tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30662336729168228552024-02-10T23:23:11.839-08:00Jason Alan Griffin :: The BlogJason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.comBlogger694125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-73279602067782117662021-11-30T15:35:00.001-08:002021-11-30T15:35:21.695-08:00Foci for November - "Orbit"<h2 style="text-align: left;">In November we used the "Orbit" routine seven times in Volunteer Park</h2><div>Here are the foci I used for each class:</div><div><br /></div><div>Nov 3 - <b>Music/Body Connection </b>Today we are beginning work on a new routine so I want to focus on the music. Today I also want to focus on Mental Energy, but on using as little as possible. Notice how you can bypass your thinking and let the music directly affect your body. Feel the music and express what you feel. </div><div><br /></div><div>Nov 7 - <b>Sensing Weight Shift in the Legs </b>This routine has a strong emphasis on the legs. Today let's focus on the concept of shifting our body weight from one leg to another or to distribute the weight equally on both. Notice how proper placement of the feet on the ground and weight distribution in your legs can affect your emotions. Split your focus between your legs and my legs for the purpose of being guided to allowing the choreography to energize you with positive supportive emotions. </div><div><br /></div><div>Nov 14 - <b> Steps and Stances </b>Feel the distinction between a step and a stance. When we are in a stance, we have one or two feet planted, unmoving, on the ground. Our body weight may shift, as we practiced last week, but the feet do not move. You can stand in a one-legged or two-legged stance but in either case, the spot where we place the foot is held fast. In a step, we are moving from one leg to another. Our weight is shifting and one of our feet will lift off the floor with each step. Notice if there are any cases where a stance is called for but you are automatically turning it into a step by lifting one of the feet off the ground. Doing this reduces the stability in favor of more mobility, but in some cases, it is the stability that we seek so we need to be sure we are in a stance when a stance is called for. Also, notice that you can measure the body weight born by each leg as a percentage. For example if I am in a Cat Stance (standing on one leg) the percentage of body weight is 100% / 0%. If I stand in a symmetrical Sumo Stance, the distribution is 50% / 50%. If I am in a Bow Stance, my weight is 70% in the front leg and 30% in the rear leg. Notice that some movements are stances but the weight distribution can fluctuate as we lean into one of the legs. Let the awareness of Steps and Stances and Body Weight Distribution bring a sense of Joyful Power and Ease to your movement. </div><div><br /></div><div>Nov 17 - <b>Sensual Inhale </b>Moving today will be energized by the sensual act of smelling. Literally smell things (trees, grass, soil, your hands, etc) and notice what this style of breathing does for your emotional state and how it supports powerful relaxed movement. Let your exhaling be passive, but your inhaling is an intentional sensual act. </div><div><br /></div><div>Nov 21 - <b> Observe Listen Guide </b>You may not be aware of it, but there is a practice that you do when you are a Nia student. It is the same practice you use to learn just about any physical activity, even way back when you were learning how to grab things with your hands or to walk. First, you observe someone doing the movement, then you listen to a comparison of what youre doing to what your teacher is doing. This listening is metaphorical as there is nothing literally to hear, but you listen to the response in your head that tells you whether what you are seeing is similar to or different from what your body is doing. And the third phase is that you guide your body to look more and more like what you are seeing your teacher doing. With every movement in Nia, you Observe, Listen and Guide. Today I want to draw your attention to this fact and ask you to relish the practice of learning through this method. </div><div><br /></div><div>Nov 24 <b>- Creative Hand and Arms Expression </b> This routine has a strong emphasis on the base and a slight emphasis on the spine, but not a lot of importance is places in the hands and arms. Although there is definite choreography for the arms throughout, none of it is terribly crucial. I'm mainly concerned that you get the foot and leg placement and that you properly align your spine, but once those are in place, the hands can basically do whatever they want. So for today's focus, let's give ourselves permission to be very creative with what we do with our arms and hands and fingers. Notice how you can stay with the choreography and still have a lot of freedom to play and express different things with your upper extremities. Let your right brain (the creative side) be lit up by the creative hand and arm expressions that you find today. </div><div><br /></div><div>Nov 28 - <b>Loving Choices of Intensity Level C</b>hoices can be made to move toward something with love or away from something with fear. Today we will focus on making choices from a place of love to adjust our intensity level within the Nia format. There are many ways to increase or decrease the intensity of your movement: larger/smaller steps, reaching further or not as far, more/less core involvement, increased/ decrease speed. But we want to be mindful of preserving the Nia format being presented so we must be sure not to change the structure of the movement, just adjust the intensity. And doing so while being aware that we love our bodies and what we can do and desire to do at this moment. There should be no fear of movements or any thoughts about moving away from a danger. We are always lovingly moving toward movements that support our body mind emotion and spirit. This is keeping with the Nia format. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-83526713499090720402021-11-26T14:40:00.001-08:002021-11-26T14:40:56.074-08:00Nia in the Park with Jag<p> I practice making any situation into a learning growing experience. What may first seem like a setback can usually be turned into a positive renewal or a discovery of new things. </p><p>Such is the case when we went into lockdown and could no longer meet for classes. Many teachers went to electronic classes and started teaching on "Zoom", but I had to honor my intuition that it wasn't the right thing for me. Personally, on Zoom or other cyber meeting platforms, I don't feel the same connection to my students which is one of the most important elements of meeting for group classes. So while I would have loved to be able to teach to students all over the world, I felt I owed it to myself and my students to only offer as full and rich an experience as possible. So I chose instead to stop teaching. </p><p>Several months later, things started to look better and I experimented with holding small classes indoors using face masks. And once again, I found that while that may work with other teachers, I was still missing a very important element of connection to my community and students by not being able to see their faces. I personally have a hard time understanding what peple are saying when they're masked when I can't see their facial expressions and because the sound is muffled by the fabric. I didn't want to teach that way so after a few months of teaching indoors to a private group without masks, I decided that it would be better to move all my classes outside until we can gather safely indoors without masks. </p><p>And now I absolutely love teaching Nia outside. I am a firm believer in the healing powers of being in nature. And it makes total sense to me that exercising is something that, if we want to get the maximum health benefits from it, should be done outdoors. So at this time, I have no intention of going back inside. </p><p>I have purchased a Silent Disco System that is a blue tooth transmitter. Each student gets a headset that allows them to hear the music and my voice. Each student has an individual volume control and since I am using a microphone, I don't have to use a booming loud voice but I can speak right into the students' ear. The intimacy level has actually skyrocketed using this system! And the fringe benefits of doing the practice in an outdoor setting are manyfold, including such aspects as fresh air, sunshine, standing on the earth, working on an uneven surface to improve our core stability and <a href="http://jasonalangriffin.blogspot.com/2021/06/13-benefits-to-spending-time-outdoors.html" target="_blank">many more benefits</a>. </p><p>If you are hesitant to come to an outdoor Nia class, I fully understand. For years, I balked at the idea for fear of not having control of the space or being fearful of what unknown elements may present itself outside the safety of the four walls of a studio. But thanks to the pandemic, I had no choice but to explore the option and now I can say it is much better outside than inside. So I can only encourage you to take a risk and give it a chance. You may like it, you may hate it, but you should at least give yourself the opportunity to try it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gll34qfbUtM" width="320" youtube-src-id="gll34qfbUtM"></iframe></div><p><br /></p><p>I'll be teaching in Seattle for a couple more months before I take my show on the road. Unless the newest variant causes an even more stringent lockdown, I plan to take my annual road trip starting in April. I will be taking an RV this time and hope to arrange lots of opportunities for outdoor classes and workshops. Stay tuned for more info. </p><p>In the meantime, please consider improving your health and wellness by getting outside more frequently and spending less time in the artificial environments of dance studios and looking at computer screens. I hope to inspire people to get back to their nature as human beings. <a href="http://jasonalangriffin.blogspot.com/2021/06/13-benefits-to-spending-time-outdoors.html" target="_blank">There is health outside!!</a></p><p><br /></p>Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-5515330275936456952021-09-30T17:11:00.003-07:002021-10-29T15:05:17.728-07:00Foci for October - "Be Breathed", "Knee-Ah" and a Blue Monkey Halloween Experience<p> </p><h2>In October we used the Be Breathed routine 6 times, Knee-Ah once and Moss Side Story for a spooky Halloween Blue Monkey class</h2><h3>Here are the scripts I wrote for setting the focus of each class:</h3><div>Oct 3 - <b>Feelings from our Feet</b> (Be Breathed in Balance Studio) The way we place our feet on the ground can have a major impact on the type of experience we have. Today I want to focus intently on the steps, stances and kicks and how it makes us feel as we guide ourselves through the choreography. Let your attention go from my feet to your feet and to a split awareness of both. Be aware of what emotional feelings it stirs up and brings forth. A feeling of comfort, security, success and relaxation should accompany the proper use of your feet. Use your emotional awareness and the splitting of your mental attention to be supported and empowered by your foot-floor connection. </div><div><br /></div><div>Oct 6 - <b>Being Kind To Ourselves</b> (Be Breathed in Volunteer Park) Today let's focus on how we're being to ourselves. How we speak to ourselves; How we feel about ourselves; What we believe about ourselves. Imagine that you are just meeting this new person (yourself). You know nothing about them but you do have a desire to help them achieve their best. Approach your new self with genuine gentle curiosity. Be supportive and this new self and be forgiving of its mistakes and proud of its achievements. Be in a constant state of transition from not knowing, to experiencing each moment as you nurture and encourage yourself to Be Breathed. </div><div><br /></div><div>Oct 10 - <b>Nasal Breathing </b>(Be Breathed in Balance Studio) Since our routine this month is all about Being Breathed, I thought today we could focus on the information we can get from our breathing. The idea is to keep your mouth shut as much as possible. This will give you immediate feedback about your general health and fitness and about the intensity of your work. If you are unable to keep your mouth closed it indicates a health condition or that you are working at an intensity level beyond your capabilities. The degree to which you can go through life nose breathing is like a barometer of health and wellness. It can also be used as a gauge of how hard you are workout out. As soon as you are unable to breathe nasally, there are some schools of thought that say you're working too hard and you should ease off until you can close your mouth again. When you breathe nasally you get an ideal mixture of oxygen to your muscles and your brain which allows you to function at your best. So do it today and see what you can learn about yourself from your breath as you pay attention to how you are able to Be Breathed. </div><div><br /></div><div>Oct 13 - <b>Energy Warriors (</b>Be Breathed in Volunteer Park) Today we are going to be Energy Warriors. This means stalking the self with awareness of our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual activity. Imagine putting a small version of yourself up on your shoulder so that small version can observe you and encourage you. It is like your little Energy Warrior coach. Working with your coach, notice the activity in your physical, mental emotional and spiritual realms. As Energy Warriors, we are always sensing that perpetual motion and then dancing what we sense. This is what allows us to be relaxed and powerful so that we can Be Breathed. </div><div><br /></div><div>Oct 17 - <b>Creative Expression, Creativity and Creation</b> (Be Breathed in Balance Studio) Creative expression is movement, like with your face, your arms or any part of your body, that indicates feelings or thoughts. A smile, crossing the arms, tapping the foot. the middle finger... all ways that we can express creatively with our body. Creativity is what we use when we have learned the choreography and we embellish it or stray slightly from it to intentionally interpret it. It can be fueled by desire, necessity or playfulness, bu tit uses creativity to personalize the experience. And creation is the experience you manifest through the accumulation of all of your choices. So today we are focused on using creative expression to spark creativity in our movements and create our ideal personalized movement experience. </div><div><br /></div><div>Oct 20 - <b>Core </b>(Be Breathed in Volunteer Park) Today we focus on the core of the body. The pelvis, chest and head, hips and shoulders