Hot Nia News

New “Read me, Print me” Newsletter Format

Welcome to our new newsletter format! Since the inception of the on-line version of our newsletter in April 2006, we have received a lot of feedback from you. We have been listening to you, and have incorporated many of your suggestions. We are excited about the redesigned, user-friendly format, which gives you…

• The opportunity to read the newsletter on-line, as well as print it out, as one document.
• A shortened overview of “The Body’s Way Education,” with a link to more in the Online Education section of the website.
• “Hot Nia News,” where you will find new and exciting news, offers, events, and products.
• “The Power of Nia,” where you will read personal stories – how Nia has touched someone’s life.
• “The Passion of Nia,” which features conversations with Nia professionals, as well as other professionals from the fitness, wellness, and personal growth industries.

And for Nia Teachers…

For your convenience, the Teachers Section of the Newsletter will appear in the “Teachers Forum” in the “Teachers Area.” This one stop process is designed to encourage interactive communication between all belt levels.

Each month in the Teachers Forum, you will receive:

• A personal message from Debbie and Carlos
• Belt Corners, to encourage interactive communication between all belts around one topic.
• Tips for taking newsletter information into your Nia practice and group classes.

From the editor: Tell us what you think. We welcome your feedback, suggestions, and your personal and professional stories that may appear in future issues. Send them to editor@nianow.com.

The Body’s Way Education

From the Editor: In Nia, we use The Body’s Way as a map to guide us through the stages of becoming fit, experiencing personal growth, and creating a lifestyle practice of well-being.

The Final and 5th Stage of Self-Healing: Walking

Introduction

Over the last nine months we’ve guided you through The Body’s Way education and through the first four stages of the Five Stages of Self-Healing – Embryonic, Creeping, Crawling, and Standing. We now add the final stage – Walking.

Walking is something you do every day. As a movement, Walking is a mobile action. It moves you about vertically and freely around a vertical axis – your spine.

Begin exploring Walking by using the information provided in:

• Learn the Architecture of Walking
• The Body’s Way Principle 5
• The Voices of the Body – The Feet

Learn the Architecture of Walking

Walking–Human like.

Walking, the final stage of the Five Stages of Self-Healing, is the only stage where your spine is vertical and freely mobile. It is the stage where you experience the integration of all body parts in motion as an upright being.

The architecture of Walking is vertical. Your arms hang. Your head sits on top of your chest, and your chest sits on top of your pelvis. Your feet, along with the ankle joints, are your mobile and stable foundation.

Walking is an upright balancing act. Physically, your feet rest on the earth, and push to move you. The mobility in your feet – along with your ankle joint, knee joint, and hip joint – generate flow from the ground up, creating a movable architecture, which supports your upper body in moving freely and fully.

To learn Walking, take your shoes off. Begin on the floor in the first stage of the Five Stages of Self-Healing, Embryonic, and move through all five stages. Pay attention to your feet. Notice how the first time your feet touch the earth is when you curl them under in preparation to move into the fourth stage, Standing. Pause in Standing for a moment, and consciously rise up into Walking. Walk first on the balls of your feet, which will activate the motor nerves along the front of your spine. Consciously direct your body to come into a whole foot by saying, “Now I am ready to Walk.” At this moment, notice The Body’s Way of leading with the heel, and Walk.

Next month we will explore how to Move the architecture of Walking, and in March, we complete the Five Stages series with tips to Energize the architecture of Walking.

The Body’s Way Principle 5

From the Editor: The Body’s Way is guided by five fundamental principles that keep the body functioning optimally. Read about all five principles in the Nia Book.

The Body Itself Reveals The Body’s Way

The Body itself reveals The Body’s Way in two ways: through the language of design, and through the language of feedback. Use the design of The Body’s Way in Walking and maintain a vertical alignment that is dynamic. This means, avoid putting yourself in a rigid posture. Connect to two dynamics: Gravity, the downward energy source below, and the Electromagnetic forces, the upward energy source above.

The language of design is simple: “This is how I’m built, so use me accordingly.” For example, in Walking, balance your three body weights, using your pelvis as the foundation for your chest and head to move up and out of.

The language of feedback is equally easy to comprehend. Through neurological connections, every part of the body constantly provides you with either positive feedback or negative feedback. In their most fundamental forms, positive feedback is pleasure, and negative feedback is pain. As you Walk, pay attention to what feels good. If you feel pain, adjust from the bottom up. This means, you may need to buy a new pair of shoes or take them off. It can also mean that you need to let your feet do the walking, not your head.

The Voice of the Body – The Feet

From the Editor: Each Voice of The Body is defined within a Structure made up of the Cognitive, Symbology, and Sensory Awareness aspects. Each aspect is defined by particular elements that impart the scientific components and deeper meanings of the Voice of The Body. Review each aspect to better understand this issue's Voice of the Body.

Cognitive

Who Am I: I am your feet. My job is to provide you with a foundation.

