Dancing to Bounce Back in Difficult Times

Hello <<First Name>>,

On Friday I had the pleasure of attending and sharing a sample Nia class at a retreat at Richardson Nature Center. It was a fabulous day of learning about resilience and how to have a more resilient life both professionally and personally. The retreat was the creation of a friend, Nancy Maxfield-Wilson, whose company, Max Performance, provides integrated mind, body and spirit development for leaders. She invited me to be a coach in this first program of this kind and I was excited to be included. Nia is a great way to build a healthy mind, body and spirit, all of which are needed for resilience.

Resilience appears to be the buzz word of the 2010's and rightfully so. With gun violence, political divisiveness, fear mongering, racism, illness, poverty, global warming and other catastrophic and negative things affecting our lives we need to be resilient and teach our young people to be able to bounce back, re-frame and maintain their faith in the good of the world. How do we do it? What do you do to be resilient when life is difficult? From the Max Performance retreat handouts: Resilience is the ability to convert challenge, adversity and change into opportunity.

Here are some traits that help you build resiliency in the face of challenge and adversity:
1. Mindfulness
2. Purpose and Values
3. Self Mastery
4. Connection
5. Realistic Optimism
6. Courageous Communication
7. Balance
8. Gratitude

In our Nia classes, every time we step in, we practice mindfulness, self mastery, connection, balance and gratitude. Our bodies, minds and spirits are ONE. As we learn to love our bodies, really LISTEN to our bodies and love ourselves, we then have the capability to extend that love to our relationships, our work life, our communities and our world. I used to be someone who let negative emotions, conflict and bad news knock me to the ground. I now use the principles of Nia everyday, and my mind, body and spirit move toward joy with much more ease and lasting positive effects.

Here are a few links about resilience: one from a PBS program called The Emotional Life, a great graphic look at the definition of resilience and a lovely animation made by youth from Cortes Island.

This week in class we'll play with form and freedom. The 52 moves of Nia are easy to learn and technique is important to master. Freedom to move your body's way, to delight in your sensations that are unique to you, and to let yourself play is the complement to form. As we move our bodies, seeking and choosing joy, we'll increase our ability to handle everything that comes our way in life, with grace, ease, strength and playfulness.

See you in class!

All the wonderful things that you are looking for--happiness, peace and joy--can be found inside of you. You do not need to look anywhere else. -Thich Nhat Hanh

Coming in January: Nia Playshop - New Year, New Energy!

Saturday, January 9, 2:30-4:30 pm

$30 Pre-register by January 5, $35 at the door
http://www.yogaoncentral.com/
At Yoga on Central, 1620 Central Ave. NE, #220, Minneapolis

Welcome the New Year with movement inspired by energy. In the winter months we especially need activity and a boost both physically and mentally. The Nia Technique utilizes the energy “personalities” of nine different movement forms and they are all available to you. Nia’s unique fusion of the freedom of dance, the power of martial arts and the body awareness of the healing arts is what makes it such a joyful, sustainable and rich movement practice.This playshop is for everybody to learn about and increase their own energy style.

Holiday Nia Schedule

Christmas Week

Tuesday, December. 22, 7 pm-8:15pm - Holiday Nia with Barb Wesson, set to the music of Trans Siberian Orchestra at Tula Yoga. Everyone is invited to stay after class for some social time and holiday treats. See the image below for more details. (No Tuesday class that night with Beth at Tula)
December 23, 10:15 am at The Marsh
December 24, 10:00 am at the Downtown YWCA, contact me if you'd like to come as my guest
No classes on Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, at Center for Performing Arts or Tula Yoga

Ring in the New Year with Nia

New Year's Eve, 10:00 am at the Downtown YWCA
Friday, January 1, 10:00 am at Center for Performing Arts (note the time change!)
Friday, January 1, Reach for the Starts - 12:30 pm at Tula Yoga (Note the time change!)

