Hot Nia News

Listen to Nia Co-Founder Carlos Rosas on Internet Radio

Fall in love with exercise and fitness! Listen to Nia Technique Co-Founder Carlos Rosas on TotalFitness.net Internet Radio!

Listen to Carlos Rosas speak on Internet Radio about how to find health and personal expression by finding your own way to exercise. Discover the principles of Mindfulness, the Joy of Movement, and keeping your body comfortable.

• You can listen to this show and others 24 hours a day 7 days a week via the archives — http://www.totalfitness.net/radio_show_past_shows.htm
• Listen to Carlos's Interview

For more information visit TotalFitness.net

Free TeleCourse Mentoring Program

Continue on your path of health and well-being – participate in Nia’s free TeleCourses for everyBody™. Dialing in to a TeleCourse is a great way to stay motivated, inspired, and educated about how to love your body, live in your body, and choose pleasure as a way to stay fit and healthy. Nia TeleCourses are our way of Sharing the Joy with anybody who is looking for an excellent resource for fitness, personal growth, and health and wellness. Join us and change your body and life!

Top

The Body’s Way Education

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.

Walking—The 5th Stage of Self-Healing, Continued

Introduction

In the last two issues we’ve guided you to Learn the Architecture of Walking, and Move the Architecture of Walking. Now, it is time to complete the cycle, and Energize the Architecture of Walking — to dynamically move as an upright being and energize your presence and power in the world.

Go deeper

• Energize the Architecture of Walking
• The Voice of the Body – The Shinbones

Energize the Architecture of Walking

Energizing Walking reflects a common phrase you hear in Nia – “Now I Am.” This statement is all about energy. Saying “Now I Am” means you are in a place where you are energizing your presence in the world. Your posture and your walk convey a certain kind of personal power, and everything you do and say keeps you energized. You are fueled by the organic fuel of life energy all around you.

Organic fuel is the kind of fuel a living creature is naturally energized by and uses to stay well. Tap into this fuel and you can use it to survive, maintain homeostasis, and be on the path of least resistance and live everyday making self-care your number-one priority.

Imagine that the entire world around you is a sea that supports you with nourishment and stimulation. It is a sea that loves nothing more than to energize you so that you can sustain your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. Imagine being connected to this sea source of energy 24 hours a day. Every breath you take becomes an act of receiving the high-octane fuel form this sea.

In this sea, every movement is a dance with life that integrates and harmonizes the power of every cell in your body. Visualize Walking in this sea and sensing its life energy pulse and flow through your veins and arteries, and circulate through all of you into your muscles, bones, and organs. Live with the awareness that you are supported by and in relationship with this sea energy source, which is abundant and full of power to help you self-heal, relax, dream, think, feel, and energize your spirit and soul. Sense every step as an energized step that teaches you to Walk into health and well-being. Sense your posture, walk, and voice and use what you notice as triggers to do more, less, or something different so that you maintain the sensation of Energizing Walking.

Use these techniques to Energize Walking

• Imagine your spine like an antenna, connecting you to the Heaven and Earth. This up and down energy flow allows your walk to be supported by the electromagnetic fields around you.
• Sense your body as having more than a front and back. Sense yourself as a third dimensional being that is connected to up and down, out and in, radially, and in all directions.
• Flow energy from all of your 70 trillion cells, and physically be open to sensing the pulse of life force moving through every cell in your body every second of the day.

Next month we begin a new series of Body’s Way Education: Nia Conditioning and the 52 Moves.

The Voice of the Body - The Shinbones

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 shinbones, your body’s pillars of support.

Voice of the Shinbones: I am the voice of your shinbones. By design, I am made up of the fibula bone and the tibia bone, which is the second largest bone in your body. The function of the tibia, the part of me closer to your center, is to receive information from your thighbone above. The function of the fibula is to transfer weight from the thighbone down into your foot and to provide stability and mobility in your ankle joint. The straight design of the tibia and the curved design of the fibula allow me to make a masterful arch for the ankle and foot movement. What keeps me healthy is when you keep your foot and ankle joint strong and agile and the muscles in the front and back of me balanced.

My Gift to You: I provide you with living stilts to walk with grace and stability.

Symbology

Imagine Me As: Visualize me as masterfully carved pillars that support you from underneath.

Sensory

In Nia: In Nia, the craft and techniques you use to connect to your shinbones are Awareness and the Base. Use the shinbones like fence posts, vertically planting them with purpose as you move. As you sink, rise, step or move into a stance you keep the shinbones vertical and aligned from top to bottom.

