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‘Notice’:  to become aware of…

As I drove back this morning from Dallas, after a wonderful weekend with Michael Molin-Skelton, 5Rhythms and Soul Motion teacher, I noticed the brightness of the sky, the sun shining through the majestic clouds, the sparkling dew on the grass.

As I sit on my patio at this moment, I am noticing the colors on my computer screen… the steam wafting from my chai tea… the reflection of the sky on standing water after the rain storm… my toes sticking out of the end of my robe.
I’m looking… I’m seeing… and I’m noticing.

This week our focus will be eye and head movements… with the intention to notice. Creating space in our body, mind, emotions and spirit just through the act of noticing.
Join in the dance as we put on fresh eyes, giving thanks for all the ways we look, see and notice. Even as our eyes age, become blurred, need glasses, or begin to view life with distortion… we have an amazing gift of sight. There is so much to notice and appreciate.
Look… See… Notice. I’ll see you on the dance floor!
Read below for some inspiring thoughts on noticing… notes I’ve picked up along the way. To notice is never-ending… like love.

Noticing your grace and beauty… Adelle

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

1.  Notice the steam wafting from your tea. It’s seductive and meditative.

2.  Notice the breath of your children or partner. Rather than seeing them – notice the beat of their heart or sound of their breath.

3.  Notice if you keep thinking of a friend you haven’t seen for a while. Ring them.

4.  Notice the emotion you are cooking into your food. I happen to believe there’s more to the look, smell and nutritional value of a meal. Our meals also hold emotions.  A meal cooked with love without doubt tastes divinely better. So next time you are cooking a meal – notice your emotions.

5.  Notice the color of your clothes. Notice with a slowness as you choose your clothes – are the colors you are reaching for, energetically what your body is needing today.

6. Notice how you move. I do this often.  Am I walking or sitting with comfort and ease?  Am I rushing my body carelessly, restricting my breath or am I mindfully breathing into my belly, willing to accept the here and now?

7.  Notice the next animal you see. Animals can be subtle messengers on your life’s journey.  Notice the butterfly, crow or owl and connect with the message they are sending you.

8. Notice the chatter inside your head. If you notice your thoughts you can change them – if you need too.

9.  Notice how you hold your body. Is your body open, relaxed and spacious or tight, closed and blocked.  I’ve said a million times before – lose the frown, part the lips, release the jaw and drop your shoulders.  Notice your body more often.

10.  Notice if you keep hearing about a book. There’s a good chance you need to read that book.

11.  Notice those feelings. Intuition is a powerful and very helpful force that arises usually in the pit of the stomach.  Take time to notice what your intuitive self is telling you.

12.  Notice what is around you. Notice what you are seeing, feeling and sensing – in this moment – right here and now – can be the most amazing gift of all.

13.  Notice the feather on the footpath: I learned many years ago from a North American Indian that when you find a feather on the foot path in front of you, it’s a sign you are on the right track.  Notice feathers.

My heart is full, sensing deep gratitude for the support and love of our Nia world-wide community.

Reflecting on the past two days, I am in awe and filled with deep appreciation for the people who came to dance in support of Daniel Curtis and the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation, as well as the Colorado Red Cross. Sister cities Austin, Texas and San Antonio, Texas came together in back to back benefits that raised $1600 for these special people and organizations. 
Saturday in Austin the room was full, as teachers and students gathered for a rocking Nia Jam. Sunday afternoon’s event was in San Antonio, as once again Nia teachers and students from all over Texas raised the roof, opened their hearts, and danced with joy. 
I was blessed to be at both events, and I am humbled… filled with the love and dedication of so many beautiful people.

Daniel Curtis joined us in Austin at the end of class, sharing his story of devotion, gratitude and love for his mom, our own Nia Trainer Holly Natasi. There was not a dry eye in the room as Daniel shared the dedication that Holly has shown to his healing. A handsome, extraordinary man, Daniel touched everyone there with his brave story… and we all felt his divine grace and strength.

We each make a difference everyday in someones life, with our presence, our smile, our love… and this past weekend many lives were forever changed through the coming together of community… two thriving cities, two large events, many huge hearts.

Thank you seems so small for the emotion that is full in my heart. I love our world-wide Nia community and I thank you from the depths of that love.
We are all love.  

Friends… Love waves are coming your way!~~~~~~~

We are all spiritual beings, embodied in flesh, supported by love. During this time of great change, chaos and quickening pace, it is natural to sense fear in our body, and approach the evolution with trepidation. Many situations seem like the opposite of loving. However, it is essential to remember that our souls chose to be here at this time and place in history, to be a part of humanity’s evolving and healing process. Every movement in the Universe is a movement towards love, and we must remember to choose love over fear as we approach our daily lives.

Join us on the dance floor this week, as we celebrate the heart, opening the chest… giving and receiving. Anatomically, the heart resides in the chest, surrounded and protected by the rib cage. It is the thoracic area of our spine, a location that holds tension, tightness, anxiety, fear… and love.
Through opening our heart, moving the thoracic spine and letting the energy flow, we tap into our divinity, helping and healing others through our presence, our time, our love. We also become the recipient of that omnipresent love… for it is all love.Sunday morning we will dance our heart’s journey at 10:00am in a Journey Dance class. Sunday afternoon at 4:00, we come together as a community to give and receive at our Nia Jam benefit, honoring the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation and the Colorado Red Cross. My other classes this week will also focus on the heart center, opening to love, change and possibility. Tuesday 6:45am, Wednesday 9:15am,Friday 5:30pm, and next Sunday at 4:00pm.

