Bodyfulness — Seattle Nia with Dina

This week in the Deepen Your Niability workshop, we are moving from a Jazz focus, to emphasize T’ai Chi.

The Nia Technique describes T’ai Chi as ”the slow dance”.

The moments in class when we gently move are inspired by this ancient martial art.

Tonight, at the 6:30PM class, I am spinning my focus to include slow and quick movements, to exaggerate the difference.  I’m so glad Nia classes include both consciousness and enthusiasm.  

We can begin our practice with a slow music and form focus, and then alternate with up-tempo quickness. 

Here is my playlist for your listening pleasure:

Song Title; Artist

Bookstore; Jon Brion
War; Joan Osborne
The End; SugaRush Beat Company
Change (feat. Wale); Daniel Merriweather
Crabbuckit; K-OS
Little More Time; Stephanie McKay
Second Chapter; Blue Scholars
Stop Me (Kissy Sell Out Remix); Mark Ronson & Daniel Merriweather
Ganesh Is Fresh (feat. Jai Uttal); MC Yogi
She’s Got Me; Mark Ronson & Daniel Merriweather
Edge of Seventeen; Stevie Nicks
This Room; Fat Freddy’s Drop
Ladder; Akshara Weave

I was wondering what I was waiting on…

This week, I was trying to create the Jazz-inspired Nia dance class for this week’s Niability session and I kept getting distracted.

It was because I needed to wait unti the news of Michael Jackson’s death today in order to create a tribute dance. 
I’ll debut it at this Friday’s 9am and 6:30pm classes. 

Here’s the playlist:

Remember the Time; Michael Jackson
Brotha; Jill Scott
Train In Vain; Annie Lennox
Coast 2 Coast (Suavamente); Angie Martinez & Wyclef Jean
Adouma; Angelique Kidjo
I wish; Patti LaBelle
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’; Michael Jackson
Freedom; George Michael
Bad; Michael Jackson
Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground); Michael Jackson
Bluey; Fat Freddy’s Drop

Let’s keep a fire burning for Michael through full body groovin’!

Friday night’s Niability session focused the martial art of TaeKwonDo and how it has inspired Nia. Man, I created a kick-butt routine…and I mean KICK BUTT, and as one student said, “relentless!”. It is definatley for those people who love to pant.

Check out the music I used:

Song title; Artist

Gin And Juice (as made famous by Snoop Doggy Dogg); Hip Hop DJs United
Ghetto; Leela James
Numb / Encore; Jay-Z & Linkin Park
Beware of the Boyz; Jay Z
Lovers of Light; Afro Celt Sound System
Move Any Mountain; The Shamen
Hi Ya; Kung Flude
Maniac (BOF Flashdance); Michael Sembello
Lip Gloss; Lil Mama
Love Is a Battlefield; Pat Benatar
Fighter; Christina Aguilera
Let’s Get It Started; Black Eyed Peas
Poison; Bell Biv DeVoe
Drop It Like It’s Hot (as made famous by Snoop Dogg); Hip Hop DJs United
Why You Wanna (as made famous by T.I.); Hip Hop DJs United

This afternoon, in our Deepen Your Niability 10-week workshop series, our focus moves from Aikido (last week) to Duncan Dance.  We will be learning about this revolutionary Movement Form and the creator, Isadora Duncan, pictured here.

I hope you enjoy the following playlist which was inspired by Isadora’s spirit: rebellious, free-spirited, bold, courageous, captivating, emotional.

Enjoy and share with your friends.

Join us at 6:30pm tonight as I facilitate a Duncan Dance inspired Nia class.  

Pearls Sade
O Ronco Da Cuíca CéU
Rafiki Zap Mama
Clean Up Woman Leela James
Iko-Iko Zap Mama
Crabbuckit K-OS
Say What You Feel (feat. Stephanie McKay) Katalyst
Gone Daddy Gone/I Just Want to Make Love to You Gnarls Barkley
Little More Time Stephanie McKay
Mystery of Life Nickodemus & Andrea Monteiro
Djin Djin Angélique Kidjo Feat. Alicia Keys & Branford Marsalis
W’Happy Mama Zap Mama
Mrs. Officer (as Made Famous By Lil Wayne) Instrumental Hip Hop Beat Makers

Tonight, we blend the past week’s Alexander focus with a new focus: Aikido.  We start out in a community dojo called Emerald City Aikido.  Joanne, Chief Instructor at her dojo, is one of my Nia students.  Cool!

And here is part of what I am contributing, given gratefully.  Please enjoy and pass along.  Wish many of you could be here to experience it with us.

Song title; Artist

Kotodama; Takashi Wada
Angels (Original); Wax Poetic featuring Norah Jones
Feel Free; Mozez
Robert Campbell’s Lament; Paul Mounsley
Japanese Garden; Japanese Koto Harp and Shakuhachi Flute Music
In My Heart; Moby 
Fever; Stereo MC’s
Eyes Like Yours (Ojos Así); Shakira
Nomah’s Land; Metisse
Brush on Silk; John Williams
Lagu Lagu; Dingding Sa
Spinning Top; Mozez
Walking Into the Himalaya to Meditate; Nawang Khechog

This week, as a part of the Niability series, we are learning about the Alexander Technique.  I’m loving this new awareness!!

Can you notice the difference in these “before and after” shots?

The photo on the left is my posture habit. The photo on the right is me “inhibiting” my unconscious pattern.
The photo on the left reveals that I crank my head back a bit, lifting my chin, like I am looking up to the sky. Perhaps this is a pattern that I’ve developed since I’ve been teaching to project my voice.

When I look at the photo on the right, it seems to me like I have much more length in my spine and I am more upright. I think my posture looks better, more natural, and definatley more aesthetic. So interesting!

The 3rd round of the Niability series has begun! A luscious collection of amazing women gathered in Studio B to learn all about The Alexander Technique this hot and sunny Friday afternoon. The yellow walls of the room were cheery and the presentation was impressive. Kathryn did an excellent job at making everyone feel comfortable and connected. And…I have to say…I experienced an AMAZING Alexander-inspired Nia dance class. Wow. Wow wow. We are sooo darn lucky!!!

Is that a group of wonderful women, or what?!

Pictured here are some Niabilitists/Niabilizers (from L to R)
Janet, Mollia, Sarah, Kathryn, Kathryn, Edree, Dina, Valerie

I feel so blessed to be a part of such an amazing community!

Lunch with Debbie Rosas, co-creator of the Nia Technique, in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, April 11, 2009. Pictured from left to right, Sarah Westbrook, Dina Innominato, Debbie Rosas, Kathryn Helde, Kathryn Gillett.

Debbie was very excited to hear about our Deepen Your Niability Workshop and plans on doing everything in her power to get the word out about it. She hopes that more students and teachers become a part of this “awesome class” (her words).
The next 10-week workshop begins on May 15th, 2009. For more information, click on the Niability Tab above.

After a Friday Night Fun class at Studio Nia, we freshened up and got ready for a night on the town.

With gift in hand, Kat, Mollia, and Rachel pose for me before we sat down to dinner with Nia founder Carlos Rosas.

Over some of the best Thai food Portland has to offer, we had our curiosities satisfied about our beloved practice.

How often do you get to ask a master about his life’s work?!

The next morning, we attended Debbie’s butt busting class.

And then, we did some shopping and caused some jaw dropping!