and spine. Notice the effect of including (or neglecting) the core movement in all of the movements of the arms and legs. Notice the energy of emotion and how it can be stimulating and how you can be triggered by core movement. Allow it all as perfect. Notice how inviting the Nia experience into your core can activate emotional energy as you free yourself up to Be Breathed. </div><div><br /></div><div>Oct 27 - <b>Knee Rehab </b> (Knee-Ah in Volunteer Park) Today's routine is from 2012 when I injured my knee and had to take some time off for rehab. I set my physical therapy to music and it became this routine that I call Knee-Ah because it makes your knee say "Ahhh ... that's nice." It was my premiere routine when I returned to teaching. The main focus is to be very aware of alignment. The face of the kneecap should always be looking in the same direction your toes are pointing. You should be equally strong on either side of your thigh. We will be using lots of balancing on one leg to strengthen the thigh. If you feel yourself wobbling, you can use your hands to tap or knock on your inner and outer thigh to activate contraction of the muscles equally. We will also be using lots of squats. Notice in the squat that you want to keep your toes from passing beyond the boundaries of your toes. In other words you should be able to do a squat with your toes up against a wall without banging your knees into he wall. This is accomplished by pulling your butt back to squat rather than pushing your knees forward as if kneeling. </div><div><br /></div><div>Oct 31 - <b>Haunted Halloween Blue Monkey </b> (Moss Side Story in Balance Studio) Today is a Blue Monkey routine. This means that the teacher is familiar with the music but has no set choreography. I will be spontaneous through the whole class. You are invited to follow along with me as best you can or to go off and do your own spontaneous dance as inspired by the music. The sound track today is a cool and weird album called Moss Side Story by Barry Adamson. Notice how this style of teaching and this class experience can emphasize a different aspect of the work. I will be using lots of repetition and very little verbal cuing as we scream our way through this terrifying and blood curdling Halloween celebration. Booo! </div>Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-8427898348157813862021-08-29T20:02:00.000-07:002021-08-29T20:02:52.420-07:00Foci for August - Take Flight routine<h2 style="text-align: left;"> In August we used the Take Flight routine 12 times</h2><h3>Here are the scripts I wrote for setting the focus of each class:</h3><div>Aug 1 - <b>Elegant Resonance</b> (Take Flight in Balance Studio) Today we are doing the Take Flight routine. And since it is a brand new routine, never before taught in a class setting, I want to focus on the music, and in particular: How Your Body Responds To and Resonates With the Music. When I create a new routine, the first thing I do is put together the playlist. That part alone could take several months as I search for just the right music and ensure that the songs fit together in just the right way in the right order. When they do, it creates a supportive soundscape for our movement journey. And then the music inspires the movement. Each song has a unique personality. Some are slow, some are quirky. Some powerful. Some nurturing. Some playful. Some mysterious... And there are often distinct unique sounds. When I create the moves, they must align with the personality of the songs and click with the sounds. When that happens, it creates what is called Elegant Resonance and it's what makes the moves seem so inevitable and appropriate. They are in rapport and supported by the music. The right moves help us hear the music more deeply in our bodies. So as we go on this magical, musical movement journey let's focus on how it fits. Let's give less attention to doing the movements exactly and more to the movement energy personality and how it aligns with the music. Notice how it creates Elegant Resonance and allows us to Take Flight. </div><div><br /></div><div>Aug 2 - <b>Organic Sensation </b>(Take Flight in Madison Park Beach) In today's class we will use the Take Flight routine to focus on Organic Sensation. We are alive. So our energy can take many forms. During this routine we will be experiencing Dance Art energy (Jazz and the Modern Dance forms of Duncan and Graham), Martial Art energy (Tai Chi, Tae Kwon Do, and Aikido) and Healing Art energy (Yoga, Feldenkrais and Alexander techniques). You don't need to know any of the forms or even know what they are. I will point some of them out to you as we go through the class and experience them. But what I want us to focus on is how our Organic Sensation changes like a chameleon as we utilize different movement forms and/or styles. Organic Sensation is less about what you do and more about how you feel doing it. It is to our body what mood is to our emotions. It has colors and degrees and changes depending on what we are doing. It's not the goal to name these movement styles as we do them, and its not important to label your Organic Sensations. Just as it's not important to perfect the movements. But for today, what is important is that you enjoy sensing your changing Organic Sensation as we Take Flight together. </div><div><br /></div><div>Aug 4 - <b>Natural Time </b>(Take Flight in Volunteer Park) The focus for today is on Natural Time. It is a very simple concept to understand but can often take lots of practice to embody it. It is the second principle of Nia and it refers to the fact that people learn things at different paces. What could take someone three minutes to learn could take someone else several weeks. Natural Time emphasizes that it is not a contest. It is not a race to quickly learn something, but its important to allow ourselves our Natural Time and learn comfortably at our own pace. We have built in a lot of repetition into the Nia practice for this very reason. Th process of learning requires repetitive failure before we achieve success. Natural Time acknowledges this and encourages us to love and appreciate the failure as a crucial part of the learning process. In order to focus on Natural Time, I will offer you this phrase that you can repeat to yourself as you learn the conplex moves in this routine; "I am learning and it's great!"</div><div>Remember that you are not expected to know something until you know it. Lean into the concept of Natural Time. Trust the process takes whatever time it needs and eventually, when it's time, you will Take Flight. </div><div><br /></div><div>Aug 8 - <b>Self Healing On The Go </b>(Take Flight in Balance Studio) Today's focus will be on self healing. Nia offers a great opportunity for us to heal our bodies. It encourages self awareness which is the first step of self-healing. Notice where you are experiencing/sensing pain, tension, discomfort and what movements improve or exacerbate it. The repetitive nature of Nia allows you to explore. Invite a gentle energy of relaxation to flow through any problem areas. Notice what you can let go of. Experiment with how you can adjust the moves to increase comfort or alleviate pain. An arm circle (for example) can be done smaller, at a different angle, powered by swinging the hands and relaxing the shoulders or powered by the shoulders and letting the hands be heavy and passive. Get curious about what's best for you. Because this isn't strictly "dancing" we don't need to feel regimented in our moves. We are not concerned with aesthetics at the expense of comfort, but rather the aesthetics of each persons unique comfort. Follow the sensations of pleasure and guide you body to comfort and you will be self healing on the go as we Take Flight. </div><div><br /></div><div>Aug 9 - <b>Chest Weight </b>(Take Flight in Madison Park) Today's focus is on the chest weight. When I say chest weight I mean the ribcage including the collarbones and the scapula. Similar to how the pelvis is the powerhouse of the legs, the chest is the powerhouse of the arms. Notice how it rotates to create a twist, and how the arms will swing loosely from it. Notice how it remains facing forward as we tilt and how it stays stacked above the base as we sink. Notice how we place it over our base of support to create stability, or if we move it away from our base of support we either initiate movement or use a lifted leg in the opposite direction for counterbalance. So we are focused on our chest weight, its direction of movement and how it increases our personal power to use the powerhouse of the upper body. </div><div><br /></div><div>Aug 11 - <b>Head Weight </b>(Take Flight in Volunteer Park) Today we are going to use the Take Flight routine as an opportunity to learn about the Head Weight. I'd say most the time we take our heads for granted. But they are actually quite significant, weighing in at about 13 pounds on average. If the pelvis is the powerhouse of the legs and the chest is the powerhouse of the arms, then the head is the powerhouse of the nervous system, which controls the whole body. So it is Command Central. The head is home to the organs of four of the five major senses, and even the sense of touch needs to be processed in the brain, so the head is the sensual center. It also houses our vestibular system which cooperates with the eyes to give us our sense of balance and equilibrium. The head can be used to increase stability when we hold it above our base of support, and for mobility when we move it off that base. Swinging the head around is not something to be taken lightly. As I said, it's a significant 13 pounds so it requires a lot of strength to move around and can easily become strenuous if not done mindful of supporting it. We support our head movement by using our eyes. When we look right, look left, our body will automatically support the head more than if you just twist your neck for the purpose of pointing your head to the right and left. The act of looking "sensualizes" the act of turning the head and therefore the support from the body comes intuitively. So as we go through the routine, consciously use your head. You can move it more or less to increase or decrease the intensity. Be aware that moving the head moves the fluid in your brain and the cilia and granules in the vestibular system so it is very easy to become dizzy. (Especially when the movement is not supported by looking) So use the eyes to control the Command Central. Sensing our heads so we can appreciate its contribution to our healthy movement and our sensual living as we Take Flight. </div><div><br /></div><div>Aug 15 - <b>Hands and Arms Giving & Receiving </b>(Take Flight at Balance Studio) Today as we Take Flight once again, we will use a focus on our hands and arms to feel and sense the gestures and the act of giving and receiving. We have the freedom to use palm directions as a detail choice to energize our moves with "give" or "receive". A reach out can be energized either way depending on our intention choice. Sinking down to the earth could be considered giving your energy down or receiving support from below. A hug can be thought of as either giving or receiving or both. Expanding and contracting could be felts as giving and receiving respectively, but also, i you think of the way a sponge, a heart or lungs operate, when it constricts is when it gives and it expands to receive, so your gestures could be imbued either way, depending on your choice. So as we move through the routine, it will be your choices that you are noticing as you play around with all the gestures of giving and receiving. The thing that will unite us, is that it is all based on connecting and sharing. Focus on upper extremities gestures to connect yourself to the outside world in a sharing relationship as we Take Flight. </div><div><br /></div><div>Aug 16 - <b>Facial Expression</b> (Take Flight at Madison Park Beach) Today we are really going to Take Flight as we explore one of Nia's three uses. In addition to conditioning and healing, we can use Nia to practice self-expression. So today we're going to focus on our face and using facial expression to guide us to sensing our bodies expressing. Experiment with smiling, frowning, looking worried, concerned, angry, surprised... whatever you can imagine, just put it on your face. And hold it there long enough to feel a response in your body. The energy and quality of your movement will change to match your expressions if you allow it. An important thing to remember is that we often stop ourselves from expressing due to fear of judgement. Fear of judgement comes mainly from two things: one- not believing we are as good as others, or two- being overly judgmental of others. Or both. But I'll tell you right now that both of those things are nonsense. You simply are as worthy of expressing yourself as anyone else. Being right, smarter, younger, better looking, richer, more talented, etc. means nothing. Adjust yourself right now to accept the reality that your expressions are just as good as anyone else. So on the other side of the coin, if you spend a lot of energy being critical of others, then how can you help but feel they're doing the same thing to you? Let go of judgement to prevent feeling judged. Replace judgement with equanimity (the attitude that whatever is currently happening is more than "OK" but is literally perfect. With equanimity you will feel free to use your face to make any sort of expression and notice your body responding with the style and quality of movement to match. Once you are willing to declare yourself and everything and everyone as "perfect for now just how it is", then you will really Take Flight. </div><div><br /></div><div>Aug 18 - <b>X Ray Awareness of The Whole </b>(Take Flight at Volunteer Park) Today we're going to focus on The Whole. We can view our bodies as a collection of 200 bones, 700 muscles, 400,000 nerve endings in our feet, three body weights, 13 major joints... or we can consider it as a whole. With one center that is the center of all that is. As a teacher, that's how I view your bodies. I use something called X ray Anatomy which is seeing your body as the positioning of your bones. That whole picture inspires the way I guide you. SO today we're going to flip the script and you will use a form of X Ray anatomy called X Ray Awareness to guide your own bodies. Here's how X Ray Awareness works. Put your hand behind your back and picture it in your mind. Then change the position of your fingers and notice that you can picture the new position of your hand without even seeing it. You are aware of shape because of X Ray Awareness. So as we move in class, use your X Ray Awareness of your whole body's shape and position to seek out the sensations of strength, mobility, flexibility, balance