Casting for 2013 – a triad for manifesting

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abundance, better health, carlos rosas, casting into 2013, dance, debbie rosas, desires, desires for 2013, expectations, happiness, health, how do you wish to feel? how do you wish to feel in 2013?, Manifestation, nia, nia dance, nia fitness, spiritual dance, the nia technique, tools of creation, wellbeing, wellness

Image by David Fenner ~ http://www.fotofu.co.uk

“Remember sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck” ~ Dalai Lama

How do you wish to feel, to be, as you step into this new year?

I wanted to share these 3 tools of creation, these can be used to move energy and to create your reality. They are draw from the work of the channel Lazaris. Over the years Debbie Rosa & Carlos Rosas (Co-Founders of The Nia Technique) have found his guidance and these tools to be very helpful in creating what they desire.

• 1. DESIRE – I invite you to take time to become clear on what you desire. How do you want to feel? What are your dreams for you and your life? Doing something today that your future self with be thankful of…

• 2. IMAGINATION (“I see it”) Imagine how life will be when you feel aligned with your dreams. Create a visual dream board,  I invite you to place the board somewhere in your home and to look at it everyday. Breathe it in. Feel it, sense your body, the sensation of how it feels to be living your desires.

• 3. EXPECTATION (“I act as if”) You are actually living your dream….truly embody it, no dream is out of reach or too big. You can have the life you desire….always making choices out of LOVE for self.

As a guide, I would like to share with you some of my desires for 2013….

• To be guided by my heart, opening my heart to it fullest

• To laugh often and to embrace life’s potential

• To nurture my relationship’s with my husband, my family and my dear dear friends

• To stay calm when faced with challenges, to breathe, slow down and take a moment in time before responding

• To be inspired and continue to honor my sacred practice “and dance”

• To stay connected to my intuition, the wisdom from within

• To live and express gratitude for my good health & well being

• To trust….I release into this universe my trust that my journey in life and all who walk my path with me are there by divine design

• To walk the path that has whole-heartedness and then walk it impeccably

• To embrace the unknown…….and go with the flow even when fearful

• To let go of the desire to always wish to control the outcome

• To practice sustainability and live with expanded awareness

• To forgive myself and others

• To find my truth, my beliefs and honor my teachers and the ancestors

• To connect with mother earth and listen to the ancient grandmother’s wisdom

• To be open & of service to those who may provide me the gift of empowerment

• To live in this NOW moment…. and to be just me….

My desire for you is abundance, happiness, love, peace, great health and joy. Receive…….

I would love to hear your thoughts and for your to share your desire’s for 2013…..

Love & light Tracey 🙂 xx

www.niahongkong.com

Why Nia & Kamalaya are sacred to me…….

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2013 Retreat trainings in Thailand, award winning resort, blue belt training in thailand, body-mind-spirit, dance, intensive trainings, Kamalaya, Koh samui, luxury, martial arts, master trainer helen terry, mind-body-spirit, nia, Nia retreat training, retreat trainings in Thailand, sacred practice, self transformation, somatic education, spiritual dance, the nia technique, white belt training in thailand, yoga

Image by David Fenner ~ http://www.fotofu.co.uk

“To sweat is to pray, to make an offering of your innermost self. Sweat is holy water, prayer beads, pearls of liquid that release your past. Sweat is an ancient and universal form of self healing, whether done in the gym, the sauna, or the sweat lodge. I do it on the dance floor. The more you dance, the more you sweat. The more you sweat, the more you pray. The more you pray, the closer you come to ecstasy.” – Gabrielle Roth

Back in 2009,  Kamalaya had been a place I had been reading about on and off for about a year. One day sitting at my desk in rainy England day dreaming of a sunny exotic location to visit, the name Kamalaya’s came up again on a google search. I had been searching for luxury spa resorts where I could teach Nia. Nia is a body-mind- spirit sensory based movement & lifestyle practice which  blends the very best in eastern and western concepts, theories and movement forms. So what better place for Nia than South East Asia, renowned for incredible healing and luxury spa settings.

