Download this issue’s Educational Handout: The Chest - Nia Conditioning and Natural Time

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Expand Your Practice – Watch, Listen, Learn, and Move

This issue, step into Natural Time and Nia Conditioning. Watch this issue’s Educational Video, where Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas, Nia co-founders, guide you through gaining Nia Conditioning in your body, in your time and in your way.

Listen as Debbie shares the Nia poetry of the Voice of The Body, “The Voice of The Chest”; and move with Carlos as he teaches the Nia Tip, ”Palm Directions.” Use these techniques in your everyday life to build your Nia Conditioning.

The NiaFinder – Your Access To Nia Class, Event and Teacher Info

Find the Nia Classes, Nia Teachers, and Nia Events you’re looking for with the new NiaFinder on NiaNow.com! The NiaFinder is an easy-to-use, robust search system for you to find out about Nia Classes and Events in your area, and learn a bit about your favorite Nia Teachers.

Highlights of the NiaFinder:

• Nia Teacher Profile
• Easy-to-use Search Engine for finding Nia Classes, Nia Events, and Nia Teachers
• A time-saving sorting function – a feature that allows search results to be sorted by Date, Day, Time, Location, and by Nia Teacher

Nia Teachers input their own Class, Event, and Profile information so keep checking back in the NiaFinder for more listings as they come up. Also, keep in mind that new Nia Events are being listed all the time, so keep abreast of the latest by checking the NiaFinder often!

Check out the NiaFinder today!

Be Mentored on Your Path of Well-Being with Nia’s TeleCourses for everyBody™

Each month, join founders Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas, along with Nia Trainers and Teachers, for Nia’s Free Mentoring TeleCourses for everyBody™. These powerful courses provide in-depth personal and professional mentoring in three different FREE TeleCourse programs, which take place the first week of each month.

The first Monday of every month, join the TeleCourse for everyBody™. This course provides in-depth information on how to develop yourself on your path of wellness and gives you direct access to the most knowledgeable Nia practitioners to help you create the best path for you. Nia Teachers and Nia Graduates can go even deeper into the teachings of Nia with the TeleCourses on the first Tuesday and Wednesday of the month. All of these educational TeleCourses follow the topics of the Nia Newsletter and are provided at no cost as part of Nia’s program to share knowledge about The Body’s Way.

Natural Time Calendar for 2007-2008

White Lunar Wizard Year

Experience the difference of living life the Natural Time way with the Natural Time Calendar. Based on the original Mayan calendar, this calendar is organized into 13 months of 28 days each.

The Natural Time Calendar helps us track the harmonic synchronization of natural patterns in our lives and in the cosmos. When used, it helps develop an understanding of time as the Fourth Dimension. The calendar runs from July 26th 2007, to July 25th 2008.

Learn more about the Natural Time Calendar at www.13moon.com, and purchase your calendar in ShopNia.

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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.

Natural Time and Nia Conditioning

Listen to the August “Sharing The Joy” Nia Mentoring TeleCourse for everyBody™ for more insight about Natural Time and Nia Conditioning, in conversations with Nia Co-Founder Debbie Rosas.

Watch and learn as Nia Founders Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas share insights into Natural Time and Nia Conditioning…

One of the most powerful tools and concepts to use to condition your body, mind, emotions and spirit is Natural Time movement. Going about your life in your time, and in your way, is Natural Time movement. It is the kind of movement that we often witness children doing, where they are totally relaxed, at ease, and not concerned with whether others are watching them. We all move this way, and becoming aware of the sensation of Natural Time movement is how you become aware of your own effortless, efficient movements.

In Nia, you focus on moving in Natural Time while paying attention to moving all 13 of your joints to integrate your whole being. When you move this way, it allows for your body’s own reflex action to be behind the movement instead of unnatural mechanical time movement, which does not involve all of your body, mind, emotions and spirit. No matter what your age or fitness level, moving with Natural Time will create Nia Conditioning in your body.

Nia Conditioning your body with Natural Time movement:

• Move and be involved with your whole body with personal expression, where you don’t edit yourself or try to be a certain way.
• Sense the sensation of relaxation when you move. When your body is relaxed, you have the ability to go deeper into the aspects of your body and enjoy and interact with life.
• Take your time to discover yourself and your time. This will help you achieve fitness your Body’s Way, which leads to lasting fitness.
• Learn about the Natural Time Calendar, which is based on the Mayan calendar. Go to http://www.13moon.com for more information.

