Delight continues for me here in Portland. This morning I started the day off with an invigorating walk through the rain and caught the bus downtown to the Nia Headquarters so I could take class with Carlos, one of the two founders of this remarkable movement form.

Class started off in a sort of moving meditation. We kept our feet planted while Carlos guided us through moving from our skin and the whole body, then alternating that with moving from the joints. It was a sweet opening. There is a power in contrasts and super slow movements which is so deep.

Then we did dances which seemed like versions of Indian Temple dancing, alternating with synchronized steps around a clock. Also muscular contraction of the arms and back. Alternations with free dance where I tried to let my body lead me (instead of me leading it)... letting the forearms lead, then the pinky, then wrists, then the space between my fingers, letting myself cascade to the floor and be led by my lower back around the space. It was so freeing! Fun pelvic thrusts and arm tosses. I wish I could remember the luminous phrases which made me feel like my whole body was waking up. The moments which transformed it from just being a dance class to being a moment of healing... but they all blurred together as I got lost in the dance. Lots of imagery that opened the movements even further and a wonderful dance with our yoga mats as an extension of our body towards the end, followed by pelvic rolling on the mats and stretching.

At the moment when class ended, I had a smile on my face a mile wide. I honestly feel like Nia is the deepest, most profound body based education I have ever experienced. There are SO many parallels to hooping. So many pathways and exercises which can be applied to deepening body awareness, opening and unlocking. I feel like moving to Portland just to have unlimited access to Debbie and Carlos!!!

You can find a Nia class near you at www.nianow.com

Thank You Divine Creative Force for drawing me up here. What a wonderful weekend. I am so grateful!