Showing posts with label dance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dance. Show all posts
Thursday, December 30, 2010
New article about Nia in Spirituality & Health!
Written by me! The best description I have ever given of the beauty of my Nia practice. Enjoy! http://nianow.com/node/47839 From this link you can download the actual article. It is much better than the intro.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Why Dance?
Recently, a physical therapist/Nia instructor in Ashland, Rachael Resch, posted an article from Dr. Oz - 5 Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp on her facebook page, and I re-posted it to mine because it included 'taking a dance class'. A conversation that followed inspired me to write about one of the amazing (and possibly little-known) benefits of dance. Most of us are familiar with the fitness benefits of dance such as: physical conditioning, improving range of motion and balance, the use of music and rhythm energize our work-outs, and the fun factor of dancing with others. I would like to look at how dance helps to keep the brain sharp.
Numerous studies have confirmed that exercise stimulates the brain. And it does not take a Ph.D. to observe that when we are in an energy slump, such as mid-afternoon fatigue, a brisk walk can make the whole world look brighter, providing us with a new burst of creative energy. Sports that involve quick reactions and problem-solving stimulate the brain and nervous system differently than walking. Most sports are unilateral - we swing a bat, a tennis racket, or a golf club using our dominate side. Even some martial arts promote unilateral movement, we can only kick with one leg at a time. The natural walk involves swinging the left arm and right leg simultaneously. Infants learn to creep and crawl using a similar cross-body movement - a cross-crawl. In applied kinesiology, we learn that we can balance and energize our bodies (and nervous systems) by practicing the cross-crawl, or the cross-body movement of the natural walk.
All physical activity burns calories, and if we go on a long hike or bike ride we will eventually feel tired. And, conversely, if we are experiencing fatigue (which tends to be mental), a walk (especially in a beautiful natural setting) can be just the thing to get those mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional juices flowing again.
So, if we can renew and energize the body and mind by walking, why dance? Besides giving us opportunities to practice the cross-body movement of the natural walk, dance also gives us the opportunity to move across the mid-line of the body (example, the right foot reaches across the body to the left side). In teaching the Nia technique for a number of years, I have observed that some individuals have a hesitation when it comes to doing a cross-body step. I can almost see the thought bubbles over their heads: "Not a normal function!" "This does not compute!" The hesitation each time a person starts a cross body movement says to me that new neural pathways need to grow in order for this movement to become natural. (This is true for any movement that feels unnatural.) I always reassure students that if they stick with it, that hesitation will resolve. Practice, repetition of the new movement creates more communication between the left and right hemispheres of the brain (new neural pathways form across the corpus callosum). Our brains grow to accommodate new skills!
Unfortunately, we experience an uncomfortable lag time before a new skill becomes an natural part of our movement vocabulary. Sometimes people begin to label themselves, "I'm clumsy," "I have no rhythm," or label the activity, "this is hard", or to preserve the ego, "the teacher is an idiot!" Telling ourselves stories about the experience of discomfort around learning something new adds a layer of emotional baggage to what is essentially the nervous system working out a new way of perceiving, communicating, and directing movement. When people believe the stories they tell themselves, they tend to give up before the new connections are fully functional.
Experiencing some emotional or mental discomfort means that you are pushing your edge. You are growing! Yay! Growth happens, not only in physical skill and conditioning, your brain creates new connections, your confidence improves, and your experience of who you are as a mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual being expands. So, keep on dancing! And if you are not dancing, check out my classes!
Numerous studies have confirmed that exercise stimulates the brain. And it does not take a Ph.D. to observe that when we are in an energy slump, such as mid-afternoon fatigue, a brisk walk can make the whole world look brighter, providing us with a new burst of creative energy. Sports that involve quick reactions and problem-solving stimulate the brain and nervous system differently than walking. Most sports are unilateral - we swing a bat, a tennis racket, or a golf club using our dominate side. Even some martial arts promote unilateral movement, we can only kick with one leg at a time. The natural walk involves swinging the left arm and right leg simultaneously. Infants learn to creep and crawl using a similar cross-body movement - a cross-crawl. In applied kinesiology, we learn that we can balance and energize our bodies (and nervous systems) by practicing the cross-crawl, or the cross-body movement of the natural walk.