When Dancing Through Life: Walk and connect to your shinbones as the fencepost bones in your lower legs. As you walk across the room and dance, sense the two bones of each shin supporting the left and right sides of each foot, and the inside and the outside of each foot. Use the two bones in each of your shins to relax your thighs above and your feet below.

Take your Nia practice to the next level. Download the Educational Handout The Shinbones: Your Living Stilts.

Top

The Power of Nia

Dancing Through Pregnancy With Power

Toni Condos, Nia Black Belt
New York, New York, USA

In all areas of my life – from my performing career on the stages of New York, to working as a Nia Teacher, to giving birth – my Nia practice has enriched everything that I’ve taken on.

I’ve been a performer my whole life and was always interested in being fit, but I never liked “exercising.” Traditional forms of exercise felt rigid to me, and didn’t seem holistic. So, when I took Nia in 1998 I knew immediately I had found a movement practice that would feed my body, mind, and spirit. And, the expressive freedom of Nia spoke to my performer side. It was a perfect fit.

When I discovered Nia I was pursuing my performing career, auditioning for Off-Broadway shows and producing my own one-woman show. I was also working as a waitress full-time to pay the bills. I decided I’d much rather do something I loved to pay the bills, so in 2000 I took the Nia White Belt Intensive and became a Nia Teacher — I’ve been teaching ever since. I feel so honored to provide people with the opportunity to love themselves through practicing Nia.

Through all the training I’ve done with Nia and all of the wonderful moments I’ve experienced teaching, I still continue to be amazed by the power of Nia. This power was especially apparent to me during my pregnancy last year.

I was so excited to become pregnant right after being married in October of 2005. I was 40, and my husband and I were thrilled that we conceived so quickly after our marriage. Unfortunately, I miscarried two months later. But then I got pregnant again in January 2006, and we had our baby girl Talia on October 11th.

I had the best pregnancy with absolutely no morning sickness or other problems. I truly believe I had such a great pregnancy because of Nia...

Read the rest of Toni’s Story, and more Nia Stories in Testimonials.

Events & Happenings

Enjoy Nia with the Founders at These 2007 Events

International Conference on Science and Consciousness (9th Annual)

April 20-25, 2007

La Fonda Hotel
Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
To register, visit: www.bizspirit.com

Explore the frontier of consciousness with other physicists, medical researchers, psychologists, anthropologists, shamans, healers, meditators, movers, and dancers.

Master Class & Teacher Workshop in Albuquerque Just added!

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Alburquerque Convention Center
Alburquerque, New Mexico, USA
For complete details contact Beth O’Neall, Nia Black Belt, nialithic@earthlink.net

IDEA World Fitness Convention (25th Annual)

July 6-9, 2007

San Diego Convention Center
San Diego, California, USA
To register, visit: www.ideafit.com/world

Debbie and Carlos will present two Nia sessions at IDEA World, one of the world’s best fitness conventions. Join us in helping IDEA celebrate 25 years of “Inspiring the World to Fitness.” Also visit the Nia Booth at the Fitness & Wellness Expo, open each day of the convention.

National Wellness Conference (32nd Annual)

July 14-19, 2007

University of Wisconsin
Stevens Point, Wisconsin, USA
To register, visit: www.nationalwellness.org

Debbie and Carlos are pleased to once again bring a full-day pre-conference presentation – as well as breakouts session presentations and daily Nia classes – as part of a wide variety of programming options. This conference is designed for anyone who wants to advance their professional skills, as well as enrich their spirit. This year’s theme, Creating and Sustaining Wellness Cultures, encourages consideration and new knowledge of the impact cultures have on health and wellness promotion.

Inner IDEA (2nd Annual)

September 7-9, 2007

La Quinta Resort and Club
Palm Springs, California, USA
To register, visit: http://w2.inneridea.com/conference

Nia is proud to announce that for the second year, Nia is a sponsor of Inner IDEA, which is limited to 600 participants. In addition, Debbie and Carlos will be presenting six programs. Based on last year’s sold-out attendance, this is a convention not to be missed. Be sure to check out the complete schedule of offerings that premier the best from the body-mind industry.

Visit the Events area to learn more about Nia events around the world.

Top

The Passion of Nia

A Passion for Sharing Movement

Martha Randall, Nia Trainer
Ontario, Canada

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...

Read the rest of Martha’s Story and more Nia Stories in Testimonials.

Top

From the Founders

Energize Life

Have you ever noticed that although people are designed to Walk, everyone walks in a different way? The mechanics of walking are the same for everyBody, but watching a human body walk reveals that some bodies walk like sleek Jaguars, while others walk like they are carrying a sack of potatoes. Why do bodies walk, look, and move so drastically different? The answer: Because, not all bodies are energized with the same fuel.

