One of my intentions for this year was to go back to the gym to feel better and more alive in my body...it's been awhile and I finally miss it. I started to check out the local gyms but before joining was introduced to
NIA. It's a combination of dance, yoga, martial arts, pilates, and all the woowoo stuff I love to do. When I read on the site (or the book....cannot remember which) that it is an approved form of therapy by somatic psychologists, I knew I had to give it a try. I ordered their basic DVD, Global Unity, and I love it.
What I like best about it is that it combines a great body workout that is way fun. I only tried aerobics once and hate them, but this is great. Additionally, by virtue of the movements, the session incorporates a gentle emotional release work session along with it. When I was doing my Tantra trainings, we used to do different intense active meditations by
Osho. One was called
Dynamic Meditation. This was a five step process involving yelling and screaming, chanting while jumping up and down, wild dance, gentle dance, and stillness. It both envigorates and wipes me out....way intense. NIA is gentler, and as I age, I like gentle.
The process is so effective that I often cry during the workout ( in fact, I have cried each session so far), sometimes from anger/letting go of strong emotion; sometimes in joy and release. I love that it embodies yin/yang, inner/outer, earth/sky/fire/water, strong/soft, energy/stillness in alternating movements. The music is great..reminds me of Tantra workshop music. I'm excited to find something that does it all for me.
One interesting discovery for me is that the language they use is not my language any more. I used to talk just like they do when leading workshops and meditations, but now find it foreign. Love doing the woowoo...don't like listening to it as much anymore, smile.
From the site, I see that there are studios all over the world...but not in my town. My guess is a live session with teachers making suggestions would help immensely...but for now I will just order another session/tape.
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What I like best about it is that it combines a great body workout that is way fun. I only tried aerobics once and hate them, but this is great. Additionally, by virtue of the movements, the session incorporates a gentle emotional release work session along with it. When I was doing my Tantra trainings, we used to do different intense active meditations by Osho. One was called Dynamic Meditation. This was a five step process involving yelling and screaming, chanting while jumping up and down, wild dance, gentle dance, and stillness. It both envigorates and wipes me out....way intense. NIA is gentler, and as I age, I like gentle.
The process is so effective that I often cry during the workout ( in fact, I have cried each session so far), sometimes from anger/letting go of strong emotion; sometimes in joy and release. I love that it embodies yin/yang, inner/outer, earth/sky/fire/water, strong/soft, energy/stillness in alternating movements. The music is great..reminds me of Tantra workshop music. I'm excited to find something that does it all for me.
One interesting discovery for me is that the language they use is not my language any more. I used to talk just like they do when leading workshops and meditations, but now find it foreign. Love doing the woowoo...don't like listening to it as much anymore, smile.
From the site, I see that there are studios all over the world...but not in my town. My guess is a live session with teachers making suggestions would help immensely...but for now I will just order another session/tape.