Revelation + Knee Sweep
Teachings of Don Juan passed along by Carlos Castaneda
Anything is one of a million paths. Therefore, you must always keep in mind that a path is only a path. If you feel you should not be following it, you must not stay with it under any conditions. To have such clarity you must lead a disciplined life. Only then will you know that any path is only a path and there is no affront, to oneself or to others, in dropping it if that is what your heart tells you to do. Your decision to keep on the path must be free of fear or ambition. I warn you. Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary. Then, ask yourself, and only yourself alone, one question. Does this path have heart? All paths are the same; they lead nowhere. They are paths going through the bush or into the bush. In my own life I could say I have traversed long, long paths, but I am not anywhere. My benefactor’s question has meaning now. Does this path have heart? If it does, the path is good. If it doesn’t it is of no use. Both paths lead nowhere, but one has a heart and the other doesn’t. One makes for a joyful journey – as long as you follow it. The other weakens you.
This teaching is my long way of saying 52 days of Self-Care is changing paths mid-stream. Dance self-care into embodiment throughout the weeks as we take this intention into the Nia Technique class experience. Practice each Nia move into embodiment throughout the weeks as we study and learn from the moves themselves. I couldn’t be more excited about this change.
52 WEEKS of Self-Care to improve the quality of your life + 52 Nia Moves for Health. Fitness. Power. Beauty.
Photo credit Liz Schneider
Self-Care: REVELATION
Daily choice/action: Listen to your life ~ The right path will reveal itself.
Inspired by: Cheryl Richardson Self-Care Cards
Definition: Surprising and previously unknown fact, especially one that is made known in a dramatic way – Oxford Dictionary
Share: Last weeks Little Rock, Arkansas revelation came to me as a sense of deepened intrinsic self-worth. There’s a back story that I’m thrilled to share with you in person – just ask. But, for the purpose of brevity the way that I value myself in relation to our society’s monetary exchange system has shifted and that shift is sensed inside of my body. For now I’d describe it as feeling more stable up and down my center. I believe focusing on the chakra system over the past year has heightened my sensitivity to their energy and this is definitely an extension of that developed awareness. I’m patiently awaiting this weeks revelation. Name your revelation.
Nia Move: Knee Sweep
Daily practice: Bring one knee up and across the center line of your body. Move it toward the outside of your body in a sweeping motion as though stepping over a box then lower your foot to the ground. Walk around the room pretending to step over boxes of various heights. Keep the knee of the supporting leg spring loaded (read: knee soft – ready for action). To maintain dynamic ease sound the word sweeeeep! Practice knee sweep to improve stability and agility in the hip joint as power in your whole body.
excerpted from: The Nia Technique by Debbie Rosas & Carlos Aya-Rosas
Share: Reports today from classes:
“I usually have a cranky hip and it feels great now.” Corrie U.
“My hips have been hurting from sitting all day and they feel great now.” April F.
What say you? Inspire others – Report your finding here!
One of this weeks personal REVELATIONS – I felt the volume of my Psoas as a sensation in my body! Here’s where you can find the Psoas in your body:
Dr. Ida P. Rolf described the role of the psoas in walking:
(Rolf, 1977: Rolfing, the Integration of Human Structures, pg. 118). |
More REVELATIONS from healing Nia Technique movement classes featuring Nia 52 Move Knee Sweep
“I’ve been healing my back and it feels better now.” Loren P.
“The range of motion in my hips is more even than it was when class started and we practiced the move.” Kay M.
I LOVE IT when I can make myself ‘sore’ – in a good way ‘sore’ – teaching Nia classes. Facilitating FUNctional fitness and conditioning happens with ease when I’m a pure student. Self-Conditioning seems a bit elusive as the teacher. When I’m learning a new routine I can typically find conditioning in that each new routine offers “New to Me” skills.
This weeks significant REVELATION (well, one of a few that came to me!) presented itself as a ‘sore’ Psoas! My Psoas and inner thigh muscles felt as though they had gotten a workout while featuring Knee Sweep as the Nia 52 Move of the week.
BUT…the best part was a sensation that left me with a sense of the VOLUME of my Psoas. By volume I mean depth, height, length…golly, it felt so good to notice the internal sensation and be able to tie it visually to the weeks PLAY!
More to be revealed … I’m sure. Julie