Anything you put in your body is fuel. The foods you eat, the thoughts you think, the emotions you feel and carry, even the freedom – or lack thereof – you give to your spirit is fuel that can energize or “de-energize” you and your body. The way you energize your body is to fill it with high-octane fuel. In this month’s issue, we complete the The Body’s Way theme of the last year with Energizing Walking, the fifth and final stage of the Five Stages of Self-Healing. With this guidance you’ll gain insight into how to energize and fuel your body, mind, and spirit. We give you ways to Energize Walking as we complete the educational theme of the last year’s Newsletter, The Body’s Way.

One of the things that we’re providing you to energize your mind, spirit and body is through our Free TeleCourse Mentoring program, which we launched on March 5th. This monthly series (which takes place the first Monday of each month) is designed to educate, motivate and inspire you in life, through movement in Nia. The response we’ve received from our first TeleCourse has been fantastic! We encourage you to take part in this free mentoring program so you can tap into even more of the possibilities of living life elegantly The Body’s Way. The next TeleCourse is Monday, April 2nd.

In next month’s issue, we begin a whole new series of Body’s Way Education, called Nia Conditioning, which will continue through the end of 2007. Nia Conditioning is a unique approach and philosophy of Twenty-First Century body re-education – it is remembering what your body already knows. This kind of Conditioning will change your perception of how your body and mind interrelate. With Nia Conditioning, you recognize how much power you have over your life, and you experience the ease and naturalness of being responsible for taking care of your total being.

Also, starting next month, expect some exciting changes in the structure of the coming issues. As we wrap up the theme from last year and prepare for our 25th anniversary, we’re improving the way we communicate our work in all of its facets as part of our celebration of the beautiful evolution of this work. You know if it’s Nia, it’s going to be fun!

In pleasure,
Debbie and Carlos

Top

Nia In the Media

From the Editor: 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 .

Winter Living Magazine – February, 2007

“Shed that Winter Weight” - by Chantelle Lusebrink

This article recommends Nia as a unique way to reach your fitness goals. Nia’s adaptability and science support the essence of the practice – pleasure. To gather information on Nia, the author visited Nia Brown Belt, Randee Fox at Blue Heron Ranch Moving Arts Center.

“This is my fourth year doing Nia, and I am 58 and I feel like I could do it forever, because it feels so good. It can also be different things on different days. It can be great for your physical health and it can be great for your spirit. I sometimes do this instead of going to church because it is a great emotional release and it gives you great mental balance.”

Snowmass Village Sun – January, 2007

“Bringing Balance into Your Life through Dance” - by Steve Alldredge

Humorous and insightful, this article features the author at his first Nia class in Roaring Fork Valley with Nia Teacher, Julie Hart. Although he comments on feeling awkward as he is finding his balance, the teacher and the practice provide inspiration.

“We begin by listening to the instructor. But slowly, over time, we begin to trust a little more, and then, we sense the instructor but our focus is more on ourselves as we feel the music, the beat, and the steps.”

The Oregonian – January, 2007

“Dance Your Way to a Better Body” - by Markian Hawryluk

This article promotes Nia as being fun, while delivering a great workout at the Juniper Swim and Fitness Center in Bend, Oregon, as taught by Nia Teachers, Mari Soloman and Rhonda Pietrowski. It shows that Nia is designed to get your heart beating and increase your flexibility, range of motion, and muscle tone, as well as be fun and invigorating.

“When joy is present, when you’re having fun or at least feeling some sense of satisfaction with what you’re doing, your body will be able to have a greater range of motion, be more flexible, be stronger and take you places you may not be able to go when you’re not having fun.”

Top

Tip of the Month

Energizing Walking is about expressing your presence and personal power in the world. Express your energy as an upright being by walking with grace and confidence.

• Keep your posture tall and relaxed, as if you are dangling from the heavens by a silver thread. Imagine you have a beautiful white feather on your head and tickle the clouds with it as you walk.
• Sense and move on flexible and powerful feet, getting your support from behind and underneath you.
• Use the geometry of Walking to emotionally and expressively interact with the design and fabric of your life. Make expressive sounds as you move.
• Activate the Five Sensations in your daily walk to energetically condition your whole body. *See “The Art of Sensing: The Five Sensations” in the Nia book, page 102.

Top

NOTE: Before beginning any exercise program, consult your physician. Always remember to stop and slow down if you feel out of breath, dizzy or unable to perform the exercises in a conscious and balanced way. Build gradually and monitor yourself on a moment-to-moment basis. Give yourself time to safely create changes.

Top