Studio Locations and Addresses:

Center for Performing Arts, (CPA) 3754 Pleasant Av., Minneapolis

Single Class: $15
Step In -- 5 classes $67 (expires 8 weeks from date of purchase)
Joyful Mover – 10 classes $127 (expires 12 weeks from date of purchase)
Express Yourself – Unlimited one month pass $87 (30 days from purchase)
Nia Rock Star – 12 month package, billed monthly, $77 per month, unlimited classes (can be cancelled in writing with 30 days notice)
New Student Special - $49 for one month of classes (expires 30 days from date of purchase)

Beginning Jan. 1, 2016, $5 for your first class as a new student.
**Please note that these class prices and packages are only for use at Center for Performing Arts. Class packages are non-refundable and must be used within the designated time span.

A note about parking at Center for Performing Arts on Sundays: The parking on the street in front of the building is limited on Sundays. There are a few parking spots behind the Center for Performing Arts Building. Please allow extra time to arrive on Sundays to find parking. Thank you!

Keewaydin Recreation Center, 3030 53rd St. E., Mpls. $45 for a six class winter session. The next 6 week session begins on January 6, 2016. Register online here.

New in January: Logan Park Recreation Center, 690 13th Avenue N.E., Minneapolis, $45 for a six week winter session. The next winter session begins on January 7. Register online here. Childcare is available for a fee for this class.

Downtown YWCA, 1130 Nicollet Ave., Mpls, a YWCA membership is needed, but you can come as my guest, message me to let me know you'd like to come.

Tula Yoga and Wellness, 99 Snelling Ave., St. Paul, suggested class donation, $10-$20 dollars, class packages are available for purchase through Tula. Please note that the parking lot next to the building is NOT available during business hours for Tula clients. Please park on the side streets for daytime classes.

The Marsh, 15000 Minnetonka Blvd., The Marsh is open to the public, $15 to drop-in to the Nia class or class packages are available.

Give the Joy of Movement this Holiday Season!

Nia with Beth Giles Gift Certificates are a great gift idea! Available in any denomination. For $49 give your loved one a month of Nia classes at Center for Performing Arts. Contact me to place the order. Cash, check or credit card or Paypal payments are accepted.

Starting in January, I'll be teaching a new weekly class held at Logan Park in Northeast Minneapolis.

Thursdays at 12:15 pm - 1:15 pm
childcare is available for this 6 week class.
$45 for 6 weeks. Register online here.
Join me for a mind/body/spirit mid-day refreshment -
joyful movement with a dash of silliness!

Dance Break

The crowd chants "We gonna be alright!" Music is a source of strength, resiliency and joy for so many of us. Get on up and put your hands in the air!

Want to learn more about Nia?

Several students have asked me about the music I play in class. Almost all of it comes from NiaSounds. Here's a link to checking out the CDs of music that Nia sells. Each of the CDs has a preview option so you can hear the songs first. Enjoy!

This is a great promotional video that describes the many benefits of practicing Nia.

For resources on learning the 52 Moves, you can click on this link.
Nia Black Belt Instructor Donna Starnes takes you through all 52 Moves in these eHow videos.

Another wonderful resource on the 52 Moves is the book, The Nia Technique, by Debbie and Carlos Rosas, founders of Nia.

Ready to Feel Good in Your Body?
Come dive into the joy of movement! Nia is a unique combination of nine movement forms drawn from dance, martial arts and healing arts. We move our entire bodies in a healthful, sustainable way and become aware of sensations in our bodies. We dance and move in Nia to sense joy and pleasure, not pain. Nia is for all fitness abilities and all ages. Nia can be an intense aerobic workout or more easy and gentle depending the level of intensity you bring to the movement.

Dress in comfortable clothes, that you are willing to get sweaty in. We dance in bare feet, but shoes are optional. Bring a water bottle. Bring a yoga mat if you like that for the floor play part of class.

If you have any questions about Nia or the classes/events listed here, please send me an e-mail or give me a call, 612-802-9127.

Yours in the dance of life,
Beth

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