These past several days have been interesting in terms of tuning in to what my body needs; food, sleep, movement, quiet time, over stimulation, and under stimulation. Nia gives me the framework to pay attention to even the smallest of details.....I have witnessed things this week that I may not have noticed. Bushes are blooming, birds are singing like crazy, the earth is warming up for spring and I can feel it.
I danced today with inspiration to reach for the sky......to dig deep and ask myself what I want from each and every day........I want joy amidst pain, I want love when there is none, and most of all I want to continue listening to my body in it's own special and unique way!
Blessings,
Val
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Off Balance
I love doing Nia on Sunday mornings, it calms the mind and helps prepare me for the week to come. Today I danced with a room full of White Belt Goddesses. The energy was palpable, the music fantastic, and the room was about 75 degrees!
As I began to move, I was reminded very quickly how tight my lower back has become over these past few weeks - locked and thick with toxins. A few moments later I heard the sweet sound of our teacher's voice encouraging us to find the "joy" in the movement we were doing.
At this point I brought it down, slow and easy with deep breathing and awareness. Somewhere towards the end of class I realized my focus had drifted away from the discomfort in my back, into my heart chakra.
But, once again I am reminded of how our bodies let us know things are off balance. Case in point; we were encouraged to shift from one foot to the other....balancing in a sorta free form way. What happened was very real and validating.
I could not balance....every time I tried to shift I felt like I was toppling over. I quickly realized that my right & left brain were not communicating very well at all.
Just the validation I needed in order to remember when standing on one foot, ask the other side of my brain to join in the joy of movement!
Blessings,
Valinda Sue
As I began to move, I was reminded very quickly how tight my lower back has become over these past few weeks - locked and thick with toxins. A few moments later I heard the sweet sound of our teacher's voice encouraging us to find the "joy" in the movement we were doing.
At this point I brought it down, slow and easy with deep breathing and awareness. Somewhere towards the end of class I realized my focus had drifted away from the discomfort in my back, into my heart chakra.
But, once again I am reminded of how our bodies let us know things are off balance. Case in point; we were encouraged to shift from one foot to the other....balancing in a sorta free form way. What happened was very real and validating.
I could not balance....every time I tried to shift I felt like I was toppling over. I quickly realized that my right & left brain were not communicating very well at all.
Just the validation I needed in order to remember when standing on one foot, ask the other side of my brain to join in the joy of movement!
Blessings,
Valinda Sue
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Daily movement to include Nia, Yoga or both!
It's hard to believe that it took me six years to achieve my goal of a Nia White Belt. My first class was at the YMCA in Eugene, Oregon. After quitting my job as a child welfare caseworker, I was in bad shape both emotionally and especially physically. My body ached from long hours on the computer and driving. One morning as I walked towards the treadmills, I turned to see Amy, with long flowing hair and an amazing smile on her face, gyrating! I stood in front of the window and watched, feeling the music pound beneath my feet.
My first Nia class, in bare feet, felt like I had reconnected with not only my soul, but my connection to dance, to gyrating! Myself and another woman who was also dancing for the first time wept, tears of pure joy and satisfaction. I began to explore other classes, studios and instructors.
I moved to Portland in 2006 discovering the Nia Headquarters - I have been dancing there ever since! Life just didn't seem to weave and bob the way I wanted it to. It seemed each time I began to fantasize about taking the White Belt a barrier would find it's way into my world.
2009 was a pinnacle year for me both personally and professionally. After hiking, dancing and doing yoga at Mount Rainier National Park with my dear goddess sister Shelley, I decided to apply to the MSW program at PSU. I was accepted in April of last year and began this September. In June 2012 I will move into Medical Social Work with a Master's in Social Work Degree.
As I danced in my living room today, moving, shaking and stretching, I was quickly reminded how much our bodies need to move on a regular daily basis. Priorities to date have been focused on family and school, with little left for my practice. Today I move to recommit my body to daily self-care and joy of movement.
Nia White Belt here I come: physically prepared but more importantly, emotionally ready to embrace my "primal dancing goddess self".
Stay tuned............
My first Nia class, in bare feet, felt like I had reconnected with not only my soul, but my connection to dance, to gyrating! Myself and another woman who was also dancing for the first time wept, tears of pure joy and satisfaction. I began to explore other classes, studios and instructors.
I moved to Portland in 2006 discovering the Nia Headquarters - I have been dancing there ever since! Life just didn't seem to weave and bob the way I wanted it to. It seemed each time I began to fantasize about taking the White Belt a barrier would find it's way into my world.
2009 was a pinnacle year for me both personally and professionally. After hiking, dancing and doing yoga at Mount Rainier National Park with my dear goddess sister Shelley, I decided to apply to the MSW program at PSU. I was accepted in April of last year and began this September. In June 2012 I will move into Medical Social Work with a Master's in Social Work Degree.
As I danced in my living room today, moving, shaking and stretching, I was quickly reminded how much our bodies need to move on a regular daily basis. Priorities to date have been focused on family and school, with little left for my practice. Today I move to recommit my body to daily self-care and joy of movement.
Nia White Belt here I come: physically prepared but more importantly, emotionally ready to embrace my "primal dancing goddess self".
Stay tuned............
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