Nia Community

Nia From a Man’s Perspective

While in Portland at the White Belt FAB, Kali Rose asked me to write a column on a man’s perspective of Nia. It’s likely my background is quite different from the average Nia participant, so first a bit of history.

A stonemason and timber cutter by trade, a job-related injury afforded me the opportunity for education, and at 45 I received a BA in philosophy from the University of Virginia. I had done yoga off and on for 30 plus years, and had heard of Nia, but never developed the interest to try it. While attending a yoga class at Studio 206 in Charlottesville, Virginia, I noticed an invitation to free classes, including some Nia classes.

The goddess must have fostered an interest within me, as I found myself in a Nia class the next evening. The instructor, Ann Wolf, taught Mood Food, and two-thirds of the way through the class she broke out a bunch of colored scarves, giving one to each of the class members, and directed us into Free Dance. At that point I had an out of body experience in which my mind rose to the ceiling, watching me whirl around in a sea of color, and thinking “Wow! Look at me whirling, dancing, and playing with all these girls.” This was such an intense experience. I knew that in Nia, I had found something truly wonderful.

I began attending classes regularly and as my appreciation deepened, I realized this was something I wanted to pursue at a deeper level. One thing that kept me interested was encountering similarities between Nia and my practice of Absolute Freedom, such as the use of the words “intent”, “nagual”, and “energy allies.” Within four months I went to Portland and took the White Belt with Carlos and Debbie, and a year later, this past spring, the Blue Belt with Carlos in Chicago. Most recently I completed FAB.

In Nia, I’ve found not only a great workout, the “Body’s Way,” but have learned to feel relaxed in a room with a hundred women and myself the only man (Margaret Boyd’s Jam in Austin, Texas). This is amazing since having had a rocky relationship with my mom, having no sisters and a father who was gone a lot, and thus having never learned to feel easy around women unless they were young enough to be my daughter, or old enough to be my grandmother. Now everywhere I go I find a bunch of way cool sisters and friends. I’ve butted heads with one or two on occasion, but feel that this is a part of normal human relations, and for the most part I’ve been welcomed, encouraged, and embraced with love and respect. Thanks, it’s been and is a pleasure getting to know you all.

Nia has helped me (as she no doubt has helped many of us), in new ways and at new levels, re-discover the child within. Remember what that the wise Jewish carpenter, Jesus of Nazareth, had to say, “Except that you become as little children you shall in no way enter the kingdom of Love (God).” The Five Stages of Self-Healing is an incredible tool for this process.

Looking forward, what do I see in the future of Nia, and what of my place in her? I’ve heard it said more than once “What Carlos and Debbie are doing, Nia, has become bigger than them.” I agree, and add that it’s even bigger than most realize. Yes, Nia is a wonderful healing, empowering, joyful movement form and workout, but what I perceive is that she, Nia, is also facilitating the empowerment of women, and the Yin/female principle. This is desperately needed in our world today. Look at the people who are running the power structures of the world. A large portion of this is, in my opinion, directly attributable to an imbalance of the Yang and Yin.

There is too much logic and reason, without the balance of the intuitive, spiritual side. Not that one is necessarily better, just that we need to re-establish a wholesome balance. Therefore, I heartily endorse the feminine, and your empowerment, my sisters. I also understand that, as Carlos pointed out to me, “women can abuse power, too”. Thomas Jefferson is often quoted for saying “knowledge is power”. This is certainly true, but I would add, “knowledge is power, but power without wisdom is folly”.

I see one of my functions in Nia is to encourage women to seize power ruthlessly, but to ALWAYS exercise it with wisdom. What is wisdom? Most simply put, it is the proper use of energy, to always treat others (which includes all sentient beings, not just humans), as you would like to be treated: with kindness, respect, and love. Grant others the same freedom you desire and demand for yourself. When we all do this, the world will be transformed in an instant, to pleasure and joy beyond our wildest imagination. Not before. It’s a matter of seeing and intending.

One last thought. When you visit Portland, if at all possible allow an extra day, or schedule an early or late flight and visit the Japanese Gardens. They are reputed to be the nicest outside of Japan and lie on a hill in the western part of the city. You can sit peacefully, and look east at Mt. Hood looming over Portland. If the season is right (May through September), walk across the street, and visit the International Rose Gardens and Test Station. There are tens of thousands of roses of every color, size, and fragrance. Nothing approaching our own (Kali) Rose, but it’s awesome never the less. Hope this finds you all in stillness, dancing.

Your friend and brother,
Howard Swayne
Blue Belt
Charlottesville, VA

Beneath our night

A sun awaits us
greater than the universe
the authentic freedom of man.
But freedom is like wheat
it must be planted softly
and watered every day.
It must be protected
until it multiplies
fills the mouth of the wind
the hunger of all
and becomes invincible.

Otto Rene Castillo

excerpted from “For The Good Of All”

Having Fun

Nia is for those people who prefer having fun rather than exercising, yet it is an all-over workout, plus cardio, plus it has great medical benefits. Our instructor Amy embodies all the playfulness and grace that makes this class come to life.

I have been doing Nia for over a year. I have a medical situation that causes my balance to be very challenged. When I started Nia I was unable to watch my hand go upward without losing my balance. Today I am almost always able to do every move in Nia, which is very remarkable. There are other benefits as well, including stress relief and the feeling that at least for one hour, I have had fun.

Thank you Amy and Nia for making my life better.

Anita
Nia Student

Dear Debbie and Carlos,

I want to shout out in ecstasy over how much Nia has meant to me and has transformed me over the last couple of months! To be able to move freely without restrictions or any pressure whatsoever is truly a miracle that my body rejoices in daily!

My eldest child, Michael, was in Lebanon over the summer, as a contributing member of the Israeli Defense Forces. You can imagine it being a mother’s worst nightmare. Many members of my immediate family were inquiring how I, as Michael’s mother, was managing. They were tense and I wasn’t because of the tremendous support and positive energy that I received through the many Nia classes I passionately danced my heart in.

My eldest daughter, who is 21 years of age, was talking about marriage sometime this year, and I had not even met her intended fiancée! How was I supposed to prepare for a wedding without knowing any of the details? Ultimately, I did get to meet Daniel, the wedding will be taking place in Israel during the month of December, and I couldn’t be happier!

Nia has kept me cool, calm, and collected without a shadow of a doubt!

Therefore, I extend my utmost thanks and gratitude to YOU, Debbie and Carlos, for creating the concept of Nia, and to my amazing teachers in Ontario whom I dance with frequently, and sometimes not so frequently. To the many participants that I dance amongst in each class, and to myself for believing in and acknowledging The Body’s Way!

I will always love the Dance of Life with Nia by my side!

Thank you very much!

Most respectfully yours,
Esther Freedman
Student
Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

We’d like to hear from you…

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. Privacy Policy

Please send all submissions to editor@nianow.com

Top

• Login (Password Required)