Voice of The Feet: I am the voice of your feet. Like hands, I touch the earth. By design, there are two of me. One of me supports your left side and one, your right side. Each of me has 26 bones and 25 joints. I let you know where you are through sensation coming from over 7,000 nerve endings in each of me.

My function is to provide you with a foundation—a trampoline-like base with arches that run horizontally and longitudinally. I function best when your ankle joint is free and involved. What keeps me healthy is being allowed to be naked and free to naturally settle into a relaxed, more elongated and expanded design. If I am confined, I get cranky and lock up.

I never work alone, but with my partner, the ankle joint. I provide stability and support from my inner arch, made up of the big toe and the next two toes. My arches give you a springboard. My toes, designed to lengthen and spread, need space and freedom. At the back of me is my largest bone, the calcaneus, a part known as the heel. Together with my second largest bone, the talus, and the smaller bones, the navicular, cuneiform, metatarsals, and my inner arches, I provide flexiblilty, power, and stability.

My Gift to You: I make it possible for you to receive energy from the earth, and to be touched as you walk, run, skip, hop, play sports, dance and live in your world.

Symbology

Imagine Me As: Visualize me as a magic carpet, one you ride on and are elegantly supported by from underneath.

Sensory

In Nia: Build your Awareness and strengthen your Base by including all of the Foot Motions, Steps, Stances, and Kicks in your workout and life. (See the 52 Moves chapter in the Nia Book.)

When Dancing Through Life: Live in your feet and lovingly walk with them every step throughout your day. Sense your ankle joints and feet as working together as one system. Wear shoes that fit and feel good, shoes that give your feet room to move and breathe. Care for your feet. Massage them and pumice calluses off. Give your feet the gift of a manicure. Keep them soft by applying lotion. Keep your skin sensory-alive by taking your feet out for a walk.

The Power of Nia

Living with Fibromyalgia

Sandy Feldstein, Nia Black Belt Teacher
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

From the Editor: Sandy has been teaching Nia since 1998. She received a Bachelor of Science in 1981, and a Master of Human Kinetics in 1983. She was a charter member of the Ontario Association of Applied Kinesiology, and has been employed in the fields of ergonomics and medical underwriting. She is married and has three children. Sandy has successfully developed a Nia program offered at the University of Toronto, which is a part of a four-year inter-disciplinary honors bachelor’s degree program, teaching every aspect of physical activity and its relationship with health.

“It is a cliché to say that Nia changed my life – but that’s the truth!”

Since childhood, Sandy had been very athletic. She’d participated in a variety of sports and outdoor activities, as both a player and coach. In July of 1994, though, she suddenly became quite ill, with symptoms of severe muscle pain and weakness.

After several harrowing weeks of diagnostic work-ups, her physicians concluded that she had contracted fibromyalgia, a generally intractable chronic condition that causes excruciating, widespread muscle pain.

From the Editor: Read the rest of Sandy’s Story, “Doing the Impossible,” and more Nia Stories in Testimonials. To contact Sandy, felsand@rogers.com.

Events & Happenings

A New Partnership for Nia

Nia is excited to announce the renewal of our Inner IDEA Conference Visionary Sponsorship

Debbie and Carlos have been members of IDEA Health and Fitness Association since 1985 and have been influential in helping IDEA bridge the gap between traditional fitness and body-mind-spirit models. In 1993, Debbie and Carlos were chosen to be part of IDEA’s mind-body committee, whose task was to begin defining mind-body fitness. Since then, IDEA has proven to be a pioneer and leader for the industry, offering excellent educational information through the “IDEA Fitness Journal” for professionals, their magazine dedicated to Inspiring the World to Fitness. Over the years they have refined and improved the process of providing opportunities for professionals to continue their education through conventions, products, and on-line education.

Nia is proud to announce that for the second year, Nia is a sponsor of Inner IDEA, a intimate convention, limited to 600 participants, to be held in Palm Springs, California, at the La Quinta Resort and Club, September 6-9, 2007. Debbie and Carlos will be presenting six programs. Space is limited, and based on last year’s sold-out experience, this is a convention not to be missed. Here is what you will experience from Debbie and Carlos and be sure to check out the complete schedule of offerings that premier the best from our industry. Visit http://w2.inneridea.com/conference/ for more details and to register ($595 until March 31, 2007).

Nia Movement (M) Sessions with Debbie and Carlos

• (104) Nia-The Body’s Way to Bring Anatomy to Life
  Thursday, 03:30 pm-05:15 pm
• (114) Nia-Conscious Personal Training
  Friday, 07:00 am-08:00 am
• (131) Nia-The Five Stages of Self-Healing
  Friday, 09:10 am-11:00 am
• (205) Nia-FloorPlay: Grounded Conditioning
  Saturday, 07:00 am-08:00 am
• (223) Nia-The Five Sensations of Feeling Fitness
  Saturday, 09:10 am-11:00 am
• (330) Nia-Awakening the Sacred Athlete Within
  Sunday, 10:05 am-11:55 am

The Passion of Nia

Ann Christiansen - Nia Trainer, Germany

I was introduced to Nia by my best girlfriend, Isabella, in Sweden after she participated in a Nia class with Debbie and Carlos at the 1996 IDEA mind-body convention in the USA. I knew then Nia was for me.

