Author: Adelle Brownlee Brewer Page 16 of 19

Beautiful dancing friends,
Like the sun, our light is the energy that connects us to the movements of the universe and the cycles of life and is present at all times, whether we feel its glow or not. If darkness has fallen, we know that the sun is still shining at this very moment somewhere not too far away, and it’s only a matter of time before it will shine on us again.

Our bones hold this presence of light and dark in their very structure. They are both porous and dense. Just like feminine/masculine energy, right/left, in/out, low/high, intrinsic/extrinsic, yin/yang… our body is balanced in both weight and weightless, gravity and anti-gravity.
We will play in class this week and next with the many polarities in our body that keep us balanced.

Many traditions consider the light of the rising sun to be particularly divine in its origins; this is why so many people in the world face east when performing ritual. We too can cultivate that rising sun energy inside ourselves, carrying it with us to light our way through any time of day or night, drawing on its power to awaken and renew our spirits.
We all know someone we think of as vibrant. Vibrant literally means “vibrating very rapidly.” The people who strike us as vibrant are vibrating at a high frequency, and they can inspire us as we work to raise our vibration. Playing with both heavy/light, and other polarities, we can find a balance that keeps us vibrating at a high frequency.
Fun!

Special note: I am out of town this weekend and next, dancing with friends, growing our web of movers, and playing with my six children, so there will not be a Journey Dance class on Sunday at 10:00 for two weeks. (yes, my ‘kiddo’ count is going up by one! Cameron blesses me with Sarah as another daughter when they marry June 9th, 2012!)
Please join me for Journey Dance on Sunday October Oct 2 and 9 at 10:00am.
Note to my note: As I’ve shared with many of you, my travels and connection to other movers has helped broaden our healing community. The studio is mentioned several times in the new Conscious Dancer magazine and we welcomed the first ever ‘Ecstatic Dance’ experience to the studio last night from 7:00-9:00. 🙂 Look for other opportunities coming… 5Rhythms, Soul Motion, and my precious friend Toni Bergins, creator of Journey Dance in January. It is time to sign up to hold your spot to dance 5 days with her. Read more under ‘workshops’ on the schedule page, www.thesynergystudio.com, as well as reading here: What is Journey Dance?
Join me and let’s Dance Into the Light!
With deep love and appreciation for YOU… Adelle

My classes this week: Tuesday 6:45am, Wednesday 9:15am, Fun Friday with Joanie 5:30pm

Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years.
We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle
the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.
~Samuel Ullman

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

Sweet Friends,
A day of remembrance, gratitude, thanksgiving, grace, blessings and dance. Thank you to so many who shared your beautiful spirit with me both in and out of class today.
The day started with a 10:00am Journey Dance class (after coffee, of course!) and 14 bodies joined in a beautiful dance for peace. We connected to NYC through music as we danced some of the same songs that Toni and Jeanne were dancing in class there. It was awe-inspiring. John Smither from Houston joined us in his travels… a real treat!
After food and rest, 16 more gathered for ‘Sanctuary’ at the 4:00pm Nia class. A deep transformational routine that I haven’t taught in well over a year… thank you for helping me hold the space for so many emotions.
Its been weeks, months… full of emotion. Elation, excitement, betrayal, heartbreak, joy, pain, sorrow, contemplation, outpouring of love… so many emotions experienced that have strengthened my emotional body.
Over-whelming excitement appeared this week as Joanie and I received our official notice that we are Nia trainers, complete with ‘register now’ buttons online! This was followed by a surprise mention of the studio three times in the new Conscious Dancer magazine. Be sure to pick one up at the studio.
As I was writing an online reflection for a dear ‘old’ high school friend who died this week, I received an email from an incredible ‘new’ friend Andrew, with whom I shared the Black Belt in Portland two weeks ago. He was writing in a daze from a hospital bed, many days in recovery after being hit on his scooter. He wrote beautiful words of appreciation for living and the awareness that Nia has brought to his life. Within minutes, I watched well-wishes pour in from fellow Black Belts from all parts of the globe… Finland, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Canada, England, United States. I felt immeasurable blessings to be connected to so many all over the world. Connected through heart and soul, mind and spirit… body and emotions.
And that is our focus this week.
Just like our physical, mental and spirit bodies love to move, dance, and get stronger, our emotional body loves a great work-out.
Bring it on!
Read more in this month’s Nia handout: Awareness of emotion
Deep love and metta for you, Adelle

