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

 Blue Belt Day 4

Blue Belt Principle #6, Split, Ellipt, Blend is a practice that comes from Aikido, one of the nine movement forms upon which Nia is based.  Split, Ellipt, Blend is a map that shows us where we can place our attention. 

Splitting is putting my attention 100% into myself and away from something else, for example, I split away from the teacher to sense my own body.  Ellipting is putting 100% of my attention into another.  For example, when the teacher is showing a new movement, I might ellipt into her to see it.  Once I get the information I need, then I split into myself to try on the move and discover the sensation in my body.  Blending is a combination of split and ellipt.  I put 100% attention into myself and 100% attention into another.

No one component of this Nia triad is more important or better than any other.  I am always putting my attention somewhere.  I want to know when and how it works best for me to use my attention in any given moment.  The ideal is to be fluid and accurate with my attention. I want to be able to be equally facile splitting, ellipting and blending.

As a teacher, if I get stuck in one mode or neglect another, my students may receive a limited Nia experience, receive my attention incompletely, and receive limited modeling of how to use their own attention.  It would be analogous to teaching Nia with mostly dance moves and very few moves from martial arts and healing arts.

My personal preference tends to be to split.  I love to get into the sensations of my body and find the pleasure.  Ellipting has been the most difficult.  Over the years since first taking Blue Belt I have been developing my skill at ellipting and blending.