Nia 2nd Degree Black Belt, International teacher trainer, Helen Terry, has been loving being a student at the local Yoga Room Conroe. Annie Camp (Yoga Room Conroe owner) has been keen to have Helen teach at the studio, yet challenged on how to make this happen. Several factors to consider:
it’s a yoga studio, YOGA is their focus
all classes (except late night Tai Chi) are done on the mat
Hot yoga classes need the room to sustain high temperature and humidity
the only available time slots are early morning or late night
Loving the challenge of looking at barriers and how to make them bridges, Helen asked herself to figure out how to create the perfect class with these “restraints”, the result a 6am, Nia on the Mat class, in a hot room! This is a great example of how from creative tension something new, authentic and habit breaking can be formed!
We use Nia music (Deep Dive, Source, ChakraDancer and Medicine Woman so far), follow the “Hot 60” yoga movement sequence (based on Bikram Yoga). For each posture we create a very simple kata on the mat; a Nia movement sequence that flows into holding whatever the next Yoga posture will be.
For example, going into “3 part awkward” we play with
a clock step from 12 to 6 for part 1
stepping on to the ball of the foot, part 2
cross front into part 3
We then build a Cross front step in to Eagle (playing with Palm Directions).
Forehead to knee works beautifully with Knee Sweeps and Front kicks and so it goes on….
At the peak of the getting moving cycle (before coming down for a more traditional yoga floor sequence) we FreeDance on the mat! it’s a hoot! I had no idea how many different ways we can creatively move and dance on a mat. There’s a song in the Carlos Aya Rosas Routine “Alive” where we play dancing on a small dance floor, having the mat as a physical reference point is fabulous!
Most new attendees share “I don’t have coordination” “I don’t know if I can do this” “I have no experience and high concern!”. The good news is they smile, they share delight and surprise at the end of the class and they come back, with friends!
Stepping into May we are adding classes, tweaking the schedule and adapting. Helen is leading:
6:00am Mon: Hot Nia Yoga ~ bring a mat
7:15am Mon: Nia ~ bring a mat
6:00am Wed: Hot Nia Yoga ~ bring a mat
7:15am Wed: Nia ~ bring a mat
5:00pm Wed: Classic Nia
7:30pm Thu: Classic Nia
Nia ~ Bring a Mat “BAM” follows the Nia class format of 7 cycles.
One of the great things about a Nia class is how we begin class with Cycle 1: the Focus and Intent. An opportunity for the students to apply their mind to something specific for the entire class (focused process) with a clear intent on what to expect from the class experience (End product/result)
The purpose of Cycle 2 (Stepping In) is to remove distractions. In this Nia class on the mat we use a hand mudras to focus the mind, choose what we leave behind and consciously select what we bring into the class experience.
The choreography in Cycles 3, 4 & 5 (Warm up, Get moving and Cool Down) are simplified and yoga infused. Peak of get moving features “FreeDance” on your mat! Cycle 6, Floor Play, is created on the yoga mat. Playing with gravity, space and time, to move from one familiar yoga pose to next.
The experience ends with breathing and extended relaxation in Savasana with a personalize Cycle 7 stepping out invitation.
These class are in addition to 10am Nia at Soma Ranch Mon, Tues, Thurs, Friday and every day during Nia training weeks.