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We all are Sacred Athletes of life… teachers and healers to the world… making a difference sometimes in the smallest of ways… a smile, a touch,
an acknowledgement.
Welcoming six Sacred Athletes today with a Nia White Belt!
Many are blessed by a single act of kindness.
When I observe someone being kind to another person, there are three simultaneous benefits. The person receiving the kindness feels cared for and valued. The person expressing the kindness feels the joy of giving, and of having a positive impact on another’s life.
But there is a third beneficiary of this encounter—me! When I observe an act of kindness, love and hope spring up in me. As I watch the interaction between the giver and receiver, I, too, am blessed.
With this in mind, I choose to uplift others. I demonstrate kindness, consideration, compassion, and patience—gifts from the heart—knowing the effects ripple out to bless unseen others.
I’ve been commiserating a lot with others about change, and the feelings that surround change. It seems there are a lot of people in my life who are experiencing big life changes, a breaking from habits and the ‘known’, and facing the only constant of life… change.
It’s easy to get into habits and routines, whether work-related or not. We often do not question them. They become unconscious behaviours that are easy.
Our brains prefer to take the easiest options. Habits are comfortable – even habitual unhappy work – and these habits become increasingly embedded into our ways of living and working.
To question habits and routines first requires an awareness that we might be stuck in a habit or routine. Then, changing a habitual routine requires some effort, which can be uncomfortable.
No wonder we all tend to resist change.
We might feel that life could be better, or perhaps we positively want life to be better, but doing something to change things is a different matter – especially if we’ve been in a habitual routine for a long while.
I always look to nature and her natural ways of dealing with space and time for the answers. I look at the seasons, the weather… rain/drought, cold/hot, wind/stillness. I look at the beauty of an ancient tree that loses a limb in a storm and recovers its balance by growing another one. The determination of a mother bird who travels back and forth building her nest, only to have the wind knock it down… and she starts over.
Change is indeed the only constant of life.
My blessing for you~~~ to find the balance so change is welcomed and habitual ways are kissed goodbye with a thank you.
Happy Earth Day friends!
It seems funny to me that we set aside a day to celebrate the Earth, yet it brings awareness to something that we need to celebrate EVERY day… our beautiful Mother Earth. Pachamama.
Our body is a part of the Earth, and we have the opportunity to celebrate, exalt and honor our body EVERY day… listening to his/her voices, leading us in healing ways, and using the tools we are given to transform and stay healthy.
How often do you ask your body what it needs? What it is craving? How often do you ask how you can help keep it strong, youthful, energetic?
We are given amazing tools for transformation in Nia… 13 Principles that we can use in class, and EVERY day in life… reminding us of the sacred vessel that we steward for this life… reminding us of the blessings of life itself.
Let’s celebrate Earth Day, Earth Week, Earth Month, Earth Year, Earth Life! Celebrating on the dance floor, celebrating as we work, play and sleep, celebrating with 13 amazing lifestyle tools that can transform and shape-shift our body, mind, emotions and spirit.
See you on the dance floor!
Tuesday 6:45am, Tuesday 5:30pm (for Jan), Wednesday 9:15am, Friday 5:30pm
***ENJOY the following brief history of Earth Day…
and celebrate LIFE!
Light/Dark, High/Low, In/Out, Up/Down, Expand/Contract, Silence/Sound, Open/Close, Right/Left, Happy/Sad, Movement/Stillness, Yin/Yang ….
Opposites that complement one another.
Do you ever intentionally play with opposites in your body, mind, and emotions? By playing with opposites, we exercise our physical, mental and emotional ‘muscles,’ so we are ready to navigate through life no matter what the circumstances.
How do you exercise your mind? Reading, exploring new ideas, taking classes, writing, meditating… dancing.
How do you exercise your emotions? Watching movies, expressing, releasing, meditating… dancing.
How do you exercise your body? Walking, running, playing a sport, working out, stretching, doing yoga… dancing.
Dancing encompasses our entire being. We have an amazing daily opportunity to exercise our body, mind, and emotions
as well as expressing our spirit, every time we step on
the dance floor.
Let’s play with opposites this week in class, finding the balance that our body craves… the place we call homeostasis, where energy is equalized both inside and out.
See you soon!
Love in the dance, Adelle
My classes this week: Tuesday 6:45am, Wednesday 9:15am, Fun Friday 5:30pm
Adelle Brownlee Brewer
Owner, The Synergy Studio, San Antonio, TexasNia Black Belt Somatic Educator and 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 in Ventura, California… take a vacation with us in April and learn more about your body!
Read more about upcoming opportunities to take the White Belt: http://www.nianow.com/adelle
Change is difficult, and yet it is the only constant in life… the only thing we can count on… amazing concept.
Every cell in our body renews itself every 7 years. Cells are constantly being replaced and the body renewed. I call it infinity motion lotion.
This is exciting to me, as it presents an opportunity to make affirmations that are positive and feed my body with positive transformation. I don’t have to be ‘stuck’ in the same reality… my mind, emotions and spirit can all be in a state of renewal, growth, and positive shape-shifting.
