weights, took aerobics classes, walked on the treadmill. But I never really enjoyed it.
At age 42, I recently rediscovered the JOY of dancing! I learned about NIA (Non-Im- pact Aerobics) from a friend and gave it a try. NIA is sensory-based movement prac- tice that leads to health, wellness and fit- ness. It empowers people by connecting the body, mind, emotions and spirit. We dance barefoot to soul-stirring music. In my first class, I was close to tears because I felt the pure bliss of moving with the music. Tere was no judgment or quest for perfection as there is in ballet. It was like dancing around the fire to the beat of a drum. I felt the sheer joy of moving rhythmically in concert with others. Even though it was grounding and brought me home to myself, it was also very expansive, and I felt connected to spirit and the greater world.
Now I practice NIA once a week and I look forward to this time to reintegrate my body, mind and spirit. It brings so much joy to my life. I have also discovered dance games on our family Wii video game system and I get to dance to “Beat It” along with a digital Michael Jackson.
I was lucky to stumble into NIA classes and find bliss through movement. My hope is
that you will find your bliss based not on luck or chance, but rather an intention to seek out what brings you joy. Here are some steps to discover your bliss:
1
Tink back to when you were a child. What brought you the most happi-
ness? Was it digging in the dirt looking for worms, drawing fashion designs or staging a play with your friends? Look for clues amongst your favorite childhood activities.
What activities do you engage in now where you find yourself losing track of time and the hours just seem to fly by? Some examples are: gardening, fly fishing, writing, hiking, cooking, and knitting.
2 3
What have you always been drawn to and haven’t tried yet? My aunt always
loved being near the water and was drawn to it. It was only when she moved to a house near a lake at age 60 that she finally tried kayaking and loved it! It’s never too late to find your bliss.
When you tap into activities that bring you joy on a daily basis, your heart expands and you live in joy. Tat happiness and energy expands to other areas of your life and to others in your world. I wish you a wonderful New Year, full of BLISS! ■
Kirsten Meneghello, J.D., is a Life Purpose Coach based in Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. She works with successful profes- sional women who are seeking change and on a quest for greater purpose and meaning in their lives. Kirsten coaches, speaks, writes and hosts retreats on finding your purpose. You can reach her at
kirsten@illuminationcoachpdx.com or follow her on Twitter @IlluminationPDX.
January/February 2012 63
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