Soon after my husband and I relocated to Hong Kong. On moving to the city my opportunity to visit Kamalaya became a reality. I arranged a visit down to Kamalaya to meet everyone and see if I wanted to become an international visiting practitioner and offer Nia there. I first visited Kamalaya in August 2010.  I had heard so many wonderful things about the place and honestly on my first trip I was thinking ” I really hope this place doesn’t disappoint me” as from what everyone had said I really had it high up on a pedestal. Well it didn’t , from the moment I was greeted at the airport I knew it was going to be a special experience. There is something extremely enchanting about Kamalaya, is it an energy that is difficult to put into words but it works it’s magic every time I visit.  The resort is centered around a monk’s cave and it feels like it has been there for centuries. The connect with the natural environment is exquisite, everywhere you look there is an attention to detail that is both calming and nurturing to the senses. I feel so at home, it’s good medicine for my soul. I have met some amazing like minded people there, who return time and time again to spend a few precious days in this haven of tranquility and peace each year. It’s a place to renew and re balance and in this crazy paced world of ours to break away and unplug from the day to day is so wonderful. Giving an opportunity to get away from the everyday and really send time with your inner world.

On my first trip I was teaching a Nia class in the breath taking Yoga Pavilion, the views are  truly incredible, I really felt at one with nature. During a Nia class experience there are 7 cycles, the last of these being the cycle of  “stepping out”….. Seeing a path that is yours and stepping out on to it, a way to refine an intention to your next moment in life. I say these words every time I step out of a Nia class but on this occasion I truly realized the meaning whole heartily and sensed that Kamalaya was very much going to be apart of my life in a big way. In that magical moment I had a vision of how I could see a time when there would be a Nia intensive training held at Kamalaya.

Nia for me is a art form, an experience that is dedicated to you and your body and your ability to self heal. Nia draws the concepts, theories & movements from Martial Arts, Dance Arts, and Healing Arts and blends them in one powerful experience. For me I like to think of each movement form as its own personality and that in turns evokes different responses for each person. The Tai Chi show us our peaceful, calm, gentle nurturing side. Aikido is blending with our environment and the energy around us. Taekwondo gives us the precision, to move without hesitation. Jazz dance is our fun, showmanship side. Modern dance is relating shapes in space, sensing that your body is a piece of art and you are the sculptor. Duncan dance is free spirited honest movement sensing the inner child within us. Yoga offers us the opportunity to be aware of our alignment from the inside out, unity within. The Alexander technique is about breaking habits and sensing where are comfort zone is and moving beyond the boundaries to step outside and discover new comfort zones. Finally Feldenkrais shows us to tap into our ability to heal our bodies, through being aware to sensation. Truly listening to the messages and the voices that out body gives us every moment. Our body is a gift, movement is medicine, Nia welcomes us home to living in our bodies.

Nia and Kamalaya for me are a marriage made in heaven. Nia prides itself on delivering the worlds best in somatic education. Kamalaya is a place to feel life’s potential and to be nourished and nurtured. To be supported by professionals that will put you on a path of better health and well-being, and  for me that also what my Nia journey  has been about. Finding a path that will nurture me to finding balance, harmony and love for living in my body with a healthy mind & spirit. I began in 2007 with the WB Training and it has changed my life in profound ways. My Nia journey has lead me to get to my ‘self’ on a deeper level. To know my truth and to live into my potential. To let go of what holds be back and step in to the unknown with grace and compassion. Anything that I have done in my life up until this point has prepared me for this moment now. I am inspired on a daily basis to be my best self and to inspire others to discover their greatness.

So in June 2012 my vision became a reality…..master black belt Nia trainer Helen Terry joined me and we hosted the first ever Nia White Belt Training at Kamalaya. The first Nia WB training ever to happen in Thailand. People from all over the world joined us for this week, and it was a training truly set in paradise. Kamalaya is the perfect location in every way. It excels in every way, delivering incredible cuisine, an environment which gives you the opportunity to be in touch with nature, space, silence and comfort to grow and reach a simplicity of  hanging out with ‘self’, being in relationship with nurturing self in order to regain your essence for living the life you desire.

As I cast forward into 2013 I wish for you opportunities where you may seize the moment and step into your life’s potential…

For more details on how to join us in Oct/Nov 2013 , as Master Trainer Helen Terry returns once more to offer two back to back Nia Trainings at Kamalaya, (White and Blue Belt), please visit: http://www.niahongkong.com/#!trainings

Love & light Tracey 🙂 x

http://www.niahongkong.com

Staying RAW….relaxed, alert and waiting

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alert, asia, bruce lee, communication, dance, fitness, hong kong, listening, martial arts, movement, nia, nia hong kong, now i am ready, present moment, RAW, realxed, spiritual dance, waiting, yoga

Image by David Fenner ~ http://www.fotofu.co.uk

Practicing staying RAW……being open to letting the ‘unknown’ unfold for me….

