September 2006

From the Founders

Witnessing Life

If there’s one lesson from Nia we use on a moment-to-moment basis it is to Witness ourselves in life, every second of every day. We Witness, pay attention, and notice what is happening as we live life on and off the dance floor.

Witnessing is a way to notice what you do and what is happening. It is a silent voice that speaks when it is invited in. It functions best if you first listen and do not interfere. The Witness helps you watch your life unfold. It is the messenger who gives you personal information, things you need to help change and redirect any action in your life.

From the very beginning, when we wanted to transform our life and professional world, we were guided to Witness and watch what we did. As we Witnessed, we came to not only understand, but also to embody the information. Witnessing became key to our success. It still is.

As a life and fitness practice, Witnessing first came to us when we were asked to take our shoes off while learning Aikido. “Notice what you are sensing from your feet,” the sensei said. “Watch, Witness,” Carlos said, and so we did. Learning to observe what we did without interfering or judging was at first a challenge. How could we notice and not immediately change things we knew needed to be altered to feel and do better? We had been trained to respond immediately. How could we not judge, and why should we not judge what we saw as wrong? Making choices of what worked and did not work was a part of transformation–or so we thought. “Stay out of the way and let things evolve on their own,” the sensei said. “Why should we?”, we asked. We felt if we interfered we could speed up our growth and transformation.

So many questions floated in our minds. Yet, as we practiced Witnessing we began to see that “doing” was not an answer – it was all about “being” and letting life flow. We have never stopped Witnessing the changes in our lives. Witnessing has grown into a fascinating and inspirational process of exploration along the way to healing, fitness, and health.

We have learned to Witness with our whole bodies, sensing, and noticing with open eyes and ears. The Witness is now one of our greatest allies. Our Witness is with us when we argue, reminding us to listen, to stay open and vulnerable. It is with us in a business meeting, keeping us centered and calm. The Witness is our personal guide, and a teacher to us, in and outside of Nia class. It is a loving voice we have learned to listen to and respect.

As teachers we’ve been privileged to Witness the growth and development of our students, people who come from all walks of life. We have helped them befriend the Witness so that in life they can observe the emergence of their own dance, life, healing, and fitness.

Right now, sit back, close your eyes, and begin your relationship with your Witness. Ask that it talk with you and help you guide your life. Ask that it be loving and truthful. Be open to its voice. Listen to the messages of sensation and when ever you feel pain and discomfort, ask your Witness what it notices, and receive without interfering. Then, consciously, over time, break patterns, habits, and actions that no longer serve the you that you desire to be.

In Love and Light,

Carlos Rosas and Debbie Rosas
Founders of the Nia Technique

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