April 2006

Nia Community

From Our Mailbag

We are always looking for writing submissions from the Nia community. If you have an article, commentary, poem, or any other piece of writing you would like to submit, please send it our way. We want to know how Nia is working in your life, and we want to share your thoughts with all of our community.

Please send submissions to niaeditor@nianow.com

From Our Mailbox

Jerri Chaplin, Poetry therapist and Nia student

To the Nia Dancer

I may not know your name,
but my fingers have brushed yours.
Our palms have mirrored, building bridges of sweat and silk.
My footprints have fallen on yours,
and yours have stood on mine,
gliding, jumping, stomping, swaying, leaning, bending, leaving, and staying.
Your jewel-box heart has spilled onto the floor,
giving me emeralds of empathy,
and diamonds of daring.
We exchange bits of frayed ribbon and speckles of rust
and we give each other handfuls of trust.

I may not know your name
but I feel your spirit in the steps,
your mettle in the music.
This year, all year,
dance me your story.

YMCA in Mukilteo, WA - students of Robin Rudloff

Anulda Carpe, 87 years old

I enjoy taking Nia with Robin! All of the movements enable me to express a free flowing body and movements. Nia allows me to openly express my ability to enhance my past dancing experiences as no other fitness program does. I am new to the Nia program and find it exhilarating to flow freely and move with graceful rhythmic body gestures.

Chuck Parke, 85 years old

I love the fact that I can break a sweat and knowing the benefits thereof. The movements are sometimes a challenge but I have gotten to a point where I can keep up with the class (I'm 85 years old). I am like a pig in a hog wallow. I have found peace, contentment and happiness in my life/relationships and am doing what I can to prolong this life style/routine.

Student of Beverly Drumm

Poem from Doug Edgar

Nia, Sweet Nia

What can She do for you?
Her art of transformation changes all, and your every point of view.

With healing powers, earth and sky are new a connectedness of Being, Harmonious, centered-loving too. Creating shapes in space with dance, the body can renew through a Human Sense of rhythm and movement the spirit is reborn anew.
The freedom to be what you've wanted to be-free flowing fantasies,
Long pent-up, suppressed inside of you

To soar on the wind, feeling playful sexy, or
Hot the release of your minds energy.
She may take you where you dared not. And your reward is a Contentedness in knowing that you'll return.
Your body has been awakened now
Eager-there is so much to learn!

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