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Tonight's Adventure
Jan. 13th, 2009 02:05 pmThis is what I'm doing tonight: http://www.nianow.com
If I don't survive, speak well of me after I'm gone. . . .
If I don't survive, speak well of me after I'm gone. . . .
Jan. 13th, 2009
First Nia Class
Jan. 13th, 2009 08:12 pmNia has three levels of intensity (1, 2, 3) that the teacher corresponded to walking, jogging and sprinting. The size of the movements starts small and gets bigger. A Nia class done at level 1 is a moderate-intensity workout physically.
The official leves of intensity do not, however, address the mental and emotional buttons that I had pushed:
* Starting something new in a group of experienced people
* Being asked to execute sometimes complex movements simply by observing the teacher
* Directions like "feel the water, feel the wind" making me wince
* Being keenly aware that if I get the footwork right my arms are either hanging limp or flapping wildly and my breathing may or may not be properly coordinated (even though I know that no one gets everything right the first few times through)
Nia is supposed to be fun. I didn't exactly have fun during class, but there were moments when I could imagine myself one day moving with lightness, energy and exuberance of some of the others around me -- and that was an attractive concept. A couple of times I used some of the things Jeremy taught me during ballroom class to focus on taking smaller steps and loosening my hips -- and a couple of times found myself doing it!
When I felt my buttons being pushed, I noted that buttons were being pushed, set those emotions aside, and re-focused my attention on moving rather than thinking. (!!!)
I've realized that there's no way I can give this technique a fair trial without going four or five times to get over my newbie awkwardness. I've decided to attend class for the rest of the month (Tu/Thu) and then see how I feel. If I'm not enjoying it by June 29, I don't have to go back. But if I do enjoy it, this could be a real breakthrough for me.
The official leves of intensity do not, however, address the mental and emotional buttons that I had pushed:
* Starting something new in a group of experienced people
* Being asked to execute sometimes complex movements simply by observing the teacher
* Directions like "feel the water, feel the wind" making me wince
* Being keenly aware that if I get the footwork right my arms are either hanging limp or flapping wildly and my breathing may or may not be properly coordinated (even though I know that no one gets everything right the first few times through)
Nia is supposed to be fun. I didn't exactly have fun during class, but there were moments when I could imagine myself one day moving with lightness, energy and exuberance of some of the others around me -- and that was an attractive concept. A couple of times I used some of the things Jeremy taught me during ballroom class to focus on taking smaller steps and loosening my hips -- and a couple of times found myself doing it!
When I felt my buttons being pushed, I noted that buttons were being pushed, set those emotions aside, and re-focused my attention on moving rather than thinking. (!!!)
I've realized that there's no way I can give this technique a fair trial without going four or five times to get over my newbie awkwardness. I've decided to attend class for the rest of the month (Tu/Thu) and then see how I feel. If I'm not enjoying it by June 29, I don't have to go back. But if I do enjoy it, this could be a real breakthrough for me.
