Exploring Mindful Movement and Embodiment with the Nia Technique: Fall Mini-Series #1 SERIES OF CLASSES
September 18, 2018 October 9, 2018

Total # of Classes
4

Class length
60 minutes

Location
The Peace Pod 11100 Ash St. Ste. 101 Leawood, KS 66211

Registration is now closed for this offering.

The Nia Technique is a sensorimotor body-mind group experience which combines mindfulness, body awareness, dance, martial arts, and yoga.  Nia tones your body while transforming your mind. This mindful fusion of movement styles is a holistic practice addressing each aspect of your life—body, mind and soul. Some of the many benefits of Nia include: increase of mindfulness,  greater cardiovascular health, alleviation of stress and anxiety, energy balancing, and hormonal stability. This mindful practice draws on the chemistry of nine movement forms: Tai Chi, Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, Jazz, Modern Dance, Duncan Dance, Yoga, the Alexander Technique and the work of Moshe Feldenkrais®.

This 4 part workshop series is taught by Sydney Spears, PhD, LSCSW who is a licensed clinical social worker, yoga instructor, Nia instructor and certified in CPR. She also provides body-mind counseling and yoga for chronic stress and trauma/grief and loss survivors.

            $75.00 per person for the series (MAM members)
            $95.00 per person for the series (non-MAM members)

Nia provides the opportunity to discover, explore, unleash, and enhance your individual potential to live a healthy and meaningful life by engaging your senses and listening to the wisdom of your body. The Nia Technique is based on the intelligent design of the body. Each  sensory movement brings mindfulness to your dance expression leaving you energized, mentally clear, and emotionally balanced. 

The movements of Nia are non-impact, typically practiced barefoot, and very adaptable to individual needs, various, ages, body sizes, fitness levels, and abilities. This unique blend allows your body to move in fun and free ways that increases your health and vitality.  Through listening and moving to an eclectic mix of global music, Nia teaches you to feel at home in your body, mind, emotions and spirit and to live with joy.  We all need more health, community building, and joy!!! 

IMPORTANT  DISCLAIMER ABOUT THIS CLASS SERIES:

Since this mini-series involves bodily movement, it may pose some physical, cognitive, emotional, and/or psychological risks depending upon your personal medical history and current state of  health problems and challenges. Also, these movement experiences may generate some unexpected emotional or psychological distress since the purpose is about connecting your body and mind with greater mindful awareness. The internal and external systems and areas of the body such as your nervous system can hold stress, imbalanced energy, thoughts, emotions, memories, and suppressed parts of the self that may arise through posturing, positioning, and movement. However, as previously mentioned you would always have a choice about your movements throughout the entire mini-series.

Please be advised that if you have any current/chronic or a history of medical problems or issues such as for example: cardiovascular problems (i.e. heart problems, circulatory issues,  uncontrolled high/low blood pressure, chest/arm discomfort, fainting spells, diabetes, irregular heartbeat, breathing difficulties, stroke, heart stent, pacemaker, etc.); neurological problems (i.e.chronic migraine headaches, vertigo, dizziness, balance problems, traumatic brain injury, concussion, seizures, muscular sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease);  chronic illnesses, mental health issues (i.e. trauma, post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, extreme anger, psychosis, grief, suicidal thoughts, self-harm behaviors, eating disorders, etc.); obesity,  chronic bodily/joint pain, feet/ankle problems, joint replacement, recent surgical procedures, recent eye procedures, cancer treatment, pregnancy, or medications that may cause difficulties with movement, or any other chronic or risk-based health problems, these classes may not be appropriate for your participation depending upon your state of health at this time.  If you are not sure then you must check with your healthcare provider (i.e.primary care provider and/or mental health provider) to find out whether this type of low-impact, cardiovascular movement, which may generate some mental-emotional experiences, would be appropriate for you BEFORE participating in this mini-series.  If you do not check with your primary care health provider or mental healthcare provider then please know that you have been strongly advised and you would be choosing to participate in these classes at your own risk to your health without this provider consultation.

This series supports creating a trauma-sensitive and culturally inclusive environment, movement experience, bodily positioning, and postures.  Therefore, all instructor-suggested movements are modifiable and you are welcome to not participate in the  movements, observe and listen to the music (and perhaps your body), choose certain movements to experience, stop moving, or take a break at any time. You will also need to read and sign an instructor-generated informed consent and class waiver form indicating any of your health risks or other factors that the instructor should be aware of during the first class.

 Lastly, you must be at least 21 years of age to participate in this series.

The class takes place on...

  • September 18 at 6:30 pm (Tuesday)
  • September 25 at 6:30 pm (Tuesday)
  • October 2 at 6:30 pm (Tuesday)
  • October 9 at 6:30 pm (Tuesday)

Reservations

This class series has already finished. Please check our schedule for more classes.