Entry tags:
Tonight's Adventure
This 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. . . .
2009-01-13
First Nia Class
Nia 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.