My life changed when I embraced the dance practice known as NIA. Recently I wrote a piece about NIA for our local weekly paper. I also then shared on the blog, a more personal story of how it had helped me get control of my relationship with food.
Now I’m giving myself a personal challenge to dance NIA every day for 52 days. I usually make it to three or four hourlong classes each week. But the NIA website also has online routines for subscribers ($16/month) for when local classes and my schedule don’t sync up.
Why 52 days? Well, NIA uses 52 distinct stances and moves in its choreography, so I let that lead me. Why daily? I’ve learned that interesting and unexpected things happen when you commit to a daily practice or routine.
I’m also committing to 52 blog entries because I have learned that pairing writing with an activity strengthens my commitment and focuses my attention.
While I know people who dance a full hourlong NIA routine daily, I’m not committing to that. NIA online has five, 10, and 30-minute routines that I can try out. I don’t care if it’s just five minutes or 60 minutes. It will be daily, starting today when I danced “Fly” with Eugene NIA instructor Dael Parsons. I appreciated Parsons’ reminding us that NIA helps build flexibility, strength, mobility, stability and agility. And it enhances something unexpected: stillness.
More about NIA: Here’s a great summary from Australian NIA instructor Sophie Marsh.
Susan Palmer's Exquisite Now 