as movable. fibers and Tendons as a different sensation, and as parts that connect your muscles to the bones
• Sensing smaller, deeper muscles, the intrinsic muscles, and what it means to use the intrinsic muscles to articulate detailed, smaller motions
• Rotation and subtle movements that activate the intrinsic muscles and help you to balance and have more coordination and control in stopping and moving
• The larger extrinsic muscles, the ones that layer over the intrinsic ones, and how large movements activate extrinsic muscles.

About Your Facilitator

Nia Co-Creator, Debbie Rosas, has been a pioneer and leader in the fitness and health industry since 1976. In 1983, together with Carlos Rosas they created the Nia Technique, an internationally acclaimed body-mind-spirit movement and lifestyle program, work that has completely changed the look and feel of fitness. In 1987, Debbie co-authored with Carlos, Non-Impact Aerobics and in 2005, The Nia Technique: a high powered energizing workout for a new body and a new life. Masterful at blending Eastern and Western concepts and principles, Debbie brings humor, intelligence, personal experience and her educational approach to living in the body called The Body’s Way to help every one achieve personal potential.

With adventure, humour and lots of Italian flare, Daughter of Mine is the ideal novel to read anytime you’re ready for an escape, whether it’s on a wintry night with a steaming cup of tea or on a hot summer’s day with a cool refreshing gelato. To learn more about this novel you can WATCH THE BOOK TRAILER BELOW.

The movie was created by Esther Campbell and Giaco Angelini of TVCSA – this three-minute movie will give you an incredible in-body experience of what it was like to be there dancing Nia in a room full of loving energy. The Women’s Show is created and organized by SE Shows & Events and is a premier interactive lifestyle exhibition in South Africa.

We are so lucky, as Debbie and Carlos are coming to Toronto in June. I will let you know when the public classes have been arranged. It is definitely a special event that you won’t want to miss. The classes will probably sell out very quickly, but luckily, I’m on the organizing committee so you will be the first to know! YEAH

Hopefully, we can produce our own Canadian video that will feature YOU!

Yesterday, my 89 year-old father, Robert Schantz, was sitting with my brother Fred in a sunny courtyard at his nursing home in Pittsford, New York. They looked at the first bulbs pushing through the ground cover and wondered, what kind of flowers are these? Crocus? Bluebell?

These are two guys who don’t know from flowers, believe me. But they sat there arguing, maybe they’re crocus. No, they must be bluebells. Hyacinth? Finally, my brother said, “Dad, I’ll get you a book on flowers next time I come visit. We can look it up.” “Fred, it better be a big book,” Dad said. “I’ll have a lot of time to learn about flowers.”

Last night, Dad passed on peacefully in his sleep, to join my mother whom he has missed so much in the eight months since her passing. I can imagine them both, deep in the earth, becoming the earth, becoming crocus and bluebells and hyacinth, becoming the hemlock tree that shelters my family’s burial site; becoming the wind and the rain. Dad has a long time to learn about flowers.

In his old age and in the dementia that accompanied it, he had a child-like sense of curiosity and wonder. Also, a great gratitude for small things. A hug from a grandchild. A song that Mom used to love. He couldn’t remember anything for longer than a minute, so life was always fresh! always new! He could be just as pleased and surprised to see me coming back from the washroom as to see me coming back from Canada. Life is simple.

Dad was pretty much the poster boy for living in the present moment with curiosity and wonder. I’ll be channelling him when I step into my Nia classes this spring. I’ll wonder, now where will this song lead us? How come jazz wants to blend with Aikido today, when last week it was all about yoga? And what is today’s spine, breath, front kick like?

I’ll be curious to know: what is it like for you? Where are you today? Are you here in this present moment called the Nia class, where we celebrate pleasure and beauty and sensation, eclectic and electric, in bodies alive and ecstatic? Or do you have something holding you back from entering fully into this healing, whole, holy joy? Pain? Sadness? Attitudes? That’s OK. Bring it in. Dance it, cry it, move it, sweat it, laugh at it, shout it out loud. I’ll be right there too, grateful to be with you on the Nia journey into the now.

With love,
Anna

Monday April 6, 2009 8pm
Phone Number: 1.269.320.8200
Access Code: 647901#

Expressing yourself with your arms and hands is natural. You do it all the time. It is a way you express emotion, excitement and sadness. It is even a way you express pain and pleasure. When you are hurt, your hands reach for the hurt part. When your are sad or touched your hands reach to your heart. When you see someone in need of comfort, you reach to soothe them. When you are excited you reach out! Hands communicate through emotion, movement and gesture. Hand and arm movements can release emotions, they communicate non-verbally, and they deliver amazing fitness and wellness. Using the hands and arms efficiently and correctly are key to self-healing and proper functioning. Their movement gives voice to the silent world inside you. Every gesture expresses a part of you. Like an echo, your arms and hands mirror the voice of your heart. They heal, create, build, make love, move and direct energy. They are miraculous tools.

In this call you will learn about:

• The hands energy portals that move chi in and out of the body.
• The proprioceptors in your hands, a part of you that is highly sensitive to physical sensation.
• Nia’s hand motions for conditioning and for self-healing.
• The three arts, and how each art offers unique hand and arm motions for conditioning.
• Using your fingers like wands, as magical tools to direct and move energy along particular channels called meridians, making it possible to consciously direct energy through each finger.
• The bones of the shoulder girdle, and how to support the movement of your arms and hands using the clavicles, sternum, and scapula.

The rhomboid muscles are located between your shoulder blades, muscles that help draw the base of the shoulder blades in toward the midline of your body, and how to activate and release these muscles to avoid restricted hand and arm movement.

Helen Terry, Nia Black Belt Teacher, White and Blue Belt Trainer, holds a B.Ed (hons) in Physical Education and Special Needs, from the Chelsea School of Human Movement, United Kingdom and M.Ed in Exercise Physiology and Human Performance, University of Houston. She has presented internationally at over 30 Fitness/Wellness conventions, including IDEA and is the founder of NiaMoves Houston Inc., a successful body-mind studio. Helen’s business, iLove2Move, helps people dance, walk and eat the body’s way through Nia Technique, MBT Physiological Footwear, and the Body Ecology Diet.

Debbie and Jeff arrived in Cape Town, South Africa on February 16th, on the tail end of the Spirit of Nia tour. Having them see what I’ve built over the past seven years (with the help of a lot of friends!) and seeing them revel in Nia’s global spread (at the bottom tip of the world) was a dream come true — maybe for all of us.

We maximized their impact beginning with a media blitz establishing Debbie as the international guest of “The Women’s Show”, in its 6th year with 16,241 visitors, held at the Cape Town International Convention Center. Local papers, as well as South African editions of famous magazines, interviewed Debbie from the morning she arrived (no time for jet lag!) One of our white belts brought her professional film crew (for info on them see link below) to cover our Nia demos held twice a day. (Soon to be posted on youtube). The Free Spirit television programme (broadcast on SABC 3) taped a three-part show of Debbie explaining and demonstrating Nia.

We chronicled so much but of course my best memories are in my heart.

I will never forget Debbie and her Opening Night speech about the gift of living in a female body. Her message left more people than me, who’s already a big fan, teary over the soft, elegant truth of her words.

The next three days of the Women’s Show were high voltage! Debbie and company (about 12 of us) rocked the show with songs 1, 3 and 4 of DIVA. The women went wild, dancing, whooping, then running up afterward to kiss her for turning on the diva in every body.

Jeff was there taking hundreds of photos, capturing the connection of our beautiful community, so many different races and ages. He said he learned to wait for just the right moment to take the pictures. It worked; he definitely caught the essence of each beauty.

Then a much-needed 2 day break after continual selling at our Nia stand. (Those of you who have done shows know the over stimulation). David (my husband and organizer of the Women’s Show) Jeff, Debbie and I set off to drive the Garden Route, ending in Knysna and Plettenberg Bay.

I have a picture in my mind of Debbie in fancy dress and shoes petting the elephants at the elephant park and camping in tree tops. (You can take Zsa Zsa out of the city but you can’t take the city out of Zsa Zsa). I have a smile on my face remembering her and Jeff singing Kumbaya as David and I were falling asleep in the next tent. Lots of giggling going on.

Back to Cape Town and Debbie working four days packed with classes and workshops and lots of sweaty people (we have no air conditioning in our studio and it was a summery 95 degrees!)