My classes this week: Tuesday 6:45am, Wednesday 9:15am, Fun Friday 5:30pm, at The Synergy Studio
—

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

Sweet Friends,
A day of remembrance, gratitude, thanksgiving, grace, blessings and dance. Thank you to so many who shared your beautiful spirit with me both in and out of class today.
The day started with a 10:00am Journey Dance class (after coffee, of course!) and 14 bodies joined in a beautiful dance for peace. We connected to NYC through music as we danced some of the same songs that Toni and Jeanne were dancing in class there. It was awe-inspiring. John Smither from Houston joined us in his travels… a real treat!
After food and rest, 16 more gathered for ‘Sanctuary’ at the 4:00pm Nia class. A deep transformational routine that I haven’t taught in well over a year… thank you for helping me hold the space for so many emotions.
Its been weeks, months… full of emotion. Elation, excitement, betrayal, heartbreak, joy, pain, sorrow, contemplation, outpouring of love… so many emotions experienced that have strengthened my emotional body.
Over-whelming excitement appeared this week as Joanie and I received our official notice that we are Nia trainers, complete with ‘register now’ buttons online! This was followed by a surprise mention of the studio three times in the new Conscious Dancer magazine. Be sure to pick one up at the studio.
As I was writing an online reflection for a dear ‘old’ high school friend who died this week, I received an email from an incredible ‘new’ friend Andrew, with whom I shared the Black Belt in Portland two weeks ago. He was writing in a daze from a hospital bed, many days in recovery after being hit on his scooter. He wrote beautiful words of appreciation for living and the awareness that Nia has brought to his life. Within minutes, I watched well-wishes pour in from fellow Black Belts from all parts of the globe… Finland, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Canada, England, United States. I felt immeasurable blessings to be connected to so many all over the world. Connected through heart and soul, mind and spirit… body and emotions.
And that is our focus this week.
Just like our physical, mental and spirit bodies love to move, dance, and get stronger, our emotional body loves a great work-out.
Bring it on!
Read more in this month’s Nia handout: Awareness of emotion
Deep love and metta for you, Adelle

My classes this week: Tuesday 6:45am, Wednesday 9:15am, Fun Friday 5:30pm, at The Synergy Studio
—

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

You’re on candid camera!

Remember that great line? It still makes me smile…

Join me this week as we focus on the smile line in class. Our center of gravity, the hara, is located just below the belly button. That center creates a wonderful smile when we sink and rise moving through the 3 planes as we dance.

But guess what??? We also create smile lines in our heart, hands, head, hips, as we dance, and many times out pops a smile on our lips. 🙂

I just returned from a magical 10 days in Portland, Oregon at Nia Headquarters. The first 7 days were spent watching emerging Black Belts as they made new discoveries and opened doors to more learning, growth, and evolving. On the last three days, 13 of us did 7 routine video shoots, with rehearsals, and lots of sweat under the hot lights. I was surrounded for 10 days by smiles in abundance!

After 12 years of dancing Nia, I feel so blessed to have friends from all over the world… friends like you who bring a smile to my face. Nia is not just a movement practice… it is a lifestyle… and the positive effects on our body and health are immeasurable. I continue to be awed by the wisdom… the science, craft and art of the work. Nia has kept me young, healthy, and continues to challenge me… everyday I learn something new!

During the week, as we walked down the hall, strolled the streets of Portland, ate in restaurants… we were asked over and over, “What do you do? You are so happy and full of smiles.”

With big smiles, we gave them a card… “Nia.” The last three days were long, hot, and exhausting for the video filmings. One of the new participants thanked me for my smile that reminded them to relax and enJoy. Yes… Nia reminds us to smile with every cell!

I look forward to smiling with you in class!

Loving you, Adelle

My classes this week: Wednesday 9:15am, Friday 5:30pm, Sunday 10:00am Journey Dance, Sunday 4:00pm.



—

Adelle Brownlee Brewer

Owner, The Synergy Studio

Black Belt Certified Nia Trainer; Journey Dance Facilitator;

Professional Fiber Artist

San Antonio, Texas

www.thesynergystudio.com

www.nianow.com/adelle

www.journeydance.com

A beautiful Saturday evening to all my Nia friends!

