Tools for Transformation - The Art, Science and Craft of Living a More Joyful Life

More Brainstorming...

I think I'll start a business!

I am a Nia teacher. That means that I am a guide into the Joy of Movement, Pleasure with Purpose (thank you Karol McNutt, Blue Belt Nia teacher), and The Body's Way.

Nia is rich. Nia is a fitness practice as well as a lifestyle practice. While I practice Nia to stay fit, Nia is also my lifestyle. For the past 6 years I have been sharing Nia through the Body and the Mind, primarily as the fitness practice. In very small pieces I have been sharing Nia as the lifestyle practice. It is time for me to begin sharing Nia they way I believe it is intended to be shared: as a Body, Mind, Spirit and Emotions Fitness Movement Lifestyle program.

With this in mind, I have begun to create Tools for Transformation. T4T is under the umbrella of Nia Body Journeys which also includes Nia Classes, and One-on-One Nia-based Training as well as Workshops, Jams, Labs, Nia Parties and other community events.

T4T is intended to be offered to groups outside of a fitness class. T4T is intended for businesses and corporations as part of their in-house wellness programs, for wellness centers as a facet of their existing wellness programming, fitness centers to introduce or deepen wellness programming. T4T is intended to be shared with any group of people who are interested in investing in holistic programming.

Within T4T there are interactive Lecture/Discussion and movement segments, Nia classes and workshops.

What makes the workshop under T4T different from the workshops under NBJ is that the T4T workshops are dedicated to the following topics/headings specifically intended to support people in making healthy lifestyle changes of life during a lunch hour, or before/after work hour on the premises of the business through :

• Awareness
• Self-Activation
• Conditioning
• Body Works - The Body's Way and Your Body's Way
• 9 Movement Forms
• The Power of this Moment

The workshops offered under NBJ have a wider scope of topics, more time for the experience and the venue is more likely to be a dance studio or fitness/wellness center.

Tools for Transformation-the Art, Science and Craft of Living a Joyful Life

Brainstorming 101

First Do No Harm. Hippocratic Oath.

This sounds so simple. Straight forward. To the point. Easy to do.

How about the Four Agreements?
Author, teacher, healer, and surgeon, Don Miguel Ruiz invites:
1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
2. Don't Take Anything Personally
3. Don't Make Assumptions
4. Always Do Your Best

Simple. Straight Forward. Direct. Easy.

These invitations, this advice, seems so obvious, natural even. Then why is it that so few of us live lives that integrate these easy, simple, natural concepts? Why is communication in any form so difficult? Why does it seem that life and business is fraught with an abundance of miunderstandings rather than an abundance of cooperation and satisfaction?

As I test the new waters of developing a wellness program, I find myself asking the following questions:

• Why are so many people unhappy in their lives?
• Why are so many people unhappy in their jobs?
• Why do so many of the people I talk to feel that they are not in control of their lives?
• Why do we seem to think that if we can do more, be more, make more money, have more things we will be happy?
• Why do we need external forces to make us happy?
• When do we have enough?
• With all of this unhappiness, why doesn't anything change?!?

Another set of questions:

• Are we enough?
• If we're not enough? What is missing?
• Enough for what?
• If we're not enough, when will we be enough?
• Can we be enough right now, in this moment? Why not?
• Will someone please define "having enough" for me.

Considering that we are all sort of a work in progress (we always have something to learn, we can always have more fun, explore more pleasure, make more friends, have more parties), are we not also just right for this moment? Even if we have something to learn right this minute, aren't we learning it? If we're not, then aren't we in the right place to be not learning it?

AREN'T WE ENOUGH IN THIS MOMENT?!

Every day is not the same. Yesterday was dark, blustery and threatening. 3 days ago it was rainy. Today is mild with the sun taking ocassional peeks out. 2 days ago it was bright and sunny. Do we say that 3 days ago the weather was wrong? Do we not have enough weather? We do comment in times of drought that we don't get enough rain. Since we're not in command of the weather, are we right? Does the weather on this planet not support, sustain and nurture us? It is enough.

Yesterday I was depressed, blue, sad, and scared. 3 days ago I felt like I was on my way to my new life; hopeful, excited and positive. Today I am calm but driven to move forward into my new life, working like a mad woman; loving the feeling of growth and expansion.

I am enough.

The Joy of Movement - Exploration through Sensation

Experiencing Joy as a sensation in daily life is a choice. Choosing the sensation of Joy is how Nia works her magic.

Choose Joy by listening to what you body gives you as feedback. If your body tells you "this feels good", "I feel strong and flexible" "Yuuummmm", then keep doing what you're doing. However, if your body tells you, "this hurts", "too fast", "too hard", "I'm holding my breath to push through this", then stop. Stop. Take a breath, then Modify, Tweak and Adjust until the sensation of Joy returns and your body tells you "this is better" through sensation.

Where there is Joy in movement, there is Joy in life!

Dancing Through Life

75 trillion Cells 200 Bones 700 Muscles

Our bodies are built to move in a delicious myriad of ways and many, many studies show that practically every single one of us will unconsciously begin to dance when music is played. Watch a 2 year old when music is on. They definitely get their groove on in their own Body's Way! Our beautiful design of muscles, ligaments, tendons that surround and support bony joints give us all the opportunity to become fit, strong and expressive.

To dance is the celebrate life.

CELEBRATE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Standards of Movement?

To become a professional dancer, we must follow the rules and submit to the standards; we must look "like that", we must move "like that", we must have bodies "like that". We must obey the standard.

To go to a fitness class, go out to a dance club with friends, or join an adult dance class just for fun you must look "like that", you must move "like that", you must have a body "like that". You must obey the standard.

What?

What do you think??

I'd love your comments.

More to come...

Nia is...

Nia is...

for the curious

for the pioneer

for the courageous

for the risk taker

for the dancing spirit

in all of us.

52 Moves - a Nia Workshop

52 Moves - A Nia Workshop

It's time to get into the nuts and bolts of Nia: the 52 Moves.

On Saturday, October 3, I will be facilitating a workshop that will introduce and review the 52 basic movement components that are at the heart of Nia.

For someone who is new to Nia, this is a great way to explore the basics.

For those who have been practicing Nia, this workshop will offer the chance to re-visit as a beginner and also to hone existing skills.

There are few experiences as exciting as being a beginner and life-long student. Sensing a new world opening up, right at the tips of your fingers, in the next step.

Bring your curiousity, your love of learning, your need to move the way your body was designed to move.

When: Saturday, October 3, 11am-12:30pm

Where: Anahata Center, 929 South Main Street, Lombard, IL

got questions? Niaspirit@yahoo.com

How Much: $15.00