Some feedback from our students:

“I loved it – felt muscles I had never felt before“



“She was everything you said she would be…and more!…thank you so much for encouraging me to do her classes”

Our community was astounded by Jeff and Debbie’s (Nia’s) generosity. You cannot imagine the hollering and clapping when Nicci Gates (my partner in ourniaspace studio who helps me manage Nia in South Africa) was offered the Brown Belt Intensive for free as well as accommodation and limo service in Portland : ) . The room shook with delight!!

For me… the trip was a healing from a chasm I wasn’t sure could be mended. I found myself surprised at the deep feelings of sisterhood between Debbie and myself: as natural and unforced as any family but without the hierarchy, the judgment, or advice. “In Lakesh” had the strongest meaning it’s ever had for me, and it made the 7 years of work and trials doing my best worthwhile.

As Jeff kindly said in his email preceding their trip:
It has been too long that none of us have made this trip if only to shake your hand. 
So here we are, we are coming to SA. 
There is no need for you to create any numbers or “successes.” 
All that you do to make the most of Debbie coming to town is appreciated. I want this to be fun for you and not add any stress to your life.

It was a pleasure to host you, Debbie and Jeff. Sitting here in the Rainbow nation, I can tell you it’s true what Dorothy says in her famous song, “Somewhere over the rainbow”: Dreams really do come true.

Thank you -From me, from Nicci, from Nia lovers in South Africa,

Thank you for the Solidarity. We feel “part of” now.

Hello over there!

I’m Johanna Enochsson, White Belt Teacher from Sweden, educated by Ann Christiansen in Göteborg last year. I was introduced to Nia three years ago through my mentor and college – native american Chris Hébert who has met Debbie and Carlos a long time ago. He helped Black Belt teacher Åsa Hellström start her business with Nia more than ten years ago.

Although there are a lot of things on the list still to be done today, I find myself writing to you right now, touched by Debbie Rosas personal words about healing oneself, healing the world. I want to say that I feel her intention behind the words. It’s a wonderful energy – very healing itself. I join with you and so many other human beings on this planet and pray for joy, love and compassion for every living thing, starting with myself. This message goes beyond words and thoughts and, I believe, it activates parts of the brain that has not been used so much! It is energy impulses moving and changing everything to new, higher levels of frequency that has not been on earth before. It is a sparkling sensation and it keeps getting better and better every time I choose happiness.

I am a proud representative of Nia, and it feels very natural for me to talk to people I meet about Nia when they want to, because it’s so close to my own being and beliefs. The spirit of Nia has reached my essence and it’s a beautiful blend. In my opinion, people in Sweden are really starting to wake up and turn their focus on finding meaning and pleasure in their lives. I have taught Nia with Åsa Hellström in Formtoppen, and Black Belt teacher Jonna Beldt in Niastudio Höganäs. In two weeks I will start my own Nia classes in my hometown Helsingborg. I have such a good feeling about it. In my class people will attend that has never trained or danced before. That takes a lot of courage and I will do my very best to guide them towards more joy and self-healing through sensation. This is really needed here! I visualize that Nia will grow largely in the nearest future creating so many changes it creates butterflies in my stomach.

I want to thank you for the hard work you do to feed me and other teachers with continuing education and information. It makes me feel connected with you although your on the other side of the world. Maybe we will meet one day!

In love and light,
Johanna Enochsson

p.s. Yes, that’s the white belt in my hair…

I’ve always said that Nia gave me context and confirmation – a place to land with my passion for movement, teaching and community and a place that inspired me to grow in my own unique way and time with the gifts that I have to share with the world.

In 1996 I was teaching my own type of movement classes in Toronto, Canada, which I called Martha’s Mystery Gym. Yet, after a short period of time I found I wasn’t excited about the direction I was taking the classes. I literally said to the Universe, “I think there is already a technique out there that I am meant to teach… I recognize that creating it is not my forte and I don’t need to reinvent the wheel.”

About a month later, I ran into an earlier dance connection of mine, Roberta Mohler, who had just started teaching Nia and she invited me to attend my first Nia class offered by visiting trainer Zeta Gaudet. Being curious about any dance form that put spirit and movement together, I had to go check it out. During the class a tear of recognition and gratitude ran down my cheek – I knew I had found my movement art for teaching. The combination of music, movement and spirit compelled me to register immediately for the next White Belt training with Zeta in British Columbia.

I taught Nia for five-and-a-half years, gaining skill as a teacher and going deeper into my own Nia practice. My daughter Dylann was two years old in March 2002 when I was invited to be a Nia Trainer. I remember sitting in Portland thinking, “Oh my…can I really manage adding another large aspect to my Nia business and raise a daughter with mindfulness?” In a moment I knew that I wanted my daughter to witness a woman living her dreams, living large in the world. It has been a dynamic experience with her. When she attends class she chooses the songs for the Freedance section, she also sends drawings to class for me to share with my students and loves to practice “Tae Kwon Toe” Nia with Daddy at home. I often hear, “Mommy, is this a Nia move? Is this? How about this?” “Yes, Dylann,” I tell her, “Every move is a Nia move!”

I’ve been teaching Nia for over 10 years now and training people in the Nia White Belt for three-and-a-half years. These have been the most rewarding years of my life. I knew that I was called to guide people into awareness and health through movement and Nia gave me the context to realize that vision.

I have always been committed to personal growth, and running my own Nia business while in relationship with a dynamic community of my Nia peers has provided many opportunities to step into roles of leadership, be part of cooperative initiatives, and accept and provide mentoring.

I have stretched my entrepreneurial muscles in all kinds of ways by being a Nia professional. From facilitating the Nia Technique book tour in Toronto in 2005, to connecting with local media for the tour and for other Nia events, to traveling to various cities and towns to introduce the work, to getting the word out about Nia by my sandwich board on the street or giving classes in the local park, I’ve stretched and grown as a professional with Nia.

I also have an amazing community of students who are committed to my classes week after week and even laugh at my jokes – with the occasional groan. Through my work as a teacher and Trainer I have created a web of people who lead me into many new and interesting teaching opportunities. From teaching a three-day course for the Expressive Arts Therapy program at Haliburton School of Fine Arts, to volunteering at the Gilda Radner Breast Cancer Support Centre, to presenting Nia to physicians at the University of Toronto, my Nia work and community is rich and diverse.

Being a Nia Trainer and guiding people through the White Belt training continues to nudge me gently in the direction of mastery. I appreciate the guidance I receive from Debbie and Carlos and Nia headquarters to refine my craft and be all that I can be in this work. I love watching my trainees awaken to the richness and depth of Nia, breaking through personal limitations and inhibitions, committing to live more fully in their bodies and sharing that experiential journey with others.

I believe that living well in our bodies requires a practice of awareness, fitness variety, and pleasure. And I think we really groove when we can do it in community with one another. Nia is a celebration of all of this and more. I feel so blessed to have this as my path!

We invite you to use the following simple, yet powerful, Self-Healing practice as you continue to Dance Through Life.

Step 1: Listen

Your body is changing every day. This is what it does, and like the tides that come and go, so does the form, size, shape, fitness, and wellness of your body. Our bodies are in constant change and flux, and it is our job to manage and notice the changes in order to keep feeling good. Developing Body Awareness by listening to the Voice of the Body, sensation, is always the first step towards healing. This can be done not only in Nia and Nia 5 Stages practices, but also while you Dance Through Life. Simply focus your attention inward, and awaken to the amazing world of sensation.

Step 2: Respond With Love

Becoming good at noticing and sensing daily changes and learning to “tweak” what we do in order to become adaptable to our environment is key to health and well being. Once you listen to your body and are able to sense what needs healing, respond with love by seeking more pleasure and comfort. Continue to listen and respond by choosing what gives you ‘feel better’ feelings.

Step 3: Celebrate The Changes

When we begin to recognize subtle changes that we know are bringing us closer to our ideal, it is possible to know what to continue to do in order to feel more comfort and pleasure. Compare what was to what is and express gratitude for the healing that has occurred, regardless of how subtle. We can do this even in the midst of dealing with short or long-term illness, or even when dealing with the process of death and dying. Celebrate the healing that has occurred by verbally sharing out loud (to yourself or others) what you notice has changed, improved, and shifted to make you “feel better!”

