What a fantastic weekend of spirited movement

I had the good fortune to take in quite a bit of dance during the last two days.  April 29th was International Dance Day, and the day before I had been invited to talk to the Comox Valley Unitarian Fellowship about the philosophy and spirituality of Nia.  One of the dance workshops I attended was to learn Hula, the sacred and festive dance of Hawaii.  Taught by a fellow Nia teacher from Gibsons, Dhyanna, this workshop was an absolute joy to be part of.  We learned a couple of hula dances that taught us the ways in which all the hula movements are symbols.  Dhyanna danced one of the ceremonial hulas, and then explained how the movements were symbolic of nature and the prayers of thanks for the elements and to the creator, the great spirit.  This was no touristy performance, but a deeply moving moment of embodied prayer.

As the days lighten and warm up, I sense a lightening in my own heart to continue bringing more and more embodied movement, Nia, and community dance to this beautiful place where I live.  I have deep gratitude for all the students who help keep my dream thriving, coming to classes and workshops, and so obviously enjoying themselves.  If it takes two to tango, it takes a whole community to dance prayers and gratitude and joy and connection.

There is an opportunity coming up this Saturday, May 5th, to once again be part of the co-creation of community art.  We've all been invited to come and dance while the Letz Sing choir sings in the Sid Williams courtyard.  It's at 2pm, and you would be so welcomed into the circle of movement to help create a mandala of music and movement.

May 6th Playshop on the 9 Movement Forms

Time for diving in deep again, looking at more of the components of what makes Nia.  In the last playshop we went over each of the 52 moves in detail, learning about placement, alignment, and our own body's way as compared to The Body's Way.

In this playshop we'll be looking that closely at the 9 movement forms:

Tae Kwon Do, Tai Chi, Aikido
Modern Dance, Duncan Dance, Jazz
Alexander Technique, The Work of Moshe Feldenkrais, Yoga

Debbie and Carlos have taken something from each, the essence of each practice, and woven them all together to create the practice of Nia. 

We'll take time to explore all  nine forms, and then there will be time to reflect in movement as to which movement form you resonate with the most, which you find most challenging, and what the gifts of the movement forms are for you in your Nia practice and in your daily life.

The class is limited to 12, with a minimum 8 registered required to run.

Sunday, May 6th
1 to 4pm
Island Pilates Fitness Studio
$25

Register by paying Ann Marie with cash or chq.

Spirituality in Motion

On April 28th, a Saturday, I will be giving a talk about the philosophy and spirituality of Nia for the Comox Valley Unitarian Fellowship.

1 - 2:30pm

Comox United Church 250 Beach Ave

$15

Call Lynda to register at 250-339-7679

There will be talking and listening and gentle movements and meditating. 

This will be a chance to listen to some of the deeper philosophy behind Nia, and to get in touch with it's ability to intimately connect body, mind and spirit.

All are welcome!

Contact me for more information:

Ann Marie 250-336-0238

52 Moves Playshop was Fantastic!

Okay, so there was no way we could do everything I had planned in only 2 hours!  So, next time we'll make it three hours and get a chance to put it all into practice to music. 

The response was overwhelmingly positive that the practice of breaking down the moves was helpful to participants.  The chance to ask any questions and to check alignment in the mirrors were high on the list of things people appreciated most. 

I've got my next palyshop date set at Island Pilates Fitness, for May 6th from 1 to 4pm.  If you've got any requests for a theme, let me know!

52 Moves - Nia Playshop on Sunday, March 11th,

from 1 to 3pm

at Island Pilates Studio

click for map to studio

$25

This 2 hour playshop will focus on learning

the 52 moves of Nia with attention to detail, function, and

following The Body's Way.

"Whaddya mean there are only 52 moves in Nia?

I've been doing hundreds!"

The 52 moves are the foundation of Nia  They come from all 9 movement forms which Nia is created from, and are designed to be performed in The Body's Way.  Why the capital letters there?  Because we each have our own body's way of doing the moves, and then there is the way that is most efficient, safe, and health-promoting - The Body's Way.

Think of when we are in class and using a movement that is "toes out, toes in".  I'm cueing you to move that from the hip socket, moving the leg from the thigh bone, not just the toes.  This is so that your movement will not place unneeded, and unhealthy, stress on the ligaments of the knee joint.  This is one example of using The Body's Way to enjoy a move with your own level of intensity, adding personal expression in ways that won't pull on the knee in ways that aren't healthy.

The best reasons I can think of for you to consider taking this playshop:

 You will get more out of your regular Nia classes. 

You'll have the ability to transition in and out of moves more easily,having practiced the individual moves that can fly by pretty quickly when we're deep intothe middle of a routine, keeping up with the beat.  You'll have more variations available to youfor changing your own intensity levels - adding intensity without having to add more force.

I'm keeping the class small so that you can get hands on guidance to align your body in The Body's Way of the moves.

You'll have time to ask questions about your own body's way within the moves. This isn't about correction or getting it perfect, but it is about taking time to focus on how the moves of Nia were designed to create a safe, healthy, awesome movement practice.

It'll be a great workout!

Just like in a Nia class, you will move everything you've got, but with attention to the detailed landscape of your own body.  We'll be in the Pilates Studio on Cliffe Street, which has great mirrors to check out your alignment - observing without judgement!  Without mirrors it can be hard to tell if our head is above our chest and our chest above our pelvis.  Here we'll be able to see the alignment, and then learn how it feels in the body.  When we go back to our weekly classes, we'll have that sensation memory to help guide our alignment again.

There are 12 open spots for this playshop, and it's open to everyone including first-timers.  This might be the perfect way to introduce someone you know to Nia.

Register by paying $25, cash or cheque, to me,

Ann Marie Lisch.

I will let you know when the class fills, or if there are spaces open for you to drop-in at the last minute.

A minimum of 8 participants are required, so I'll also let you know if it looks like it's not going to make it.

Contact me at 250-336-0238 or annienia@yahoo.ca with any questions.

Hope to see you there!

Moving With Spirit: Befriending the Body

I'm excited to start another year of Nia, deepening into the practice of moving and sensing and coming alive.  I've been studying Body Mind Psychotherapy since last September, and am looking forward to the workshop possibilities coming up this year with Denise Nadeau, a dance therapist who lives in Royston.

There is an 8 week session Embodiment Practice group starting on January 10th at 6:30pm.  The series is titled Moving with Spirit: Befriending the Body and will use a variety of practices to deepen your awareness of sensation in your body.  We'll connect the elements to the systems of the body - the bones as earth, the breath as wind, etc - and explore ways to move the body in ways that open new awareness on al levels.

Why is this important work to do?  I find this work is essential in helping me to keep finding new developmental edges in my movement in Nia classes and in life in general.  I am more available to listen to others, more able to release my own emotional knee-jerk reactions when dealing with my teenage daughter (and dude, that's golden), more able to soften into the embrace of someone who loves me and yield into the love that's all around.  Sound too woo-woo? Maybe.  Is it effective in changing how I am able to move through the world, in all the aspects of my life?  Absolutely.

The first two nights of the series are open to all, so you can drop in and try it out to get a feel for whether or not it's something you'd like to continue with.  The cost is a sliding scale system, so that you can pay according to your own income.  For all 8 sessions the cost is $96 to $160, and drop-ins for the first two sessions are from $12 to $20.

If you'd like more specific information, don't hesitate to contact me through email annienia(at)yahoo.ca or at 250-336-0238.  You can also contact Denise Nadeau directly at dnadeau(at)shaw.ca.