• Nia…..Now i am ….here

• Nia…..Now i am ready

• RAW….Relaxed, Alert and Waiting

The piece below is written by the Master himself, Bruce Lee’s definition of RAW

• Not being tense, but ready

• Not thinking, but not dreaming

• Not being set, but flexible

• Liberation from the uneasy sense of confinement

• It is being wholly & quietly alive, aware & alert

• Ready for whatever may come ~ By Bruce Lee

Raw is a practice that was first introduced to be in my Nia White Belt Training when listening to the music. Being RELAXED in my body, ALERT in my mind, peacefully listening and WAITING in my spirit. This practice has helped me to really appreciate the power of now, this present moment and to be 100% present and in my body. It has also helped me with the art of listening. Listening & receiving for myself before transmitting to another, sensing that I am 100% truly listening to every intimate detail in that moment. A wonderful tool in communication.

In our Nia class recently we sustained the sensation of RAW…sensing that if we approached anything in life and remain RAW that we can alter any situation we find ourselves in by our thoughts and our actions. Everything we do has an experience attached to it, but what do we choose to bring?

I invite you today to be RAW…relaxed, alert and waiting. How will this alter your day?

I would love to hear what you discover about your “self’ today

Love & light Tracey 🙂

 www.niahongkong.com

 

Creating Sustainability for YOUR Health & Well-being

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authentic balance, balance, body-mind-spirit, creating sustainability, dance, eastern medicine, energy, enough, focus, health, hong kong, intent, investing energy, jazz dance, making choices, martial arts, mindful, minimal effort, modern dance, movement, nia, nia hong kong, niahongkong, recharge, renew, support self, well-being, western medicine, yoga

Image by David Fenner ~ http://www.fotofu.co.uk

In every moment….Live your Truth ~ Steve Maraboli♥

Focus: Creating Sustainability for Health & Well-Being

Intent: Authentic Balance

Life at times can be hectic, lots of stimulation from every angle. Everyone wanting a piece of you, deadlines to meet, appointments to keep, emails piling up in your inbox waiting to be answered,  grocery shopping to get, etc etc. Do you feel like sometimes there are not enough hours in the day? Do you feel over whelmed, trapped, in a cycle that keeps looping, exhausted by your ever growing to do list?

Two questions to consider…

1. Do you keep going and going and going and going and going? Until you hit a brick wall with your body screaming at you STOP, IT’S ENOUGH!

2. Or are you mindful to take steps to make time to renew and recharge along the way?

Creating a sustainable lifestyle where you can monitor when and where you invest your energy in order to sustain an authentic balance between the doing and the non doing. This has been my focus in my Nia classes this week, sensing balance through movement….

You have at any given moment a choice, what you choose is up to you….

Do you make choices that support YOU? Support your health and well being. Choosing where is best today, this week, this month to invest your energy and where you can hold back a little and conserve your energy in order to give yourself time to renew, recharge and sense more peace & harmony…

How best can you organize your time so that your energy levels can be more sustainable?

We can all make quick fixes, a short holiday, weekend away, meditate, food, power naps/ sleep, all these fixes are wonderful but we also want to monitor solutions on a moment to moment basis, not to take time out from the day to day and still be able to address our needs. Not feeling pressured by our environment to keep going and going and then actually winding up feeling unwell.

One of the things I love about living in Hong Kong is understand and integrating with the local culture. For example, I grew up as a child experiencing the Western way of medicine, which was when I felt ill I would go to see the doctor and he help me to feel better again. Whereas with Chinese Medicine it is about taking steps along the way to prevent a trip to see the doctor, making small repair’s along the way, creating sustainability. The prevention of letting things get so bad that you end up ill and out of action for days/weeks.

Just as this was my focus in class this week, the universe delivered me one of the most hectic weeks I’ve had for a long time. Perfect for me to truly practice making choices that supported me and to not find myself draw into the running around like some mad women possessed!! I took time to really sense right now what tasks require me to invest more of my energy in, and what tasks can I give less energy to, minimal effort. Not as a way to become lazy just choosing to not put 100% of my energy into every task, less intensity at this particular moment in time. By making this observations and making chooses to support me I felt so much better by the end of the week, my BODY felt like it could certainly sustain this pace for much much longer.

In my Nia class I played with guiding my students to…..

Choosing when to invest their energy, playing with fully investing in only 2/3 bars of choreography, then checking in with the body.

Then sustaining the investment for longer, playing with this until the body said “enough” and then again checking in with the body.

Balancing the rest and movement. Sensing the balance of our movements on the right side of the body and on the left side, balancing our movements up and down, in and out and in the space around us.

On the obvious energized songs (get moving cycle of the Nia class) not being draw in to investing. Instead ‘choosing’ to go with the flow, and only circulate our energy. Sensing all the stimulation around us and not investing in it….choosing ease. Then checking in with the body.

