Jeanne shares:
Can soulful and mindful movement unleash our Potential and Creativity?
Can soulful and mindful movement unleash our Potential and Creativity?
In my experience YES!
I have been teaching and dancing through life with NIA (The Nia Technique) for 6 years. ITS BEEN AN AMAZING JOURNEY!
I would like to share a few of my experiences with you as well as some of the wonderful experiences of class participants, that I have been honored to have shared their personal experiences and journey with.
When I first set up i.move in 2006 my vision was to create a base or space where I could offer what I understood as "intelligent movement". Pilates was the first Modality I offered. Realizing that my Pilates goers were often not engaging in enough cardiovascular training outside of their Pilates practice, I felt it important to choose a cardiovascular component that was kind to the body yet effective. This is when NIA started at i.move studio.
A little bit about my experience.
Incorporating NIA into my everyday had an amazing impact on my life. From building an amazing relationship to my body in a pleasure over pain way, to building my confidence to be ME/follow my heart and in this finding the exciting REMINDER that ANYTHING is possible! Building this Relationship to myself brought appreciating for my dreams, unleashing an amazing creativity. Any ideas that I previously would meet with fear became an exciting challenge to me. Physically energized and mentally clearer nothing is impossible!
It was not long after that amna was borne. Comfortable, purpose driven active casual wear (www.amnalife.weebly.com) I also expanded my studio space and brought in new instructors. I learnt what it meant to recruit, lead and manage a team, clients and space. I delved into creating and giving movement workshops. Surviving the economy drop a few years later. Designing a childrens' movement program called i.kids to - in short - having the courage to create Mayfair (an integrated wellness center www.mayfairwellness.co.za). Moving through my own challenges of heart break and sad encounters. NIA was the thread that kept my grounded, creative, cleared my mind, and kept and still keeps me inspired, motivated and connected to JOY.
Observing touching experiences has also contributed to my JOY and INSPIRATION through NIA.
I had had the honour to experience...
... a client who came in with extremely rounded posture. Within a few months of NIA I was able to observe a shift in her mood and with that her rounded shoulders started to open, and she started to face the world with greater positivity. Something I thought only possible with strict alignment training.
... high powered, strong business woman allowing themselves the freedom to let tears flow during their dance. Releasing their internal stresses, tension, and that sometimes overbearing sense of responsibility that often piles up behind the 'walls' of needing to uphold a strong facade.
...observing clients stuck in grief be able to move into allowing themselves JOY alongside the sadness.
...people that enter a Nia class telling me that they have 2 left feet...yet this is part of the past after a few months of NIA. The build up of a Nia class, targeting the subtle awakening of the Nervous system allows the body to grow naturally into coordination and to find grace in movement. A true gift to the body and self...and understandably INSPIRING!
And the list could go on.
Having said this...I do believe what works for me and those that I have been honored to share my NIA experience with may not necessarily impact your life in the same way...so may this blog post remind you to EXPLORE and find what creates or unleashes that inspiration for you.
What I do know is that Music and movement are extremely powerful tools...Enjoy your JOURNEY.
warm regards
Jeanne