Exercise is almost always part of the prescription for healing, no matter what the disease or imbalance. The Nia experience, which is exercise and beyond, not only provides healing for the body, it also provides healing for the mind, heart and soul. Nia is movement medicine, because at the same time it heals, it teaches people to cultivate moving and living in joy, pleasure and comfort, to express themselves using emotional energy, and to connect to their own unique spirit, whether alone or in community. Just one dose a day, for as little as ten minutes, can make any body feel better.

Classic Nia

Classic Nia is medicine that heals because movement heals, especially aerobic, cardiovascular movement that uses the body, sound, expression, space, time, and music creatively. As a movement program founded in and built on the science of The Body’s Way, Classic Nia is healing because it respects Every Body. In other words, Your Body’s Way becomes your initiation into moving, dancing, and into experiencing the dance of Self-Healing. As you dance and move to music, you tap into the wisdom of the body; turning on the wisdom we call Sensory IQ. This is a healing wisdom that speaks through the Voice of the Body – sensation. Nia’s method of blending concepts and moves from the Martial Arts, Dance Arts, and Healing Arts, converges into a workout experience many call the, “Love Your Body Workout.” Why? Because everything about Nia is achieved through love – from fitness, to healing, to lifestyle benefits. The results go beyond the walls of the gym, affecting every part of one’s life, including relationships, even to the point of expanding the perception of what healing means.

Nia 5 Stages

The Nia 5 Stages Practice is medicine that heals because it is what the body does naturally as it develops and first learns to walk. Revisiting the stages in an adult body facilitates improved alignment and functioning, which is why we call it The Body’s Way Self-Healing practice. A daily dose of five simple moves, spending as little as one minute in each stage, will deliver the “feeling better” feeling we call healing. It is the one movement pill you can take that will naturally realign your now body into the healed future body. Purpose refers to the “reason” behind doing what you do. In the case of the 5 Stages, the purpose is to activate the process of healing.

Nia, which was first introduced in 1983, combines principles from Martial arts, Dance arts and Healing arts with music, vocal sounding and self-expression into dynamic, hour-long routines that are practiced by nearly 100,000 students in 37 countries. With its “More-Gain, No-Pain” philosophy, Nia bursts boundaries of age, gender and fitness levels, delivering an enjoyable and effective practice for everyone. Today the the members of NIAC (Nia Instructors Association of Canada) have decided to BLAST Nia to everyBODY. Please take a moment to view this short promotional video.

Nia is for everyBODY and I’m finding that TEENS love it too. I teach Nia in Georgetown and Mississauga, but all the participants are adults. I wanted my daughter to try Nia, but thought it was best that “MOM” should NOT be her teacher. So Erin and I started taking Nia classes in Toronto with Roberta Mohler. Erin LOVED the class immediately. It is something special that we share together on Tuesday evenings as mother and daughter.
Erin and I also enjoyed a “Babe’s on Braodway” Nia workshop in Mississauga on February 1st. The picture above is of Erin, in pink and myself in blue hamming up some magical Nia movements. We simply had a blast! Singing and dancing like nobody was watching or listening. Erin has shared her love of Nia with her friends and asked if I would start up a TEEN Nia class at my studio.

TEEN Nia classes will be on Fridays after school (4:00pm). The students can easily walk over to the studio from Centennial Public School, Christ the King and Georgetown District High School. Terra Karda Studio is located at 36 Armstrong Ave. Georgetown, Ontario Map For more detailed info CONTACT Denis Karda

FREE Nia CLASS COUPON

FEES

HEALTH & REGISTRATION FORM

Terra Karda Studio will be running TEEN Yoga Classes WEDNESDAYS @ 4PM.

Gentle YOGA class for TEENS ONLY. The practise of Yoga can be a phemominal tool to help deal with the challenges of middle school, high school, college or the start of university. Classes will help develop skills to modify and improve on mal-adaptive coping mechanisms that may have been adopted by over stimulated adolescent minds. Classes explore the ‘egoic’ mind and offer insight to the ‘mind games’ that we are all perpetually bombarded with – unfortunately it is usually negatively chatter. This class helps build self-confidence, independence and brings about the use of the ‘new’ brain or neocortex. It will help with releasing negative patterns and creating new pathways in the brain. ?? “Boy, I wish I had these tools as a teen!”??

The students can easily walk over to the studio from Centennial Public School, Christ the King and Georgetown District High School. Terra Karda Studio is located at 36 Armstrong Ave. Georgetown, Ontario Map For more detailed info CONTACT Denis Karda

FEES

HEALTH & REGISTRATION FORM

They’re looking to find out your favorite way to ‘get moving’.

It’s fun and easy! To cast your vote:

Visit NewLifeJournal.com
Find the poll on the bottom left of the homepage
Select Nia and click ‘Vote’. Thanks for spreading the Joy of Movement!

Cast your vote here!

It takes less than 10 seconds and raises the profile of Nia
When I placed my vote Nia held 93% of the votes. YEAH!!

Denis Karda

1 FOCUS & INTENT

Is where we set the focus and intent of the practice. Example: “Today’s class will focus on the feet in order to enhance the sensation of stability in the body.” The students are encouraged to personalize it to fit their specific needs.

2 STEPPING IN

Step Into the Nia circle – “Create the Space to Workout” Students are encouraged to leave behind all distractions, prepare physically, mentally, emotionally by stepping into the circle and getting ready to work out.

3 WARM UP

4 GET MOVING

Cardiovascular section; to energize, stimulate the heart & lungs and condition the body.

5 COOL DOWN

Slow down to re-center, balance, and harmonize the body, mind, emotions, and prepare to move on the floor.

6 FLOOR PLAY

Stretching & strengthening movements (usually yoga moves), take advantage of the heat and pliability generated from the previous movements.

7 STEPPING OUT

Step out of the Nia practice and into the day. Consciously recognizing through body sensation the self-healing and fitness benefits received.

Tai Chi

Nia moves inspired by Tai Chi focus on developing a relationship with your slow dance and learning to move from a lower center of gravity in the body, called the tan-tien – located two inches below the navel in the center of the pelvis. Moving from this center it is possible to develop sensory awareness and a nourishing energy relationship between your body and the world around you.

A Nia Tai Chi experience involves circular, elegant and soft movements, reminiscent of swimming in water. This fluidity gives definition to the body without the use of external weights and slowly and gently increases your range of motion. Coordinating arm, eye, and hand motions with the whole body creates graceful systemic movement without causing strain to the skeletal system. Moving slowly provides conditioning for the legs and increases flexibility. The energy of Tai Chi maximizes efficiency by using the basic locomotive move of leading with the heel and shifting body weight rather than dropping it.

Tae Kwon Do

Nia moves inspired by Tae Kwon Do place an emphasis on precision and on developing organic skill, the perfect balance between moving naturally while mechanically perfecting your technique.

A Nia Tae Kwon Do experience includes arm blocks, punches, thrusts, kicks, hand techniques, and the use of sound. Circular movements become powerful, directed, linear actions in an instant. Speed changes challenge quick and slow twitch muscle fibers and improve your strength, agility, mobility, stability, and overall coordination. The martial art stances, kicks, core, and hand and arm techniques are a cornerstone in the foundation of Nia choreography that makes it possible to receive cardiovascular benefits without repetitive jogging and jumping up and down. Learning to work from a place of dynamic control and balance, you benefit from the energy that flows and directs your body with internal physical, mental, emotional and spiritual power.

Aikido

Nia moves inspired by Aikido follow the path and way of harmony, as in harmonious spherical motion. ‘Ai’ means to meet, ‘ki’ meaning spirit and ‘Do’ meaning the way – in other words, the way of harmony.

A Nia Aikido experience encourages you to energetically blend your body with space, music, breath, time, with other people… with everything! You learn to focus and consciously direct your energy, which allows your energy to flow freely and your whole body to move more powerfully and elegantly.

Dance Arts

Jazz

Nia moves inspired by Jazz encourage fun, showmanship and spontaneous self-expression while balancing muscle strength and flexibility, making it possible to move quickly while isolating joints and body parts.

A Nia Jazz experience encourages body symmetry while isolating individual body parts. Moves from Jazz, such as the cha cha, shakes, the shimmy, and hip bumps make the Nia experience fun and sensual.

Duncan Dance

Nia moves inspired by Duncan Dance seduce you to move in free-spirited ways that integrate both graceful and beautiful full-body expression.