and stability in your whole body. Let's Take Flight. </div><div><br /></div><div>Aug 22 - <b>Just Right in the Spine </b>(Take Flight in Balance Studio) Today we are going to play Goldilocks with our spine. Let ourselves be guided away from too hard and too soft, to just right in the middle. Stand on a small base with your feet close together and lean in all directions. Feel the effort required to hold the leaning position. Play around with it until you find that sweet spot just above your feet where there is almost no effort required to hold. Then attach a small anchor to your pelvis that weights you to the floor with a gentle downward pull and a helium balloon tied to your head that gently pulls you up. That is your Goldilocks position. It is "just right". I have observed wasted energy in spines being held too rigid or with no conscious awareness, or with an excessive curve, bend or lean and I've seen spines function with easy and power from a position of natural alignment- a place of ease and power "just right" in the middle. So i want to set up the spine for success. Let's get into our just right alignment and while in it, ask the part of you that knows for some guidance in the form of a word to describe this physically. An then ask again for a mental word and then for an emotional description of this just right position. Remember those words and use them as triggers to get you back into the just right position over and over again. When you hear me say "Goldilocks" or "just right" in class, you'll know to use the words you were just given to maximize your power and energy from your spine and out to the rest of your body in your movements as we Take Flight. </div><div><br /></div><div>Aug 25 - <b>The Continuum of Levels 1, 2 and 3 </b>(Take Flight at Volunteer Park) One of the most important things about Nia is the encouragement to go at your own pace. One of the ways we do this is with the principle of "3 Levels of Intensity". To describe the levels, we would say level 1 is "easy" level 2 is "moderate" and level 3 is "challenging". But we can't describe any move with a level. We can't, for example, say "this is a level one movement" because if it is challenging to someone, then it is a level 3 movement for them. What could be very easy and level 1 to one person could be difficult and level 3 to another. Likewise, if I do a movement today and it was easy, then it's a level 1 movement; but then if the next day I'm tired or injured, that very same exact move could be challenging to me, so it is now a level 3 move for me. Some movement. The level is determined by the intensity perceived by the mover. So rather than being three specific versions of a movement, the principle of Levels 1, 2 and 3 refers more to a continuum of intensity that you are in charge of controlling. In general we increase the level of intensity by taking bigger steps, sinking lower, reaching further, moving more quickly or with more tension. We do not change the movement to lower or increase the intensity. The movement structure remains the same but the intensity changes based on the measurement of each movement in size and speed. So as we do class today, I'm going to be staying at Level 1 and inviting you to explore your continuum of levels 1, 2 and 3 by increasing the size and speed of what I'm doing. This is a bit of a departure from my normal teaching style where I normally live in Level 2 and 3 and only occasionally demonstrate level 1. Its like i'm teaching from the top, down. And today, I'm going to be teaching from the bottom up. So have fun with it. Change and explore as you desire. Get familiar with your ability to adjust your intensity level. Imagine I'm just your launch pad, but its up to you to TAKE FLIGHT. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sept 29 - <b>From the Ground Up </b>(Take Flight at Balance Studio)</div><div>Today's class will be taught and experienced from the ground, up. Usually, I teach a move and then very quickly go into an athletic level that challenges me, and invite you to approach my levels your way based on your degree of ability and desire and comfort. Today, (as we did on Wednesday) I am going to be presenting class from my level 1, that is that it will all be easy for me and won't feel like I'm exerting myself (level 2) or challenging myself (level 3). And my invitation to you for this class is that while I remind in my level 1, you go up into your levels 2 and 3 on your own to your degree of ability and desire and comfort. </div><div>We will focus in three realms:</div><div>Physically in the feet. Pay attention to the placement of the foot. Use it as a sense organ. Feel the pressure of the weight of your body against the hardness of the floor. Feel the friction of sliding your foot and the harmony of stepping sensually onto the floor. Feeling the articulation of the joints opening as your weight goes into your foot and the regrouping the bones do when they don't bear weight. Noticing what the toes are doing. Are they free as they should be? or unnecessarily clenched? The direction you point your toes. changing the point of contact with the floor. Feel it all and get lost in awareness of your feet. </div><div>Mentally, pay attention to the details of your experience. Imagine you were going to write an essay about this experience in class, or you were going to tell a loved one about an experience you had in class today, what would you say? Make a mental note of your physical, mental and emotional reactions during class that you would want to describe later. </div><div>Emotionally let's give some energy to the fact that this is the last time we will do Take Flight before I put it back into the vault. We've really come to love this routine. So let's honor that bittersweet feeling that we get when we say good-bye to one and start a new routine (Be Breathed) So, before we put Take back in the hangar, today, we're going to get one damn good last ride! We'll get all the joy we can out of it today. On our ultimate Take Flight from the Ground Up. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-12293341029845675612021-08-07T15:06:00.001-07:002021-08-07T15:06:36.219-07:00Take Flight<p>Being introduced August of 2021, Jag's newest routine is called Take Flight. It focuses on the gestures of Giving and Receiving. It is a well-rounded, fun, full-bodied athletic routine. It uses unique movements such as the Rocking Horse, the Owl and the Huzzah, to reach high. And it uses moves like the Springy Lunge and the Dangle to get low. Moves like the Gorilla and Throwing the Ball take us both low and high at the same time. It is easily adaptable to all fitness levels, but can definitely offer a physical challenge for everybody. </p><p>The music, from artists like Maya Jane Coles, Azam Ali, Adam, Shaikh, Jain, Yello and Banco de Gaia, is very global sounding and inspiring. In the song Tilinko by Laar / Zoohacker, we learn how to let the arms flow gradually from low to high while the legs walk rhythmically. In the song Funk Me Up Baby by Alex Cortiz, we learn to perform a kick coming right out of a turn, without first tapping the ground. And there is a move in Earthsong by Karunesh that is like a Knee Sweep to the back of the body. </p><p>As with all of Jag's body of work, you will find something new and challenging in this routine. You will have fun conditioning, healing and expressing yourself. You will be inspired, laugh, enjoy the music and have a great time Taking Flight with Jag. </p><p><br /></p>Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-34729623756470866502021-07-29T12:02:00.000-07:002021-07-29T12:02:07.124-07:00Foci for July - Beautiful Day and Universal Mind<h2 style="text-align: left;"> In July we used the Universal Mind routine four times and Beautiful Day once. </h2><h3>Here are the scripts I wrote for setting the focus of each class:</h3><div>July 14 - <b>Smell The Grass.</b> (Beautiful Day in Volunteer Park) Welcome everyone. Thanks for coming. I'm so excited to launch a new program, Nia in the Park with Jag. My idea is that the time and location can periodically change, so I'm open to hearing your input in that regard. First, a few words about Nia in general. It is meant to be very adaptable to each person. Nothing is expected of you - follow along and just have fun. It is taught "on the go" which means you do what you can and don't worry about the rest. Each time you come back to class, you might pick up one or two more tidbits. But no matter what, you are encouraged to adjust and personalize all of the movements so they feel right, in your body, right now. </div><div>Today we are celebrating by doing my Beautiful Day routine, using "Dynamic Ease" / "Relaxed Power" / "Calm Strength". It is moving dynamically with ease, being relaxed while exerting power, being calm while using your strength. There are many ways you can focus your attention to help you achieve and maintain this state of Dynamic Ease, but today we are going to use a nasal breathing technique I call "Smelling the Grass". So everyone squat down and pick a few blades of grass. Pinch them between your fingers to release the scent and then smell the grass. Smell it again, but this time notice the mechanism in your body that you're using to smell. This is a perfectly relaxed inhale. It is sensual and curious and slow. This is exactly how I'd like you to breathe throughout the class. I don't care if you do the moves right, or if you're off the music beat, or even if you turn and are facing away from me. I just want you to stay focused on this "smelling the grass" breath so you can remain in a state of dynamic ease on this BEAUTIFUL DAY. </div><div><br /></div><div>July 18 - <b>The</b> <b>Universal Mind. </b>(Universal Mind at Balance Studio) Today's routine is called Universal Mind and it was choreographed by Carlos Aya-Rosas, Nia's co-founder. He says that even though the term "Universal Mind' may sound like it refers to something big, it actually can be perceived for any one single minuscule point. On a grand scale, Universal Mind is what connects us with a collective unconsciousness. Emotionally, our Universal Mind is feelings of love, peace and harmony. A mental aspect of Universal Mind is our innate ability to learn through mimicry which is what we do in Nia. And the Universal Mind of the body is sensations. So in class today, I want to focus on the sensations in our feet. Steps, Stances, Heel Lead, Ball of Foot, Releve, Whole Foot, Edge of Foot... they all have different sensation to enjoy. So for this hour, pause everything else in your mind and let your experience be guided by enjoying the sensations in your feet so we become connecting to the UNIVERSAL MIND. </div><div><br /></div><div>July 21 - <b>Awareness of Comfort. (</b>Universal Mind in Volunteer Park) In Nia we don't subscribe to the idea of moving to lose weight, or to gain strength or to increase flexibility. That implies that there is something wrong with you. And in fact you are perfectly where you belong right now. Practice Nia regularly and you may notice these things happening but it will be because you've befriended your body and taken it with you on this journey. The long term goal of Nia is to sustain a lifestyle of pleasurable movement. That goal is achieved, not by having an intense workout today, but by enjoying a session of movement with self-awareness. Today we're going to focus that self-awareness on comfort. Throughout class, be adjusting yourself so that you can take what I bring and turn it into something manageable for you. Play: not to win, but play to continue playing. Measure your success not by getting the steps correctly, but by how much fun you're having, and you'll be well on your way to a healthy movement lifestyle.</div><div><br /></div><div>July 28 - <b>Symphony of Joints. </b>Being graceful or athletic is not about being strong or flexible, but more about being synchronized. When your joints cooperate and your muscles fire off in the perfect sequence, they create an elegance- a symphony of movement in your body. So today I want us to focus on the major joints (ankles, knees, hips, spine, shoulders, elbows and wrists) with the intention to notice and tune up the symphony. As we repeat the movements, let your attention move from joint to joint, not to change the action, but more to notice what it is contributing. Also pay attention to how it communicates with the joints next to it. Mentally travel through your body, similar to when you might hear an orchestra playing and tune into the violins, and then hear the tuba, and then focus on the cymbals. You haven't changed the symphony but your attention appreciates the contribution of each individual sound. So we rotate our focus through the major joints and observe what they do and appreciate how they work in concert with the rest of our instrument as we play the UNIVERSAL MIND.</div>Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-14810972843970676792021-06-24T15:24:00.000-07:002021-06-24T15:24:28.375-07:0013 Benefits to Spending Time Outdoors<p>One of the things that I learned during the 2020 pandemic was how healing it is to be in touch with nature.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-u67F-i4WwMfLIj83XGIVEQVaSjEZTQNNFnSNKE0gsBusq_xd577mYOlCAioDEHS3bt86PPk5JakNPUfreAOZhA_WDGboYVjsCA8pi6LThGAXAqwgQUkitnWknx-o2-B_7cUcGetfPo5/s828/594B5934-7540-4C4B-BB77-9A26BA967F2E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="793" data-original-width="828" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-u67F-i4WwMfLIj83XGIVEQVaSjEZTQNNFnSNKE0gsBusq_xd577mYOlCAioDEHS3bt86PPk5JakNPUfreAOZhA_WDGboYVjsCA8pi6LThGAXAqwgQUkitnWknx-o2-B_7cUcGetfPo5/s320/594B5934-7540-4C4B-BB77-9A26BA967F2E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p> My first inclination when we were asked to isolate ourselves was not to connect electronically, which I thought seemed artificial and unnatural, but to truly isolate and to take this as a strong nudge from nature to self reflect and reexamine the choices that got me to where I am. I felt like this is what the whole world needed to do, but I was only in charge of myself so I did it quietly. I removed myself from my work and from social media and read philosophy books and meditated a lot. I also found myself taking my dog to the park a lot and noticing how just a few minutes in the park could totally change my day. </p><p>I was once opposed to teaching my Nia classes outside. I felt I needed a controlled indoor environment so that I could properly deliver the type of experience I was accustomed to. But gradually, with the help of some clients who I was training in the park twice weekly, I came to appreciate and then love and then finally prefer to teach outdoors over being indoors. Now that it's time to re-open and classes are starting up again, I am hesitant to bring everything back inside. There is so much glorious beauty and healing benefit to being outside, that I have come to look forward to and relish. