My Friends, I've just been through moving houses. I know this is a common experience and that most people survive this process. I did not know that the project would totally absorb my attention and energy for so long a time. I'm glad I had the wisdom to suspend my classes for awhile and attend to the demands of clearing out 40+ years of accumulation, preparing to market and sell a farm, preparing a new house to move in to... and to attend to the relationships involved and the emotional processes that came along.
Along the way, I had the opportunity to observe myself. To see when I managed to continue caring for my mental and physical health, and when I let things slide. I have renewed appreciation for how much I use Nia life "tools" and other practices to keep myself functioning the best I can under current circumstances.
I've also grown in appreciation for friends who carry a larger burden than I do assisting a partner to function as best they can, even under stress and "issues."
OK, enough intro. We're all growing older, gaining experience and sometimes losing capabilities. I'm eager, as always, to explore just how much I'm able to improve in one way or another. Are there trade-offs, such as strength for wisdom? Patience for speed? Who knows?
I just read a short essay in the "Daily Om" site that got me thinking. Here's how it began:
"Embrace Micro Self-Care
Small acts of self-kindness build up, creating a foundation of strength, resilience, and confidence that enables you to navigate life’s challenges with greater ease."
And that's where getting back to Nia classes comes in. Just like those world-class athletes in the Olympics, practice, lots of it, is what gets you where you want to go. I use what I do in Nia class to practice skills like maintaining a focus, noticing sensations, giving permission to feel comfortable in my body, doing actions that help strengthen my muscles and bones, doing actions that help keep my joints flexible and comfortable. I practice "dynamic ease", a Nia phrase for learning to balance feeling relaxed and energetic at the same time. I enjoy music to inspire me to move my body, and to connect with expression and emotions.
So, are you thinking that you’d like some of that practice also? We could do it together! I would enjoy learning from your strengths and insights. I share what I have and I learn and listen as well.
I recently saw a greeting card with the quote from Indian author and poet Rabindranath Tagore: “You cannot cross the ocean by sitting and staring at it.” It spoke to me, both for facing all the boxes to unpack in the new house, and for getting back to the way I want to feel in my body.
Here’s the line-up for my classes starting back up:
Beginning Aug 8 – Thursdays at 11:00 - Nia at Dynamic Dance Studio, 1012 Harlow Rd, Springfield 97477 Cost is $8 to drop in or 3 classes for $20
Beginning September 3 – Tuesdays at 9:45 – Nia at Willamalane Adult Activity Center, 215 W. C St., Springfield
Beginning October 1 – Tuesdays 4:00 – 6:00 – Nia Art of Sensation Training. Think of this online series of seminars as a PERSONAL RETREAT spread out over 16 weeks
Here’s more info. https://onlinetraining.nianow.com/courses/nia-art-of-sensation-new-white-belt-with-janet-hollander-10-01-24
