Susan Palmer's Exquisite Now

A writer takes a minute for a closer look

recent posts

  • Moving to heal

    Day 47 of 52 Nia dance

    I haven’t selected any of the “Moving to Heal” routines from Nia’s online library, so I chose one today: “2gether” with Jule Aguirre.

    This 45-minute routine begins with a little trick Nia instructors have. The first time I heard it, I thought it was dumb. “Smell the moment,” they will say. I thought it was a bit of an affectation, a new way of inviting people to be present. But if you take it literally — which they intend, I think — you breath in deeply and then release it, which is always a great way to begin dancing. Now, I smile whenever I hear it and I do take that good, grounding inhale and exhale.

    I don’t know why certain routines at certain times offer an emotional release, but I had that experience today dancing with Jule. I loved the graceful tai chi-style movements, the pace, and the invitation to be aware of how I felt physically as we moved through the routine. Jule called for an inventory of sensation at the beginning, asking me to note any stiffness or pain anywhere while walking slowly around. At the end, she called for a similar inventory to see if there were changes.

    In the beginning, I had a twingey nerve from my lower back going into my left hip. By the end, that sensation had gone. More importantly for me, there is something very soothing and centering in this routine that I found meditative. I know I will come back to it.

  • An ode to feet

    Day 46 of 52 Nia dance

    Today we danced “Wild” at Dael Parson’s Nia class (my home base for Nia). I was reminded what a joy dancing with Dael is. We began on the floor giving ourselves a little foot rub, while she talked about feet generally. And such is my short attention span that I don’t quite recall the words she used, but I do recall the satisfying sensation of a morning foot massage.

    The “Wild” routine has big lively rhythmic movements coupled with slower more graceful ones. I don’t remember the last time I danced it, so I was rusty on the steps. I kept getting distracted by my own pleasure at a particular set of steps and kept failing to shift to the next steps at the right time. When I noticed this, I split my attention between the pleasure of the step and preparing for the next steps.

    OK, brain, I said to myself, please keep better track and cue me. It worked. Sort of. Fortunately, Dael is also great at cueing.

    Dael also directed our attention to a “delicious” part of a routine, and that reminded me what a sensual experience dance can be. By sensual, I mean a gratification of the senses. It’s a great term for what I experience in dance. Hearing the music, seeing my fellow dancers and me among them, feeling my body moving, etc. All good.

    Thank you body. Thank you feet.

  • Lovin’ the guides

    Fred Lane leading an online dance break.

    Day 45 of 52 Nia dance

    Checking my stats, I’ve danced with 11 different instructors since the start of my 52-day challenge. Four of them have been in live studio classes. The other seven I’ve found through Nia’s on Demand web site.

    Each of them offers a unique energy and inspiration. Yesterday, I danced the “Connecting” routine with Val Wetmore, who brings 20 years of Nia experience to the studio. I’ve danced this routine several times in the past year, and four times in the last few weeks, but this was my first time with Val, and she embodied a lovely and different vibe, especially in the final sequence to the quiet melody “Simplicity” by Netanel Goldberg.

    This morning, I wanted something shorter so went back to the online video catalog, where I danced with Fred Lane on a gentle routine that I liked so much, I did it twice. Then I followed with a livelier short dance with Lise LeMoine focused on agility.

    These guides provide a framework, a form that gives direction, like a good container for my fluid movements. There was something very tai chi about dancing with Fred. Lise had this cool combination of quick yet relaxed mobility that I wanted to emulate.

    I’m glad I’ve been experiencing Nia through this broad range of unique leaders.

    As I’ve mentioned there is a paywall to access these dances, but I find great value in being able to dance whenever and where ever I need it. If you’re reading and already a subscriber, here are the links to the short routines:

    https://niaondemand.com/programs/lovin-music-dance-break-with-fred

    https://niaondemand.com/programs/strobes-nanafushi-dance-break-with-lise