A Nia Duncan Dance experience encourages an unrestricted and uninhibited flow of emotion and motion. Attention to up and out energy flow balances the downward pull of gravity, which helps to keep the posture of the body aligned and balanced. Leg strength is built through the integration of the relève, lyrical momentum, and pauses, creating a unique conversation with the space – rising to the sky and surrendering back to the floor. Calf and leg muscles develop a beautiful shape through the gentle mechanics of opening up the front of the ankle, groin and torso on rising motions.

Modern Dance

Nia moves inspired by Modern Dance creatively get you to play in space with your body, creating shapes in space, falling on and off balance, and being dramatic and elusively emotional.

A Nia Modern Dance experience provides the space to play and create within the Nia moves, tapping into body language that is both physically and emotionally satisfying. As you learn to play and create body shapes in space your body becomes more comfortable at being on and off balance. Free expansive movement leads the way for increased strength and flexibility in the whole body. Changing directions keeps the vestibular system healthy, making it easy for your brain to give you information about your body movement and help control your balance and equilibrium.

Healing Arts

Yoga

Nia moves inspired by Yoga take the emphasis off of muscle and place it on creating comfort by sensing bone and joint alignment.

A Nia Yoga experience teaches you to maintain volume and space inside by positioning bones and joints so that the body is continually encouraged to open up and free itself of unwanted tension. Opening the body becomes a way of making space in and around the joints. Lengthening and feeling the sensation of flexibility – your energy moving out and along the bones – teaches you to stretch in a way that respects muscle attachments. Looking inward, sensing your body as you move, enhances an ongoing awareness of purposeful bone alignment that makes moving into most any yoga posture a natural process.

The Work of Moshe Feldenkrais

Nia moves inspired by the work of Moshe Feldenkrais focus on connecting to body sensations, in motion and in stillness.

A Nia Feldenkrais based experience focuses on moving slowly and quickly while noticing sensations and feelings with the whole body. Awareness of your movement is how you help create permanent changes in your body that improve function and pleasure. You learn to place your conscious and sensory attention on breath, voice, circulation, sight, smell, sound, touch, taste, orientation to space, time and rhythm, as well as physical feelings associated with emotions.

The Alexander Technique

Nia moves inspired by The Alexander Technique focus on redirecting your movement from the top – the head – to help shift stereotyped response patterns that create inefficient postural habits.

A Nia Alexander Technique experience gives you the power to change the way you move and hold your body by redirecting the use of the head in a ‘forward and up’ relationship to the neck and torso. Proper use of the head and neck is primary in developing integrated body movement. The practice of allowing the back to lengthen and widen, and learning how to move as a whole person are just some of the self-healing techniques inspired in this amazing body of work.

A Nia experience encourages you to connect your body with space, music, breath, time, with other people… with everything! You will learn how to move your whole body more powerfully and elegantly.

Explore your body’s natural rhythms…

It has been said that in practicing Nia you will fall in love with being and moving in your body. You will be able to move your whole body more systematically with power and grace. Some of the benefits of Nia are increased strength, agility, mobility, flexibility, balance, rhythm, range of movements, coordination and creativity.

Meet Nia:

Nia is an expressive movement practice for body, mind and spirit. This unique fusion of dance blends 9 different movement forms to deliver a richly diverse energy experience that no isolated technique can match.

The Nia practice is done barefoot to inspirational music, is about one hour long and moves through 7 cycles. Each class begins with a focus and intent which is the first cycle of seven. For more information click on (_)“The 7 CYCLES”:http://www.terrakardastudio.com/blog/the-7-cycles-of-a-nia-class

WORLDWIDE PRACTICE

Nia is a worldwide fitness and lifestyle program with 25 years of technical advancement.

AWARENESS

In Nia, you become aware that every movement in life is a part of your dance and that each and every movement can be used to self-heal. Nia is movement as medicine.

PLEASURE PRINCIPAL

Nia is revolutionary, replacing the idea of punishment with pleasure. Nia advocates doing things the easy way instead of the hard way.

GROUNDED MOVEMENT

Nia is a cardiovascular program that uses whole-body, expressive, grounded movement, rather than repetitive jogging or lifting.

NIA IS FOR EVERY BODY

Nia is adaptable to every level of fitness, every age and type of body, even those with special limitations.

Nia is fun, sexy and liberating.

Anne Lowry and Ondine Constable had a chance to interview him on behalf of New Life Journal.

In 1983, Carlos and Debbie Rosas created the Nia Technique, an internationally acclaimed “body-mind-spirit movement and lifestyle practice.” They have presented at such leading conventions as The National Wellness Conference, Sound Healers Conference and the Science of Consciousness Conference, and they currently sponsor Inner IDEA, an association of holistic fitness professionals. Carlos and Debbie continue to develop training programs for more than 2,000 certified Nia instructors in 37 countries. Last November, Carlos led two advanced Nia teacher trainings in Black Mountain, NC, attended by Nia teachers from around the world. Anne Lowry and Ondine Constable talk with Carlos Rosas, Nia’s creator, about the technique’s principles, its big anniversary and healthy aging.

NLJ: You define Nia as body-mind-spirit fitness, rather than mind-body fitness. Please explain.

CR: [Mind-body fitness] invites people to be inward instead of being so outwardly concentrated. Nia is a body-mind-spirit practice—spirit stands for all that is unique and different to each person. Body-mind-spirit also includes emotion. When it’s mind-body it tends to be dualistic. Spirit breaks the dualism. To us, the word “mind” means using your mental faculties as much as your physical faculties. In Nia, just as we are for body relaxation, we’re for mental relaxation. Instead of saying “be mindful,” I’d rather say “be aware of your body, be sensitive.” The practice of Nia has some qualities that are like mind-body programs, but it’s truly more expansive.

NLJ: Can you suggest Nia principles that people can apply to their current exercise routine?

CR: Whatever people do, most likely there’s some kind of rhythm or cycle that they can pay attention to instead of mental business. When the mind is brought to the attention of a cycle, the mind relaxes. When the mind relaxes, you get fit in such a way that the body releases certain hormones, loosens up the joints, the brain waves change, etc. That’s an aspect of living meditation.

NLJ: What are some examples of cycles?

CR: It depends on the sport. If someone is running, they can count their steps or every time their hand comes to the front, every 10 for example—“1 and 2 and…” then they step on 10 again—or rowing or working on a machine. There is a cycle—a beginning, middle and end—and then the mind comes back to the beginning. When the caring of your body is present, it happens.

NLJ: Would you say that people who’ve mastered the techniques of their particular sport are doing Nia without even knowing it?

CR: That aspect of Nia, yes—the awareness of cycles and the way that they focus. All Olympic athletes do it. They go into the zone, an altered state of consciousness. They focus, and they count their strides. Any activity where you put your mind on something like that will do it.

NLJ: Anything you’d like to say about Nia’s 25th anniversary and its future?

CR: The 25th anniversary has given people an opportunity to say, “Wow, Nia has been around,” and there’s a new appreciation of what’s been accomplished. What I see for the future has to do with creating a new educational program so Nia is more openly seen in the mainstream.

NLJ: What changes do you observe that are a natural part of healthy aging?

CR: I’m 56-years-old. The energy reservoir of my body is very different from when I was 40, when I was 30, when I was 20. I pay attention to that and ask, okay, now that my body is here, what do I need to do differently so that the youthfulness returns? Part of that is learning to be more efficient—through the efficiency of movement, of how I eat, of living in a meditative state. So while [I am] older and some things feel different, at the same time I have twice as much energy at this age than I would have if I’d continued to stay status quo. I find I can be very productive, I can be highly energy-efficient. I’m not following the [common] approach, like okay, I’m going to take it easy, or I guess I need to eat less. I’ve had to explore before I came to this [understanding]. I don’t have a formula. I couldn’t say to someone, “You’re 56, so do these things.” But I do know that Nia has really helped me.

It’s not that I want to be young again, I just want to feel youthful. I’d rather have my joints loose and relaxed than have body definition. I’d rather be flexible than have body definition or be super strong. With the flexibility and the mobility, which comes from the joints, then I can build around that. And of course I want my body to be agile.

When I was 45, my sense of balance was already off. Have you noticed that when you watch someone after a certain age when they get up, the first step is a little off to the side? Or they want to go upstairs and they reach for the banister right away, or they want to go down and they stop to look down. Those are things to pay attention to.

My body is a chemical plant. I’ve come full circle to where I can see how my emotions and my thoughts affect my chemistry. I’m interested in how things affect me chemically because that translates into energy. Food is my main source of chemistry. A lot goes into that. And meditation is most powerful. It’s a great balancer.