I listen to the words of Deepak Chopra every day…The Soul of Healing Affirmations. Its been amazing to watch my mind, heart and attitude shift, as my cells are regenerated with affirming words and thoughts.
I also highly recommend the book, Ask and It Is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires by Esther Hicks, Jerry Hicks and Wayne W. Dyer. It provides 22 ‘processes’ or games, that will help to develop the positive thoughts that will manifest positive change and transformation.
And as always, Madisyn Taylor writes of concrete ways to deal with change… read below.
With love from my heart of change… The only constant in life.
Adelle
Smoothing Transitions
10 Steps to Making Change Easier
10 Steps to Making Change Easier
1. Begin by making small changes or break up large-scale changes into more manageable increments. This can make you feel better about handling the changes you are about to make while making you more comfortable with change in general.
2. Mentally link changes to established daily rituals. This can make changes like taking on a new habit, starting a new job, or adapting to a new home happen much more smoothly. For example, if you want to begin meditating at home, try weaving it into your morning routine.
3. Going with the flow can help you accept change instead of resisting it. If you stay flexible, you will be able to ride out change without too much turbulence.
4. When a change feels most stressful, relief can often be found in finding the good that it brings. An illness, a financial loss, or a broken relationship can seem like the end of the world, yet they also can be blessings in disguise.
5. Remember that all change involves a degree of learning. If you find change particularly stressful, try to keep in mind that after this period of transformation has passed, you will be a wiser person for it.
6. Remember that upheaval and confusion are often natural parts of change. While we can anticipate certain elements that a change might bring, it is impossible to know everything that will happen in advance. Be prepared for unexpected surprises, and the winds of change won’t easily knock you over.
7. Don’t feel like you have to cope with changing circumstances or the stress of making a change on your own. Talk about what’s going on for you with a friend or write about it in a journal. Sharing your feelings can give you a sense of relief while helping you find the strength to carry on.
8. Give yourself time to accept any changes that you face. And as change happens, recognize that you may need time to adjust to your new situation. Allow yourself a period of time to reconcile your feelings. This can make big changes feel less extreme.
9. No matter how large or difficult a change is, you will eventually adapt to these new circumstances. Remember that regardless of how great the change, all the new that it brings will eventually weave itself into the right places in your life.
10. If you’re trying to change a pattern of behavior or navigate your way through a life change, don’t assume that it has to be easy. Wanting to cry or being moody during a period of change is natural. Then again, don’t assume that making a change needs to be hard. Sometimes, changes are meant to be that easy.
The gentle wind carressing my skin, the exotic Spring smells filling my nose and lungs, the chirping of the birds as they wake up in the early morning light, the knowing response from looking in another’s eyes…. ahhhh…
Many of Nia’s 52 Moves are naturally occurring throughout our day. Heal Lead, Eye and Head Movements, Fists, Finger Extensions… to name a few. What is your favorite?
Mine is the 52nd move. A move that is vital to the survival of the human race… Touching.
The importance of touch reaches many levels. And not only for babies,but for children, teenagers, adults and in old age as well. The very survival of our species depend on it.
Besides having physical needs for food, cleanliness and shelter, we also have touch needs.
Think about this for a moment…
What is the first sense that develops in the womb? The sense of touch.
What is the first language baby understands after being born? Touch and crying. In the first few months after our babies are born, we communicate and answer their cries mainly through touch.
I LOVE to hold hands, hug and feel the breath of another, look into someone’s eyes and hear their words while I see into their beautiful soul.
Touch is the most healing movement that we can give ourselves and others daily. Bringing awareness to the healing power of touch will shape shift how we approach our day… our life… our survival.
Join me this week as we both give and receive touch from the earth, the space around us, the eyes of another, the sounds resonating, the breath of our soul.
The 52nd Move… Touching… healing the Mind, Body, Emotions and Spirit
See you soon, Adelle
My Nia classes this week… Tuesday 6:45am, Wednesday 9:15am, Fun Friday 5:30pm, Sunday 4:00pm
Journey Dance with me Sunday at 10:00am, as we play with the healing touch of breath… I am developing work to present in May at Earthdance for Journey Dance Mod 3, as well as anticipating my Transformational Breathwork certification in June. I would love for you to be a part of my journey!
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
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 in Ventura, California… take a vacation with us in April and learn more about your body!
Read more about upcoming opportunities to take the White Belt: http://www.nianow.com/adelle
Hi everyBody from beautiful San Antonio on Saturday afternoon!
I woke up feeling fantastic and high, then sad and low in a short 30 minutes time… glad for the gorgeous day, energized to get my body moving, and then suddenly saddened by a friend’s phone call. Do you experience those days? Up, down, all around?
In Nia, we can apply all thirteen principles to our daily dance of life. I love that I have so many tools to access, to bring me into balance and homeostasis. Principle 7, “Three Planes and Intensity Levels” was called on this morning, when my emotions were high, low, and all around. I noticed how my physical energy followed my emotions. I went from wanting to conquer the world, to desiring a quiet walk. I noticed, observed and honored my body and where I was in the moment.