I hope you will join me this week as we dance our connection… to ourselves, to others, to humanity. In belonging and feeling accepted, we can expose our vulnerability and heal… and dance gives us the space to make it happen!

Tomorrow morning at 10:00, we will dance a Journey Dance, as we send our precious Jan off to Ireland with positive thoughts, and prayers for a safe two week sojourn. At 4:00, we will dance our connection in a Nia class.

Yes, we are all connected… no matter where we travel… it is our survival.

When you have time, check out the wise words of Dr. Brene Brown… on connection, belonging and vulnerability.

https://www.papercoterie.com/blog/connection-belonging-and-being-enough/

See you on the dance floor!

Love in abunDance!

Adelle

My classes this week: Sunday (tomorrow) 10:00am Journey Dance, 4:00pm Nia, Tuesday 6:45am, Wednesday 9:15am, Friday 5:30pm

Adelle Brownlee Brewer

Owner, The Synergy Studio, Nia Trainer;

Nia Black Belt Instructor; Journey Dance Facilitator;

Professional Fiber Artist

San Antonio, Texas

www.thesynergystudio.com

www.niasanantonio.com

www.nianow.com

www.nianow.com/adelle

www.journeydance.com

A beautiful Saturday evening to all my Nia friends!

I hope you will join me this week as we dance our connection… to ourselves, to others, to humanity. In belonging and feeling accepted, we can expose our vulnerability and heal… and dance gives us the space to make it happen!

Tomorrow morning at 10:00, we will dance a Journey Dance, as we send our precious Jan off to Ireland with positive thoughts, and prayers for a safe two week sojourn. At 4:00, we will dance our connection in a Nia class.

Yes, we are all connected… no matter where we travel… it is our survival.

When you have time, check out the wise words of Dr. Brene Brown… on connection, belonging and vulnerability.

https://www.papercoterie.com/blog/connection-belonging-and-being-enough/

See you on the dance floor!

Love in abunDance!

Adelle

My classes this week: Sunday (tomorrow) 10:00am Journey Dance, 4:00pm Nia, Tuesday 6:45am, Wednesday 9:15am, Friday 5:30pm

Adelle Brownlee Brewer

Owner, The Synergy Studio, Nia Trainer;

Nia Black Belt Instructor; Journey Dance Facilitator;

Professional Fiber Artist

San Antonio, Texas

www.thesynergystudio.com

www.niasanantonio.com

www.nianow.com

www.nianow.com/adelle

www.journeydance.com

Nia Friends,
Magical moments happen all the time in our lives. Taking time out to notice, give gratitude and bring awareness to the sensations in our body heightens the magic of living.
In Nia, we like to create the ultimmmate experience, as if this is our last moment. Living in our body, experiencing life to its fullest, and appreciating every moment we have on this earth is the ultimmmate!
Ultimmmate… Music, Movement, Magic! The music of our heart, the movement of our breath, the magic of our unique spirit. Music, Movement, Magic is the focus for 2011 at The Synergy Studio, and the focus for my routine adaptation.
I hope you will join me today at 4:00 for the taping of my routine Dunia! Please wear black for the video shoot… and get ready for fun!
Thank you all for your support and love,
Adelle

We will play with the MMM focus all week with different routines… See you on the dance floor!
My classes this week: Today for Dunia taping 4:00pm, Tuesday 6:45am, Wednesday 9:15am, Fun Friday 5:30pm

Adelle Brownlee Brewer
Owner, The Synergy Studio, Nia Black Belt Instructor;
Nia 5 Stages Instructor; Professional Fiber Artist
San Antonio, Texas
www.thesynergystudio.com
www.niasanantonio.com
www.nianow.com
www.nianow.com/adelle-brewer

Adelle Brownlee Brewer: A Seven-Minute Workout That Can Change the World

Imagine if everyBody in the world started their day with a seven-minute workout that realigned their bones, settled their mind, and prepared them for the tasks ahead? Imagine the possibilities…

Nia 5 Stages is a practice of retracing the body’s developmental process. The idea was inspired by Stanley Keleman, author of Emotional Anatomy and Your Body Speaks Its Mind. Years of practice and research by Debbie Rosas, co-founder of Nia Technique, led to the development of a program called “Nia 5 Stages,” which is today offered as a part of Classic Nia classes, in stand-alone Nia 5 Stages classes, and in-depth Nia 5 Stages trainings. It is a physical practice based on the five stages of human development: Embryonic, Creeping, Crawling, Standing, and Walking.