Consciously choosing to move sections of the choreography with minimal effort, circulating our energy, and then again checking in with the body.

So I invite you this week to sense where in your life you can make a choice to invest your energy 100% and where you can take your foot off the pedal a little and conserve your energy, so that ‘thing’ that needs attending too can just wait on the side line for a little bit longer. Then take time to notice without judgement how your choices have supported your overall health and well- being.

I look forward to hearing how you got on, did you create a sustainability level of doing and non doing?

Love & Light Tracey 🙂

www.niahongkong.com

Trusting Your Intuition

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asia, body, body-mind-spirit, dancing, expressive dance, health, inner wisdom, intuition, kindness, listening, mind, nia, nia dance, nia hong kong, no, play with, sensing, spiritual dance, the power of no, the power of yes, trusting, trusting your intuition, waiting, well-being, which path do i choose, yes

“Remember life is about movement & just like the shifting sands or the ever moving tide, it’s about being flexible” ~ ♥ Vesna

Focus: The Power of YES and the Power of NO

Intent : Trusting Your Intuition

These two very simple words which we use every day can sometimes get us in a lot of trouble! Both have a tremendous amount of POWER. For me it is like two sides of a coin, YES on one side NO on the other. If I say ‘YES’ it will take me down one path and if I say ‘NO’ it will take me down another path. Which path do I choose moment to moment?

Either can take me into the unknown and that is where I have been ‘playing’ this week in my Nia classes. Firstly I have been playing with sensing the YES and the NO and what that feels like in my body as I move. YES to moving with pleasure, NO when I am not. Also, practicing saying both out loud as I move with certain moves and being bold & courageous as I speak……

YES it is possible…..YES I can…..YES I dare…..NO it’s enough…….NO it’s not right……NO not right now….YES it’s time to let go…..NO I desire more time….and so on

Sensing when I say ‘yes’ in a certain situation, am I on auto pilot? Oh yes I can do this or yes I can do that. Same for ‘no’. I have been focusing on the “waiting” before I make that decision and truly listening to my intuition…..is YES the right choice or would NO be better in this situation right now in this moment?

I know many times I find myself in situation’s in my life where I have made a choice and said YES (without thinking about it) and then later on found out that if I had truly listened to my intuition, it was telling me NO, NO, NO all the time!!

Making the right choices to give myself more energy, to support and nurture myself is where I wish to be heading rather than finding myself in situations that do not support or nourish me.

Listening to my inner wisdom, giving myself time to wait and trusting in that process has been a wonderful practice to hang out with this week. Saying NO can create a wide space for peace and freedom to flow in….opening my heart and allowing the possibility of the unknown to be present. I have discovered the unknown to be an exciting and fun place to spend time with.

I invite you this week to play with

1. Sensing when you say YES and when you say NO. Wait before you jump in with your answer, give yourself time and listen to your intuition…..what is that saying to you in that moment? Go with trusting your intuition and see where it leads you…
2. Play with saying YES when you would say NO and visa versa and see where this leads you….

   On a last note, of course not saying yes to any situation that could seriously get yourself hurt. Daring to be gentle,  compassionate with your ‘self’ at all times please!!! I look forward to hearing how you get on, have fun waiting and listening…

   Love & light Tracey 🙂 xxx

   www.niahongkong.com

Practice Self-Love

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asia, dance, emotional battery, emotions, energy in the body, free hugs, health, heart chakra, improving health, joy, love, movement, nia, nia classes, nia hong kong, practice self love, self-care, self-love, uncondtionally love, wellbeing

I am willing to let the love in. It is safe to let the love in ~ Louise L Hay

Focus : Practicing Self-Love

Intent : To Self-Care

Learning to love ‘yourself’, the foundation of self care and healing. For me this is not always easy to achieve, thinking is one thing but putting this into practice in order to self-care isn’t always as simple. I have been exploring this focus in my Nia classes & beyond this week and I have felt a huge shift in energy with my students. I have experienced beautiful, heart felt moments of unconditional love….truly wonderful. Deep gratitude to everyone who showed up to class this week….spreading the love with one person at a time! 🙂

For me being gentle and patient with myself is key, making a commitment to my ‘self’ to practice some form of self care every day. Starting small and in time letting that expand to become more. A little goes a long way, making a small action that I can follow through with to change. Not feeling overwhelmed.. tracking my growth, the evolution of my emotional energy.

In class we focused on moving from the ‘Heart Chakra’. Letting our hearts lead the way, receiving for ourselves first before giving. This chakra strongly influences the ability to give and receive love in a healthy way. The heart chakra also influences our ability to cope with sadness of the betrayals of a loved one or losing a loved one.

