There are a number of things I like to do in my bed. Sleeping is high on the list. The other thing is to make myself feel good prior to getting up. No... you don't need to R-rate this post...getcha' mind out-of-the-gutter! I like to stretch. reposition myself. Stretch. Hang on to the headboard, twist like a pretzel and stretch. Wiggle, flop and stay. Stretch. I find the bed is the perfect place to sense my body in many, unique positions that I would not feel comfortable doing on the floor. For one thing, the bed is softer than the floor, so I can prop myself up on my elbow without pain. The bed is also off the floor, so I can hang parts of my body off it. I particularly like hanging my head. The bed is also warm and incredibly convenient...I can nurture the needs of my body, sense how great it feels to move and stretch without having to even get dressed...whoops... TMI (too much information!)

Come on', try it! What better way to start the day, tune into your body and stay in bed a little longer! I'd love to hear from you. Tell me how does your body feel before you get up? What do you do to get your giddy up' going? (G-rated please!) Does Bed-Body Stretching (oooh, better trademark that!) work for you?

Don't forget to join me next week (Wed. 10/3) for the Sore-to-Sensational workshop. You'll find even more ways to have fun and learn about what you sense in your body (whether in bed or not!)

Much love and health,

Jill

Ask different people what Nia is for them and the word that stands out is, "fun." Formed from three types of dance arts, non-impact martial arts, and healing arts, Nia for me is movement candy. That sweet addictiveness that comes from moving in my body! Like candy, Nia comes in a varity flavors within each one hour routine. Sometimes slow-cooked and savory, sometimes stir-fried and spicy, a mix of peppermint swirls and licorice kicks, barefoot deliciousness...yet always grounded in the body's way, your way, your flavor.

What Flavor is Your Nia??? Add a comment below. We love hearing from you!

Our hearts beat in rhythm, so it is natural that we move in rhythm. But, sometimes we lose touch with our body's way and Nia has the power to bring us back.  The more aware of sensations that we become, the more the magic happens.  Give it a try:  Starting slowly, quietly, sense your breath, inhaling, exhaling.  Gradually, in your own time, let your awareness expand.  Maybe you sense your eyelids blinking or the gentle pulse of your throat as you swallow.  Now, start laughing!  Let your awareness swim in and out of your laughter.  Notice the numerous muscles involved in laughter, from your face to your belly, and maybe you even notice your toes curling…Enjoy your body's symphony of laughter and appreciate that even laughter is an expression of the rhythm within.  In Nia, we consciously develop awareness of sensation, which I am convinced is the gateway to the rhythm within and what gets me smiling from the inside out with Nia. xo, Lesley (aka Nia'Kini)

You hear it in class – OK! FreeDance! Anything Goes Movement Wise! Sometimes enticing and sometimes scary words to hear. When I started as a Nia student, FreeDance sent me scurrying to the water fountain or restroom, anywhere to escape. Now I love FreeDance. What changed? Determined to get my money’s worth from the class, I decided not to leave the room and instead to stick my toe in the water, almost literally. Under the skillful guidance of Nia teachers, I began experiencing FreeDance as a fun way to explore movement. Over time, even more powerfully, I now enjoy FreeDance as a way to explore me as a person, as a safe place to play with self-expression.

FreeDance, the fourth of the 13 Nia principles, gives us the opportunity to explore beyond our habitual ways of moving. If we usually tap our right foot, FreeDance can be tapping our left foot instead. If we usually walk forwards, FreeDance can be walking backwards. Contrary to the name, FreeDance is not necessarily about dance or coming up with dance steps. But, because anything goes movement wise, we definitely can do dance steps of our choosing. If we love to waltz or jitterbug or hip-hop, for example, FreeDance lets us explore these dances within different kinds of music.

The first time I looked at the clock it was 3:30am...to early to get up.  I woke up again at 5:30am, grabbed the ice pack and laid back down. This radiating ache on the right side of my mid-back was creating a familiar "alarm clock" trick. By 5:45am I'm awake and down on the floor. I've got to move. Cradling myself, I rock, roll, unravel. There's no choreography or posture to remember. I'm moving guided by what my body is willing to explore and experiment. It's my time to slow way down and listen to the voice of my body--follow the "aahh" sensation. My goal is to Make This Pain Stop! and yet, I know the process of exploring the path to self-healing is my real journey.  And I know I am not alone. How many of us are waking up with aches and pains, soreness and stiffness, less vital energy than we'd like?  Sadder to me is the fact that many people  powerlessly live with discomfort, resigned to hoping it will go away. Boldly, I stand here inspired to help people change that. If you are experiencing less health in your body than you want and you are looking for something...new...I invite you to my new class Sense-ational. It starts this Saturday at 9am.  Please, invite someone who may need it.  Lots of love. JP