by David Merritt tive way. We said: love is the way to
create a healthy body; choose pleasure
I
n the April edition of Natural Awaken- over pain; take off your shoes, feel
ings, I introduced Nia as a revolution- your body, express yourself and make
ary style of dance aerobics that com- conscious choices that support healing,
bines movement forms taken from jazz, transformation, health, well-being and
modern and Duncan dance, Aikido, personal growth. Fall in love with your
Tai kwon do, Tai chi, yoga, Alexander body as a way to heal and enjoy life.”
Technique and Feldenkreis. In that In my classes, I always tell my
article I stressed the fact that in Nia, students that it is not necessary to
each student is encouraged to discover dance the movements I demonstrate
and sense their own body’s way of for them exactly as I do them or in any
movement towards a more healing and particular way, that there is no ‘right’
healthy lifestyle. In this article I would or ‘wrong’ way to move. I show them move the same, Rockettes-style, but to
like to focus more on the elements the basic simple steps and encourage feel free to create and express and to
of individual, emotional and creative them to find their body’s own unique discover our uniqueness.
expressiveness that Nia fosters and de- way of executing that movement. It is Moving creatively and expres-
velops in each and every student. then up to them to listen to their bodies sively the Nia way will do much to
Co-creators Debbie and Carlos to give them cues as to how to execute nourish the soul, expand the mind,
Rosas of Portland, Oregon, founded the move, at what intensity and range both calm and energize the body, and
Nia in 1983 to discover a more pleasur- of motion. Creative movement and feed and motivate the spirit. Practiced
able and expressive way to get fit. They emotional expression come into play at with mindfulness and purpose, Nia can
were dismayed at the high-impact and this time as each student listens to and lead to deeper personal understanding
bouncing of typical aerobic programs feels the music and then is allowed to and transformation. Nia can be both
of that day. To quote them, “We knew interpret those emotions in their bodies, a movement practice and lifestyle and
fitness could feel better and be expe- minds and spirits. I tell my students will lovingly transform your work and
rienced in a more holistic and effec- that we are not in class to all look and your life. It will enable you to open up,
feel and explore life through the gifts
that the body will provide us, and you
will learn to use your bodies and minds
in expansive and fluid ways. Nia classes
creatively support personalization and
free, playful expression - in short, they
are joyous, graceful, powerful, awaken-
ing, exhilarating and just plain fun.
You can experience and taste the
sweet and joyous sensation of Nia
on Tuesday nights from 6-7pm at the
Center for Spiritual Living (previously
known as Religious Science of Ft Lau-
derdale) at 1550 NE 26th St. in Wilton
Manors, 954.566.2868. Cost is $10 per
class or 4 classes prepaid at $36. The
second class is free. For more informa-
tion, call David at 954.427.0493 or
e-mail him at
davidnia@live.com. See
Mark Your Calendar ad page 52.
28 Broward County
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