Tuesday 14 August 2012

Proud

That's how my lovely Nia dancers make me feel. I had a new student last class, where we were dancing to Passion (which can be quite fast and challenging in places). This new lady may not have been as fit as some of my other students who exercise several times a week, but she totally grasped the concepts of self-healing and natural time, and she took the steps and stances to her own level. She took breaks when she felt she had to, and I couldn't have been happier. That is exactly what I want my students to feel, that they have absolute freedom to be themselves in class, and to give their bodies whatever they are asking them for.

Another of my students mentioned that she wasn't sure about coming to class, as she didn't feel very well the night before "but I thought I'd give it a go" she added "and, of course, I have finished the class smiling". With what amazing women I get to dance! Proud, I tell you. 

Saturday 11 August 2012

A tremendous amount of wheat (and a crop circle)

A crop circle appeared on Cheesefoot Head, just outside Winchester. It was a lovely trip after Nia class. My lovely friend Karen and I actually had to lie down and soak up that glorious sun! Then a policeman came to see what we were up to... not much officer, just lying down on wheat.







Are you sure it's a good idea to lie down here?

A few poppies amongst all that wheat


Friday 10 August 2012

Adiós, Chavela

La Llorona

A Time for Everything

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.


Monday 6 August 2012

What should I wear?

A few days ago, a lovely lady and future Nia student (she will join the class this weekend, yay!) sent me an email asking about what she should wear for Nia. Leggins, tracksuit, leotard, swimming costume? She made me laugh. And so I answered her with my standard "just wear comfortable clothing and bring a bottle of water". How boring not what I should have said! What I really should have replied is "dress in whatever you feel fabulous, sexy, and most yourself, and it's comfortable to dance in". Because this is what I do.
When I started practising Nia, the clothes I wore to class were old t-shirts and faded leggins. What was the point of wearing beautiful things to get them sweaty and smelly? ( I do sweat in class, quite a lot). But the deeper I got into the practice, the more I wanted to feel, not just comfy, but beautiful and sexy. I wanted to sense my body moving and I wanted to be able to see how my shoulders rotated, my ribcage ondulated and my hips bumped. It wasn't a question of showing off, it was a celebration of my shape, whatever it may be; for me it was like saying to my body " You may have any shape you want, but you can move and dance and I am so grateful for you". And that, hiding underneath big, baggy t-shirts, wasn't going to happen. 
So I started changing how I dressed for class, and what a difference! I am not saying it changed how I am in my body, but it changed the quality of the dance making it bolder, more feminine, celebratory in a way. And I love it.



So next time I get asked what to wear to class, I will know what to say.


Friday 3 August 2012

Sketches of Spain

But there is no Miles Davis in here, I'm afraid; just a few photos of my Spanish escapade. With my parents we went to this Andalusian country house, reconstructed with original materials from the 17th and 18th centuries taken from old houses and derelict cottages. Everything has been lovingly restored and put together so tastefully, and now it's as if all the elements that make this lovely Caserío de San Benito have been always there, at home.


 Breakfast, the best meal of the day

 Albero sand and blue pots, so pretty

 ¡Abrid puertos de claridad!