The Power of Play

The focus of tonight’s class is pure, natural, and uninhibited Play.

Play refers to a range of voluntary, intrinsically motivated activities that are normally associated with pleasure and enjoyment. *Wikipedia

According to David Elkind, author of "The Power of Play," play is motivated by pleasure. Joy and pleasure are at the heart of Nia. It's a natural marriage. Here is an excellent article by the author titled "Can We Play?"

Join me for a playful and joyful class! 5:30pm at Open Flight Studio.

Cultivating Infinite Movement with 200/700

The focus of tonight’s routine is 200/700. That's 200 bones and just about 700 muscles. The intent is to cultivate infinite movement variety. We are going to play with every bone and muscle. The invitation of this routine is to notice your movement habits and break them by “tweaking” each movement until you feel new sensations. Get ready to get creative!

Join me tonight at Open Flight Studio in the University District at 5:30pm.


As a teaser, this is my absolute favorite song from the routine I am working with tonight, Canta. I can resist getting up to dance when I hear it. We won’t be spinning but wouldn’t it be fun if we did?

Canta Debut!

I will be teaching a brand new routine tonight called "Canta."

Tonight we will be playing with the energy of Aikido. In Aikido, we use spirals, circular movements, our breath, the hara (moving from our center), and we extend our energy into space with ease instead of force.

Aikido means; "Ai" to meet, "Ki" spirit, and "Do" the way. In other words, Aikido is the way of harmony. It is the way of the peaceful warrior.

According to George Leonard, an Aikido master that the Nia co-founders encountered as they learned this movement modality: Aikido is best understood through the word G-R-A-C-E.

G - ground before you move.
R - relax to efficiently and effectively respond.
A - awareness is the way to perceive everything in order to make a decision and take action.
C - center, touch your center, find it, stay with it and listen to it.
E - energy, use chi energy to direct your attention; energy follows attention.

Join me at 5:30pm at Open Flight Studio in dancing the dance of the peaceful warrior(ess') with GRACE.