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxyFl9KgXNX4peX6S8AErDbYcBPpA_z2ThjbouOGrtQKxowhnawe9hBQ9D97GgW70zJcG9F35OpxB2RoB7Chw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p> Hippocrates said "Nature itself is the best physician" and he was considered the Father of Western Medicine. But we've moved far, far away from that doctrine to a place where now going outside is very rarely done except to walk from our buildings to our cars. And our health has paid the price. In addition to proper diet and exercise, drinking water and getting sufficient sleep, being outside is one of the pillars of good health. As a sort of reminder of why it's so important, I have compiled a list of 13 reasons why it is beneficial to spend a little bit of time outside every day. </p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Life Satisfaction. This is something I noticed right away. I was pretty upset and bewildered by the pandemic and often worried about our uncertain future, as were many of us. But I noticed I felt a little bit better as soon as I arrived at the park. I live in an urban area, but the park is just a few short blocks away. And once I was in the grass, sitting on a rock, I could feel my troubles melting away. It was shown, <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09603123.2019.1577368" target="_blank">in a recent study</a> that after spending only 20 minutes in an urban park setting, people reported a 64% improvement in life satisfaction. Imagine adding a 64% boost in life satisfaction to all the other benefits of doing Nia! Do it outside!</li><li>Sunshine elevates Vitamin D. It is estimated that about 40% of Americans are Vitamin D deficient. Not surprising when you consider how little time we spend outside. We make Vitamin D when we are exposed to the suns UVB rays, which do not travel through glass, so time sitting inside near a window does not count. Very few foods contain sufficient Vitamin D. Its deficiency has been linked to depression, osteoporosis, muscle weakness and cancer. It is recommended to get about 15 minutes of direct midday sun exposure three times per week to ensure ideal levels of Vitamin D. Darker skinned people need to expose themselves to a bit more sun than lighter skinned people due to higher levels of melanin. </li><li>Lower blood pressure. Nitric oxide stored in the top layer of our skin reacts to sunlight and causes our blood vessels to widen, which lowers blood pressure. High blood pressure is known as the silent killer because so many people have it and it does not present any symptoms. But people with high blood pressure have a much higher likelihood of having a heart attack or stroke. So avoiding sunlight, or using sunblock all the time, is now considered a risk for heart disease. The experts recommend a moderate amount of sun exposure to prevent that risk. </li><li>Lower Inflammation. When I was in massage school I remember being taught that inflammation could be considered the root cause of almost all bodily diseases. It is linked to things from autoimmune disease to depression and even cancer. Many studies have shown that spending time in natural, green spaces, reduces inflammation. </li><li>Better Eyesight. <a href="https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/outdoor-time-good-your-eyes" target="_blank">A Canadian study</a> found that spending time in nature reduces the risk of myopia (nearsightedness). It went on to say that nearly 1/3 of adults suffer from myopia in developed countries. We used to be told that it was due to spending too much time reading books or watching TV, but now they're saying that a larger contributor is simply not spending enough time outdoors. So even more important than eating carrots, get outside and play with your children. </li><li>Sleep Better. <a href="https://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2015/08/24/having-trouble-sleeping-research-suggests-spending-more-time-outdoors/" target="_blank">A study of 250,000 people by Stanford Medicine</a> concluded that increasing the amount of time spent outdoors, improved the quality of sleep. Especially for men over the age of 65. The researchers recommended "if there is a way for persons over 65 to spend time in nature, it would improve the quality of their sleep". I can attest to sleeping much better since I made going outside a regular part of my daily routine. And I have been waking up earlier, feeling more refreshed. </li><li>Burn More Calories. Our bodies' ability to consume oxygen and balance carbon dioxide levels are increased when we are outside. The unpredictable terrain, whether its grass, sand, rocks, trees or whatever natural surface you're working on, we have to use more muscles to adapt than you would in a nice, predictable hardwood floor surface. You also need to adjust for temperature changes when its not a controlled environment. And you have to adapt to wind resistance, pot holes, cars, hills, or whatever is in the environment. All of this adds up to using more energy. </li><li>Increased Happiness. An author named Florence Williams conducted a year long self-study of her own happiness and concluded that spending time with friends, vacationing, listening to music and of course spending time outdoors all made her incredibly happy. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169204615000286" target="_blank">A study from 2015 </a>found that people who walked through the woods reported an better improved mood over those who walked through an urban area. It went on to report an improvement in memory and cognition. </li><li>Stress, Anxiety and Depression Reduction. The Japanese practice something called "Forest Bathing" which is simply to spend some time in the forest to improve mental health. Natural environments <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19568835/" target="_blank">have been shown</a> to lower cortisol (the stress hormone) and lead to improvement in health, memory and concentration, improve sleep disorders and reduce anxiety and depression. </li><li>Recovery and Pain Relief. <a href="https://www.crcresearch.org/sites/default/files/html_files/discussion-papers/vitality_-_green_spaces.pdf" target="_blank">Some research done at Royal Roads University</a> showed that post surgery patients require less pain management through medication when they spend time daily in an outdoor setting. It is also <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30377913" target="_blank">recommended</a> to chronic pain sufferers that they can get better results by doing exercises in nature. 94% of the respondents experiencing chronic pain reported that being in nature improved their mood. The study concluded that 'green exercise' should be included as part of a treatment plan for chronic pain. </li><li>Immunity Boost. Largely due to the relaxed state that nature induces, <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150916162120.htm" target="_blank">it has been shown</a> that spending time outdoors assists in warding off maladies such as diabetes, ADHD, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Forests, in particular, <a href="https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/90720.html" target="_blank">were cited</a> as beneficial due to the phytoncides produced by plants, which increase our bodies' production of defensive "killer" cells. Sun exposure, also, strengthens T-cell production which helps fight off infections. </li><li>Increased Likelihood of Being Social. People who socialize live longer. An active social life leads to feelings of well-being, improved immune system function and greater empathy. Social interaction improves mental health and can ward off dementia. I realize that these things could be accomplished by meeting with groups of people indoors, but I put it here because I've noticed that when I'm outdoors, I'm more likely to run into and interact with people I don't know than when I'm in an enclosed space. </li><li>Fosters Creativity. What I particularly love about exercising outdoors is the unpredictable nature of it. The ground being uneven. Maybe wet and slippery, maybe rocky or sandy. These tiny little challenges force us to be more creative in how to navigate through the terrain. It takes very little thought or imagination to walk across a flat hardwood floor, but can really take some concentration to traverse a babbling brook or walk over a pile of rocks. Another way it can foster creativity is by getting us away from our technology. Without being plugged in, we rely more on our imagination and creativity to entertain and challenge ourselves. </li></ol><div>So I hope some of these things inspired you to get outside a little bit every day. Hope to see you in the trees! However, all of this being said, it doesn't have to be in a fancy park. Here is a video of me taking a break from a long day of driving through Texas to spend five minutes moving my body on some grass in the sunshine. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pS1ZO7MhbF8" width="320" youtube-src-id="pS1ZO7MhbF8"></iframe></div><br />This was actually in a Honda Dealership parking lot! So you can get creative about where you find "green spaces"</div><div><br /></div><div>I have made it an important part of my life and it has improved my physical and mental health. The local park is such a superior venue for workouts than the local gym. If you would like some guidance on how to get started enjoying this healthy, natural resource, please connect with me. Ask me for an introductory primer lesson and I will gladly show you the ropes. </div><p></p>Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-79853855869823697862021-06-23T13:49:00.001-07:002021-06-23T13:49:26.198-07:00Jag's 13 Principles for Being a Nia Student<p> Jag has been teaching and loving Nia for 25 years. In addition to having his own classes, he has taught for months in a country where he didn't speak the language and learned a great deal from that experience about how to communicate and deliver a rich rewarding experience to the student. He has also, on a number of occasions, taken a single routine on the road and taught it to a different unfamiliar group in a different unfamiliar space every day for months at a time. That also gave him a lot of unexpected insight into the student experience of a Nia class. Watching how students do or don't adjust and adapt, and seeing which ones seem to be having the best experiences, led to a deep understanding of what some of the best student techniques are.</p><p>Now Jag wants to share the wisdom from a quarter century of teaching in diverse situations. He has broken it down into what he likes to think of as the essentials. The 13 Principles of Being a Nia Student present 13 very important points about how each student can maximize the benefits they receive from every class. It addresses those times when a student's needs may not align with the presentation of the teacher on a particular day, and how to turn that situation around so that it does exactly meet the students needs. It presents some ideas that many students may not have thought about, but that can drastically improve the outcome of each and every class they attend; no matter what the teacher is doing. It highlights some things that are very important for the student to focus on and some things that are worth letting go of, so that each student gets exactly what they want, every time they return to class. Jag will create a scenario, where the student needs to rise above "sloppy" or "lazy" teaching habits, to take charge of their experience and turn every class into a perfectly personalized and empowering experience. </p><p>Never again worry who's teaching when you go to take a Nia class. When you practice the 13 Principles of Being a Nia Student, you can transform any class into one that is designed especially for you and your needs and preferences, no matter how much experience the teacher has. You, as a student become empowered to guarantee yourself a great class. </p><p>The playshop is presented in three segments per principle. First, Jag will explain the principle and how it is applicable to the Nia class experience. Second, he will play some music so we can all FreeDance. FreeDancing is a great way to free up the mind and open it up to receive new ideas. It is also a great opportunity to allow questions to bubble up or to realize any places that we may have not fully grasped the concept of the principle. Thirdly, we will gather again to address any student comments or questions, get further clarity and solidify our understanding of the principle before we move onto the next principle and go through the three segments again. Typically, we will do five principles and then take a break, do four more, take a second break and then come back and address the final four principles. Ideally it is a four hour playshop but it can also be achieved in three hours. </p><p>There is lots of dancing and lots of learning, so its a good idea to be well rested before we start and to bring plenty of water and a snack to keep your mental and physical energy up the whole time. You might also want to take notes as it will be a lot of information in a short amount of time. </p><p>This playshop is perfect for anyone who loves Nia and is serious about getting as much out of their class time as possible. It has also been helpful to teachers who have attended who may have recognized some of their tendencies in Jag's fictional "sloppy" teacher, and been able to adjust their style to make it easier for their students to do what they need to do so that everyone has the best Nia class every time. </p><p>Jag has a passion for empowering students with agency to positively affect their own outcomes and to be autonomous in any situation. Jag believes that when the student and the teacher work together to create a class experience, it can be truly sublime.</p><p>Contact Jag to arrange teaching this playshop in your community. </p><p><br /></p>Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-44941130239814457272021-06-18T17:12:00.040-07:002021-06-23T13:14:35.264-07:00Foci for May and June - Beautiful Day and Woodstock<h2 style="text-align: left;"> In May and June we used the Beautiful Day routine four times. </h2><h3 style="text-align: left;">Here are the scripts I wrote for setting the focus of each class:</h3><div>May 23 - <b>Joy of Movement.