The Voice of The Body - The Chest

Listen as Nia Co-Founder Debbie Rosas speaks the poetic Voice of The Body – this month, The Voice of The Chest.

Want to know more about the Voices of the Body? Read the Voices of The Body Structure in the Newsletter Archives.

Take your Nia practice to the next level. Download the Educational Handout The Chest, Nia Conditioning, and Natural Time.

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Nia Tip Now in Video!

Palm Directions

Learn “Palm Directions” with Nia Co-Founder Carlos Rosas in this video Nia Tip.

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The Power of Nia

Ageless and Strong - 74 Year-Old Nia Teacher Dances Through Life

Kaycheri Rappaport, Nia Brown Belt
Portland, Oregon, USA

I was 58 years old and about 20 pounds overweight when I took my first Nia class in 1991. I was certain that I would be the oldest and fattest person in the class, and I wasn’t! The class was full of all ages and types of people – young, old, fit, becoming fit–and I was made to feel completely welcome, like I belonged there. I left that first class feeling exhilarated and inspired to come back for more. From the spark ignited in that first class, Nia became a great part of my life, and I eventually became a Nia teacher at age 71. I will be celebrating my 75th birthday in January 2008, and I may be the oldest Nia teacher practicing and teaching, which is a great testament to the power of Nia for people of all ages.

I’ve been an actress and dancer since I was a child. When I discovered Nia, I was acting and going on tours, sometimes for six weeks. As soon as I’d get home from a tour, I’d go downtown for my Nia class “fix”. The more I danced Nia, the more I noticed that little aches and pains disappeared. I even lost weight and toned up. Mostly it was fun. I enjoyed the playfulness, the exploration, and the invitation to find my own expression.

Then, in January of 2004, when I was turning 71 I took the White Belt Intensive. For some time my friends at Nia had been telling me that I would love the White Belt, and Debbie and Carlos assured me I’d be able to handle it in spite of my advanced years. I took the plunge. What an extraordinary experience it was, putting much of what I’d learned in a new context – bringing it all together – and adding new information.

Read the rest of Kaycheri’s Story: Ageless and Strong - 74 Year-Old Nia Teacher Dances Through Life, and more Nia Stories in Testimonials.

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Events & Happenings

Enjoy Nia with the Founders at These 2007 Events

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 the unique body-mind fitness conference, Inner IDEA. Debbie and Carlos will be presenting six programs during the event. 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.

JourNia Week at Cal-A-Vie

September 16-23, 2007

Cal-a-Vie Health Spa
Vista, California, USA
For more information visit: http://www.calavie.com/site/spa_events_2007.htm

Cal-a-Vie Health Spa is thrilled to offer JourNia Week, September 16-23, 2007. Nia Co-Founder Debbie Rosas will lead participants through a week of self-discovery using journals that will be provided to each guest, complete with questions and thoughts to help guide on the journey of understanding how one responds to cycles in life, and daily challenges - both personal and professional.

Debbie will be leading evening workshops and daily Nia classes all carefully created to make the week an unforgettable experience of growth and wellness. Special Mother-Daughter packages are available to promote intimacy and strengthening of the mother-daughter bond and relationships.

On-going Free Nia Mentoring TeleCourses for everyBody™

View the current TeleCourse schedule and listen to past calls here.

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

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The Passion of Nia

Moving with Grace, Passion, and The Art of Change

Liz Ganz, Nia Trainer
Portland, Oregon, USA

Becoming a whole human being in body, mind, emotions, and spirit is a messy, miraculous, and on-going process. It takes a bit of grace to step into opportunities for personal development. A woman I didn’t know named Grace actually led me to one of my own personal development opportunities when she invited me to a Nia class. That invitation changed my life forever. I am now inexorably linked with the power of Nia.

In 1996 I was looking for something new in my life, something that would give me a richer, deeper and more empowered way of living. Grace invited me to attend a Nia class with Holly Curtis at the studio called NiaSpace in Austin, Texas. I went to the class expecting to see Grace. She never showed up. She was simply an angel of grace who led me there.