Well, it has been a crazy 10 days at the hospital, but we have finally made it home. With a chilly welcoming snow storm to boot. I think the angles above knew that the kids wanted some time with their good old Dad and had all the schools closed in the area.
Unfortunately, Phil and I just slept most of the day. Boy was my bed extra comfy after sleeping on the hospital floor. Sarah and Holly cuddled in with us for the night. Thank goodness we have a Kingsize bed.
Phil is progressing in leaps and bounds. Not quite ready for tonights music lessons (which is our one hour weekly date at the Barber Towne Pub). Hopefully, he will be up and about within a few more weeks. He still can’t use his right leg for another couple of months. He has lost substantial muscle mass in his entire body. I guess he is building his uppr body strength much more quickly. His right leg is so swollen so his left leg looks absolutely hilarious beside it. I’m sure in time he’ll build it up again. For now I just chuckle under my breath. I can’t believe it is able to hold him up all by itself.
We are amazed at how much can happen in our absence. We’ve only had two storms since the accident. So our roof didn’t get shovelled off. Boy that’s causing such problems. If you know of ANYONE crazy enough to do the job that Phil usually does, have them call me. I usually go out with the kids, but I’m just a bit too shook up right now and I don’t want the kids up on the roof.
The guy in the SUV is still evading the OPP and State Farm Insurance Claims. I hope he realizes that things will only get worse if he doesn’t co-operate. Regardless, Phil is on the mend. We had a great evening watching the kids play one of their “rock, paper, scissors” games (Modified to Giants, Wizards and Elves) I’m glad my bladder was empty as I’m sure I would have sprung a leak watching them otherwise.
Keep in touch… home number (905) 702-1297 Phil is here 24/7 for the next while. He’s not always awake or able to reach the phone, so leave a message.
Visitors are more than welcome too. Not too late in the evening as he can barely handle a trip to the toilet and back into bed without passing out exhausted.
Once again many thanks to all that have helped out since the accident. We will make it through, but is is wonderful to have help. :o) D E N I S

Tuesday, January 21, 2009

Phil has been injured in a snowmobiling accident.
I am at the hospital with him awaiting O.R. time for him to be pinned back together.
I am lucky to have worked so long at this hospital – I have some pull.
The accident happened near Midland and Phil was taken to Huronia District Hospital.
Only 15 minutes from the accident location.
There were NO orthopedic beds in or around the GTA and we were going to be shipped to Kingston or possibly Rochester NY.
Ontario has had some nasty weather producing more ortho patients than Ontario hospitals can care for.
After being told the sad state of Ontario’s situation, I called JoeAnne McCue my Administrative Manager @ Brampton Civic Hospital.
I already had been told there were no beds available at BCH, but I needed to pull some strings to be sure Phil would be close to home.
She put me in contact with the Chief Orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Prior.
Dr. Prior agreed to take Phil’s case on and pull some strings for a bed.

Room N.6.097-1
(905) 494-2120 ext. 51601
WILLIAM OSLER HEALTH CENTRE
Brampton Civic Hospital
2100 Bovaird Drive East
Brampton, Ontario L6R 3J7

The OR is backed up with many ortho cases here, hence the long wait.
‘Tis the season for broken bones here in this winter wonderland of Ontario.
One 94 year old lady has waited 4 days with her broken hip.
Phil’s accident was Sunday at 10am – 52 hours ago.
I’d rather wait here in Brampton than be in Kingston or Rochester

Details of the accident…
Phil was traveled west on Peter Ave. and turned left onto Jean Ann.
My brother-in-law Max Kossel and his brother, Lonnie Kossel were following behind. Each of them were on three different sleds.
I was ahead of them at the gas station with Tony Kuczinski and his buddy Leon.
I was blessed not to have witness the incident.
Max called my cell and said we needed to come back NOW.
He did NOT tell me anything, I just knew it was Phil.

Phil was driving on the right hand (west) side of the street travelling south.
At 40 JeanAnn – west side of the road just less than 2 blocks away, a SUV suddenly pulled out of a driveway in front of Phil.
The driveway is about 100 feet long and the driver moved at a rapid speed to try and get the SUV through the snowbank left by the plow.
The SUV driver did not look to see if the roadway was clear of vehicles (it’s a quiet cottage road) and pulled out right if front of Phil.
Phil had a split second to grab the brake.
Luckily Phil’s reaction swung his sled to the left impacting the SUV’s driver’s side.
The right side of the sled crushed his right leg (femur) against the SUV and then Phil bounce off into the middle of the road.
BETTER THAN HEAD FIRST FOR SURE!
The driver of the SUV has been charged with 2 offences
I can’t remember the exact charges.
He also could not produce proof of insurance and was given 24 hours to provide that.
That won’t make any difference for us… not to worry we are covered.
Both the sled and SUV are totaled Both are older vehicles and are beyond repair.
PHIL WILL BE FIXED UP WITH THE HELP OF A GREAT BODY MECHANIC… DR.PRIOR
TIME, LOVE, YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT AND A LITTLE REHAB AND HE’LL BE GOOD AS NEW.
He’s a very lucky man to be alive.

Phil SHOULD be operated on sometime today (Tuesday, January 20).
He is not up to visitors right now, but I’m sure he would love to see EVERYONE when his is stable and in much less pain.
I believe this will be his home for a little while still.
Please know that PHIL WILL BE FINE!
We are enjoying this very private, close time together.
I shampooed his hair, shaved his face, and washed him from tip to toe.
I am sure no one has ever had as much massaging as Phil has had in the last two days.
He definitely does not like being uncomfortable… and I’m glad I can help in some way.
He will be the cleanest freshest smelling patient going to the OR!

The kids know he had an accident and his bone is broken and in need of the doctors to fix it.
Than God it was an adult week-end as Phil usually has Holly and Sarah on behind him!!!!
My mom and Karl are staying with them while I ‘m here with Phil.
The insurance will cover a caregiver for the kids, house cleaner, snow-removal costs for clearing the roof.
Any help is welcome. Phil would never ask for help , but I AM NOT PHIL… bring it on.

I have just hired a caregiver for the next two weeks to help with the kids, cleaning, meal preps, laundry and making sure everything goes smooth.
Thanks to Max and Gail for suggesting that Heather, THEIR CAREGIVER, come and stay with my kids at night.
Heather will stay with the kids from 3pm – 7:30am then head over the Gail and Max’s to look after little Max and Paige until they go to school.
Heather will then care for Camryn until she goes to school at lunch. Heather will only have 3 hours down time each day.
What a life saver.
It’s only short term, but this has brought much relief to my mind.

I want everyone to know the deep gratitude I have for all the help we received from Max, Lonnie, Tony, Leon, Pete and Jake.
These guys took care of our sleds, the cottage and transported our van home.
I can’t thank them enough for all the help that they did on Sunday and since.
Poor Max had to call 911 for the cottage fire and now this… I’m not sure he will ever come to the cottage again :)
I also want to make sure everyone knows how thankful I am to JoeAnne McCue, Dr. Prior, Ann McLeod, Carol Mahar, Bev Croll and Joelle Brimicombe for all the support we have been offered here at the hospital so far.
There really are so many people to thank… my sisters ; Gail, Lee-Ann, Theresa and Carole as well as my mom and Karl have helped out with the kids and the house. Grant and Jean Leonard for taking care of plowing the driveway. The Brennan’s for taking on Mitch and getting him home. Debbie Herbert for caring for Sarah until we knew what to do.
Oh my Goodness, of course Lindsey Baines and Paul Legere for there support with making sure Phil’s office will run smoothly until his return.
Lindsey is also walking me through the claims process. I’ve never done it before as I trusted my agent to work out all the details…. Hee hee.
Also Phil’s family for their undying support and prayers.

Erin has been so helpful, keeping things running at home with a little disruption as possible.
All the kids have helped and it’s especially nice to see.
They are great kids and I know this will help them build more independence.
There is ALWAYS a positive to EVERY situation, you just have to be open to it.
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

Well, it’s 11pm and they have just told us Phil will not be operated on as they do not have the right parts to do the operation. Maybe tomorrow.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Joanne came to hook me up with a charger for my cell phone (905) 703-0454. Then she was so gracious to bring me some patio chair cushions for me to sleep on. I guess I had complained about sleeping on the floor, but I just can’t leave Phil’s side right now. When Joanne came back to the room, Phil and I were gone. With no prep talk, they came to pick up Phil at 12:30pm to take him to surgery. It went well. Many details of which I hope slip from my mind so I won’t bother writing about…
I’m exausted!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Phil’s surgery went better than any of the doctor’s expected.
Dr. Tavazanni was so excited. He had never used the “hardware” that Phil needed in any other surgery before.
It went in beautifully.
A long post (nail) down the shaft of the femur, from hip to knee.
Then a crossbar angled up into the hip socket, threaded through the long post.
At the bottom there is a screw through the side of the knee, the “eye” of the post and the other side of the knee.
These three parts will keep his leg bone fragments stable allowing them to calcify and heal in proper alignment around the post.