So signs of balance would be the able to express love, giving, compassion, joyful, self love, unconditional love towards all loving things. Signs of imbalance would be selfish, jealous, loneliness, despair, needy, fear, possessive, hate, sorrow. As I sense these emotions I can feel the open expansive quality of compassion, love, joy and then I can also feel what a drain it is on my emotional battery when I sense despair, being needy, possessive. I know what I prefer to choose…..more of that ‘love hormone ~ Oxytocin’ please….

So I invite you in this moment to think of someone, something, a place , a favourite pet, anything that you LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY…… think about it and then sense your body…..feel the emotion of unconditionally love in your body, let the love expand and grow. For me I sense a warm feeling, it’s intense but at the same time wonderful. Allow this sensation to expand in your body and notice what that does to your emotional energy battery? Just sensing this feeling every day, even if for a brief moment, sense what a profound effect that will have on your health and well-being over time…

I invite you to make a commitment to your’ self’ to let yourself ‘feel’ this EVERY DAY…unconditional LOVE for self…

I look forward to hearing from you on how this improves your health & well-being in time as you develop more authentic feelings of self-love. Emotions really do play a key role in the movement and transfer of energy in the body and this is critical to self healing….

Sending you <<FREE HUGS>>

Love & light Tracey 🙂

www.niahongkong.com

 

Freedom to explore

Tags

asia, being in relationship, body, body-mind-spirit, choeography, classical ballet, dance, fe, feeling and emotions, fitness, free dance, Freedance, freedom, hong kong, joy, mind, movement, music, naturally respond, nia, nia classes in Hong Kong, organic movement, passion, paying attention, Relationship, structure

Image by David Fenner ~ http://www.fotofu.co.uk

“It’s your uniqueness of spirit that Freedance connect you to”

Focus: Being in relationship with Freedance

Intent: Begin to develop intimacy & notice details

So recently we have been exploring in our Nia class our movement tendencies whilst Freedancing. When I first started to dance Nia I felt very liberated by the element of “Freedance”. For over 30 years I had danced classical ballet, then I discovered Nia. My classical training was at times very rigid, where every individual eye lash had it’s correct place!! So having the permission to quieten my mind and allow my body to explore was incredible for me. I had danced improvisation before as a dancer but again I had never truly ‘let go’, I remember always thinking, thinking to come up with the next movement. In Nia we have form (the steps / the structure of the choreography) and Freedance (freedom). This really is the Yin and Yang of Nia movement, the art of balancing out the form (the steps) and the freedom. Too much of either sometimes can not be good.

I understand for many of my students (who have shared with me) entering in to Nia experience they either love or hate the Freedance element of Nia, in the UK we have this phrase it’s like “marmite” you either love or hate it!?? Some students feel sometimes awkward and self conscious when it comes to the Freedancing. So I chose this focus as a way for my students to understanding for themselves what they “BRING” to their relationship with Freedance.

In Nia we define ‘Relationship’ as the exchange of energy between two things and ‘Intimacy’ as paying attention to the details. So there is (1) ‘i’ and there is (2) ‘Freedance’…..(3) what do you bring to your relationship (with Freedance)?

(1) Self ~ represents unity, oneness when referring to spiritual and universal connections

(2) Other ~ represents polarity, two sides such a feminine and masculine.

(3) Relationship ~ represents rhythm of the force behind movement, flow and change. Spiritually the 3 represents the sacred trinity.

So the desire whilst Freedancing is to move without thinking. To discover rich and exciting ways to be creative and to go beyond the confines of old movement habits. Organic movement that naturally calls the body to express itself. Every musical piece offers the body a new way to move and express itself. Becoming seduced by the sounds and the silence, allowing the body to naturally respond without YOU getting in the way.

For me this is KEY, not allowing my head to control the Freedance, not interfering with what naturally happens. This for me encourages spontaneous gestures from my primal body and lets the Freedance evolve naturally, a new wonderful feeling and sensation in my body when I first started to Freedance in this way.

Freedance Stages for Nia White Belt:

1. Anything goes movement wise

2. Be seduced by the music

3. Feeling & Emotions

4. Creative Source

5. Authentic Movement

6. Witness/ Observe

7. Choreography

8. Nia class 1, 2,3.

So I invite you to notice (observe without judgement) what you bring to your relationship with Freedance. Put on your favourite piece of music and FREEDANCE like no one is watching, anything goes movement wise!! YES seize the moment, how about stopping what you are doing right now and go and Freedance. Notice what do you bring, is it maybe joy, hate, passion, frustration, fear, excitement, compassion, patience? I invite you to get out of your head and get into your body.

