Cross-Training Body Mind Emotions Spirit | Rachael R. Resch

Every Nia class has a focus.  The focus of today’s class was “Beginner’s Mind,” inspired by Nia co-creator Debbie Rosas’ recent telecourse on that topic.  (You can listen to a recording of Debbie’s telecourse at www.nianow.com/telecourses.)

In his classic book, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, Suzuki-roshi tells us, “If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything.  In the beginner’s mind, there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind there are few.”

The music for today’s class was “Love,” The Beatles “Love.”

Beginner’s mind.  Love.  

Beginning again, this moment, in love.  Again this breath, in love.  Again this heartbeat, in love.  Life itself is again walking toward me, hands open, new, ancient, generous — in love.

I had never danced to or taught this music before today.  Beginner’s mind.  Love.

Tomorrow, I fly, again, to New Mexico with my husband, Richard, as we do twice a year, to study, again, with our teacher, Martín Prechtel, for ten days in his school Bolad’s Kitchen, and attempt again with my fellow holy amnesiacs to re-member the flowering of the holy into that which we call the “Island of Now in the Ocean of All Time.”  As Sukuki-roshi said, “The world is its own magic.”

Nia classes continue at The DanceSpace with the beautiful Melanie Freeman and the beautiful Sarah Rose Marshank.  I’ll be back Tuesday, October 20 to begin again, in love.