All physical activity burns calories, and if we go on a long hike or bike ride we will eventually feel tired. And, conversely, if we are experiencing fatigue (which tends to be mental), a walk (especially in a beautiful natural setting) can be just the thing to get those mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional juices flowing again.
So, if we can renew and energize the body and mind by walking, why dance? Besides giving us opportunities to practice the cross-body movement of the natural walk, dance also gives us the opportunity to move across the mid-line of the body (example, the right foot reaches across the body to the left side). In teaching the Nia technique for a number of years, I have observed that some individuals have a hesitation when it comes to doing a cross-body step. I can almost see the thought bubbles over their heads: "Not a normal function!" "This does not compute!" The hesitation each time a person starts a cross body movement says to me that new neural pathways need to grow in order for this movement to become natural. (This is true for any movement that feels unnatural.) I always reassure students that if they stick with it, that hesitation will resolve. Practice, repetition of the new movement creates more communication between the left and right hemispheres of the brain (new neural pathways form across the corpus callosum). Our brains grow to accommodate new skills!
Unfortunately, we experience an uncomfortable lag time before a new skill becomes an natural part of our movement vocabulary. Sometimes people begin to label themselves, "I'm clumsy," "I have no rhythm," or label the activity, "this is hard", or to preserve the ego, "the teacher is an idiot!" Telling ourselves stories about the experience of discomfort around learning something new adds a layer of emotional baggage to what is essentially the nervous system working out a new way of perceiving, communicating, and directing movement. When people believe the stories they tell themselves, they tend to give up before the new connections are fully functional.
Experiencing some emotional or mental discomfort means that you are pushing your edge. You are growing! Yay! Growth happens, not only in physical skill and conditioning, your brain creates new connections, your confidence improves, and your experience of who you are as a mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual being expands. So, keep on dancing! And if you are not dancing, check out my classes!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
healing power of dance..
This is a lovely example of the healing power of dance. Gently and lovingly, breaking away from old, dysfunctional movement patterns and creating new neurophysiological connections and abilities. The article contains a video. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/25/arts/dance/25palsy.html?_r=3&em
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Skin....
Skin: largest organ in the body.
Protection, communication, elimination. Skin breathes, absorbs oxygen, nutrients, (sometimes toxins), releases waste products, pheromones, lubricants, and antibacterial substances. Skin is one of many miracles of our bodies. We communicate through skin by the way we touch, and the way we receive touch. When I am stressed, an unpleasant scent emanates from my skin. When I am frightened, or cold, or when I am touched in certain ways (physical or emotional), the hair on my skin stands up. Skin changes color to communicate physical or emotional states.
We can develop a greater sensory awareness in our skin, just by paying attention to it. How does the skin feel when the elbow floats gently up? How does it feel when I pull the elbow sharply into my core? When I bring an awareness of breathing through the skin into my dance or movement, how does it effect my mental/physical/emotional state?
Greater sensory awareness gives us access to greater pleasure.
Explore the joy of breathing and sensing pleasure through the skin this evening at TAC when we dance to Delerium. 7:00pm (If you are not a member of TAC, you can purchase a day pass for $10.00.)
Protection, communication, elimination. Skin breathes, absorbs oxygen, nutrients, (sometimes toxins), releases waste products, pheromones, lubricants, and antibacterial substances. Skin is one of many miracles of our bodies. We communicate through skin by the way we touch, and the way we receive touch. When I am stressed, an unpleasant scent emanates from my skin. When I am frightened, or cold, or when I am touched in certain ways (physical or emotional), the hair on my skin stands up. Skin changes color to communicate physical or emotional states.