Phil has also suffered a head injury, which has left him with short term memory loss. This is only temporary and the CT scan shows no permanent issues to worry about. It’s been kind of funny at times and scary at others. I just assumed it was the morphine. Anyway, there a good signs of that beginning to clearing up already
I love the fact that Phil forgets that he has just told me how much he loves me.
So, he tells me again and again.

Phil should be home early next week as long as he can become somewhat independently mobile. He will NOT be weight bearing on the right side for 10-12 weeks (until substantial bone regeneration has happened). A typical break would take 6-8 weeks, but with all the small pieces more time will be needed. No driving until he can weight bear.

I’m so glad the worst is over! He’s a bit light headed as he lost 5 pints of blood. They have given him 6 pints, but he still needs more. Other than that, he’s up for visitors. 11am-9pm. Joanne and Tony came to visit again today as well.
Thanks for all your well wishes. There are so many and I will not have time to respond to each individually. Our deep gratitude to all our friends and family.
It is a wonderful feeling to have such support from so many wonderful people in our lives.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 23

Well, Phil stood up today and slowly hopped to the washroom using a walker.
He is hell bent to do his physio exercises as directed AND MORE.
The insurance co. has assessed the house to set up whatever Phil will need to be able to rehabilitate at home. Phil had visits from Mike Derezcky, Paul Wilson, Paul Legere, Mike and Margo Karda (his brother). Heather our new caregiver came with Erin, Mitch, Sarah and Holly. Later my mom and Karl came for a visit and then my sister Theresa and Jim stopped in too. With all this support… We can so this!
Hey, guess what? You will never guess, so I’m just going to tell you… Phil’s accident was in our local newspaper – in the police blotter. In Georgetown, everyone fears doing something dumb, as it might end up in the police blotter – small towns get excited over the littlest things. But Phil was thrilled. He was just upset that they got some of the facts wrong and they failed to put his name in print. What a guy!

Saturday, January 24

Phil was able to sit up and use the walker to get to the washroom again. I scrubbed him clean in the shower, which was much more struggle than I anticipated. There is NO WAY any nurse could have possibly done as thorough a job. I was exhausted. Phil was beyond exhausted. After resting for bit, Lindsey came up for a visit. Phil loves to see people. It keeps his spirit UP! Unfortunately, Phil is prone to bouts of pneumonia. His body is fighting to heal the injuries and his right lung is beginning to fill. Geez, I feel like a kid listening to the snap, crackle and pop of my Rice Crispies while he sleeps. He is also running a fever, which is typical. His body doing it’s thing. His kidneys took a bit of a beating and have stopped bleeding, but he has a bladder infection. Hence his preoccupation down below. BUT then again that’s nothing new for Phil. Always thinking of his boys and their mighty leader!
My dad used to call his physiotherapist a physio-terrorist. Now I guess I have a new hat to wear as Phil’s physio-terrorist. I have him huffing and puffing on his “toy” to keep his lungs working fully, while I crack the whip demanding the exercises be done correctly. He is like a teeter totter. Head up for a bit to clear the lungs, then head down and feet raised to massage the foot, ankle and calf to drain the edema/swelling/blood back up the leg. On the left side to air out the open sores and change the dressings and a slight shift to the right to finish changing the under pad that catches the body fluid.
THEN WE START ALL OVER AGAIN.
That’s why Phil likes visitors, it’s a break from ME!
:o)

I has recently come to our attention that, unfortunately, Oprah’s people have sent the postcards back to Nia HQ. Apparently they are not happy with unsolicited mail.

Despite this minor setback, we believe that we have still managed to raise the profile of Nia with our efforts. As we heard earlier from HQ and through one of our Niac members, we still have the opportunity to tell our stories!

Please take the time to do this, and encourage your students to do so as well! Just
Just click HERE to create an account, and then post your stories! They are also asking for pictures (and sometimes won’t let you submit if you don’t have the pictures the right size), so please feel free to copy and paste any image from my site to attach to your message if you like.

Also, you can double your efforts by cutting and pasting your story to Oprah and telling it to Participation.

We can make this a more local/Canadian effort by sharing our stories with Canadians too. “(_)Click Here”: http://www.participaction.com/en-us/Stories/CreateStory.aspx?StoryID=1852 You will have to create login id with them as well , but I think the benefits of sharing the POWER OF NIA is worth the 15 minutes or so necessary to do this!

We now have 5 Yoga teachers offering many different styles of Yoga teaching. You are more than welcome to purchase a 10 class pass and try out ALL the different classes available to you. Don’t forget that everyBody’s first Nia class is FREE!

Tell your family and friends to check us out as well. WE are not just somewhere to go to work out or get fit. Terra Karda Studio offers so much more. Our holistic classes go far beyond a Yoga class found in a gym. Come out and see why our facility creates such a life altering difference.

Come and find out why Nia is one of the most up and coming holistic fitness option. We are hoping to see Oprah taste some Nia and discover why so many people’s live have been drastically transformed.

Namaste and warmest wishes to all from the teachers at TKS…

Denis Karda

Ankur Manchandra


Lisa McKenna

Tere Lopez

Miriana Simpraga

Let’s show Oprah …

Nia is worldwide, has been around for 25 years and is here to stay.

Address your postcard to:

Oprah Winfrey, Harpo Studios
1058 W Washington Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60607

LET’S BRING Nia TO OPRAH!

Nia International Headquarters is launching a postcard campaign to encourage Oprah to endorse Nia to her viewers. YOU can help Nia’s story to be told by sharing your personal experience with Nia.

We ask you to send a postcard to Harpo Studios at the address listed above. Write on the back – in your own handwriting – what Nia means to you and/or why Nia should be on the Oprah Show.

Harpo Studios wants to see the personal impact Nia has made in people’s lives and this is dependent on postcards being handwritten and addressed by separate individuals.

Let’s rock Oprah – and show the world the beauty of Nia.

Remember, there is power in numbers.
Join us in this challenge! Let’s hear everyBODY sing together in triumphant chorus:

“We Love Nia!”

Get your postcard to mail now – ASK DENIS KARDA – TODAY! GAME ON!
Thank you for your participation in this initiative.

Please be sure to have your postcards mailed by the end of 2008!

With Joy and Pleasure,
Nia Technique and NiaC
and of course Denis Karda, Nia White Belt Instructor (Georgetown, Ontario Canada)

We are thrilled to announce that Denis Karda will be holding another Nia class at Riverdale Fitness Mill which is located in Caledon Ontario in the small village of Inglewood. Situated on the banks of the Credit River, on the Niagara Escarpment, this new boutique community fitness centre of 4000 square feet provides “an inspiring atmosphere” for local residents to work out at. See map

Situated in a 1871 Woolen Mill now a historical heritage building, the club has a unique ambiance with its limestone walls and wood timber beam construction. The site is rich in heritage, having first provided employment to locals in the early 1800’s. Back then, water meant power and the proximity to the Credit River and local markets made it an ideal site for Thomas Corbett to establish a Woolen Mill in 1837. Today, members working out in the centre can see charred wood in the stone walls, remnants of the first major evolution, the fire, which resulted in the present stone structure being built.

Riverdale Fitness Mill has had success offering unique specialty programs. These programs range from “ladies only” Exotic Dance and couples Salsa Dancing to Nordic Walking, and live Latin bands. The Canadian Cross Training Club which trains triathletes also calls Riverdale home.

Now Riverdale Fitness is please to add Nia as one of their specialty programs. Come and experience this holistic fitness class with one of the most expressive and dynamic teachers around… Denis Karda will MOVE YOU in more ways than you can imagine.