The first class I ever took was to the Nia routine Medicine Woman. Something about it really clicked for my body. It appealed to all my interests: music, dance, movement, sports, and healing arts. After I took this class I sensed my body say to me, “You have to return to this and find out more.” I did not know then how or when Nia would be part of my life, I just knew that it would!

About six months later, it all fell into place. I found myself sitting on an airplane going to Portland, Oregon to do the White Belt, the first Belt of Nia’s Intensive Trainings. Little did I know how it would change my life!

The depth of Nia’s body, mind, emotions, spirit education that I experienced inspired me, and transformed my relationship with my body and work. I knew there was more to come. Ten days after I completed the White Belt, I began teaching Nia, sharing the joy.

When Debbie and Carlos began to focus on spreading Nia globally, I was able to bring them both to Sweden and Germany.

During this time I went from teaching one class a week to 10 classes a week. Eventually I was teaching 13 classes a week, leading a workshop every month for Nia teachers and the public, all the while building a very strong Nia community in Hamburg, Germany.

In 2003, after having completed all of the Belts I became a certified Nia Trainer, and started leading the White Belt Training in Germany, Sweden, and other parts of the world.

At the moment I teach 10 classes a week in Hamburg. This year I will lead 11 White Belt Trainings, several workshops, and attend a number of conventions.

My life as a Nia Trainer is full and varied. It requires a lot of concentration, commitment to the work, and being present for my students. It is always challenging, and always rewarding, and always fun!

I look forward to the new developments in Nia, and I am always happy to be of assistance to anyone inspired by the Path of Nia. Enjoy your Nia journey!

From the Editor: Ann is one of 16 Nia Trainers committed to providing the best in Body-Mind-Spirit education. Check out the Nia Intensive Training Faculty Page for more information.

From the Founders

Walking into 2007

We’re off and running in a new year. As we do at the beginning of every year Carlos, Jeff, and I sat down to put our new vision and dream into motion. Our main focus is improving how we work together and how to bring the Joy of Nia into everything we do.

As part of this process we are working with a fabulous business coach, Barry Moltz, who lives in Chicago with his wife, Sara Shafran, a Nia White Belt. Barry is not only an outstanding business coach, he is also an author who specializes in helping professionals who run a “family business” to work together efficiently and effectively. The results have been tremendous. One benefit of working with Barry is the creation of a whole new Organizational Structure, which acts as a blueprint for all of us at NiaHQ to work effectively as an integrated team. Four main departments will drive our business: Business Development & Marketing, Product Development, Service Delivery, and Operations. These Teams are dedicated to inspiring, educating, and motivating you to health.

We're also excited about our new slogan: “Nia Is For everyBody.” It speaks to the responses we receive when we ask the intensive students on the first night: “Why are you here? Are you here to become a teacher? For personal growth? To add to your own professional practice?” While some say they want to become a teacher, everyone says, “I am here for Personal Growth.” To us, this means, Nia is for Every Body. Stay tuned…

Enjoy the final stage of The Five Stages of Self-Healing and proudly Walk into 2007. See a path before you and Walk into the sensation of power – your power.

In pleasure,
Debbie and Carlos

From the Editor: Check out Barry’s latest business book, You Need to Be a Little Crazy on his website: www.barrymoltz.com.

Nia In the Media

Nia is featured in the media all over the world. Below are just a few that have recently been published or aired. To see more articles about Nia, visit Nia in the Media.

The Good Life Magazine - December 2006

Singing Out Loud With Your Body – by Spike Gillespie

This article describes “Groovy Dance Classes” in Austin, TX that offer “great ways to stay in shape with Nia.” The writer specifically values the esoteric benefits of laughter, silliness, and play.

“I found some pretty amazing things in the first few Nia classes I took. First of all, I was laughing. A lot. Not at myself, but how when I let go (even a teensy bit) it was actually fun. Some movements I also wanted to cry. So many of us spend so much time craving a safe place to be silly and playful, but when we actually find one, the feeling can be intensely emotional.”

IDEA Fitness Journal - January 2007

Inspire the World to Fitness

Debbie Rosas is featured in IDEA’s “Inspire The World to Fitness” marketing campaign. She shares her greatest inspiration:

“My greatest inspiration is reaching people to awaken them to their power, feelings and wholeness. I inspire people to feel in order to heal.”

From the Editor: See the exciting news about Inner IDEA in “Events & Happenings” below.

Tip of the Month

Finding the Right Fit

To find out if your shoes fit right, stand on a piece of paper and trace around your foot. Place your shoe over this drawing, and if your foot line drawing hangs outside your shoe, your shoes are too small, indicating you need bigger shoes to help heal and support your feet.

Learn more ways to improve your health by taking the Mobility and Stability Test