</b> Welcome. And thank you for joining me on this inaugural relaunch of my Nia classes. Today we're doing a routine I created called Beautiful Day. The goal of today is to experience the Joy of Movement. This means that your success is not measured by what or how much you do but by how you feel doing it. In Nia, "Joy" is defined as moving towards pleasure. Enjoying what you can do is emphasized over struggling to do more. Changing any of my moves to better suit yourself is an example of the Joy of Movement. Allowing yourself to be perfectly the way you are right now is the Joy of Movement. We may all be a little rusty and we all deserve a bit of permission and the space to explore, play and rediscover The Joy of Movement on this Beautiful Day. </div><div><br /></div><div>May 30 - <b>Connection.</b> Thank you for choosing to come this morning. You chose to come because you wanted to get something out of the experience. We may all want different things but I"m going to guide us in a way that will allow us all to have our distinct, discreet, ideal experience. It begins with a focus on your feet. Sesne the way they rest of the floor. Pick them and put them down with care and intention. Allow the FOOT-FLOOR CONNECTION to give you stability so that the stability can support all of your movement. Adjust your steps and stances to maximize comfort and freedom. Let your mind be fully occupied by perpetual assessment and adjustment. Fine tuning your moves is an ongoing process of the BODY MIND CONNECTION. The body gives requests in the form of sensation and the mind hears and responds in the form of adjustments. Get creative to fully appreciate your true potential. There is no need to struggle here. No benefit comes from forcing. Instead, I encourage you to feel confident in whatever you choose. Trust that your choice is correct and enough. Change often, but move yourself toward more pleasure and take pride in your choices. This will lead you to a profound feeling of inner peacefulness in your as you move. Feel the PEACE PRIDE CONNECTION swelling in you and enjoy it. Your uniqueness is your spirit. We are connected as spirits by being in this space together, hearing this music and doing these moves. Even though we may all use them differently we can take great human comfort in our SPIRIT TO SPIRIT CONNECTION as we do. Allow this high plane connection to energize us on this Beautiful Day. </div><div><br /></div><div>June 6 - <b>Mental Energy. </b>Today we're going to focus on the mind. Using your mental energy to be aware of the collaboration on your health and fitness. The collaboration between you and me. I create the space and the opportunity and present you with the tools and guidance, but doing the routine isn't where the benefit lies. That comes from how you apply what I bring to yourself. Become aware right now of the back of your body. Now become aware of the windows. Now become aware of something that happened to you yesterday. No becomes aware of me. Now think about what you might do later today. Now someone you love. Now something that irritated you. Now become aware of your feet. This is an example of your wild mental energy. Harness that energy to unlock the magic of this class. Don't harness it and it will pingpong randomly like we just demonstrated. During class set your focus on satisfying your needs moment to moment. Be aware of YES/NO sensations. Yes sensations are pleasure, comfort, enjoyment, peace, clarity... and NO sensations are pain, frustration, confusion, irritation,... With your mind, choose what needs your attention and allow your movement to reflect that need. </div><div><br /></div><div>June 13 - <b>The Base. </b>Before we start I want to introduce you to "recapitulation". More than just remembering, it's the act of reliving, re-sensing and re-feeling a past experience. So as we stand here, spend a minute recapitulating everything you can recall about your day yesterday. Great. Recapitulating is a great tool for monitoring whether you are living up to your potential. You can measure your actions against your philosophy of what you believe to be true and important, and ask yourself what you could have done differently to better support yourself. There is nothing more important than knowing where you stand and making a conscious connection to what supports you - your foundation. In Nia we lay the foundation by setting a focus and intention in each class. Today we will focus on the base with the intention of using sensation in the base to know where we stand and being proud and confident asking for and receiving guidance for support. The base is the pelvis, hips, thighs, knees, ankles and feet and is responsible mainly for steps, stances and kicks. Hips move by circling, titling, bumping and swaying. We use our hips to measure distance to the floor. Knees spring and stay open to foster a communication link between the hips and the feet. The ankles and feet contain 25% of all the bones in our entire body. This tells us that they're meant to do a lot of movement. Let your feet and ankles move freely and receive information from the feet about where you are on the floor. Seek comfort and stability in each stance. Focusing on the base is an opportunity to be here. Now. In our feet. In this moment. To allow ourselves to ask for help from whatever guides us spiritually. To be willing, proud, eager and confident in receiving that support, to trust that by slowing down our thoughts and simplifying everything down to communication with your base, you will be so free to enjoy life on this Beautiful Day. </div><div><br /></div><div><h2>And on the Summer Solstice, June 20, we did the Woodstock Experience routine in the park. </h2><h3>Here is the script for setting the focus of that class:</h3></div><div>This is the Woodstock Experience. I chose it to kick off Nia in the Park because it was created to be enjoyed outside, or to at least pretend we were outside if we were not. The idea was to emulate the experience of attending the festival. In my dreams, I envisioned doing it outside, in the mud, with crowds of uninvited people joining in, and jokingly, I hoped we'd all be getting high and drunk and sunburned and dehydrated and pregnant. HAHA. But seriously, The playlist features all bands that were invited to attend the festival. And with the exception of the Moody Blues, who were invited and featured on the promotional posters, but backed out at the last minute due to a booking in Paris, all of the bands did play at the festival in 1969. Today is the Summer Solstice and Fathers Day. Yesterday was Juneteenth and last week was my birthday, so there is a celebratory spirit in the air. The focus is on FreeDance energy, which means "anything goes-movement wise". You may notice my choreography and join me, or you may connect to the music and move you body however you wish. Focus on the spirit of "Anything Goes, Movement Wise". The intent is to experience the Nia Promise. Nia promises a workout with creative expression, inspirational music and a community that is welcoming to all. It promises a practice of deep care and love for the human body based on the belief that every person can can bring deep meaning to their lives and to the world. And it promises sustainability in the body. So get high on peace, Love yourself and each other, Dance to the music and celebrate the Woodstock Experience. </div><div> </div>Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-8301819088127444422021-05-26T15:19:00.000-07:002021-05-26T15:19:04.579-07:00"Beautiful Day" - a new routine by JAG and others<h2 style="text-align: left;"> Beautiful Day</h2><div>...is a collaborative project, over two years in the making and involving dozens of Nia teachers. It was originally a project called Natural Time. After scrapping the project multiple times, I finally ended up with something I liked, and named it Beautiful Day after the song by Laid Back and Anders Trentmøller that appears in the routine. </div><div><br /></div><div>Nancy Hammett (Nia Brown Belt, Milford CT) was largely responsible for helping me put the playlist together. Mark Frossard (Nia Black Belt, Santa Fe NM) choreographed the warm up song "Dissolving Time" by H.U.V.A. Network and Debbie Rosas (co-founder of Nia, Portland, OR) contributed largely to the rest by creating a routine called Sanjana which I adapted to fit the music for the majority of the routine.</div><div><br /></div><div>Musically there is a fun theme of adaptation as well, as three of the songs took older songs and reworked them significantly. Deodato took Richard Strauss' "Also Sprach Zarathustra" (well known as the theme to 2001: A Space Odyssey) and gave it a jazz-disco feel. David Keeper gave Johannes Brahms' "Hungarian Dance #5" an electronic dance music treatment, and Groove Armada riffed on and sampled Fairport Convention's "Autopsy" for a song they call "Remember". </div><div><br /></div><div>The focus of the routine is "cultivating and maintaining a feeling of peace by sensing the ease and stability of lovingly accepting all of your movements without forcing, judging or struggling". And the intent of the routine is "Choosing to enjoy this Beautiful Day".</div><div><br /></div><div>The wide variety of moves are simple and repetitive enough to give the student plenty of opportunity to get really into the sense of acceptance and the feelings of peace within the dance. This routine leaves me feeling revitalized and uplifted. This song is NOT in the routine, but it captures the feeling so well, I wanted to include it here.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zqeKy7HBtNc" width="320" youtube-src-id="zqeKy7HBtNc"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-91364458979289627762021-05-19T15:15:00.003-07:002021-06-02T16:15:22.898-07:00Play in the Park with a Personal Trainer<h3 style="text-align: left;"></h3><h1 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Play Yourself Fit with Jag</span></div></h1><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>get outside</li><li>channel your inner child</li><li>have a fun adventure in nature</li><li>gain strength, balance & flexibility</li><li>improve self-confidence and creativity</li><li>enjoy interacting with all that Volunteer Park has to offer</li><li>flexible schedule to fit your life</li></ul><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbW8yFpQmCVS0BC2jQFtrtAregiJc9VWoJQUAcMKP7DM0gQO5-1vBZRBT5YcqRb3g_GFKkoibC2oHLV5_Ocg9crtMrNxqqrowBo_EN7X4Ikr2n7SONeGPmJD6HacO6S6bQ2dbQmMGvvOHa/s960/11143590_10206345923300911_1532690093034403531_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-qhuc0XB01G65GEfaGrXR0rWOZc_42uvMV29dwIWLb6hYT2di3SJ_3riM5m5jC7S2yu5TzAB2OgVD1v4JhGNlNac1TZRSoa26PxITrM6o5IvoXFp38YUUBPAzET148WapzX52ltjIZLN/s320/IMG_4760.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbW8yFpQmCVS0BC2jQFtrtAregiJc9VWoJQUAcMKP7DM0gQO5-1vBZRBT5YcqRb3g_GFKkoibC2oHLV5_Ocg9crtMrNxqqrowBo_EN7X4Ikr2n7SONeGPmJD6HacO6S6bQ2dbQmMGvvOHa/s960/11143590_10206345923300911_1532690093034403531_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><span style="text-align: left;">Jag says, "I use a variety of practices and creative imagery to guide you through a fun 'play date in the park'. Incorporating natural human movements like climbing, throwing, jumping, crawling, balancing, dancing, rolling, laughing and more, this is the kind of session you will look forward to: relaxing and energizing; restorative and explorative." </span></div></div></blockquote><p style="text-align: right;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uogNrRYHpdcYnpXzaYs-wmE-X2J2cDjRErmY83QGaZbDjSRT-UjdhzWLsYJkmMeBpS041kjZu_2lOWPRwpTD5ijq5vkuVVnRwjC3V-iVnc-LPwiAGWbIZEGEJaudV9mh8UJXZAzoaRvo/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uogNrRYHpdcYnpXzaYs-wmE-X2J2cDjRErmY83QGaZbDjSRT-UjdhzWLsYJkmMeBpS041kjZu_2lOWPRwpTD5ijq5vkuVVnRwjC3V-iVnc-LPwiAGWbIZEGEJaudV9mh8UJXZAzoaRvo/" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">Each session is different and inspired by and expertly tailored to your personal needs, desires and abilities. We can incorporate things you like to do, too, like yoga, swimming, running, stretching, meditation or other activities. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Gain practical fitness for real life while getting fresh air and sunshine.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhqCeXYYnK94Zbd2UYuLl0TmftXiWCVaRU7DnN5c0d2cLA2PG4RCOhK_ucsIoWAY9kDH5xjnaoVW9bRMecI84EbRNH8BG1KVSvHyR1yKXn5wEsAhqaY0sXeY1H2DSgiYslEpnWbFBX2ag/s2048/IMG_4740.jpeg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhqCeXYYnK94Zbd2UYuLl0TmftXiWCVaRU7DnN5c0d2cLA2PG4RCOhK_ucsIoWAY9kDH5xjnaoVW9bRMecI84EbRNH8BG1KVSvHyR1yKXn5wEsAhqaY0sXeY1H2DSgiYslEpnWbFBX2ag/w278-h209/IMG_4740.jpeg" width="278" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbs14uec6V9-djNl_UiiJZY8u9YGTfnQVz-HrU95DqXo7JN78TF-x4Bqmd4RUaqAGCSJoWHBBM3-6XSvETk3G6K7wZ60Uwz7QHdOFZ-tnDsVfBNfba242EWaf2WRutiT4mMMBbYELHxa4/s2048/IMG_4733.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbs14uec6V9-djNl_UiiJZY8u9YGTfnQVz-HrU95DqXo7JN78TF-x4Bqmd4RUaqAGCSJoWHBBM3-6XSvETk3G6K7wZ60Uwz7QHdOFZ-tnDsVfBNfba242EWaf2WRutiT4mMMBbYELHxa4/w279-h209/IMG_4733.jpeg" width="279" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Privates or groups of 2 - $400 / 8 sessions</span></div><p style="text-align: center;">Groups of 3 - $480 / 8 sessions</p><p style="text-align: center;">--</p><p style="text-align: center;">Contact me for more info:</p><p style="text-align: center;">JagHealthyLifestyle@gmail.com</p><p style="text-align: center;">917-331-3111 </p><p style="text-align: center;"> “Jag Healthy Lifestyle” on Facebook </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5md8Z0mOTgg" width="320" youtube-src-id="5md8Z0mOTgg"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jag is a lifelong mover and outdoor enthusiast. He is certified as a personal trainer, a Second Degree Black Belt Nia Teacher, a Nia FreeDance DJ and a Nia 5 Stages facilitator. He has been certified as a massage therapist and in many forms of yoga. He has learned and practiced many things, including strength training, swimming, surfing, tai chi, Animal Flow, MovNat, TacFit, Aikido, tennis, racquetball, squash, wrestling, skydiving, scuba diving, bouldering, dance, emotional development, NLP and HIIT. He has created several of his own fitness programs including Jag's Body Shop, Eight Pillars of Health, Human Movement and Energy Flow. Jag is passionate about learning and sharing things having to do with enjoying a healthy lifestyle and a healthy body/mind connection.</div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBna97FGAF0ZKOuCK4IGXcA7479zbuX5w0f95ysibzkxceplhsJkBBRcHOVu5JmaTUPIGpRmWaH9ELwwdxmkJvZ_1mnDxIFBJBlsuaLZCTa0xhMHqbW1J0c0yEr1-X_jCdkG2KARNZnbKh/s2048/IMG_4775.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBna97FGAF0ZKOuCK4IGXcA7479zbuX5w0f95ysibzkxceplhsJkBBRcHOVu5JmaTUPIGpRmWaH9ELwwdxmkJvZ_1mnDxIFBJBlsuaLZCTa0xhMHqbW1J0c0yEr1-X_jCdkG2KARNZnbKh/s320/IMG_4775.