From the Source

Witnessing: The Key to Success

Over the past 25 years as we have explored ourselves through Nia, we’ve learned the most about ourselves, the body, life and teaching a body-centered program through the practice we call Witnessing, or listening to your Witness.

You were first introduced to the practice of Witnessing in FreeDance, in stage six. In this stage you were taught:

• Observe and do not judge
• Do not manipulate
• Activate your Witness by observing your “experience”
• Cause transformation through Witnessing. First notice movement tendencies using your Witness, and do not change them. Next, notice your movement tendencies and using your Witness, and change them. Voila! Transformation at its best, and the ability to keep you, your body and your classes changing for the better.

Witnessing is key to your success. Learning to observe what you do without interfering or judging is key to organic evolution and to the development of Sensory IQ guidance and teaching.

As a life and professional practice, Witnessing your changes keeps you fascinated and inspired about the process of exploration and change that leads to healing, fitness and health. Never stop Witnessing with your whole body, sensing, and noticing with open eyes and ears. Your Witness is one of your greatest allies and a good friend.

As teachers we are privileged to Witness the growth and development of our students. We get to help them befriend their own Witness so that they can observe their own dance, life, healing, and fitness emerge.

In Class:

• Share the Witness With Your Students As A Focus.
• The Focus: Your Personal Witness
• Intent: To dance with joy and observe your dance.
• Science and Craft: At first, do and don’t interfere, judge or comment. Enjoy the authentic creativity of your dance in the moment. Receive the feedback about your dance–fall in love with noticing. Over time, dance and alter what you do to feel more joy and pleasure.
• Art: Hone a relaxed attitude that allows you to change by first not changing a thing. Strengthen your ability to physically sense, and perceive your dance. Use the awareness you receive from your Witness wisely, to live fully and dance in peace.

In Love and Light,

Carlos Rosas and Debbie Rosas
Founders of the Nia Technique

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