A little tip: Love is an open accepting energy, Fear is more contracted (inward)…..pleasure is KEY to the experience.

I BRING……….TO MY RELATIONSHIP WITH FREEDANCE

I look forward to hearing from you soon as to what you ‘bring’ to your relationship….Be kind, gentle and patience with your ‘self’. Happy Freedancing everyone…

Love & light Tracey 🙂

www.niahongkong.com

 

Be human together

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13:20, aikido, alexander technique, ankle, asia, awareness, balance, be human together, body, chakra system, community, dance, dancing, digits, duncan dance, elbow, emotions, equal, feldenkrais, find balance, fitness, focus, fotofu, grace, harmonious, harmony, heath, hip, hong kong, human, humanity, imagine, intent, john lennon, joints, knee, martial arts, mind, mind-body, modern dance, neck, nia, Nia class experience, nia technique, niahongkong, one, oneness, power, purpose, reality, shoulder, snow, snowflake, spine, spirit, spirit dance, strength, systemic movement, taekwondo, tai chi, the body's way, union, united, Unity, wellbeing, wholeness, wrist, yang. movement, yin, yoga

Image by David Fenner ~ http://www.fotofu.co.uk

Imagine ~ You may say that I am a dreamer but I am not the only ONE, I hope someday you’ll join us and the world will be as ONE ~ by John Lennon

Focus: Unity

Intent: To find harmony & balance

This week in class I taught for the very first time a Nia routine by Carlos Aya Rosas called “HUMANITY”, within this word lies the word UNITY. So inspired by this I wanted to focus on what does UNITY mean to me and sense that in my body as I move and then guide my students to sense what that means within their bodies?

Unity is defined as ~ the state of being one, oneness. A whole or totality as combining all it’s part into one. Oneness of mind and purpose. The quality of being united into one.

When starting my Nia class I like to form a circle, for me this symbolizes a sense of the group coming together, whole, as one as a community….again within this word there is UNITY.  A circle of healing, being amongst friends as a way to join our strengths, somewhere I can feel free and united to everybody and allow the Nia class experience to unfold….

A visual of “Unity” for me would be the beauty a single snow flake, when it it united and comes together with other snowflakes it forms this magic white carpet that alone can not be achieved…..truly magical. Remember when you saw the snow for the first time?

So when I first thought of focusing on the word Unity, and translating this into the work I do with Nia… “Systemic Movement” came straight away in to my mind….This was a new word to me when I first started Nia. Systemic Movement means moving as a whole unit. Being aware of all parts of the body, the code of 13:20. This code represents the 13 main joints in the body & the 20 digits (fingers & toes). Moving all parts together to create balance.

So to map the 13 joints I would start from the left side of my body to the right side:

1 left ankle

2 left knee

3 left hip

4 left wrist

5 left elbow

6 left shoulder

7 the neck & spine (the central point and also a connection to our Chakra System ~ another system of wholeness!!)

8 right shoulder

9 right elbow

10 right wrist

11. right hip

12 right knee

13 right ankle

So as I was dancing I sensed my relationship with my 13 joints and paid attention to balancing out my movements on the right, left sides of my body, front & back and up & down. Consciously aware of my movement tendencies and if I used some of my joints more than others, if I was one sided! So sensing that the 13 joints really are the bodies gateway to give movement and the 20 digits help me to give measure. Connecting with the space around me and being in relationship with finding the right amount of movement for my body. I noticed how big, how small, how wide my movements were and adjusted according to my body’s way, what my body needed from moment to moment.

For me another wonderful symbol that represents “Unity” is of course YIN and YANG. These two opposites merging together to become united & to find balance. Again if I visualize the yin/yang symbol then the two parts form a whole circle perfectly. The masculine & the feminine energies, the power & the grace, the outward & inward…..

So in closing I would like to share the following:

We are all equal in the fact that we are different, we are all the same in the fact that we will never be the same. We are all united by the reality that all colours and all cultures are distinct and individual. We are all harmonious in the reality that we are all held to this earth by the same gravity, we share the same air that keeps us alive ~ by C. Joybell. C

Unity is power, in union there is strength.

