January 2012 Nia with Jennifer Newsletter

“What does the garden of your life look like now? What seedlings and flowerings have been neglected and now need some attention? Which need a bit of water? Light? Fresh air? A singing to? What is new that you are growing for this year? What seeds have you planted that you now are seeing sprout? Which do you need to let sit and stop digging up to see what’s happening? What may need to die to allow room for something new to grow?”  - Steph Cowling The quote above is from a blog entry titled “Growing Your Garden” from Cosmic Cowgirls Magazine.  I know. The title is awesome and so are the blog entries. This particular entry arrived just as I was contemplating what I seeds I desire to plant, nurture and grow this year in the garden of my Nia practice. The following are a few things I want to manifest: Greater integrity in my practice and teaching of Nia. I want to master the 52+ moves with both precision and playfulness. I believe this will help me become a better teacher. A deeper embodiment of the Nia principles which includes taking the time to learn and master the continuing education materials that include educational modules I can share with you on topics such as the base, core, upper extremities, x-ray anatomy, connective tissue, awareness, sight, sound, touch, etc. The learning is endless. Bringing the healing arts aspects of Nia to the forefront of my practice and sharing it with you. I want to convey the power of Nia to heal and create significant shifts in how we live in our bodies, minds, hearts and spirits. I desire greater collaboration with my Nia colleagues. Each of us is talented and together we are mighty! When our talents and passions merge everyone benefits. I feel incredibly lucky to be joining the Nia team (Susan Tate, Jena Hennessey and Gretchen Musgrove) at the Civetta Dance Space in Greenwood this year! I will also be partnering with my amazing colleagues Mollia Jensen, Randee Fox, and Jill Pagano on a few events. These are just a few collaborations coming up this year.     To continue with the theme of my birthday this past year, I intend to continue to explore the alchemy of my Voice as a teacher, educator and student. In my personal life, I desire greater space in my life to explore my creativity and spend quality playful time with my loving husband. I’d love to hear from you what you plan on growing in your Nia garden this year. Please share. The seeds I planted have produced some significant changes in my schedule. Take a look: What’s NEW: Tuesday morning classes 9:30am – 10:30am begin at the Civetta Dance Space in Greenwood (124 N 103rd St., Seattle, WA 98133) on February 14, 2012 Thursday morning classes 9:30am – 10:30am begin at the Civetta Dance Space in Greenwood on February 16, 2012 Self-Care Second Fridays 7:30pm – 8:30pm at the Civetta Dance Space in Greenwood starts this Friday, January 13, 2012. The focus of these monthly evening classes is self-care and developing skills as a sensation scientist (body awareness, movement variation and deepening your skills as a Nia dancer). Classes are a blend of movement meditation, free dance and classic Nia choreography. The theme for the first second Friday coming up this week is slipping to a state of RAW: Relaxed, Alert and Waiting. Relaxation, ease and a new tool to manage stress await you. For more: http://everybodyloveyourbody.blogspot.com/2012/01/second-friday-slip-into-raw.html Nia 5 Stages of Self-Healing Five-Week Series: Sundays February 19 – March 18, 2012 5pm - 6pm Cost: $50 for the series or $13 drop-in Description: Nia 5 Stages is a powerful integrative practice based on the five stages of human development: embryonic, creeping, crawling, standing and walking. This practice is dedicated to self-healing and to using these five movements as stimulation to feel better in your body. The object of practicing these five simple movements is to prepare the body to become more functional, energetic, and comfortable while doing any movement such as: dancing, walking, running, yoga, martial arts, etc. This practice allows you to sense the natural ability your body has to realign itself and self-heal through movement. By the end of this five-week series you will have an in-depth introduction to each of the movements so that you can sustain a home practice. What’s ENDING: Mondays at 5:30pm at Open Flight Studio will be ending on Monday, February 13, 2012. Note: class is canceled on February 6 while I am in Hawaii and the last class will be on February 13. What’s staying the SAME: Wednesdays at 5:30pm at Community Fitness 65th St Saturdays at 1pm at Community Fitness Roosevelt Studio Sundays at 10:30am at Delilah’s Belly Dance Studio in Fremont EVENTS: There are still a few spots left for my Nia and Belly Dancing Retreat at Kalani Oceanside Retreat Center in Hawaii. The retreat is February 4-9, 2012. Details:http://www.delilahs-belly-dance-retreat.com/January2012-B/aboutretreat2012B.html Make sure you check out all of these great events from my Nia colleagues in Seattle: http://www.niaseattle.com/drupal-5.6/ I look forward to planting seeds with you, watching them grow and dancing with you this year and always, Jennifer Self-Care Second Fridays Starts this week! Friday Jan 13 2012 Time: 7:30-8:30pm Civetta Dance Space   124 N 103rd St., Seattle, WA 98133  Cost: $13 Slip into a state of RAW: Relaxed, Alert and Waiting. Relaxation, ease and a new tool to manage stress await you! Nia White Belt Training, Split-Week Schedule, Anacortes WA Take the Nia White Belt over two long weekends with Jill Pagano! Registration is now open: NiaNow.com/jill-pagano Weekend 1: Jan 26 - 29 Weekend 2: Feb 3-5 Nia and Belly Dance Retreat at Kalani Oceanside Retreat Center in Hawaii February 4-9, 2012 6 Days 5 nights with Delilah Flynn, Jennifer Lucero-Earle & Erik Brown Retreat Package Price (6 Day/5 Nights): $1399.00 There is still time to register: Hawaii Retreat