I didn’t fall in love with Nia my first time. I was more in my head than my body at that time and I was filled with thoughts. “What is this place?” “Who are these people, and why are they shouting, ‘YES!’ and ‘NO!’ ?” “Do I belong here?” I left my first Nia class feeling unsure about whether I would return. Thankfully, the grace of curiosity guided me back a few days later...

Read the rest of Liz’s Story Moving with Grace, Passion, and The Art of Change and more Nia Stories in Testimonials.

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From the Founders

Flowing in Natural Time

Coded deep within your cells is a mechanism for moving and measuring time. It is an organic wisdom that aligns the human body with energy fields and with lunar and life cycles. Opposite from this is mechanical time, which is a forced time that goes against natural cycles. Natural Time movement brings you back to yourself, back to your body, and back to your own way of moving as a whole person. It is fluid, non-linear, radial, spontaneous and expansive. It is centered in the Now and in relationship with the energy flow of the Now–not tomorrow, and not yesterday.

In a busy world where so much of your time is spent doing things in accordance to the hands of a clock, doing things in Natural Time reconnects you to the cyclical rhythms of your own flow, to nature and the world around you. It unites you as a human with all other life.

Natural Time is based on the rhythms of the Earth, not on the mechanical artifice of modern living. Unnatural Time takes you away from the natural rhythms that make living and moving a sensuous and healing experience.

Natural Time is one of Nia’s White Belt Principles, which will support you in getting to know Your Body’s Way of moving. It’s not an intellectual process, but rather a sensory experience that lets you know you are in harmony with all that is. You and your body are coded–“hard-wired”–in your DNA with this magical ability to move and measure time and space intuitively. Get in touch with the sensation of Natural Time. Follow this built-in guidance and build a relationship between your body and the natural cycles of the Universe, which are the energetic keys to health, well-being, and fitness.

In Love and Light,
Debbie and Carlos

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Nia In the Media

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

Corvallis Gazette Times
July 2007

“Nia Exercise Combines 9 Workout Forms” by Niki Sullivan

Through interviews with Nia students, this article explores the fitness benefits and fun Nia incites.

“For me, the knowledge that there is the freedom for me to modify a movement however I want is great, so I just go in and play.” – Lisa Taylor- Swanson, Nia Student

“Nia classes aren’t stressful for those with two left feet.” – Niki Sullivan, Writer – Corvallis Gazette Times

Henderson Times News
June 2007

“…and Reach!” by Lindsay Lancaster

The writer speaks of the history, benefits, experience, longevity and pleasure principles of Nia. The article includes two testimonials from older students and how Nia enriches their lives.

“Nia is something so dynamic that you truly have to try it for yourself to see what it’s like. – Lindsay Lancaster, Writer – Henderson Times News

“I’m actually more limber now than I was at 35.” – Denise Medved, Nia Black Belt and Nia Trainer, age 55.

“Every muscle in your body gets a workout, you get your heart rate up with this kind of stuff… Anybody who wants any exercise should take Nia classes.” – Al Rogers, Nia Student, 85

The Leader
June 2007

“Nia Dance Finds Home at Fort Worden” by Shelly Randall

Highlighted in this article is Port Townsends’ new Nia center at Ford Worden, called Studio Port Townsend. It includes information about the growing trend of practicing Nia.

“You always feel better after Nia.” – Laura Lawless, Nia Student

“Some friends and I started doing Nia with the goal of losing weight, and 6 months later there is 100 pounds of cumulative weight loss between us.” – Laura Lawless, Nia Student

“With Nia, you love the body you have, and as you love your body, it will change.” – Hilary Metzger, Nia Student

Portland Monthly
July, 2007

“Express Yourself” by Kasey Cordell

This piece highlights StudioNia in Portland, Oregon, where Nia co-founders Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas teach Nia classes and also deliver Nia Intensive Trainings. It depicts a typical Nia class and gives great information about what Nia is and how it helps people be fit.

“StudioNia has two words for you: sexy and soulful.” – Shannon Day – Nia Black Belt

“Since the founders teach in Portland, you’ll often find yourself leaping and lunging with classmates from far-off reaches of the world.” – Kasey Cordell, writer – Portland Monthly

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.

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