Relearning the Joy of Movement
This past weekend I held an “Introduction to Nia” workshop. In that workshop, one of the things we talk about is the Six Fundamentals of Nia.
I thought you might enjoy a reminder of (or an introduction to) those fundamentals.
Today I begin with Number One: The Joy of Movement is the Secret of Fitness.
It wasn’t that I never experienced joy in my workouts. I loved running and often experienced joy while out running trails. I also thoroughly enjoyed many years of sculling (rowing in a single shell), which I did purely for my own satisfaction. My emotional experience while sculling was far different than when I was sweep rowing in eights, which was nearly always accompanied by a coach drilling us to improve our time and technique. […]
Centering with Stillness
Today is our final newsletter in our five part series on “The 5 Sensations of Fitness” (FAMMS) included in our Nia practice, which are:
- Flexibility
- Agility
- Mobility
- Strength
- Stability
To truly be physically fit, and respond effectively to demands of our daily lives, Nia teaches that we must cultivate all five of these sensations.
Today I’m focusing on #5, STABILITY.
Stability is sensed as calmness in the muscles, combined with readiness for action. It is the physical feeling of harmony between muscles and joints.
Dynamic stability is the perfect balance of opposites that energizes your body and is sensed as a powerful peace.
When you sense stability, you can connect to your center point and find stillness, intrinsically grounded by a strong foundation.
Loss of stability is sensed as weakness and loss of balance.
Stability is nurtured by practicing balanced postures, bringing awareness to structural alignment and engaging in both momentary and sustained periods of movement and non-movement while integrating the […]
Increasing Strength
Today is our fourth in a series on “The 5 Sensations of Fitness” (FAMMS) included in our Nia practice, which are:
- Flexibility
- Agility
- Mobility
- Strength
- Stability
To practice the Five Sensations, become aware of what each sensation feels like in your body, and determine which sensations you tend to overdo or under-do. Then apply the Five Sensations to heal and create the body you desire. We include each of these Five Sensations in a Nia workout to promote healing and overall fitness.
Today I’m focusing on #4, STRENGTH.
Strength is the core of the power you exert in your life. It is the force that protects: the Warrior and the Lioness. Physical strength allows you to consciously engage your body and mind to use specific muscles to achieve a desired result that requires force.
Strength is sensed as energy moving inward. It is the physical feeling of containing and sustaining power. Dynamic strength is the perfect action between contraction and […]
Flowing with Mobility
Today is our third in a series on “The 5 Sensations of Fitness” (FAMMS) included in our Nia practice, which are:
- Flexibility
- Agility
- Mobility
- Strength
- Stability
To practice the five sensations, become aware of what each sensation feels like in your body. Next, determine which sensation/s you tend to overdo or under-do. Then apply the five sensations to heal and create the body you desire. We include each of these 5 sensations in a Nia workout to promote healing and overall fitness.
Today I’m focusing on #3, MOBILITY.
Mobility can be sensed in the body as energy in constant motion. It is the physical feeling of flowing with fluidity to the full range of motion available in each joint.
Mobility teaches us how to be free spirits, following the flow of energy. It spirals and waves much like the rolling of the ocean – constantly alive, moving, undulating, flowing… seeking to explore the frontiers of space and take you […]
Developing Agility
- Flexibility
- Agility
- Mobility
- Strength
- Stability
Nia teaches that to truly be considered physically fit and respond effectively to the demands of our daily lives, we must cultivate all five of these sensations. Because of this we include each of these 5 sensations in a Nia workout.
Today I’m focusing on #2, AGILITY.
Agility is about tapping into your animal body, and activating life preserving instincts that allow you to spring gracefully into action on a moment’s notice. It is sensed as quick and sudden shifts in the physical body – the feeling of quickly starting and stopping, pushing and pulling, changing and moving in new or different directions.
Dynamic agility is the ability to contract and release with spring-loaded joints while maintaining a relaxed and responsive body. It allows us to negotiate spur of the moment shifts in weight and […]