…the most obvious, ubiquitous, important realities are often the ones that are hardest to see and talk about.
Tonight I’m honored to lead a closing Nia class at Studio 206, Charlottesville. With Studio Owner Chris Friedman at the helm, this space has been a home for healing, dancing, connecting, training and more. The studio’s building is being sold and tonight we celebrate all that is and has been as we close the doors and this chapter.
The routine is influenced by the classic Nia routine Mantra.
Focus on movement as mantra and a metaphor for self, community, life.
Beginning with sensing the belly (our core) notice how this “moma cell” can contract/extend, bend/lean, figure 8. The Belly is a substance with strength (resilience), elasticity (the ability to bounce back), and fluidity (go with the flow). After embodying the focus in the Belly we expand awareness to the belly of the 700 muscles in our body, then to each piece of connective tissue, the 7000+ cells. All the same mantra of movement.
We sense inward (Body, Belly, Muscles, Connective Tissue, Cell)
We can also sense outwards (Body, Self, Others, Class, Community, Global)
and realize it (and we) are one.
The Mantra, our lives, the community continues. We are strong, we bounce back, we go with the flow, we celebrate, there is much love.
Personal note: as I step out to lead this event tonight, my deep wish is Chris Friedman witnesses, feels and is able to truly receive how much she is loved and appreciated. She’s a super leader, woman, mother and more, and has been a wonderful friend to me.
I’m inspired by the words of David Foster Wallace, This Is Water
There are these two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says, “Morning, boys. How’s the water?”
And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes, “What the hell is water?”….
….the immediate point of the fish story is merely that the most obvious, ubiquitous, important realities are often the ones that are hardest to see and talk about.
| Track | Length | Artist | Voice of |
| It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday | 2:48 | Boyz II Men | Studio |
| Lift The Wings | 2:04 | Bill Whelan | Invitation |
| Feeling Good | 3:57 | Michael Bublé | Helen |
| Everybody | 3:30 | Ingrid Michaelson | Chris |
| Rise | 7:37 | Herb Alpert | Helen |
| Rise | 4:21 | Samantha James | Debbie |
| Rise Above [Remix] | 6:17 | Afro Celt Sound System | Friends |
| Tryin To Live My Life Without You | 3:46 | Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs | Spirit |
| You raise me up | 4:51 | Josh Groban | Community |
| Song to the Siren | 5:52 | Robert Plant | Carlos |
| Raise It Up | 2:28 | IMPACT Rep Theatre & JS Nash | Friends |
| Long Time Sun | 4:00 | Celebrate Peace | Chris |
| Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag | 2:08 | James Brown | Party |