By moving through these stages daily, my body is allowed to re-align, explore its potential, and self-heal. Doing the Nia 5 Stages in a short seven-minute workout, my body, mind, and emotions re-pattern, energize and condition.

The first stage, Embryonic, is circular, fluid and dynamic. Rolling, I move as if I am in water, suspended and supported to move freely. Non-verbal, I allow my body to cook all four sides by moving from front to back, side to side, reaching out and drawing into center.

The second stage, Creeping, is linear, lizard-like, with my hips facing down resting on the earth. One leg is long and extended, and my other knee draws up, freeing my hips to facilitate forward movement. Using my hands and forearms to move forward, my spine is extended, my eyes look out and my feet are sunny side up.

The third stage, Crawling, is bear-like, with a tabletop architecture. One hand reaches as I crawl looking out in the world, belly soft and hanging down with gravity. My spine naturally curves developing agility, mobility and strength. As I crawl with feet sunny side up, I adapt my movement so my neck, shoulder blades and ankles remain relaxed.

Standing, the fourth stage is stable, vertical and squatting, monkey-like. I build strength and flexibility by resting into gravity. One foot is flat on the earth for stability, while the other foot rests on the ball. Shifting from side to side, finding comfort and ease, my ribcage, arms and hands are free to move and explore the space as I prepare to push down and rise into the fifth stage, Walking.

Walking is a vertical, mobile, flexible, and stable moving architecture. I push down in the earth to rise, first walking on the balls of my feet with heels up. When my body is ready, I drop my heels and allow them to lead my walk, rolling through onto my whole foot.

The Nia seven-minute workout begins with practicing a minute in each stage. The sixth minute is spent getting up and down off the floor, in my own organic way and time. The final minute is spent in laughter… fifteen seconds on my back, fifteen seconds on my belly, fifteen seconds sitting, and fifteen seconds standing.

Seven minutes of transformational movement. Movement that has increased my energy and vitality, improved my posture and alignment, and created a deep sense of relaxation comparable to meditation. A seven-minute practice that has helped me release tension and tightness, and over time regain flexibility, agility, mobility, strength and stability, and reclaim my joint pliability and muscle balance.

Imagine if everyBody in the world started their day with seven minutes that realigned and re-centered their body, mind and emotions?

Imagine the impact on health care, longevity, and world peace. Would we all get along better if we felt good?

Imagine the possibilities…

My body is a symbol of elegance, power, suppleness, and solidity.

When dancing throughout my day, I activate my witness and use symbology to mold and shape my form… energizing the movement with the five sensations that keep me healthy and fit… flexibility, agility, mobility, strength and stability. Releasing into gravity, as well as lifting up and out brings my body into a state of balance.

Awareness of breath as flowing, healing energy and using sound has conditioned my lungs, diaphragm, intercostals, and abdominal muscles, constantly shaping and re-shaping my body as a symbol of vitality.

Dancing, sitting, playing, rolling, and lying on the floor relieves my lower back pain that has been present for many years. I have an extra vertebra in my lower lumbar spine, demanding more awareness for space and the need to create it as I move and release into gravity. Flexion, extension, axial rotation and lateral flexion all help the daily self-healing of my spine and bring it into alignment and homeostasis. When infusing my movement with yoga and modern dance, the symbology of stability and balance bring strength to my spine and core area.

Knowledge of the horizontal structure of my feet that are supporting me and dancing barefoot has restored their strength and flexibility as well as the strength of my lower leg muscles after walking many years in shoes. Even in most traditional dance classes, my feet were clad in some type of shoe, including toe shoes that cramped their structure. Now my feet are happy feet!

Practicing the 5 Stages has been transformational for the conditioning of my body. Playing with the architecture of each stage… circular, linear, four-point tabletop, stable and vertical to mobile and vertical… has improved my posture and grace, and reclaimed my joint mobility and muscle balance.

My body is a symbol of the balance of Yin and Yang, relaxed, alert and waiting… Now I Am.. conditioned and ready.