Awareness of Sensation
The longer I practice Nia, the stronger my conviction grows for the importance of body awareness in all of my life, not just on the dance floor! In Nia we learn to sense the body as we move, and to attune to what feels good. Some people even call Nia “feel good fitness.” The body provides me with feedback through signals of pleasure and pain, and these signals range from an ultra-subtle-nuanced-awareness to the blaring-loud-cannot-be-ignored-extreme.
I’m sure you’ve experienced the latter at some point in your life. For me, an example comes readily from last week when I bent over unawares and smashed my skull into the sharp corner of a metallic filing cabinet…. OUCH!!! That was a blaring loud siren of pain signaling through my entire body!
On the other end of the spectrum, the signals are much more subtle, but with practice we become sensitized to them. Practicing noticing these signals can help us make better choices in the moment by becoming present.
I recall noticing my toes gripping the floor through my shoes while standing in a recent zoom meeting. I was able to release them, wiggle them and notice the relaxation that spread up my legs and even positively impacted my breathing, slowing me down to become more present with what was actually happening.
I just finished reading the excellent book Your Body Is Your Brain by Amanda Blake. Spoiler alert: Practicing embodied mindfulness gifts us with incredible benefits that make us better, more compassionate leaders and empathic listeners, more powerful individuals, living from the heart and standing for what matters to us. Embodied mindfulness, what we practice on and off the dance floor in Nia, can change our lives for the better. It can bring us into balance and help us to act from a place of true presence. What could be more valuable?
Next time you are feeling aloof or distracted, ask yourself: What do I sense? Then wait… pause. Give your body space to answer. Notice the sensations that arise. Then ask, what can I do in this moment to feel even better? Make small adjustments, tweak. Then, practice and repeat.
As we say in Nia, the body is my greatest ally in this life. The body is my greatest gift. I owe it to my body to pay attention. It has wisdom to share!
P.S. If this post has made you curious about Nia or coaching with me, please be in touch! I’d love to have you join us for a zoom class or receive a recording of class. You’re also invited to hop on a “Discovery Call” with me to learn more about how coaching might serve you at this time in your life.
“Life is too short to not do what you love.”