Introduction to Latin Dancing

WEHN: Tuesdays
TIME: 7 – 8 pm
WHERE: Terra Karda Studio
ADDRESS: 36 Armstrong Avenue Georgetown, Ontario Canada

Damian Soto will cover the basics of Salsa, Merengue, ChaCha, Mambo and Regguetton. Get ready to dance to the beat at your next Christmas party. Prepare yourself for your next trip down south. Come enjoy the inviting and warm atmosphere of Terra Karda Studio. A place where you can be comfortable about dancing without judgement. Ladies you can let your hair hang down and cut loose. Gentlemen get ready to find the confidence within to WOW the ladies with your new moves. Bring your partner or come alone – this will be fun for everyone! For more information please Click Here to contact Denis Karda or you can Call Damian directly 416-887-1745

Monday, October 27th 10:30am
Tuesday, Oct 28th 5:30pm
Friday, October 24th 10:30am

GoodLife Fitness – Coed
65 Sinclair Ave., Georgetown, Ontario
(905) 702-9013

Celebrating Pleasure for 25 years, Nia is a barefoot, holistic fitness program that will awaken your body’s ability to move with pleasure and joy, create awareness of your body’s sensations and will encourage you to dive into your personal layers and uncover your true strength in a mindful way.

Holistic fitness that is based on the Pleasure Principle; If it feels good, keep doing it. If it hurts, STOP!

Date: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23RD
Time: 5:30 – 6:45pm
Venue: Terra Karda Studio
Address: 36 Armstrong Ave. Georgetown, ON Canada

Join Lisa McKenna and Denis Karda for a FREE YOGA class.
Experience the essence of Yoga, in a warm and welcoming environment.
No experience necessary to try this class.
Discover your breath, explore your body, still your racing (usually toxic) turbulent mind.
Treat yourself to the luxury of a YOGA class and see why it has been around for 5000 years.

FREE Restorative Flow YOGA Class

Date: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24TH
Time: 9:15 – 10:30 Am
Venue: Terra Karda Studio
Address: 36 Armstrong Ave. Georgetown, ON Canada

Click Here to Contact Denis Karda for more information or to register for either one of these FREE Classes.

MARTIAL ART: Tai Chi

Catch Phrase: Slow Dance

In Your Nia Practice: Nia moves inspired by Tai Chi focuses on developing a relationship with your slow dance, with maintaining the vertical alignment of your three body weights, and learning to move from a lower center of gravity in your body, called the Tan-Tien, which is situated two inches below your navel in the center of the pelvis. Moving from this center, it is possible to develop sensory awareness and a nourishing energy relationship between your body and the world and space around you. A Nia Tai Chi experience involves using circular, elegant and soft movements, reminiscent of swimming in water. Fluidity provides definition without the use of external weights and gently increases a joint’s range of motion. Coordinating arm, eye and hand motions creates systemic movement. Shifting body weight protects the skeletal system and provides conditioning for the legs. Leading with the heel and shifting body weight rather than dropping it allows you to move safely and workout without shoes.

Tai Chi Teaches You: Precision. Alignment of the Three Body Weights. Hand and Eye Coordination. Heel Lead and Weight Shift. Continuous Flow of Energy. Conscious and Focused Mindfulness. Moving from the Lower Abdomen, the Tan-Tien. The Smile Line. Integration of the Hands, Upper and Lower Body and Breathing. Establishing Balance and Coordination.

MARTIAL ART: Tae Kwon Do

Catch Phrase: The Dance of Precision

In Your Nia Practice: Nia moves inspired by Tae Kwon Do place an emphasis on precision and on developing Organic Skill, which is the perfect balance between what is mechanically perfect and natural to your body’s way and technique. A Nia Tae Kwon Do experience includes using hand technique, blocks, punches, strikes, kicks, and sound. Circular movement creates powerful directed linear action. Speed changes challenge the quick and slow twitch muscle fibers and improve your strength, flexibility, agility, mobility, stability and, overall body-mind co-ordination. Stances, kicks, and grounded movement are cornerstones in the foundation of bare foot Nia choreography, making it possible to receive cardiovascular benefits without repetitive jogging and jumping up and down. You learn to work from a place of dynamic ease, and benefit from directing your body with physical, mental, emotional and spiritual energy.

Tae Kwon Do Teaches You: Strikes. Punches. Blocks. Kicks. Steps. Stances. Directed energy. Explosive power. Combative technique. Start and Stop energy. Dynamic Ease and Flow. Reactionary Speed. Relaxed Muscle for Power. Precision. Protection. Conscious Safety. Speed and Agility. The Balance of Yin and Yang. Using Focus, Intent and Sound for Power and Internal Support.

MARTIAL ART: Aikido

Catch Phrase: Harmonious Spherical Motion

In Your Nia Practice: Nia moves inspired by Aikido follow the path and way of harmony, as in harmonious spherical motion. ‘Ai’ means to meet, ‘ki’ means spirit and ‘Do’ means the way – in other words, Aikido is learning to move and follow “the way of harmony”. A Nia Aikido experience encourages you to energetically blend your body with space, the music, your breath, with the room, the choreography, a move, with the people, time, with everything! You learn to focus and direct your energy, which allows your energy to flow and support your whole body in moving more powerfully and elegantly.

Aikido Teaches You: The Art of Entering. Blending. Spiraling. GRACE-Grounding. Relaxation. Awareness. Centering. Energy. Integrating Lines and Circles. Body Awareness. Relaxed Power. Harmony. Conflict Resolution. Hand Techniques. Doubling Power. Hara Centered. Spiraling Around a Vertical Axis. Focus. Directed. Feet Connected to Earth. Intuition.

DANCE ART: Jazz

Catch Phrase: Fun Showmanship and Expression

In Your Nia Practice: Nia moves inspired by Jazz encourage moving and having fun, stepping into the state of showmanship and learning to be spontaneous. Jazz encourages self-expression while balancing muscle strength, flexibility, agility, stability, and mobility. Jazz makes it possible to move the whole body quickly while isolating a joint or body part. A Nia Jazz experience encourages symmetry while isolating individual parts. Jazz moves such as isolations, shakes, shimmy, and hip bumps make the Nia experience fun and sensual.

Jazz Teaches You: Intrinsic Action. Isolations. Playing with Attention. Attitude. Hot Expression. Sexy Attitude. Sassy. See Me. Look at Me Dance. I’m the Best. Joint Action. Small Gestures. Precise Line. Willful. No Holding Back.

DANCE ART: Modern

Catch Phrase: Creating Shapes in Space

In Your Nia Practice: Nia moves inspired by Modern Dance creatively get you to play in space with your body, creating shapes and falling on and off balance while being dramatic and elusively emotional. A Nia Modern Dance experience provides the space to play and create within the Nia moves, tapping into body language that is both physically and emotionally satisfying. As you learn to play with creating body shapes in space, your body becomes more comfortable at being on and off balance. Free expansive movement leads the way for increased strength and flexibility in the whole body, and changing directions keeps the vestibular system healthy, making it easy for your brain to give you information about your body movement and helps control your balance and equilibrium.

Modern Dance Teaches You: On-Off Balance. Playing with Shapes in Space. Playing with and Against Gravity. Down. Up. Over. Under. In. Out. Contract. Release. Expand. Emotional. Drama. Lines and Circles. Modern. New.

DANCE ART: Duncan

Catch Phrase: Free Spirited Honest Movement

In Your Nia Practice: Nia moves inspired by Duncan Dance seduce you to move in a free spirited way that integrates both graceful and beautiful full-body expression. A Nia Duncan Dance experience encourages unrestricted, uninhibited flow of emotion and motion. Attention to up and out balances the downward pull of gravity, which helps to keep the posture of the body youthfully aligned and better balanced. Leg strength is built through the integration of relevé and déscendé. Lyrical momentum and pauses create a moving conversation between rising to the sky and surrendering back down to the floor. Calf and leg muscles develop a shape through the gentle mechanics of opening up the front of the ankle, the groin and lengthening the torso on rising motions. Hands and arms are used to convey feeling and emotion, your connection to the dance of “now”.

Duncan Dance Teaches You: Moving Up to the Heaven. Light Hearted. Childlike. Re-live. Joyful. Play at Dancing. Connected to Environment. One with Your Music. Universal Joy. Skipping. Waltz. Polka. Runs. Walks. Gliding. Light Under the Heels. Relevé. Imagery. Imagination. Fun. Frolic. Angelic.

