Author: Adelle Brownlee Brewer Page 10 of 19

Being You Through Your Body

On January 5, 2013

Moving Tribe,

I was inspired by the words of my friend Adam Barley, master teacher of the 5Rhythms, and I wanted to send his motivating words on to you. Yes… it is about living in the body. Now.

Now I Am… present.

I hope to dance with you Sunday at 10:00am for Journey Dance and Sunday at 4:00pm for Nia… dancing our intentions… Embrace, Celebrate, Shine… Now I Am.

We will also hold Gabrielle Roth’s spirit in our dance, as we join millions across the planet dancing for this wonderful woman.

Thank you Adam!

Now I Am Love, Adelle

“A friend of mine just texted me “I feel like I’ve been on a deep healing workshop for months, with no rest – any idea how to stop it?” I replied that I think I’m on the same workshop, and no, I’ve no idea.

I just do my best to keep letting go. Which sometimes includes staying in place of course – I have noticed my mind’s tendency to get attached to anything, including letting go.

I know that I really get in a mess if I don’t do my practice enough. The times when I least feel like dancing often have the most potential of all.

Sometimes we need to dance alone in the woods, sometimes with our kids in the living room, sometimes with a group of consenting adults at a local class. Sometimes we need to dance so low and slow we never make it off the carpet. Or we’re so full of it we begin and end in chaos; that’s all there is. Every day is new.

Maybe we’ll all get a bit more hopeful now that the end of the world has been and gone, and we’re still here! Like,“oooh… maybe it’s up to me after all…” What now? What can we create? What do we choose? Do you have the courage and faith to let other people move you? To trust your impulses for expression? To surrender to life? To really take your place, day by day, and give what you can?

And if you lack the courage, do you know how to find it? I suggest getting into the experience of being you through your body. Take a deep breath and be physical.

… Gabrielle’s memorial is next week. More information about that here. If you aren’t going, you might want to light a candle or dance a step in gratitude for this woman’s extraordinary contribution. You’ll be one of a wave all round the world.

Feet first my friends
May we all have the year we truly need
Adam

photo by Michael Julien Berz with Adam Barley

Embrace, Celebrate, Shine! 2013 has arrived!

By Adelle Brownlee Brewer

On January 1, 2013

In Uncategorized

At The Synergy Studio, we like to dedicate the sacred year to a single purpose… an over-arching theme.

Announcing 2013…

The Year of Now I Am… Embrace, Celebrate, Shine!

As sacred athletes of life, we live in the moment, embracing who we are, celebrating our uniqueness, and shining our light as we share with others.

One word ‘resolutions’, or affirmations, are available to us every day, every moment as we embrace the one constant of life, change. The mere fact that every cell in the human body is renewed every seven years affirms that we can embrace positive change, celebrate, and shine. We have one word affirmations that support us throughout the year, as well as others that pop up daily when we need them.

Now I Am… Healthy, Happy, Flexible, Joyful, Positive, Resolved, Enthusiastic, Agile, Loving, Graceful, Friendly, Directed, Mobile, Soft, Quiet, Strong, Open, Aware, Attentive, Stable….

The list is never-ending, like change.

Bring your affirmations to class this week. We will write them down and dance them as we embrace we we are, celebrate our uniqueness, and shine our light.

N… I… A… Now I Am.

Now I Am Love, Adelle

Sacred Hands… Happy Holidays!

By Adelle Brownlee Brewer

On December 29, 2012

In Uncategorized

Sacred: dedicated or devoted exclusively to a single use, purpose or person.*American Heritage dictionary

Sacred is a special word in the English language. It is descended from the Latin word sacrum, which referred to the gods or anything within their power. It also refers to the base of your spine, those beautiful fused bones that turn in, creating a hand that supports you from underneath and behind. Amazing… the human body… a sacred vessel of life.

As we close the Year of the Sacred Athlete at The Synergy Studio, I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and appreciation for you and the abundance of your spirit. We are an amazing community of friends, healers, lovers of life and givers of light. You have enriched my life in so many ways and I am forever blessed. Thank you!

Join me this week as we dance our hands, giving light, love and healing. We will move to the very special and sacred dance of Sanctuary… a routine I save for special times of the year. Sunday at 4:00pm. And join me on Sunday morning for Journey Dance at 10:00am… a wonderful way to give praise and thanksgiving for this beautiful season… through our hands we give and receive… through movement we heal.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyBody!

Adelle

December 21… A day of dance and celebration! Occupy Your Body, Awaken Your Heart!

