#26Acts of Kindess

Yesterday, as I walked back to my car in the Safeway grocery store parking lot, I noticed an envelope on my windshield. Worried it was a ticket I quick looked around for a parking attendant and so no one. I also didn't see "tickets" on any of the other cars so I set down my grocery bag and picked up the envelope. What I received touched my heart beyond any words I can share:

The stranger who left this card for me was inspired by a movement called #26Acts of Kindness. The call of this movement is to commit to doing one act of kindess to honor all those killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy. The card I received was in honor of Jesse Lewis, age 6. Holding the card close to my heart I felt compelled to learn more about Jesse so I googled him. This precious little angel died trying to lead his fellow classmates to safety. He was playful, active, funny, loving, well-loved, passionate and brave.

Last night, I stayed up late writing up 26 cards to share with strangers. With each one I held an image of Jesse in my mind's eye. I breathed love into each card, channeling it from my heart through my arm, hands and fingers onto the pen that touched the card. This morning I invited Jesse's spirit to dance with us and our class focus was on our hands and performing random acts of kindness for ourselves and others.

Jesse Lewis, age 6. 
His mother said of him: 
"He was a force who lit up a room when he entered. 
Compassionate and caring, 
wise and soulful beyond his years."

We are all in this together. We have the capacity to create a better, more loving, safe and beautiful world for ourselves and for future generations. We can all begin with just one simple random act of kindness each day. Like the card I received from the stranger said so beautifully: "Let's make love ring louder than violence and hate." Pay it forward. Pass it on.

If you'd like to use a template to print your own #26Acts sheets, feel free to use this one (below) created by my dear friend and Nia colleague, Randee Fox, who was also deeply affected and inspired by this random act of kindness.

Happy Holidays everyone. From my heart and soul to yours.

With love,
Jennifer

What is Stretch and Fly Yoga Dance

Liziah and I have had several people ask us to explain the differences between our two class offerings: Nia-Yoga and Stretch and Fly Yoga Dance. We hope this offers some insight!

What do Nia-Yoga and Stretch and Fly Yoga Dance have in common: 

• Both are co-taught with love and delight by Jennifer and Liziah. We both want you to “love your body and love your life.”
• Both embody the joy of movement and are rooted in the philosophy that “through movement we find health.”
• Both invite you to tap into somatic awareness and move in your own way honoring your unique body and spirit.
• Both encourage creative movement and expression with a safe and loving structure.
• Both incorporate the use of the breath in guiding our movement.
• Both are done barefoot to soul-stirring music.
• There is an arc to both classes – a warm-up, get moving, cool down and movement on the floor.

What are the differences between Nia-Yoga and Stretch and Fly Yoga Dance:

• Nia-Yoga is 35-40 min of Classic Nia, 7-9 min of Stretch and Fly Yoga Dance and 20-23 min of Viniyoga.
• No Nia music or choreography is used in Stretch and Fly Yoga Dance.
• There is no martial arts component to Stretch and Fly Yoga Dance.
• Movements are more meditative.
• Stretch and Fly Yoga Dance is slower than Nia with simpler footwork and dance moves. The dance moves used in each song are easy and designed around a yoga asana.
• Stretch and Fly Yoga Dance is strengthening, relaxing, fun and therapeutic. We design each routine around a theme such as “The Dance of the Warrior or The Dance of Celebrating the Heart.”

What kind of yoga does Liziah teach?
The style of yoga Liziah teaches is Viniyoga: a gentle, strengthening, meditative style of yoga. It is a supportive style of yoga that invites each individual to find their bodies way of doing a posture. It focuses on connecting movement and breath, finding a rhythm that supports harmony and integration of body and mind. This is a highly adaptable form of yoga and is suitable to people of all skill levels and those who have physical limitations and injuries.

What kind of dance is included?
Stretch and Fly Yoga Dance was co-created by Jennifer and Liziah and includes simple dance moves that anyone can ease into. Steps are as simple as stepping to the side, doing simple turns, creating waves with the arms, hip circles and much more. We design all choreography around a yoga asana (pose) so that you can experience what it’s like to flow in and out of an asana and then hold it in static form to experience strength, stability and relaxation.

Jennifer’s dance inspiration comes from Nia (includes Jazz, Modern and Duncan Dance), Latin Dance, African Dance, Caribbean dance, Afro-Caribbean dance and 5Rhythms. Liziah’s dance inspiration comes from a variety of dance techniques including hip hop and other contemporary dance and performing arts.

Who should come to Stretch and Fly Yoga Dance:
Everyone and anyone! Come to strengthen your body in a gentle way, to stretch, extend, connect with your breath and find deep relaxation. The first 40-50 min of class is done standing/dancing/moving with our bare feet connected to the ground. The last 20-25 min are on the mat. Feel free to bring your own mat but the studio has mats, blocks, straps, cushions and blankets. Bring water and wear comfortable clothes to move and play in.

We teach every second and fourth Friday from 6:15pm - 7:30pm at Balance Studio in Fremont: 418 N 35th St, Seattle, WA 98103. Our next classes are December 14 and December 28, 2012.