I look forward to hearing your comments on what ‘UNITY” means for you and I invite you this week to “BE HUMAN TOGETHER” (by Archbishop Desmond Tutu – Nobel Peace Prize Winner)

Love & light Tracey 🙂 x

http://www.niahongkong.com

 

Journey with us & find your purpose in life

Tags

aikido, alexander technique, asia, awaken, ballet, ballet jazz, body, body-mind-spirit, buddhist monk, carlos aya rosas, dance, debbie rosas, destination retreat, dream, emotions, fitness, happiness, health, healthy-living, holistic, holistic movement, hong kong, jazz, journey, joy, june, Kamalaya, life's purpose, love, martial arts, mental-health, mind-body, modern, movement, nature, nia, nia technique, niahongkong, organic, relax, retreat, retreat and train, spa resort, taekwondo, tai chi, thailand, tracey fenner, training, transform, transformational, travel, vacation, wellbeing, wellness sanctuary, White Belt Training, yoga

Image by David Fenner ~ http://www.fotofu.co.uk

In late 2006, after nearly a decade teaching modern dance, ballet, jazz and tap in Dubai, my husband stumbled over an article about a dance form called ‘Nia’ while reading a health magazine. He passed it to me and I was immediately fascinated by the blend of diverse movement forms the article described and was intrigued to learn more. At the time I was searching for something different to the traditional forms of dance I had been practicing for years; a holistic movement practice that was gentler on my body. I have always enjoyed the stillness of yoga, yet the dancer inside me needs and craves more movement choices. I felt a strong desire to follow not just a physical, but also mental, emotional & spiritual path and Nia seemed like a natural progression from the world of dance into a new realm of holistic fitness.

At the time there were no Nia classes available in Dubai so I sent off to Nia headquarters in Portland, US for the dvd so that I could at least see what it was all about. I remember sitting down to watch it for the first time and knew instantly that this was something I wanted to explore more. Around this time, my husband and I relocated to the UK and soon after we were settled I saw an advert for a Nia White Belt Intensive Training hosted by a Master Black Belt, Helen Terry. This coincidental timing was perfect. I signed up despite the fact that everyone thought I was a little crazy. Considering the fact that I hadn’t even taken one Nia class at this point, they may have been right, but somehow I instinctively knew I had to do it.

I remember showing up for the introduction evening feeling very nervous but as I sat listening and absorbing every word Helen spoke, I began to relax. I had a strange feeling. I felt very safe, comfortable, ‘at home‘. My Nia journey had begun. The next day of the Training we started to dance, I felt at ease in my body. As a professional dancer, I had been trained for years to have every movement in the right place on the exact beat of the music, not even an eyelash out of place, but with Nia I was invited to experiment with movement and form in new ways. The choreography felt amazing and as the class continued, I felt a deep sense of joy overcome me as I freed my body and expanded my mind to the endless possibilities of movement. The experience of breaking old dance habits was totally liberating and I felt truly alive in my body. For the first time in my dancing career I focused on listening to what my body needed in every moment so that it felt comfortable, rather than trying to perform challenging movements that didn’t feel good. This heightened sense of awareness allowed me to consciously listen to the sensations in my body and move it accordingly. The result was a feeling that every cell in my being was smiling in response. I was so excited and energised I wanted to burst, and I remember thinking to myself, ”If I can feel this great – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually – after one class, how am I going to feel by the end of the week?” I was hooked.

Fast forward, in 2009 my husband & I relocated to Hong Kong. Currently I am the only Certified Nia Brown Belt instructor in the city, and my personal goal is to build awareness for Nia in Hong Kong and around Asia. Dancing and teaching Nia has changed my life. This beautiful dance form holds such a special place in my heart and through its practice I feel as though I’ve found my true path and ‘calling’. I feel truly blessed to be able to do something that I love and feel passionate about every day and am continually inspired to deepen my self practice; to be a better teacher and person, and to go out into the community and make positive and openhearted connections with like-minded souls.

In 2010 I was invited to present Nia at Kamalaya, Thailand’s award winning Wellness Sanctuary and Holistic Spa Resort. Dancing Nia in such a sacred and special environment was truly incredible for me. I felt a deep connection to space and the vastness of the natural environment around me in a way I never have before. Being in touch with nature and open to the elements – the sights, smells and sounds of Koh Samui – while dancing Nia, was a moving and unforgettable experience. Kamalaya is a haven; a place for you to slow down & transform. Koh Samui has long been favoured by Buddhist monks as a sanctuary for spiritual retreat. The island, they say, has a special energy that enriches and enlightens their spiritual path and helps them connect more profoundly with the universal energies. Kamalaya itself is centred around a monk’s cave that once served Buddhist monks as a place of meditation and spiritual retreat, Kamalaya’s essence is expressed in its name, ‘Lotus (kamal) Realm (alaya)’, an ancient symbol for the growth and unfolding of the human spirit.