By Adelle Brownlee Brewer

On December 20, 2012

In Uncategorized

Tomorrow… Friday, December 21st… a Day of Dance!

photo credits: Michael Julien Berz (with Adam Barley)

Tomorrow is a special day in many ways. It is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, and it marks the beginning of the Sun’s accent into the sky. In Latin, solstice means “sun set still”, and Winter Solstice is the great stillness. December 21, 2012 is also the date recorded in stone by the Ancient Maya over 1300 years ago indicating the completion of a World Age Cycle. It is a day we are invited to synchronize with all life in the Universe and to begin a new World consciousness fired by love, compassion, gratitude and peace. Awakening to our Self-Generation, we are called to unify with all hearts and minds for Universal healing. All over the world people are dancing in celebration of this special day!

Its a day to Occupy Your Body and Awaken Your Heart!

There are many opportunities to celebrate this day at The Synergy Studio:

8:00 am JourneyDance™ with Jan and Zet

9:15 am Nia with Jenn

5:30 pm Nia with Adelle

6:45 pm JourneyDance™ with Joanie

And join me Sunday morning at 10:00 am for JourneyDance™… a celebration of music, movement and magic as we occupy our body and awaken our heart to the dance of life!

Ahhhh…. a magical weekend indeed!

JourneyDance™… Open to the joy of life. You are the prayer: your body, your movement, your breath. You are the Goddess: your passion, your emotions, your sensual heart. You are the Warrior: your power, your intentions, your life’s journey. JourneyDance™ will move you through deep, personal exploration into a loving, intimate relationship with body, mind, and source energy. This sensual and exhilarating union of dance, visualization, and ritual calls us to get funky and divine! In a shamanic style, the Journey carries us through an intentional and seamless flow of guided ritual and free expression. We embody our physical temple, unleashing animal energies and awakening sensuality. We connect with the inner shaman creator to release the mind’s clogging clutter and make space for the abundance of joy available to us. We explore our inner realms of the heart, listening deeply. We express ourselves as soul and ride our pranic energy flow into prayer. As we create this powerful dancing ritual together, we elevate the body and mind to our highest vibration. JourneyDance™ for nourishment, energy, presence, and prayer. Come, travel this sacred and provocative journey.

Passion… Bring it on!

By Adelle Brownlee Brewer

On December 18, 2012

In Uncategorized

pas·sion /ˈpaSHən/

Strong and barely controllable emotion.
A state or outburst of such emotion.

Ahhhhhh!!! Is our weather de-light-filled or what? It makes me want to sing… to shake my tail… to dance! Bring on the passion!

Yesterday, Joanie and I had the honor of graduating 4 new Nia White Belts, Cassendra Keys and Maria Palmer from San Antonio, Bianca Rodriguez from Laredo, and Ronda Bartley from Oklahoma. Everybody say “HEY! YEAAAA!” They are now starting their Nia journey and stepping into this world to share their gifts with passion.
In celebration of a great week of new friends, learning, and transformation, we will focus on ‘Dancing to the Music’ with the intent to bring on the passion… the gift and birthright that was given to us in this life… a body that loves to move, express, dance.

I came across a great article on “6 Ways to Combat Depression.” I realized when reading it that Nia, Journey Dance, Conscious Dance, Movement fit in every category in some way. As we dance through this beautiful season, let us be mindful of those who are facing depression, or if we sense it in ourselves… and how we can invite our friends along to combat the blues…
We can DANCE! Ahhhhhh!!!! Now that is Passion!

Here is a synopsis of the article, with the full monty linked below. 🙂
I LOVE you all so much… thank you for dancing through life with me.
Adelle

1. Feed your brain
2. Don’t think… Do!
3. Move your body… Shift your brain.
4. Let there be light
5. Get connected
6. Sleep well
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/6-ways-to-combat-depression.html?page=7

My classes this week:
Nia: Tuesday 6:45am, Wednesday 9:15am, Friday 5:30pm
Journey Dance: Sunday 10:00am (I will be teaching Journey Dance for the next 5 Sundays)

Adelle Brownlee Brewer
Owner, The Synergy Studio, San Antonio, Texas
Nia Black Belt Teacher; White Belt Trainer
Nia Training Faculty
Journey Dance Guide; Professional Fiber Artist
www.thesynergystudio.com
www.nianow.com/adelle
www.journeydance.com

my blog: www.adellebrewer.com

Learn more and go deeper into the connection with you body and your life by taking a Nia White Belt Intensive. Our next intensive is coming up in February!

Read more about upcoming opportunities to take the White Belt: http://www.nianow.com/adelle

The Brewer Clan

By Adelle Brownlee Brewer

On December 13, 2012

In Uncategorized

Meet the Brewer Clan! Emily and Austin, Louisa, Cameron and Sarah, and Tyler… my precious babes. I was so blessed to have them all for Thanksgiving! Abundance indeed… love!

