I’m tap-dancing as fast as I can today. I wake up, let the Bodger out of his crate, take him outside for a pee, prepare his breakfast, make breakfast coffee, wash up, change into Nia wear, pack civilian clothes for later, get purse, laptop and car keys, bring garbage can out to street, drive to Studio Sway on Jefferson off of Central to teach 9:30 class, wake up the hara with a smack, recapitulate class focus and intention, arrive at studio, park, put purse in trunk, grab gear, lock car (!) open the studio, turn the swamp cooler pump on, open the front door, attach iPod to sound, turn on sound, do sound check, cue Girls Night Out, get out sign-in sheet, lay out pens, vacuum entrance way, greet students at door, step onto dance floor, set focus and intention, step in, I’m dancing through life. . .I’m dancing Nia. . .and then after class, I’m dancing through life again.

When I practice Nia, my sensations are heightened in all four realms – body, mind, emotions and spirit. Throughout each passing day, I am surrounded by a river that cascades past me as swiftly as the waters of the Rio Grande during the June run-off from the high snows of Taos. Many objects rush by in the torrent of the day, some are familiar, and some are totally unexpected. My heightened sensory awareness and Nia conditioning give me the equanimity to tackle this daily barrage with 6th dimensional multi-tasking (hai-yaah!).

Today in class dancing to Girls Night Out, we noticed that each song featured a different aspect of the body.  Joints were warmed up, tail-bones were swung like the point of a pendulum, arms scooped chi, feet stepped, body parts made shapes with “attitude”, we worked the core. We cooked all four sides of our bodies. And we cooked the inside by making sounds. We had soul-la-la. I was struck by the safety and trust that Nia gives me.  In this class, my students and I understand we can laugh and play, test movements with no fear or embarassment. We can be brave.

 


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