Whole-Body Movement with 200/700 - 2x today!

A double dose of Nia! I am teaching twice today – this morning at 10:45am at Community Fitness at 65^th Street subbing for Randee Fox and again at 5:30pm at Open Flight Studio in the University District. Both classes will focus on whole body movement and using our over 200 bones and 700 muscles to stimulate creative movement.

Join me for an energetic class that includes soulful and tribal sounds from a variety of Nia routines.  Get ready to move from the tips of your toes to the top of your head.

Moving Your Shoulders as Elegant Wings

The focus of tonight’s Nia class is movement with the shoulder blades. The intent is to provide more freedom, mobility and expression of the shoulders, chest and upper back.

The shoulder blades are two thin, flat bones on the back of the body. You can visualize the shoulder blades as hands on the back of your body or like elegant wings expanding out the side of your body. One of the essential functions of the shoulder blades is to provide freedom and to give life to your hand and arm expression.

The movement of our hands has a direct impact on our shoulder blades. The simple reciprocal action of moving the palms up and down stimulates the back of the body (sensing nerves) and the front of the body (motor nerves). Moving the palms up, leading with the pinky finger, allows you to sense support from behind and underneath while opening the shoulder joint and allowing your shoulder blades to swing down and out. Moving with palms down, leading with the thumb, moves energy down and allows your shoulder blades to return to resting.

The entire shoulder girdle is meant to be mobile. We will work with various movements tonight to free the shoulder joint and allow for mobility and full range of expression.

Here is a wonderful little one-page Nia student handout on the shoulder girdle.

I am easing into teaching the Nia routine Butterfly by starting with a couple of songs combining them with songs from Opal. Within a week, we will spread our butterfly wings!

Join me tonight for an exploration of your elegant wings from 5:30pm- 6:30pm at Community Fitness 65th Street Studio. Open to non-Community Fitness members for a $12 drop-in.

From Stability Comes Balance

The focus of tonight’s class is discovering the balance that comes from the sensation and dance of stability.

Stability is the sensation of stillness and relaxation. We discover balance by relaxing the joints.


Stability is the sensation of energy moving from the center out in all directions simultaneously. It is grounded, solid, calm, rooted, and connected to the earth. It is sensed as readiness for action - a relaxed and dynamic tension of harmony. Stability is nurtured by resting into stillness while seeking balance. It relies on relaxation, postural integration, and optimal alignment of the body.

Losing Stability is sensed as weakness and a loss of balance and support. Without Stability, the body could not move safely and would become overly stimulated and unhealthy.

On another level, we are better able to cultivate balance in our lives when there is stability present. Think about how your dance tonight can nurture and deepen stability in your interior life.

In tonight’s class we will discover the balance and support that comes from sensing stability in the body: by equalizing muscular contraction and relaxation and sensing the calmness in the muscles combined with readiness for action.

Class at 5:30pm at Community Fitness 65th Street Studio.