12-12-12 Messengers of the Heart!

By Adelle Brownlee Brewer

On December 12, 2012

In Uncategorized

As many of you know, last Thursday evening Joanie and I started a Nia White Belt Intensive. We have 4 wonderful and enthusiastic trainees, 2 from our San Antonio Nia Community, one from our sister city Laredo, and another from our sister state Oklahoma. This Nia intensive is a split weekend, and together we dove deep into the first eight principles of the Nia White Belt.

The Nia practice is deep and rich….I love this work!! We continue with the intensive on Friday morning with Principle # 9, The Upper Extremities, our arms, hands and fingers…Creative Arm and Hand Expression.

Thank you Joanie for our shared focus this week :)…
Expressing ourselves with our upper extremities is a natural part of living in a human body—we do it all the time! Our arms, hands and fingers express joy, pain and pleasure; intimacy, protection and excitement.

They are truly the messengers of our heart.

When we are hurt, our hands reach for our injuries. When we are deeply moved, our hands reach toward our hearts. When we are excited by our achievements, our arms burst up to the sky, toward unlimited possibility. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are always communicating our thoughts, feelings and emotions through the movement of our upper extremities.

Tuning into your upper extremities—your arms, hands and fingers—allows you to tap into your full range movement and expression, naturally healing and conditioning your body by simply interacting with the world. This is The Body’s Way, and 18 of Nia’s 52 moves are dedicated to these lovely body parts. They add so much to our dance!!! All of a sudden a bow stance is your dance in flight as you imagine your arms as beautiful white wings of light; a heal lead is an opportunity to paint the space around you with your fingers; and stepping onto the ball of your foot is a determined reach toward your dreams with your hands!

Right NOW give yourself a hug and receive the healing touch of your hands on your skin. I then invite you to give that hug to someone and allow them to sense your healing touch. It might be the best gift they have ever received!

So this week as we prepare and step back into the Nia White Belt intensive, we will focus on Principle #9 of the Nia White Belt – Creative Arm and Hand Expressions, in my Tuesday and Wednesday classes. As you Dance Through Life pay attention to the movements and sensations of your upper extremities throughout your day.
– Notice how you use your arms and hands to express your thoughts and feelings in every environment.
– As you walk, allow your arms to swing freely with relaxed shoulder joints.
– As you work at the computer, set reminders throughout the day to notice the sensations in your neck and shoulders. Then, consciously relax the muscles of your neck, shoulders and upper back as you type. Use Creepy Crawlers to stimulate movement of your joints in your hands.
– When you finish working for the day, practice Palm Directions to release your shoulder joints and stretch the front of your chest.
– To release tension and stretch your hands, integrate Webbed Spaces into various activities in your day, such as when walking from your car to the store, as you wait in line, etc.

I love this work…see you in class!

Now is the Time

By Adelle Brownlee Brewer

On December 6, 2012

In Uncategorized

Madisyn Taylor nailed it for me again… now is the time. A reminder to hold dreams, reach for the stars, and manifest moment to moment by living fully without hesitation.

If, when, but, could have, would have, should have… all words that do not resonate with me or the present moment of living into my greatness. Many times I get distracted by my dreams, fantasies and wishes, yet they are there to inspire and excite, not hold me back from living. Gentle reminders of the presence of living every moment to its fullest knowing there are no guarantees keeps me grounded, and loving my body.

Joanie and I are starting a Nia White Belt training this evening with beautiful souls from San Antonio, Laredo, Oklahoma and Canada… ready for the next step of growing, learning and living in their body. It all starts with the Joy of Movement.
The Joy of Movement, Principle #1 of Nia’s 13 White Belt Principles, is what Nia is based on and all other principles grow out of the Joy, with a big J. It is a universal energy that is encoded in our body, always present no matter the circumstances, and no matter the emotions and thoughts that are rolling around inside. My Body… Your Body… The Body was born to move, to heal, to dance through every moment of life… to live fully and completely… grounded and founded in love.

Love your body, for your body loves you, and your body is your oldest and best friend, your closest companion, someone who has never left you. Live knowing that Joy is always present, encoded in your cells, ready for activation, stimulation and sustainability.
I guarantee you will experience a transformation.

Loving you and the dance of life, Adelle
ps. Read on… Madisyn’s wise words that inspired my writing today.

Now Is the Time
Bloom Where You Are Planted
The time to blossom is now, not sometime in the future when you believe the stars will be aligned for you.