So now in 2012, I am so thrilled to announce that with the support of the wonderful Helen Terry, I am witnessing a dream unfold for me. An incredible opportunity for everyBODY to experience a Retreat White Belt Training at Kamalaya. My two most favourite things combining together! The White Belt Training truly is somatic education for is everyone. Like me you don’t need to have done any Nia before the Training. You don’t need to want to teach, you need only the desire to cultivate more love, joy in the body and in your life. I believe this will be a transformational experience.

Opportunities are presented to us in life and it is our choice of course which path we step, if things are meant to happen they do. There has to be a flow and for it to be at the right time, when we are ready. For me the Nia Training was a profound step into a journey of self discovery, self awareness and self empowerment and my journey with Nia get’s richer and richer the higher I progress with the Belt System. The body of work that Debbie Rosas and Carlos Aya Rosas have created is incredible. I discovered so many tools that have enhanced my life in every way. This will be the FIRST EVER Nia Intensive Training in Thailand. Nia history, happening right on our doorstep, here in Asia!

Is this the right time for you now? Are YOU ready to take this next step…. journey with us and find your purpose for life

Dates: 21-27 June 2012

Destination: http://www.kamalaya.com/index.htm

For more information on how to register: http://www.niahongkong.com/#!white-belt

 

What is your imprint on the Earth?

Tags

ankle, connect, dance, dance through life, earth, earth hour, feet, global unity, hands that touch the earth, health, hips, imprint, knee, martial arts, movement, nia, nia moves, Reflexology, sense, well-being

Image by David Fenner ~ http://www.fotofu.co.uk

Those trees are our lungs. Those rivers and waters are our circulation ~ Deepak Chopra ♥

Focus: “Feet”

Intent: What is your imprint on the Earth?

On 31st March it was Earth Hour….a day dedicated to unite people around the world to help protect our planet! It is the largest environmental event in history organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Over 5,200 cities in 135 countries switched off their lights at 8.30pm for Earth Hour in 2011: http://www.earthhour.org/page/about

Earth Hour for 2013 will be 30th March.

So in honor of Earth Hour this week I decided to focus on “our feet” in class. In Nia we call our feet the ‘hands that touch the earth’. A perfect reminder to us always to stay connected, to feel rooted and grounded by the earth. Our feet can tell us a lot about the whole health of our Body.

Thank you Wikipedia:

Reflexology, or zone therapy, is an alternative medicine involving the physical act of applying pressure to the feet, hands, or ears with specific thumb, finger, and hand techniques without the use of oil or lotion. It is based on what reflexologists claim to be a system of zones and reflex areas that they say reflect an image of the body on the feet and hands, with the premise that such work effects a physical change to the body. A 2009 systematic reviewof randomized controlled trials concludes that “The best evidence available to date does not demonstrate convincingly that reflexology is an effective treatment for any medical condition

So I invited you to use your feet as if they were your hands! Always picking up the feet to plant them, being aware of the direction of your feet so that you are in relationship with your ankles, knees and hips. Being conscious of the alignment of your bones from the base up. So never twisting or sliding the feet…play with moving your feet parallel, inward and outward sensing from the inside of your hip sockets.

I love the combination of the Nia Moves ~ each foot technique stimulating the feet in different ways….the heel lead, whole foot, ball of the foot and then the strength needed in the ankle joint to combine all of these 3 moves to master the releve….

We also play with the foot techniques ~ Rock around the clock, duck walk, swish walk and stepping back on the ball of the foot.

How heavy is your impact, your imprint on the earth? By consciously moving your feet in gentler ways and being mindful of relaxing your feet and sensing the connection to the energy source ~ THE EARTH ~ what difference will that make to your base, your foundation?

Treading carefully…how do you leave your mark on the earth?

DID YOU KNOW?

One foot have 26 bones, 33 joints, more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments and 7000 nerve endings! Pretty amazing!!

So I invite you to TREAT your feet carefully this week, they are responsible for walking us in which ever direction we choose, keep us walking as an upright human. So put your foot down this week with compassion for our wonderful “Mother Earth”. One of the reason’s Nia is a barefoot technique is so that we can really sense our feet…our foundation. We move everyday on man made surfaces….how about we take off our shoes outside of class and let our feet enjoy the cool grass, the sand between our toes, the soil…..

So as we continue to ‘dance through life’ going beyond the hour of our Nia class and the Earth Hour….towards  a sustainable future…What is the one thing you can do this week for our planet?

I look forward to hearing your ‘one thing’ or many things that you have done for Earth Hour. Great things can be achieved when everyBODY comes together for a common cause…Global Unity….unity within and unity without

Love & light Tracey 🙂

www.niahongkong.com