Nia Calendar

Trainings Recap

North Carolina Blue Belt

Wonderfully produced by Denise Medved, and staged in the unique retreat city of Montreat, the North Carolina Blue Belt Intensive was powerful and engaging both for the students and Debbie and Carlos.

The Blue Belt was held in the theosophical educational facility called Montreat. Montreat is it’s own city, where the spiritual energy of exploration is infused in the very mortar of each structure, tree, and blade of grass. All the buildings are made of stone. The intensive room was very large with a unique, raised stage. Debbie and Carlos said they found themselves looking forward to dancing on the smooth stones every day, and they noticed how much their bodies responded to the natural coolness of the rocks, and taught all classes on stone.

Many of the students were repeat attendees, and the group was extremely interactive. Carlos said that people who were repeating were noticeably at a higher level of engagement with the intensive, and their inner confidence and outward fascination with life was evident.

Carlos said he enjoyed the very vocal and animated group of students so much that he felt comfortable enough to experiment, to change a few sessions. Through those experiments he discovered some improvements in delivery, and experienced many breakthroughs in the Blue Belt intensive format.

Toronto Blue Belt

More than 30 people attended the Toronto Blue Belt: seven Nia Personal practitioners, and 23 Nia teachers who teach from one to five classes a week (many with no other teacher in their area).

This was the first time Carlos taught the intensive from memory as he does the White Belt. The delivery of the Blue Belt has become so clear and concise that there is a lot of breathing, silence, and room for practice using movement. Carlos says he now knows he can walk into any Blue Belt and deliver a whole educational experience as he does with the White Belt.

Debbie reflected that Carlos has grown into such mastery and simplicity in delivering the education of Nia. Debbie and Carlos were working well, loving the process and getting the answers that will make The intensives for EveryBody a reality.

During the intensive Anna and Marla brought treats every day which created a sense of community and family atmosphere. People interacted and connected with each other, and found new levels of knowing and relationship with Nia.

Chicago White Belt

The Chicago White Belt this year was unique and expansive in a whole new way — Carlos taught the whole intensive himself. The group had many Nia novices, including many people who had only taken one Nia class a week, and some had only ever taken one class!

Carlos said that being with such a group, ”was like having a new baby that I really wanted to nurture and take care of. We all began with baby-steps and made huge progress by the end of the week.”

As he delivered the White Belt, Carlos said he followed the new Nia mantra “Intensives are for EveryBody!” This allowed an opening in his presentation style. He tweaked many principles, created more interaction with the music, and more interaction with the 52 Moves.

Santa Fe Boot Camp

The Santa Fe New Mexico Boot Camp in November was the largest yet, with 51 attendees coming from as far as Colorado, California, Arizona and other states.

The focus of the Boot Camp was the Mastery of Teaching. Carlos taught participants that the teachings of Nia apply to any art form, and the principles are fully applicable to mastering any specific form of expression.

Carlos said the evolution of the Boot Camp body of work has truly grown from Embryonic to Walking since the first Boot Camp held in Hawaii last January. He said in Santa Fe, he and Debbie felt they were clicking on all cylinders, and teaching Nia at it’s best.

“It was an opportunity to refine a body of work to a place of mastery, and to let go of ego to bring about the best possible work,” he said.

Appreciation for the Santa Fe Boot Camp

Dear Carlos and Debbie,

I’m writing to express my gratitude and appreciation for the recent Boot Camp presented in Santa Fe. I had traveled from Tucson, Arizona, feeling rather uninspired in my Nia practice, having recently experienced challenges in my classes – being challenged by several student attempts to usurp my role as teacher, as well as the desire to experience renewed inspiration in my movement practice in general.

I was so very excited when I heard the focus of the workshop. Its simplicity and relevancy to more than just my role as Nia Teacher – its inclusion into everyday life – is wonderful. I’ve been looking for something that I hadn’t heard before with regards to Nia. This certainly was it for me. I believe cultivating preparation, anticipation and relaxation does set Nia apart from other practices. I taught class Monday night after returning from Santa Fe and noticed a difference in how I was relating to the group, as well as how I spoke. I know it may cause some buttons to be pushed, but for the most part I believe it will allow for greater excitement, growth and overall delight in both my own and the student’s Nia practice.

I appreciate how both of you mastered the room and encouraged each of us to become our own masters. Thank you for taking the time to come to Santa Fe. I’m certainly glad I did. Your lightness and good humor offered a wonderful balance to the introspection that Nia affords.

In gratitude,

Lynne Jenrow
White Belt
Tucson, Arizona, USA

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