Having a vision for our future that differs from our current circumstances can be inspiring and exciting, but it can also keep us from fully committing to our present placement. We may become aware that this is happening when we notice our thoughts about the future distracting us from our participation in the moment. We may find upon searching our hearts that we are waiting for some future time or situation in order to self-actualize. This would be like a flower planted in North Dakota putting off blooming because it would prefer to do so in Illinois.
There are no guarantees in this life, so when we hold back we do so at the risk of never fully blossoming. This present moment always offers us the ground in which we can take root and open our hearts now. What this means is that we live fully, wherever we are, not hesitating because conditions are not perfect, or we might end up moving, or we haven’t found our life partner. This can be scary, because we might feel that we are giving up our cherished dreams if we do not agree to wait for them. But this notion that we have to hold back our life force now in order to find happiness later doesn’t really make sense. What might really be happening is that we are afraid to embrace this moment, and ourselves, just exactly as we are right now. This constitutes a tendency to hold back from fully loving ourselves, as we are, where we are.
We have a habit of presenting life with a set of conditions—ifs and whens that must be fulfilled before we will say yes to the gift of our lives. Now is the time for each of us to bloom where we are planted, overriding our tendency to hold back. Now is the time to say yes, to be brave and commit fully to ourselves, because until we do no one else will. Now is the time to be vulnerable, unfolding delicately yet fully into the space in which we find ourselves.

by Madisyn Taylor

The Season of Love

By Adelle Brownlee Brewer

On November 27, 2012

In Uncategorized

Thank you for being in my life and sharing your gifts with me.

We have a wonderful person and a dear friend of mine, coming to San Antonio tomorrow. Toni Bergins, creator of Journey Dance, will be here all week, sharing her heart, her soul, her emotions, her spirit with us. You are invited to attend any or all of the 5 classes she will be offering during the Journey Dance Teacher Training Module 2. We are soo blessed to have an amazing community of movers, shakers, dancers, shape-shifters, and fortunate to share our community with leaders like Toni.

Please join us this week… it will be magical!

I will teach my 6:45 class in the morning, and then my other classes will be shared with Toni and Journey Dance. Please check the online schedule to see the shift in Nia/Journey Dance classes, and take advantage of every moment on the dance floor!

Journey Dance classes this week… just for YOU!

Wednesday 9:15am

Thursday 5:30pm

Friday 5:30pm

Sunday 10:00am

Sunday 4:00pm

Our big focus this week is on love… for all emotions come down to love. We will dive deep, go the distance, and access what is real and true… our authentic self.

I received the following from a fellow blogger… beautiful words from the mouth of babes. 4-8 year olds were asked, “What does Love mean?” Read their answers. They brought tears…. for love is indeed what weaves our lives together and the purity of these babies answers is innocent and powerful… deep, wide, tall and broad.

Know you are deeply loved by me.

See you on the dance floor… Adelle

“When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s love.” Rebecca – age 8

“When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.” Billy – age 4

“Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.” Karl – age 5

“Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.” Chrissy – age 6

“Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired.” Terri – age 4

“Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.” Danny – age 7

“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.” Bobby – age 7

“If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.” Nikka – age 6

“Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.” Noelle – age 7

“Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.” Tommy – age 6

“During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn’t scared anymore.’ Cindy – age 8

“Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.” Elaine-age 5

“Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.” Chris – age 7

“Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.” Mary Ann – age 4

“When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.” (what an image!!) Karen – age 7

“You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.” Jessica – age 8

The winner was a 4-year-old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.”

Ask your spirit…

By Adelle Brownlee Brewer

On November 20, 2012

In Uncategorized

“Spirit is not a mystic concept. The spirit of a person is manifest in her aliveness, brightness of his eyes, in the resonance of her/his voice and in the ease and gracefulness of her/his movements. These qualities are related to and stem from a high level of energy in the body… Sensing the harmony between the internal pulsation of our body and that in the universe, we feel identified with the universal, with God.
We are like tuning forks vibrating at the same pitch (Alexander Lowen,1995)

In this day and time, we hear a lot about ‘mind, body, and spirit.’ It seems easier sometimes to identify with the mind and body then it does the spirit. Do you ever stop your body, calm your mind, and ask your spirit what she or he desires? The answer many times comes auto-magically… all we have to do is ask, acknowledge our uniqueness, and honor the request.

Bring your body and mind to class this Thanksgiving week, and honor what your spirit is desiring. Even if you don’t have an answer, its all in the dance… the dance of life. Spread your wings and set your spirit free to explore!

Joanie and I are team-teaching a special Thanksgiving day Nia class at 8:00am. Come move your body in gratitude and thanksgiving before the family joins you for a feast! I will also be teaching my class Tuesday morning at 6:45am, Wednesday at 9:15am, and Friday at 5:30pm.
Have a blessed and beautiful Thanksgiving!
With love, Adelle