Bodyfulness — Seattle Nia with Dina

I practically LIVE on 15th E.  I love this part of the Hill.  It’s good people watching and now that it is sunny, it’s also really good doggy watching!  Have you noticed, that there have been so many puppies lately?  Here is one of the cutest ones I’ve seen in a while, submitted by Rachel.  Thanks, Rach!  Keep sending me sights and images of life ”On 15th”…it’s a good thing….

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

Monday morning, Memorial Day 2009, at 9am, Mollia Jensen was handed her “crown”…a.k.a the wireless headset mic from my very own hands, marking the beginning of her journey as Nia teacher.  She facilitated the first three songs from Debbie & Carlos’s routine, Sanjana.  She did an amazing job!  Yay, Mollia!!!  Take this oppourtunity to say hello and congratulations to this amazing community member.  I’m sure you’ll be seeing more of her as a guest teacher sometime very soon.  Horray!

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 Monday, May 25th, Memorial Day Nia Class Schedule:

Mark your calendars.

There will be class at 9am.

There will be no class at 6pm.

We hope to move with you on this meaningful day.

Thank you.

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!

Today’s class was so HOT…and yet sooo cool.  The reason: we got a new air-conditioner in the Dance-Underground building!!!  It felt so great in there.  Very refreshing.  Apparently, the system turns on when in hits 69 degrees.  Cool, dark, and sexy…! Yes!! I’m so psyched.  Thank you to all those who made that happen for us…you know who you are! 

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!!!

For all interested in knowing what the next 10 Friday nights are going to be about, here is our class schedule. 

Please note that there have been some schedule changes

CODEPINK 24-hour vigil for peace – at the White House.

“Arise then…women of this day!  Arise, all women who have hearts!  From the bosom of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with Our own. It says: Disarm! Disarm!”— Julia Ward Howe, Mother’s Day Proclamation, 1870

“And so sometimes I think that if you just put the mothers in charge for a while, that things would get resolved” – Barack Obama

My mother, Annette Innominato.  What a wonderful Momma!