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.