In class, we play with planes, from high in the sky to low on the earth, as well as intensity levels, smaller to greater range of motion and exertion, so we can condition our body, mind, emotions and spirit to be ready for anything. We honor where we are moment to moment, while making choices that bring transformation.
This morning, I chose to take a quiet walk, allowing my thoughts and feelings to flow, and recognizing the gift of ‘level one.’
We are extremely lucky to have a body that is so wise. Bring it to class, and let’s play with three planes and intensity levels, personalizing our conditioning, so we will be ready for our daily dance.
Love in the dance, Adelle
More fun news!
A wonderful opportunity for everyBody is coming next weekend, when Jurian Hughes, senior faculty member of Kripalu, visits the studio for classes in YogaDance. The first time to San Antonio, we are excited to bring YogaDance and Jurian to you for these classes. Visit the studio website online, The Synergy Studio, and click on ‘workshops and events’ and sign up to help us out with registration. No experience in dance or yoga necessary! Every class and workshop will be for everyBODY… don’t miss it! Jurian is wonderful!
My classes this week: Sunday (tomorrow) at 4:00, Tuesday 6:45am, Wednesday 9:15am, Friday 5:30pm, and join Jurian Sunday, March 31 for a two hour class from 9-11:00!
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
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 in Ventura, California… take a vacation with us in April and learn more about your body!
Read more about upcoming opportunities to take the White Belt: http://www.nianow.com/adelle
Dancing, Breathing Medicine Men and Women,
From the Rejuvenation Lounge…
“ ‘To lose our connection with the body is to become spiritually homeless. Without an anchor we float aimlessly, battered by the winds and waves of life’ Anodea Judith Make no mistake dance is medicine. And can be used as a tool to unwind our lives. Intuitive dance passionately shakes up any stuckness and confusion, ignites our spirit and reconnects us to flow again. I always feel truly alive, connected to every cell in my body and an overwhelming feeling of expansive love when I close my eyes, surrender the inhibitions and allow my body to flow to its own exquisite intuitive movement. No structure or specific steps. Absolutely no thinking or worrying about looking good. Plain simple un-planned dancing. An unguarded willingness to become vulnerable to the moment and trust the body to organically and naturally untangle knots, energy blocks, confused emotions and stress. Gabrielle Roth… ‘There is a dance that only you know how to do’ Dance is even greater medicine when coupled with fabulous music. Fast, slow, pop, 70′s or even classical – there’s no right nor wrong. Trust your gut. Intuitive dance smashes stress, dissolves anxiety, revitalizes your energy channels, shifts moods leaving you smiling brightly from the inside. Hallelujah! I’ve proven the “dance is medicine” theory many times in life.” Dance is indeed medicine for the body, mind and spirit. Combine movement with breath, and wowsa… you’ve got the inner healer working his/her magic! Join me tomorrow, Sunday morning at 10:00 for a Journey Dance of the Breath… and this week for Dance, Breath, Medicine of “Prana”… one of the most beautiful routines ever released from Nia HQ. Native American music, focusing on breath, and sounding… movement medicine! Medicine Men and Women… See you on the dance floor! With love in FLOWING abunDANCE! Adelle |
From the amazing Danielle la Porte… if you haven’t read her book Fire Starter Series… order it now. Its amazing!
You will be called on to expand. And this is why we practice.
I travelled to Dharamshala, India with six friends to meet with The Dalai Lama. It was cell-altering and heart-expanding. (The story is here.)
The week before our arrival, there had been a horrible event in which some monks were murdered — most shockingly, by other monks. The story was on everyone’s mind and in our small, private meeting with His Holiness, the first thing we did was offer our condolences. His response captivated me.
“Ah, yes, thank you for your thoughts,” he said. “This is why we practice, for times like these when compassion is so necessary.” He didn’t nod in mutual disdain. He didn’t show any drama. He was soft and … practical.
This is why we practice.
For times like these.
You don’t need to forgive until you need to forgive. You don’t need nerves of steel until you need nerves of steel. You don’t need to call on your reserves of compassion, or fortitude, or faith until you’ve used up everything else.
This is why we practice.
This is why, that even when life is ambling along nicely and there’s food in our spiritual cupboard, we still make sure that we get to yoga, or the reading group, or Sunday services.
When we’re healthy and happy we make sure to dance, we hit the court, we pick up the phone to check in, we drop by with something in hand.
When we’re believing in the fairness and the glory of human nature and the so-called Fates, we keep seeking, and meditating on reality, and praying for healing though nothing obvious ails us.
We keep standing up to make our art even when we could be predictable pedestrians.
Because the day will most certainly come, as it does whether you are a whole-hearted Lover or in denial of Grace, that you will be struck down or ground down by life. It can come in tiny tearing heartbreaks five times a day, just walking through your neighbourhood. It could come in the name of tragedy that could only happen once in a lifetime.
And you will need to withdraw the insights that you put into your heart’s escrow. And you will need to call on your people — the unseen and the ones right in front of you — to help you meet the day.
You will be interrupted.
You will be called on to expand.
You will be asked who you are and why you are here.
This is why we practice.