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40zSo2AXZLQAsakjJSdXdLaqKm8N1RmKzyoOjc-tu4rZxr8PJZ513coaEMdpmQhLlyJI6dVsKZ2MNLXN8S2awNC8q-6ze9PxnOpoYJuWXp3fuccDwc9o_ICDs2gVL-SUuV6kyUkvfkbIA/s160/546565_411554512197457_1019732455_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40zSo2AXZLQAsakjJSdXdLaqKm8N1RmKzyoOjc-tu4rZxr8PJZ513coaEMdpmQhLlyJI6dVsKZ2MNLXN8S2awNC8q-6ze9PxnOpoYJuWXp3fuccDwc9o_ICDs2gVL-SUuV6kyUkvfkbIA/s0/546565_411554512197457_1019732455_n.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-48678047798283380312021-05-11T15:06:00.006-07:002021-05-13T14:06:50.447-07:00Nia with JAG returns!<h2 style="text-align: left;"></h2><h1 style="text-align: center;">Nia with Jag is back! </h1><h2 style="text-align: center;"> Let's get together for live, in-person Nia. </h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2a3DRZI2kQ13_-BWqHyrU36Gv13ZdYn1CvbxYYPOQyzxyBklb8Sx3k0TzcOEFMtSE8Eat50PLFxGHK5J24LR6WD3cw9noGetRvM05mGRD4GKBNHwBgQJxVhbn4y-JTOoG7VFM3h1ub1f/s370/14479552_10210907303623908_1617776714567099203_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2a3DRZI2kQ13_-BWqHyrU36Gv13ZdYn1CvbxYYPOQyzxyBklb8Sx3k0TzcOEFMtSE8Eat50PLFxGHK5J24LR6WD3cw9noGetRvM05mGRD4GKBNHwBgQJxVhbn4y-JTOoG7VFM3h1ub1f/s320/14479552_10210907303623908_1617776714567099203_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Following the guidelines of phase 3 of re-opening, we are thrilled to be able to offer Nia classes of up to 10 people at Balance Studio for an experimental four-week trial period. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">DATES: Sundays, May 23, 30 & June 6, 13</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">TIME: 10am-11am</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">PLACE: Balance Studio<br /> 418 N 35th St. (Fremont)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXl_UZE0RIaeHuF3eajWMBlWvw6Ow1jmrRUayUxYIj3OgGvm-x4PbOugvGwYGth6wqrV6_nvmaDHS0FH5vWzKcWZybNNA1tQ_r5ua_4TewTWM2hgIDBhLIWz1i2K6PXwEUGahw2dgvb_2/s960/28279367_1820519754626405_3760324381065379536_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXl_UZE0RIaeHuF3eajWMBlWvw6Ow1jmrRUayUxYIj3OgGvm-x4PbOugvGwYGth6wqrV6_nvmaDHS0FH5vWzKcWZybNNA1tQ_r5ua_4TewTWM2hgIDBhLIWz1i2K6PXwEUGahw2dgvb_2/s320/28279367_1820519754626405_3760324381065379536_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><u>HERE'S HOW IT WORKS</u></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Class size is strictly limited to 10.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Masks are required at all times.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Full COVID-19 protocols are in effect.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Walk-in attendance is possible*, but pre-registration is strongly suggested.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">To register, email <i>jagfit@hotmail.com</i> or text 917-334-3111. Payment is accepted via Venmo or ApplePay to reserve a spot. You can also use a credit card to purchase one class at a time by visiting the PayPal link below. You do not need a PayPal account to use it. Due to the fees they charge me, the rate is $1 extra per class to use PayPal. There are no refunds on reservations as we will be holding a space for you whether you come or not. Please be sure you can attend class before you register. Until we reach capacity of ten people, reservations are accepted up until 9am the day of class. After 9am, you must walk in to attend*. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">COST: </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">$15 per class (pre-registered).</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> If you had a class card before, you can still use the remaining chits on that card. Email or text to reserve your spot.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">SPECIAL: $52 for all four classes paid in advance. Offer expires 9am, May 23</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">$20 walk-in.* </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">*Please be advised that there is a possibility of being turned away at the door if we are already at capacity and you don't have a reservation. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">As with just about everything these days, this situation is unprecedented and experimental so we reserve the right to adjust the rules if necessary.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Please contact Jag with any questions: <i>Jagfit@hotmail.com</i> or 917-334-3111.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Venmo @jagzu</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ApplePay @ 917-334-3111</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/3YG9MQPCP7DBL" target="_blank">Pay via PayPal, credit card or debit card </a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></p><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">******************************************</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a>ALSO: June 20 is Summer Solstice. So you are invited to join us as we enjoy...<p></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Outdoor Nia in the Park </span></h2><div><span style="font-weight: normal;">Ask to be put on the "interested" list and details will be forthcoming. </span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Most likely will be Sunday morning at 10am at Volunteer Park. </span></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5h7dV8lEXfDFh3vpAXnjLz9IR1q4wOK8PC6jeyqIyvtskG_ve4xQtv93BvkRvurpuGHNkcBpyCkolWg-0GcRPemOAkcGf51ufEJfhTQpT5XKzPd0SrYF6zMof5tXHmklR8Vnr1XFAdZ_F/s960/13343049_10204819146157096_259755304735608612_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5h7dV8lEXfDFh3vpAXnjLz9IR1q4wOK8PC6jeyqIyvtskG_ve4xQtv93BvkRvurpuGHNkcBpyCkolWg-0GcRPemOAkcGf51ufEJfhTQpT5XKzPd0SrYF6zMof5tXHmklR8Vnr1XFAdZ_F/s320/13343049_10204819146157096_259755304735608612_n.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span><br /></p></div>Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-65956166648766036552020-05-22T14:21:00.000-07:002020-07-21T14:05:15.763-07:00Human Movement- Nato Alphabet series <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The idea behind my Human Movement program is that consistency of movement is the most important aspect. Intensity isn’t as necessary as regularity. Skills are not required to get benefits from daily movements. Twice every day, I set aside at least ten minutes to move my body. Over the years I’ve embarked on many structured fitness or movement practice programs and have discovered that no matter what movements I’m practicing, I see results after I’ve been practicing consistently for several weeks. The problem is that I get bored of repetition or if I’m learning new skills, I progress to a certain point and then plateau and lose my motivation.<br />
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My solution is non structured daily recess time. I usually put music on for my sessions, and sometimes I dance to the music. But every time I practice Human Movement I am doing what my body wants. Some days I have a lot of energy and do a longer, more vigorous session, and other days I need gentle nurturing or healing and move accordingly that day. I never do more than I want to and I always feel better after my sessions.<br />
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I’ve been doing this for many years and have recently decided to start putting a sampling of my sessions online for people to use as motivation and inspiration to create their own Human Movement program.<br />
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The short videos you see below are previews of the longer videos available for purchase. They are not intended to be followed exactly but treated as if you were goofing around with a friend, dancing around, having fun, playing and sweating together. I describe each video and offer a peek into the session with the clips.<br />
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Contact me if you’re interested in getting a more customized program put together for you. Or pick and choose any videos that interest you. Use Venmo (@jagzu) or ApplePay.<br />
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Individual videos are $15<br />
Choose any three videos for $40<br />
Personal training sessions start at $80<br />
And if you want to purchase packages of training sessions the rate is much lower.<br />
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<a href="https://jasonalangriffin.blogspot.com/2020/04/human-movement.html" target="_blank">Greek Alphabet</a><br />
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This is the NATO phonetic alphabet series</div>
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Alpha is about half an hour of low key yoga. </div>
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Bravo is a spontaneous movement session largely based on freestyle dancing. It is about 18 minutes and moderate intensity. </div>
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Charlie is about an hour long. The first half is a slow paced strength session using held positions and slow muscular transitions. The second half is a seated meditation. </div>
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Delta starts with some free dancing that incorporates gymnastics type movements. In the middle of the session I run twice through my choreography for “Stairway to Heaven” which is the opening song of my “Rockin” Nia routine. Then I go back to spontaneously dancing with gymnastics.<br />
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Echo is about twenty minutes and fairly intense. Although my goal was to work through a short interval circuit, I was also simultaneously working on creating a new routine so there are lots of spontaneous dance breaks. I offer this one as a good example of how to have fun with a workout. </div>
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Foxtrot is a beautiful day in the park practicing several of my newest and most challenging Human Movements. I was inventing a “turtle” sequence as well as improving my lizard crawl and bridge rotations. I’m also learning a side supported body balance and a capoeira inspired roll. I do about 18 minutes of focused movement practice. I have no timer and no music so nothing to dictate my pace. The video finishes with sitting for a five minute meditation. </div>
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Golf is completely spontaneous. I am using a playlist sent by a colleague. She is considering using it for a new Nia routine and I wanted to give her some ideas by letting my session be guided by her music selections and the needs and desires of my body in the moment. The result is a fairly vigorous 50 minutes. I didn’t necessarily stick to moves that one would find in a Nia class. I practiced many of the movements I have been exploring and also found several choreography clicks that I would latch onto if I were to turn this playlist into a routine. </div>
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Hotel is about half an hour of playing in the grass. I mostly played with rolling and crawling. I intended to keep it low energy today but there were moments I had to stop and rest. </div>
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India is very gentle with liberal use of a blanket for reducing friction. Starting with squishy movements then into languid movements and developing into a light dance. Focused on moving the joints with slow focused awareness like in the Feldenkrais technique. I have read books and taken some courses and sessions of the work but I don’t know it or teach it. I am simply applying what I know and believe about it to a spontaneous practice loosely based on Nia Five Stages. </div>
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Juliet is about 42 minutes. There’s no structure. It’s all spontaneous. Sometimes I dance and sometimes I’m working on practicing some new moves or positions. The music is high energy but I wasn’t working too hard.<br />
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Kilo is a cool down session. I had just taken a very long 90 minute walk and this is what I did to stretch and decompress after all that walking. Very low intensity.<br />
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Lima is about half an hour long and split into two parts. First, with the music of Sun City Girls, it’s a spontaneous mobility flow with the focus on flexibility. And at about the halfway point, I switch. Then, to the music of Fleetwood Mac, I’m exploring the possibilities of choreography for a new routine. This is moderate intensity.<br />
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Mike is two sessions of spontaneous dancing with six sets of high intensity Tabata protocol intervals in between. It’s a total of about 43 minutes.<br />
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November is a low energy exploration of movement styles. It is a good example of a day that I didn’t feel like moving but I did it anyway and felt great afterwards. I promised myself I’d move to five songs and explore a different movement each song. I used mobility, agility, flexibility, balance and strength. It is about 21 minutes.<br />
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Oscar is a high energy session using my studio and equipment. Inspired by yoga and gymnastics, I’m spontaneously playing with physical expression. I use a pull-up bar, a step stool, the wall, dumbbells, a small rubber ball and a giant physio-ball.<br />
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Papa is a low key, semi structured movement session focusing on practicing a few challenging moves and combinations. I was feeling unmotivated today so I just set the timer for Tabata Intervals and used the twenty second intervals to practice and the ten second intervals for resting and/or stretching. It’s a total of about 31 minutes.<br />
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Quebec is about thirty minutes and pretty low intensity. I was playing around with five basic movements: scales, twists, planks, punches and single-leg squats (pistols).<br />
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Romeo is about 26 minutes. My intention was to practice some invigorating and relaxing movements but I got swept up in the classic rock music I was playing and ended up dancing quite a bit. Pink Floyd, The Stooges, Queen, The Doors etc. YouTube blocked the preview video in some countries because I used too much of a Fleetwood Mac song.</div>
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Sierra, a thirty minute video, is basically a standard Sivananda yoga sequence. In addition to the typical poses, it includes alternate nostril breathing in the beginning and some surfing inspired movements at the end.<br />