We can develop a greater sensory awareness in our skin, just by paying attention to it. How does the skin feel when the elbow floats gently up? How does it feel when I pull the elbow sharply into my core? When I bring an awareness of breathing through the skin into my dance or movement, how does it effect my mental/physical/emotional state?
Greater sensory awareness gives us access to greater pleasure.
Explore the joy of breathing and sensing pleasure through the skin this evening at TAC when we dance to Delerium. 7:00pm (If you are not a member of TAC, you can purchase a day pass for $10.00.)
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Dancing the one point
The one point: the center of gravity, center of centers, the center between heaven and earth. The discipline of Aikido refers to it as the one point, in Tai Chi it is known as tan tien. Physically, it is about two inches below the naval in the center of the pelvis. We can build ki or vital energy (prana or chi) by breathing into the one point. When we move from this center of gravity, we move with greater power, grace, and stability. If someone were to test me (in a martial arts class), when I am NOT centered in my one point, I am easily thrown off balance. When I am present in my one-point, I can sustain the occasional blow without losing my center. This is true in the mental and emotional realms, as well. Centered in the one-point, I am present to this moment, when I am off in my mind, I can easily be distracted from my focus, or even fall prey to my own judgements or projections.
One of my favorite Nia foci, I aspire to stay connected to my one-point in all classes. When I feel present in my center of gravity, suspended between heaven and earth, I feel a greater sense of power and grace, and more connection to the beauty of the moment. I invite you to cultivate the practice of connecting to your one-point in all Nia classes and observe what happens to your dance.
One of my favorite Nia foci, I aspire to stay connected to my one-point in all classes. When I feel present in my center of gravity, suspended between heaven and earth, I feel a greater sense of power and grace, and more connection to the beauty of the moment. I invite you to cultivate the practice of connecting to your one-point in all Nia classes and observe what happens to your dance.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Nia classes at the Senior Center: New session starts June 8th
If you are available for day-time Nia, please join us at the Senior Center on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00am to noon. The next session starts on June 8th and runs until July 22, that's 14 classes (7 weeks) for $76.00 if you live in Corvallis, and $95.00 if you live out of town. The drop-in rate is $8.00/class. This is such a great deal, that even if you miss 2 weeks of classes, you still come out ahead by registering for the session - and registering for the session assures that the class will happen. Nia classes tend to be groups of positive people you love being around, and this one is no exception - we're a delightful bunch. Please come and dance with us and share the joy! This class is open to all ages.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Field of Joy...
I often find the the most challenging principle of Nia to communicate in words is the most important one: the Joy of Movement -- because it is so ubiquitous. I perceive the Joy of Movement as a state of Beingness: being the joy of tai kwan do and letting my inner warrior out to sense the boundaries of my physical body, or letting my child come out and play, sensing the lightness of being of Duncan Dance. When I open my mouth to remind you about maintaining an awareness of the Joy of Movement - that's not it! - the reminder is just a pointing in the direction of it.
Do you ever notice how easy it is to mediate in a group of experienced meditators? Like a drop falling into the pond of awareness, I slip into the field of awareness generated by the intention of the group. Similarly, in Nia we practice tapping into universal Joy - the joy of being - 100% who and what we are in the moment. The individual intention to be in that space or field creates more of it. The intention of the group to be in that space lifts the vibration of it even higher. We move and dance in a field of Joy. I find myself in awe of the beauty that we create together by the diversity of individual expression while sustaining and growing the field of Joy. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Words cannot express...
Do you ever notice how easy it is to mediate in a group of experienced meditators? Like a drop falling into the pond of awareness, I slip into the field of awareness generated by the intention of the group. Similarly, in Nia we practice tapping into universal Joy - the joy of being - 100% who and what we are in the moment. The individual intention to be in that space or field creates more of it. The intention of the group to be in that space lifts the vibration of it even higher. We move and dance in a field of Joy. I find myself in awe of the beauty that we create together by the diversity of individual expression while sustaining and growing the field of Joy. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Words cannot express...
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