December 2012 Newsletter

As the year closes out I found myself returning to the blog post I wrote in January 2012 about the seeds I wanted to plant in the year ahead. I am happy to share that many of the seeds I planted sprouted including: reaching greater integrity in my Nia practice as both a teacher and student which includes both a deeper relationship with the Nia principles and mastery (a process!) of the 52 plus moves and nine movement forms, bringing the healing arts aspect of Nia to the forefront, collaboration with colleagues (most notably Liziah Woodruff for Nia-Yoga and Stretch and Fly Yoga Dance), exploring the alchemy of my voice and creating more space in my life to explore my creative side!

I am excited to announce that exploring my creative side birthed two long-awaited creations. The first, Stretch and Fly Yoga Dance, is a unique healing arts movement practice that combines the soft fluidity of dance with accessible asanas in the Viniyoga tradition.Liziah Woodruff and I have had the vision for Stretch and Fly Yoga Dance for years. Our desire is to provide you with a meditative practice to soulful music that invites your body, mind, heart and spirit to stretch, fly, unwind and relax. This co-creation and collaboration is dear to both of our hearts and we are thrilled that we will be sharing this passion and vision with you on 2nd and 4th Fridays from 6:15pm - 7:30pm at Balance Studio in Fremont!

The second creation is one that I have been nurturing for over a decade, The Embodied Tarot is truly my lovechild. I have been working with the tarot as a path for self-understanding, growth, transformation and guidance for nearly three decades. Yes, I started quite early. I was exposed to tarot in my family as a small child and received my first deck when I was ten years old. The Embodied Tarot is my creation - a unique approach to the tarot that blends counseling and embodiment practices such as movement, affirmations, meditations, guided imagery, art, writing and more. The Embodied Tarot process is a path to awakening our inherent wisdom. We already know the answers to the questions we ask and if we listen intently, we can be ease-fully guided by our thinking mind, emotions, spirit and physical sensations. I'd love to serve as your midwife to awakening!

In 2013 Everybody, Love Your Body will become the umbrella (or mothership) for all of my somatic offerings: Nia, Nia-Yoga, Nia 5 Stages, Stretch and Fly Yoga Dance and The Embodied Tarot. I hope you will explore each of these with me over the year ahead. My vision for the year is to lovingly tend to these creations (honing my craft) and offer my best self to each of you as a teacher, guide, facilitator and educator.

I'd love to hear from you what your one or more of your goals are for the year ahead.

With warmth and heartfelt wishes for a holiday season of dancing feet, love in your heart, a smile on your face, gratitude and the presence of your loved ones,
Jennifer

p.s. A huge thanks to those of you that came to dance withGretchen and I on Thanksgiving morning. With your support we raised over $400 for Noel House! See the beautiful video Gretchen put together of the class: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hTwHAmSv6Xk

Coming Up!

- Sat Dec 8, 4pm-5:30pm Dance Space Teachers Nia Benefit Jam for Occupy Sandy, $20

- Fri Dec 14, 6:15pm-7:30pmStretch and Fly Yoga Danceat Balance Studio, $15 

- Tues Dec 25, 9:15am - 10:30am Christmas Morning Nia-Yoga at The Dance Space with Jennifer and Liziah, $13

- Fri Dec 28, 6:15pm-7:30pm Stretch and Fly Yoga Dance at Balance Studio, $15 

- Four Saturdays starting Jan 5, 2013 Manifesting a Personal Vision in 2013 with The Embodied Tarot

Class Schedule:

- Tues Nia-Yoga: 9:15am at The Dance Space

- Wed Nia: 5:30pm at Community Fitness 65th St. ($12 drop-in) 
- Thurs Nia: 9:30am at The Dance Space 

- 2nd and 4th Fridays Stretch and Fly Yoga Dance: 6:15pm at Balance Studio ($15 drop-in)
- Sun Nia: 10:30am at Balance Studio

Stretch and Fly 2nd and 4th Fridays in Fremont!

Stretch and Fly Yoga Dance with Jennifer and Liziah 
Second and Fourth Fridays in Fremont!

Next: Friday, December 14 and Friday, December 28, 2012 

Time: 6:15pm - 7:30pm 

Where: Balance Studio in Fremont - 418 N 35th Street, Seattle, WA 98103 

Cost: $15 

Description: 
Open to everyone, this 75-minute class blends gentle and accessible yoga poses with simple dance moves. The first half of class is done standing and the last half on a yoga mat. Join us and allow your body, heart, mind and spirit to stretch and fly! No previous yoga or dance experience necessary. Bring a yoga mat if you have one and water. 

Dance Space Nia Benefit Jam for Occupy Sandy

Sharing the Gifts of Community: Dance for Sandy - A Nia Benefit Jam 

Come join Dance Space Nia instructors Jennifer, Gretchen, Jena, Ann, and Susan for this special 90-minute benefit class.

When: Saturday, December 8, 2012 

Time: 4:00pm - 5:30pm 

Where: The Dance Space, 124 N 103rd St., Seattle, WA 98133 

Cost: $20 suggested donation 

Proceeds will be sent to: Occupy Sandy - A coordinated relief effort to distribute resources and volunteers to help neighborhoods and people affected by Hurricane Sandy.