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

The focus of Saturday’s class was Music, Movement and Magic.  

Music, Movement and Magic is part of White Belt Principle #3, Music and the 8BC System.  The focus arose out of my desire to bring to the class a deeper understanding both somatically and cognitively of sound in the Nia practice.  It also arose out of my desire to rest my voice as I recuperate from a cold.  

After a discussion of the Movement, Music and Magic triad, I led class without speaking.  This allowed us to put more attention on the sensation of music as we moved, and allowing me to teach my body’s way, without straining my throat.

Here’s the Music, Movement and Magic triad:

Many of the Nia principles are based on triads   Every Nia triad is an equilateral triangle.  This tells us that each component of the triad is of equal value.  To be honest, I have often emphasized movement more than music, so I appreciate the opportunity to balance this triad of the Nia practice.

If we look at the triangle and travel from the lower left corner clockwise around to the top, the triad shows us that Music + Movement = Magic.  The art of listening plus the moving your body’s way creates magic we call Nia.  The art of listening is the practice of putting 100% attention on the music — attention both on the sounds of the music and on the silences between the sounds.  

I am finding the practice of teaching without talking and dancing without verbal language to be exquisite.  The sensation is spacious, luxurious and beautifully detailed, like being in a great cathedral.  And indeed, there is a very devotional quality to this practice.

When I am silent, my mental realm quiets and my system opens up in a different way.  In Saturday’s class, I felt like all my 75 trillion cells were resonating inside my body,  a chorus of 75 trillion ecstatically joining the music from within.  Interestingly, it was a very similar sensation to doing the routine, Sounding, where we are toning and singing with the music as we move.