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Tango is 55 minutes of spontaneous dance. I’m exploring an updated playlist that is likely to become my next routine. If you’re keeping track, the first exploration of this routine is in the Golf video. I had changed some of the songs around and am still in the experimental stage of creation.<br />
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Uniform is a morning mobility session. No pushing or struggling at all. The goal is to loosen, relax and energize in preparation for the day. It’s about 35 minutes total.<br />
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Victor is vigorous. It starts with some sun salutations and then, using the Tabata protocol I practiced six movements. Then I stretched and danced it out for a few more songs before I was done. The full video is 53 minutes.<br />
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Whiskey is about 50 minutes of dancing. I played a twenty year old playlist and did whatever choreography I could remember. I also explored some spontaneous movement as the mood struck. I ended up very sweaty after this high energy session. I forgot to move the speaker close to the camera so the sound has a distant quality, but the moves for my classic routine “Orbit” are solid.<br />
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X-ray is a brief recovery session. It’s 13 minutes of relaxing, stretching and very gently mobilizing on a morning that I find myself waking up feeling stiff and sore. After this session I felt good enough to run and play freely with River in the park </div>
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Yankee is an example of how even when nothing seems to go as planned, just moving around for 43 minutes is its own reward. I had set out to work on some choreography for a routine I’m putting together but nothing came to me today. My dog interrupted me. My mind was not remembering the moves I had planned. And the battery to my speaker ran out before I finished the fifty minutes of music. </div>
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Zulu is about 19 minutes. It starts with a spontaneous warm up and then I use a FitDeck. There is an exercise printed on each card. I choose a card to create my session. The session ends with a basic stretching sequence. . </div>
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Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-75176974150561252732020-04-29T12:56:00.000-07:002020-07-21T14:02:25.932-07:00Human Movement - Greek Alphabet seriesJag’s Body Shop is a laboratory and a healthy playground for movement. The purpose is to enjoy being in a body and to explore our human potential. A very important aspect of Jag’s Body Shop is called Human Movement. Not structured or protocol driven, it is movement done for fun and pleasure and can also be used to facilitate loosening, stretching and strengthening, improve balance, flow, and energy and develop graceful coordination by learning and practicing simple skills. It uses little to no equipment and is meant to be practiced anywhere at any time that’s convenient. Jag has been practicing this technique since he created it out of necessity following a bad shoulder injury in 2008. And starting May 2020, he is making it possible for you to practice Human Movement with Jag online.<br />
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Human Movement begins by putting on music (if desired) and just starting to gently explore whatever movement you feel inspired to do that day. It is important that you pay attention to how each movement feels and how it is affecting you physically mentally and emotionally. Only do movements that interest, intrigue, entertain, and please you. Stop when you feel done. I usually tell myself I’ll move to at least three songs and I often do much longer than that. Occasionally I won’t even finish the three songs. It isn’t necessary to accomplish any goal except to improve the way you feel. It is ok to be very gentle if that’s what you need, and if it feels good it is ok to be very vigorous. It is good to challenge yourself to learn new movements or practice old movements or just to wiggle around like a child or a puppy. Through this approach we develop gracefulness, ease, relaxation and self control, which comes from practicing gradually and always having fun while learning.<br />
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Jag records his own Human Movement practice sessions and makes them available for purchase to use at home. They range between very gentle to fairly intense and anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour in length check out the list below to see clips from each video on his YouTube channel: Jag Justjag. The full versions of all of those videos can be used over and over again for $15 via Venmo or ApplePay. Look through the video teasers and contact Jag with the title you’re interested in. Get any three at one time for $40<br />
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Jag is also available for online personal training which entails half-hour video chat coaching sessions and custom-made videos for home practice.<br />
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<b>Ready to start?</b> Use the name @jagzu to pay via Venmo.<br />
I can also accept Apple Pay<br />
<b>Questions?</b> Contact Jag at jagfit@hotmail.com for more details or to inquire about availability for training.<br />
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AVAILABLE VIDEOS<br />
This is the Greek Alphabet Series<br />
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Omega is about 32 minutes. I was pretending I knew how to box. I was a wrestler in school; I’ve never taken a single boxing lesson. But today I played as if. The workout starts with five minutes of “jump rope”, then five minutes of “speed bag”, three minutes of “jabs”, five minutes of “hooks”, four minutes of “uppercuts” and then finishes with ten minutes of cooling down, mobility and stretches. </div>
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Psi is about 13 minutes and very gentle. It’s intended to be done first thing in the morning or anytime your body needs some healing. I was sore and stiff from an intense day and my goal for this session was to relax, stretch and feel good. </div>
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There is no structure except that I was aware I wanted to move each of my joints. This was accomplished but I didn’t go in any particular order. </div>
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Chi is about 27 minutes. It’s fairly high energy and pretty simple. The focus was to get sweaty and out of breath, so I used about six or seven minutes to warm up with quick and playful spontaneous movements then went into a structured section. When I designed the session, I didn’t realize how intense it was going to be. The only equipment I used was a yoga mat and at one point I used the wall to lean against in a handstand. After the structured section, I did some yoga like stretches and then sat still for a few breaths before getting on with my day. </div>
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Phi is a low key mobility session followed by a brief super slow workout. The full video is 12 minutes. The mobility session is mostly standing so a good choice if you don’t want to get down on the floor but do want to loosen up or warm up or increase energy. The super slow exercises are using the concept of “time under tension” to get a full workout by doing one exercise so slowly that it fully taxes the muscles. It is deceptively challenging to move slowly enough to make the single repetition take longer than a minute. My goal is to work up to 90 seconds, but on this day I could only do around 50 seconds. </div>
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Upsilon is a gentle mobility based warm up. Great for when you’re feeling stiff or sore. It’s about 19 minutes and leaves me feeling energized and ready to face the day </div>
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Tau is a vigorous session focused on increasing metabolism. It is a HIIT session using the Tabata protocol. The moves are based on gymnastics, wrestling, yoga and calisthenics. Several variations are shown for each movement. This type of session leaves me glowing and feeling like I did some serious work. </div>
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Sigma is a two-part video. The morning session is about ten minutes and takes place in my home. The focus is on flexibility. I apologize that I was using the phone as both camera and speaker so the music is incredibly loud. I won’t do that again. </div>
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The second part of the video takes place at a local park where the focus is on practicing some advanced human movements that challenge me. There is no music playing in the park section, so if you had turned the volume down for the first part, you can turn it back up again to hear the park ambiance. </div>
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Rho is about 25 minutes. It’s a split session; 10 minutes in the morning practicing Nia 5 Stages (River loves that practice and tries to join me a couple times) and in the afternoon I spent about fifteen minutes pretending I knew how to do Tai Chi. Of course it is all just fun spontaneous playful Human Movement. </div>
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Pi is a 23 minute video focused on mobility and flexibility. It’s mostly simple movements without being too strenuous but also occasionally holds some delicious stretches. This is a spontaneous session. </div>
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Omicron is a thirty minute session focused on stability. After about ten minutes of flowing yoga-like movements, it goes into a series of four positions held for thirty seconds with thirty seconds rest between positions. The positions are intended to challenge and improve strength while stationary. The basic positions are squat, hang, plank and side plank. A wide array of variations are shown.<br />
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Xi is a 21 minute video. It’s mostly vigorous anaerobic exercise but I’m playing music so I also can’t help breaking into dance often. I was using a free version of Spotify so there are also occasional commercials. I use the pull up bar in this one but it’s still mostly body weight exercises. </div>
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Nu is what happens when I do yoga in the style of Human Movement. You may recognize some version of tree, dancer, chair, triangle, warrior, dog, camel, gate, split, butterfly, happy baby, abdomen vacuum seal, fish, bridge, corpse, plank, eagle, lion and rabbit poses but you may also notice that I take lots of liberties and make playtime out of it. </div>
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Mu is about 23 minutes and fairly athletic. It uses six songs from the original Broadway cast recording of Bill Whelan’s Riverdance. The moves are inspired by Debbie Rosas, Athletic Nia routine Firedance, and combine dancing, calisthenics and martial arts.</div>
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Lambda is a run-through of my newest work, the Hope routine. It’s mostly done, but still needs some polishing, tweaking and adjusting. But this is what I have now. It is presented in the silent fashion, so you will clearly hear the music and see my movements, but I am not giving instructions or pearls. </div>
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I talk for the first eight minutes about how the Hope routine got its title and what Hope means to me. Then I talk about what is developing for me as a focus and what I’m using as a muse to get me to that focus and intent. So here is Hope. </div>
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Music by Maya Jane Coles, Laar, Alex Cortiz, Jain, Yello, Banco de Gaia, Kid Koala and more. </div>
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Kappa is a spontaneous movement session. I had a list of calisthenics movements I wanted to include and I took my time to organically find each movement coming out of flowing and dancing to the music. The video quality is low but the sound is good. I almost deleted this video due to the low resolution but as I viewed it, I didn’t find the low resolution prevented me from seeing the moves, so I decided to keep it as part of the program. This is a longer one, at about 42 minutes. </div>
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Iota is a full 50 minute workout. It starts out with some spontaneous warm up movements and then goes into a HIIT style session using a Tabata protocol for six different exercises. My dog, River, usually stays in the corner or on his box while I’m working out but today he decided to lie between me and the camera. He’s in the foreground the whole time but never blocks the view. </div>
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Theta is a gentle session in response to what my body was feeling after working so much on two vigorous songs for my Hope routine. I spontaneously took care of my body while jamming to some Widowspeak. The session lasts about 22 minutes. Then, I figured I should include those moves that my body craved into the routine. So then there’s an additional ten minutes where I was test driving my new inspiration for the last two songs, the FloorPlay cycle of Hope. </div>
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Eta is a peek into my choreography process. I wasn’t happy with what I was doing for two songs from my newest routine, Hope. I spent the entire session going back and forth, re-doing those two songs over and over. I put together five repetitions of a Yello song “Hawaiian Chance”. It is a high energy song. It is literally the climax of the routine, so today’s session was quite vigorous. It’s about 21 minutes. </div>
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Zeta uses five songs from my Hope routine playlist. Each song is about five minutes and I do one activity per song with as many variations as I can come up with. I do Nia Five Stages to “Kama Kum” by Banco De Gaia; gymnastics warmups to “Tilinko” by Laar/Zoohacker; lunges to “Spring Arrives” by Azam Ali; ape to “The Earth Dance” by Hugo Kant; and bug to “Funk Me Up Baby” by Alex Cortiz. </div>
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Epsilon is a high energy dance and gymnastics romp. Mostly spontaneous but at times I’m exploring choreography inspirations. Whenever I wear my leopard spots, I feel like a circus acrobat so that is reflected in my approach today. I was interacting a little bit with the furniture just for fun. </div>