“When we open our hearts in love instead of closing them in fear, we serve the divine process. We are all powerful spirits who took form at this time in order to serve our fellow humans, our planet, and the universe. As we find ways we can serve, our fear dissipates. Regardless of what actions we choose to take, the essential element will be the internal gesture of choosing to remain in love. This is all that is needed.“… Madisyn Taylor

Are you ready? I am ready... see you soon on the dance floor!
In, out, around and through love… Adelle

Adelle Brownlee Brewer
Owner, The Synergy Studio, San Antonio, TexasNia 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

Friends…
I sent out my focus for the week this morning from Austin, and here I am again writing to you… I apologize for the double email, yet I feel compelled to write more after the heart opening experience of today.

After sending out my focus, I went to dance at Galaxy dance studio in Austin with 9 other Nia teachers from Austin, Waco, Kyle, Fredricksburg and San Antonio. We came together to raise money for Holly Curtis Natasi’s son, Daniel… and the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation. Holly is a fellow Nia trainer, one of the first Nia trainers in the United States, and the ‘mother’ of Nia in Austin, Texas.
We will dance for Daniel again tomorrow in San Antonio, at The Synergy Studio.

Today we were blessed at the end of a great, uplifting, dynamic class to have Daniel arrive and speak to us about his experience. His photo is below, so you can put a name to a face. Julie Wylie, a fellow trainer who is also pictured, will be dancing with us tomorrow.

Daniel is 30 years old, and last Memorial Day, 2011, Holly received the phone call that no mother wants… Daniel had broken his neck from a dive into his swimming pool… and was paralysed.
He spoke today of the last year, and the dedication that his mother has shown to his healing… by his side, even in the midst of a life move from Santa Fe to Lincoln, Nebraska. As tears fell, he said that he had not cried in three weeks, but was now crying for the right reason. He was touched by the presence of so many, dancing for his healing and the healing of others. There was not a dry eye in the house. It was beautiful and touching.
His words… “I am so grateful for everybody, and for all the love that you have shown. I will never be able to give back what I have received. It is beyond words… thank you”

And that is who we will dance for tomorrow… Daniel, The Lone Star Paralysis Foundation, as well as the Colorado Red Cross. Bring your hearts, bring your pocketbooks, and let’s make a difference together.
We often say that we are making a difference one BODY at a time.
This is our opportunity to do it again.
See you tomorrow at 4:00
Blessings, Adelle

Bendable, pliable movers of energy… strong, flexible doors that open and close… connectors to above and below…
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Our Knees!
I was honored to write about the knee in this month’s NiaNow newsletter. I have shared with some of you my ‘knee story’ and now its public knowledge. There is a vulnerability in writing about pain, and my right knee has lived with a long-standing injury that reminds me daily of the fragility and strength of this complex and amazing joint.
I am immensely grateful for the power my knees give me to walk, stand, move, dance, leap, and land with grace.

Our knees are a fascinating grid of bone, muscle, ligaments and tendons. We will focus on our knees this week, starting this afternoon at 4:00. I hope you will join me in the dance of appreciation for these amazing joints… your knees are listening… take a moment to thank them right now.
Read more about your knees in this month’s newsletter, and sign up to receive the information for free every month… we are all sensation scientists, exploring, discovering, and appreciating our body… the sacred vessel that we steward…  as our oldest friend and greatest companion.

We will be dancing with a mindfulness of center, grounding, and rooting this morning in Journey Dance at 10:00. Dance with your first chakra, and return for Nia at 4:00 to dance your beautiful knees!
With deep gratitude for you, Adelle

My classes this week: Sunday(today) Journey Dance 10:00am and Nia at 4:00pm, Tuesday 6:45am, Wednesday 9:15am, Fun Friday 5:30pm… and look for a special announcement of the fund raising events for the Colorado Red Cross and Lone Star Paralysis Foundation coming this next weekend! Dance to give, receive and make a difference!

• Start your day with the Nia 5 Stages. Roll around on the floor in Embryonic, reaching out and in, using your arms and legs to activate your joints. Creep like a lizard, and sense the action of your knees. Gently push up to all fours and crawl like a bear, imagining your knees are feet. Walk your hands back to one side as your spine becomes vertical, and feel the stability of your knees as you shift your body weight from one foot to the other. Then push down into the earth to rise, and walk on the balls of your feet for a few steps as you reach high, sensing both the strength and flexibility of your beautiful knee joints. As your heels descend, let them lead you into walking and bring an awareness to your knees–magnificent hinge joints that carry you through your day!
• Spend one minute per day getting up and down from the floor. This simple action activates all 13 main joints and will help keep your knees stay flexible, strong and stable.
• Walk on the beach, sensing the warm movement of the sand under your feet and the gentle waves shifting the earth as your knees adjust to the movement.
• As you dance in class, visualize your knees as sponges and imagine gently squeezing water out of them as you move.
• Read about your knees in books and online. More self-knowledge will bring greater appreciation and awareness to their impressive and intricate design.
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  From this month’s NiaNow newsletter:  Click here to read entire article