HEALING ART: The Work of Moshe Feldenkrais

Catch Phrase: Conscious Awareness of Sensation

In Your Nia Practice: Nia moves inspired by the Work of Moshe Feldenkrais focus on connecting you to body sensation, in motion and in stillness. A Nia Feldenkrais based experience focuses on teaching you to move slowly and quickly while noticing sensations and feelings from the whole body. Awareness of your movement is how you improve function and pleasure. You learn to place your conscious and sensory attention on developing awareness of your breathing, speaking, circulation, sight, smell, hearing, touch, taste and to your orientation in space, relationship to time and rhythm, as well as to the physical feelings associated with emotion.

The Work of Moshe Feldenkrais Teaches You: Whole Body Sensation. Sensation as a Teacher. Regardless of Speed or Position, Feeling. Sensations of Asleep – Awake – Aware. All Parts of You Available to Sensation. Ease and No Effort. Integrated. Central Nervous System Wellness.

HEALING ART: Alexander Technique

Catch Phrase: Movement From the Top

In Your Nia Practice: Nia moves inspired by The Alexander Technique focus on redirecting your movement from the top, the head, helping you to change stereotyped response patterns that can create inefficient postural habits. A Nia Alexander Technique experience gives you the power to change the way you move and hold your body by redirecting the use of your head in a ‘forward and up and away from the torso’ relationship to gravity. Proper use of the head and neck is primary in coordinating the use of whole body movement and in developing integrated movement. The practice includes; imagining, intending, allowing your back to lengthen and widen, learning how to behave as though you are a whole person, never disconnecting any part of your body from the other and being completely connected in body and mind. These are just few of the self-healing techniques offered by this amazing body of work.

Alexander Technique Teaches You: Anti-Gravity. Use of Imagery. Non-Doing. Direction of Eyes. Perception. Ease. Head Leads and Body Follows. Slightly Forward, Up and Out.

HEALING ART: Yoga

Catch Phrase: Conscious Alignment of Bones and Joints

In Your Nia Practice: Nia moves inspired by Yoga take the emphasis off muscle and place it on creating comfort by sensing bone and joint alignment. A Nia Yoga experience teaches you to maintain volume and space inside by positioning bones and joints so that the body is continually encouraged to open and free itself of unwanted tension. Opening the body becomes a way of making space in and around the joints. Lengthening and feeling the sensation of flexibility, your energy moving out and along the bones, teaches you to stretch in a way that respects muscle attachments. Looking inward, sensing your body as you move and at rest develops the awareness of purposeful bone alignment that makes moving into most any yoga posture a natural process.

Yoga Teaches You: Vertical and Horizontal Line Flow. Stillness. Postures. Length of Bones. Relationship to Muscles and Joints. Healing. Forward and Back Bending. Inversions. Flexion. Extension. Twists. Restorative Poses. All Styles. Conscious and Spiritual Connection. Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Relationship.

The Feldenkrais Method of somatic education® is designed help you move with greater ease. There are two ways you can learn Feldenkrais: Awareness Through Movement® and Functional Integration®. Many people feel that they learn best by combining both aspects of the method.

In Awareness Through Movement lessons, an instructor talks you through a series of pleasant and natural movements. She will encourage you to take plenty of rests, to work at your own pace and stay within your range of motion. Each lesson lasts about an hour. Most lessons are done on the floor on mats, but some are done sitting or standing.

Functional Integration is a hands-on way of learning Feldenkrais. It is geared to your individual needs. You lie wearing loose clothing on a specially designed table, while the teacher guides your movements in a non-invasive way. You can use Functional Integration to attend to an injury or specific issue, or just to enhance your learning.

The Feldenkrais method is taught by thousands of practitioners, world-wide. Its inventor, Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais (1904-1984) was trained as a physicist and engineer. He drew on his knowledge of martial arts and child development to create this remarkable method of somatic education.

Feldenkrais can help you …

• Make choices about how you move
• Manage stress
• Recover from injury … avoid re-injury … improve your performance
• Enhance creativity … not just for artists
• Use your energy and strength effectively

Who will benefit from Feldenkrais

The short answer is, anyone and everyone! But here?s a partial list: athletes, dancers and performers of all kinds, people who work to deadlines and spend long hours at the computer, nurses, wait-staff, and people who spend a lot of time on their feet, writers, visual artists, seniors, athletes, and senior athletes, full-time parents and care-givers (Feldenkrais is quiet time for you), people recovering from injury or living with chronic pain.

To discover more Click HERE and read what Maria Meindl has to offer YOU!
Email Maria with any questions: bodylanguage@sympatico.ca

Feldenkrais®, Feldenkrais Method® and Awareness Through Movement® are service marks of the Feldenkrais Guild® of North America.

Go barefooted
The bottoms of your feet sense the ground and send information back to your brain so your body can effectively compensate and adapt. For your safety, take off your shoes or wear soft-soled shoes, such as gymnastic shoes.

Start easy
Follow “level one” movements, or focus only on the leg motions, adding arm motions when you are ready. Build intensity gradually. Let your body slowly acclimate and adjust to Nia movement. Allow yourself the freedom to enjoy being a beginner. Nia is different; it is meant to teach you about you, physically and emotionally. Keep your interest and fascination up and your criticism and judgment down. Be gentle, be patient and allow yourself to move through levels and stay on plateaus. This is the way to master and enjoy anything!

Don’t force a motion
Don’t strain. Strive for a balance between control and relaxation as you listen to your body’s signals. Move in a smooth, lightly relaxed way that doesn’t make you breathless or fatigued. If your body does not relate well to a movement, adjust and move within your own challenge and comfort zone. This puts positive, loving information into the muscle memory.

Get in as much non-stop movement as possible
Find a rhythmic, easy pace, working slower and longer rather than faster and harder.

Make the movements an expression of you
This is your workout. Express your own unique rhythm and body language through the Nia Technique. Your emotional body will help to fine-tune your physical body, and vice versa. Be jazzy, luscious, lyrical, snappy, or sensually smooth. But most of all, passionately be yourself and have fun!

Use “belly breathing”
As your body opens, inhale. As your body closes, exhale. When you inhale, first feel your belly expand, then your ribs laterally expand, and then your chest and clavicle rise. Exhale to contract your abdominals and to round the spine. Let go freely with hearty “Hai” exhalations to tone your abdominals and protect your back during kicks and punches. Breathing is one of the most effective ways to strengthen and relax your body, mind, and spirit, so don’t hold back!

Move the way you walk – by using your whole body
Lead with your heel when stepping forward or to the side, gently rolling onto the ball of your foot and then pushing off to change directions. Step back onto the ball of your foot, keeping your knees soft and your heel high as you lower your body weight to a point of comfort in the muscle and joint. Avoid stepping back with a locked and rigid leg.

Keep your spine lengthened
Stay upright, from the crown of your head, down through your spine into your tailbone. Imagine a tiny weight at the end of your tailbone and a ray of light streaming upward through the crown of your head. Always let your spine remain soft and flexible, like a willow tree. Eventually you’ll learn to move from the energy centre of your body, which is two inches below your navel.

Use your arms to express your feelings, emotions, or mood
Using your arms can elevate heart rate, so be careful not to overdo it. To maintain comfort, work in a range of motion that allows you to feel balanced and in control. Generate arm movements from the core of your body and keep your joints relaxed and fluid to obtain definition. If you feel tension building in your shoulders, shake out your arms and hands to release the tension. Add your arms back into your movement when you feel ready.

Draw your knee up toward your chest before you kick out
Always kick at a level where you can lengthen your spine and maintain control, comfort, and balance. Feel for a stretch along the back of the leg and spine as you kick.

Protect your knees
On sinking motions, periodically lift your toes to keep your knees safely aligned over your feet and to keep your calves engaged. As you lower your body weight, feel your buttocks naturally move back behind you to avoid pressing your knees to the front.

Take at least four classes a week
To obtain cardiovascular benefits the American Council on Exercise recommends that you work within your recommended target heart-rate zone for at least 30 minutes, four to five times a week. If it is difficult for you to get to four classes a week on a regular basis, use the Nia companion videotape workouts at home.

Combine a good diet with internal and external exercise to balance your fitness program
With enough sleep, proper nutrition, and exercise, you will see and feel results far beyond changing the shape of your body. Reducing the amounts of salt, sugar, fats, red meats, and refined and processed foods will cleanse your body and strengthen your internal fitness. Having healthy organs and a system that functions optimally will give you more energy to do everything you want. Your skin will glow, you will sleep better, your cells will be nourished, and you will feel excited about living!

Get the Most from YOUR Nia Experience!