Nia's 25th Anniversary

Nia has been a great gift in my life. I still remember the moment I first encountered Nia. Along with some other coaches I had rented a booth at the Yoga Show. Someone came to tell me that they thought I would like the demo that was going on and should check it out. I snuck a peak and instantly felt tears spring to my eyes. I knew this was for me. I was in class the next week and in my White Belt training the next month.

This summer marks the 1-year anniversary of my beginning to teach Nia. I was inspired to teach one day while volunteering at a Nia demo. While the demonstration was going on, I was handing out flyers. I watched as women stopped in their tracks and were mesmerized. The yearning in the room was palpable. I watched as a woman in a wheelchair started to dance along with the entire upper part of her body, grinning ear to ear. I knew that there had to be more opportunities for people to experience this, and I began teaching right away.

There are many words to describe Nia: joy, pleasure, health, movement, magic... I hope that the video will help you imagine what it would be like to be in a Nia class. When I watch this particular video from India, I recognize my own experience in class. This feels like home to me.

• If you're in Canada, you can find a class near you by visiting NIAC.
• For all other locations (and Canada too), you can go to Nia HQ. They also have great resources ranging from a terrific newsletter to monthly teleclasses.
• If you don't have a class near you, Nia now has a DVD workout called Unplugged.

Thank you, Nia, Debbie & Carlos for sharing 25 years of pleasure and joy with the world.

Sharing Nia

This weekend I had the opportunity to participate in a Nia demo at the Taste of the Danforth, a cultural street festival in Toronto. It takes place in an awesome neighbourhood within the city, rich with restaurants, particularly Greek ones, and interesting shops. During the festival everywhere you look there's interesting food to try.

And if you were there on Sunday you would have also seen some interesting activities, including Nia. We had a great time sharing a routine and showing people what Nia is all about. People seemed really engaged and enthusiastic. It was wonderful to look out and see smiling faces beaming back! What a blast! That's me on the far right. And that's my Nia buddy Jenn on the far left.

By the way, if you're in Toronto and would like to come share the Nia experience, I've posted my fall classes here.

Today is for Wishes and for Dancing

Come on over to Wishcasting and be inspired to wish by this week's prompt.

And if you're in Toronto, come on out to the beginning of my summer series of Nia classes. I'd love to dance with you.

Summer Nia
with Jamie

Wednesdays 5:00 ~ 6:00
June 6 to August 22

Dance Studio
Trinity-St. Paul's
427 Bloor Street West

Discover the joy of moving your body's way.
Nia is a movement practice that is performed barefoot
and draws on dance arts, martial arts and the healing hearts
to create a pleasurable fitness experience.

Summer Price: $10/class

for more information contact Jamie
nia@openthedoor.ca

Announcing Summer Nia with Jamie

I am so excited to announce my first regular Nia class. For those of you in the Toronto area, I'd love it if you'd come out and join me for Nia this summer.

Summer Nia

with Jamie

Wednesdays 5:00 ~ 6:00

June 6 to August 22

Dance Studio

Trinity-St. Paul's

427 Bloor Street West

Discover the joy of moving your body's way.

Nia is a movement practice that is performed barefoot

and draws on dance arts, martial arts and the healing hearts

to create a pleasurable fitness experience.

Summer Price: $10/class

for more information contact Jamie

nia@openthedoor.ca

If you're not in Toronto but would love to experience Nia, check out www.nianow.com for classes near you. And even better, come out to justBe... Connected where I'll be sharing Nia at the opening and closing of the conference. I'll look forward to dancing with you!

#85 on my 101 list ~ Teach a Nia Class

I am so excited to say that today I taught my first Nia class. Shannon was kind enough to head out to a studio with me and play. We had a fantastic time. The studio is in a place I just adore. It's a central Toronto location and there's always so much going on. We had a kids theatre group rehearsing beside us when we went in and when we came out there was a lecture going on in the same location. The people are nice and helpful and the location is full of life. I feel so at home there.

And I feel at home in a studio.

What a beautiful place to explore your dance and reconnect with your body. Nia is such a gift. For those of you who haven't experienced Nia, it is a movement practice that is for any body and any fitness level. Nia draws on 9 movement forms in the dance arts, martial arts and healing arts. It is a holistic workout that involves your body, mind, emotions and spirit. It helps you connect to your body's way of moving, and it is transformative . I'll be sharing Nia at just Be... Connected and I really look forward to dancing with you

Today it was a joy to dance with Shannon. Afterwards we just had to go out and celebrate.