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

 Nia Principle #13: Teaching What You Sense.

The practice of this final White Belt principle is quite beautiful.  When we teach we cycle through a three stage process.  

First I practice listening to the music, receiving it with my whole body.  Next, I dance to the music just for fun.  Finally I ask my body to to show me a sensation.  I don’t go looking for the sensation, like "How are my elbows doing?"  I ask to receive it.  Once my body shows me, I say to my class, "Everybody sense your left clavicle," if it was my left clavicle that I sensed.  I then return to just listening and dancing, allowing the students to sense that part on their own bodies.  

After a while, I repeat the cycle.  I am finding this to be a very peaceful practice.  It is relaxing and expansive to simply rest in listening, then just rest in dancing, then receive.

Principle #13 is an attention practice for both the teacher and the student.  "Everybody sense your left clavicle" provides a way to cue attention, in the same way that a teacher might cue movement by saying,"Everybody get ready to turn."

For me, Nia is a profound energy practice because it is a practice of growing attention.  The 13 Principles and their practices offer me an elegant and thorough system of ways to pay attention to my body through sensation.  This expands my ability to pay attention.  It allows me to become more present.  As my attention grows so my devotion to the Mystery grows and my wonder stays vital.

In our closing circle today I shared with the group and Debbie and Carlos my single intent: I love the the way the Mystery manifests through the body.  

And I actually got a white belt!