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Delta is about 25 minutes and mostly on the floor. It only uses the pull-up bar for about fifteen seconds so it’s misleading that it shows up as the thumbnail. It starts with about five minutes of dance and then is a fairly high energy demonstration of as many variations of five basic exercises as I can think of in about four minutes each.</div>
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Gamma is about 13 minutes and pretty intense. I spend about a minute each on some body weight movements interspersed with a little free mobility. </div>
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Beta about twenty minutes of flowing to the music with an emphasis on gymnastic style FloorPlay. It uses a massage table at the end but the things I demonstrate can be done on a bed, couch, bench or many things. And I also use some yoga blocks in the last few minutes to practice stability, which could be done on some books or anything. </div>
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Alpha is about 15 minutes of spontaneous movement playing a lot with the slippery feeling of the blanket on a wood floor. If you don’t have a blanket you could wear socks and cotton sweats to get the same effect. At times, the blanket serves as knee pads by bunching up beneath me when I kneel. I’ve also heard of people replicating the slippery feeling by placing a large garbage bag down if they have carpet. Placing a towel between your body and the garbage bag improves comfort and give you a bit of the knee-pads effect as well. </div>
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Check out my other pages for more videos</div>
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<br />Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-30787027633078000162019-04-10T17:46:00.001-07:002019-04-10T17:46:15.738-07:00Spirit BirdThe Spirit Bird routine was created by JAG with the spirit of collaboration. As JAG describes it, "I feel like I gave this routine a few sparks in the community and created the space for this routine to manifest itself. A strong 'bird' motif showed up as I created the playlist and then the concept of 'flight' in our movement naturally followed." Spirit Bird is an empowering and freeing routine focused on the Ground in order to give our bodies Flight.<br />
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The focus of the routine is on The Sensation of Grounded, which is an awareness of the relationship between the foot and the earth. The intent is to use the power of the Ground to find Mobility, Strength Agility, Flexibility and Stability. It is a lovely opportunity to explore the Three Planes of Movement and a great chance to use awareness of your Levels One, Two and Three to find a relaxed powerful flight.<br />
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Flight can be described as feeling heavy on the outside but light on the inside. Or magnetically attached to the earth, and at the same time floating upward into the sky. It can be perceived as a force that lifts, or pulls the body away from Earth, when we focus on connecting down into it.<br />
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Students are saying that they feel transformed by what this routine brings up and they like that there are two or three pop songs that are fun to dance and sing along to. This routine leaves students feeling confident, strong, secure and powerful.<br />
Some of the musical artists featured in the routine are Xavier Rudd, Sofa Surfers, Bob Marley and Dead Can Dance.<br />
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The power of this routine is in the repetition of a basic sinking down into the earth and then reaching up to the sky at the same time. It is the connection of those two actions and intentions that transforms our movement into expressions of our power and our spirits.<br />
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This routine is a perfect follow-up to the Blue Earth routine, which introduced a move borrow from the equestrian, Tennessee Walker. The non-impact, quick-foot stance change. That movement is also used in one song in Spirit Bird.<br />
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Learning this routine taught me some new movements, such as a front to back variation on the Turn/Return. It also offers a fun song in the count of five, which gives us the unusual timeless sensation of waiting that one extra beat before repeating.<br />
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Below is a sample of a flyer and some graphics and copy that you are free to use to create your own flyer announcing JAG's visit.<br />
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IMPORTANT: Please do include some mention that River will be present. I do not like anyone to be surprised by the presence of my dog, even though I go to great lengths to make him as invisible and unobtrusive as possible. Those with allergies and/or phobias would definitely appreciate knowing in advance, and please do inform ALL students with the message on the flyer that River needs to be ignored or he will be upset and bark.<br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/f0HosLwi7iA/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f0HosLwi7iA?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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Spirit Bird (Apr. 2019)</div>
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Choreography: JAG</div>
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Music: Xavier Rudd</div>
<br />Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-21298629339403832412019-03-20T15:34:00.000-07:002019-07-08T11:59:41.696-07:00JAG's 2019 Classes and Workshops<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2a3DRZI2kQ13_-BWqHyrU36Gv13ZdYn1CvbxYYPOQyzxyBklb8Sx3k0TzcOEFMtSE8Eat50PLFxGHK5J24LR6WD3cw9noGetRvM05mGRD4GKBNHwBgQJxVhbn4y-JTOoG7VFM3h1ub1f/s1600/14479552_10210907303623908_1617776714567099203_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="370" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2a3DRZI2kQ13_-BWqHyrU36Gv13ZdYn1CvbxYYPOQyzxyBklb8Sx3k0TzcOEFMtSE8Eat50PLFxGHK5J24LR6WD3cw9noGetRvM05mGRD4GKBNHwBgQJxVhbn4y-JTOoG7VFM3h1ub1f/s320/14479552_10210907303623908_1617776714567099203_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
Saturday - Sunday, April 27 - 28<br />
"Men of Nia", classes and playshops @ Soma Ranch<br />
10176 Pooles Rd.<br />
Montgomery, TX<br />
_____________________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Wednesday, May 8<br />
10:30 am<br />
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ Health Within<br />
8226 196th Ave. NE<br />
Redmond, WA<br />
___________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Thursday, May 16<br />
9:00 am<br />
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ Embody Movement Studio<br />
115 S Tower Ave<br />
Centralia, WA<br />
_____________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Saturday, May 18<br />
10:00 am<br />
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ Just Move Studio<br />
35859 Hwy 58<br />
Pleasant Hill, OR<br />
______________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Monday, May 20<br />
10:00 am<br />
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ Shine Collective<br />
578 Searls Ave<br />
Nevada City, CA<br />
______________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Thursday, May 23<br />
10:00 am<br />
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ Ace Dance Academy<br />
1825 Mt Diablo Blvd<br />
Walnut Creek, CA<br />
______________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Saturday, May 25<br />
1:00 - 4:00 pm<br />
"Martial Arts in Nia" workshop and Nia class @ LADA<br />
15255 Ventura Blvd - Annex 3<br />
Sherman Oaks, CA<br />
______________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Monday, June 3<br />
9:00 am<br />
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ StudioNia Santa Fe<br />
851 W San Mateo Rd<br />
Santa Fe, NM<br />
______________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Monday, June 3<br />
3:45 pm<br />
"Family Nia"<br />
851 W San Mateo Rd<br />
Santa Fe, NM<br />
_______________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Tuesday, June 4<br />
7:00 am<br />
"Twenty Minute Workout" Nia class<br />
851 W San Mateo Rd<br />
Santa Fe, NM<br />
________________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Tuesday, June 4<br />
7:30 am<br />
"Spirit Bird" Nia routine @ StudioNia Santa Fe<br />
851 W San Mateo Rd<br />
Santa Fe, NM<br />
______________________________________________________<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Tuesday, June 4</div>
<div>
4:30 pm</div>
<div>
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ Studio Sway</div>
<div>
1100 San Mateo Blvd NE</div>
<div>
Albuquerque, NM</div>
<div>
_________________________________________________________</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Wednesday, June 5</div>
<div>
4:30 pm</div>
<div>
"Spirit Bird" Nia routine @ Studio Sway</div>
<div>
1100 San Mateo Blvd NE</div>
<div>
Albuquerque, NM</div>
<div>
_______________________________________________________</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thursday, June 6</div>
<div>
7:00 am</div>
<div>
"Twenty Minute Workout" Nia class @ StudioNia Santa Fe</div>
851 W San Mateo Rd<br />
Santa Fe, NM<br />
______________________________________________________<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thursday, June 6</div>
<div>
7:30 am</div>
<div>
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ StudioNia Santa Fe</div>
851 W San Mateo Rd<br />
Santa Fe, NM<br />
______________________________________________________<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Friday, June 7</div>
<div>
9:00 am</div>
<div>
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ StudioNia Santa Fe</div>
851 W San Mateo Rd<br />
Santa Fe, NM<br />
______________________________________________________<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Wednesday, June 12</div>
<div>
9:45 am</div>
<div>
a Nia collaboration team-taught with Jule Aguirre @ MoveStudio</div>
<div>
17062 Preston Rd</div>
<div>
Dallas, TX</div>
<div>
____________________________________________________</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Friday, June 14</div>
<div>
9:15 am</div>
<div>
"Spirit Bird" Nia routine </div>
<div>
followed by a playshop "Sensing our Feet Touching the Earth to give our Bodies a Sensation of Flying" @ Synergy Studio</div>
<div>
300 E Grayson</div>
<div>
San Antonio, TX</div>
<div>
_____________________________________________________</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Wednesday, June 19</div>
<div>
9:00 am</div>
<div>
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ Mayama Studio</div>
<div>
625 4th Ave.</div>
<div>
Lyons, CO</div>
<div>
______________________________________________________</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Friday, June 21</div>
<div>
9:00 am</div>
<div>
"Spirit Bird" Nia routine @ Mayama Studio</div>
<div>
625 4th Ave.</div>
<div>
Lyons, CO</div>
<div>
______________________________________________________</div>
<div>
<br />
Friday, June 21<br />
6:30 pm<br />
"The Woodstock Experience" Nia routine @iBody<br />
1177 S Pennsylvania St.<br />
Denver, CO<br />
____________________________________________________<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Sunday, June 23</div>
<div>
10:15 am</div>
<div>
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ Mayama Studio</div>
<div>
625 4th Ave.</div>
<div>
Lyons, CO</div>
<div>
______________________________________________________</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Monday, June 24</div>
<div>
9:00 am</div>
<div>
"Spirit Bird" Nia routine @ Mayama Studio</div>
<div>
625 4th Ave.</div>
<div>
Lyons, CO</div>
<div>
______________________________________________________</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Friday, June 28</div>
<div>
9:45 am</div>
<div>
"Spirit Bird" Nia routine @ Dance Camp w/ Britta</div>
<div>
Embody Studio<br />
823 Main St.<br />
Sandpoint, WA</div>
<div>
______________________________________________________</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Saturday, June 29</div>
<div>
time tbd</div>
<div>
"Spirit Bird" Nia routine @ Shelley's Studio<br />
time tbd</div>
<div>
1825 Howell Ave</div>
<div>
Richland, WA</div>
<div>
______________________________________________________<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxV3UEA8ql9TxVQNh8i9226kVM-SnNFy3fGxIGWKs4pB66o8YPQKI1O6FTM0aBNeRL_pZdUn_VdDAsc-1AG_w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
JAG teaching "Fantastic" in Edwardsville, IL, August 2017</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyP0kLG2PIqAwOc9SOiXuhtDQvM1_4jORvx92SzszxOw9EQsctKro8pBJAUhNwI0Lkv4fEeo9GfNBzCcso72Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
JAG teaching "Amazing" in Billings, MT, August 2017</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwzyZ1eC7DXwwbZiqyG8fG5J4dudo94eu0UaupuXMOSGz1xzgA7QHJEILac7MBjzg2ESB4QhhimxByuVsfajA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
JAG teaching "Orchestra" in Minneapolis, MN, August 2017</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
***</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwo_UnHkPKkc_UqXYDiSg7EFBjhnu9A30ELZMLhlBmsbKJHnS9DDRYdoxRn1_gh3p0ArgWTC6t01uH0X4Pk-w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
River playing at Ocean Springs, MS September 2017<br />
<br />
***<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwEfvh5FRC-tFbYSNy5ygBaXVoT-MLkto-hOVZKsMlA0l37wxpGW9hQ2EFrkgOt6e_JkhYxXFSxvgHzlZgKcw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
River playing in the creek in Sedona, AZ, Sept 2017</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Wed, July 24<br />
5:45pm<br />
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ Buddhio<br />
915 S Perry St.<br />
Spokane, WA<br />
<br />
___________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Thurs, July 25<br />
10:30 am<br />
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ Peak Health and Wellness<br />
190 W Centra<br />
Hayden, ID<br />
_____________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Mon, July 29<br />
8:00 am<br />
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ Sattva<br />
3200 Bryant Ave S<br />
Minneapolis, MN<br />
_____________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Mon, July 29<br />
6:15 pm<br />
"Spirit Bird" Nia routine @ Center for Performing Arts<br />
3754 Pleasant Ave. S. (Sunroom-main floor)<br />
Minneapolis, MN<br />
_____________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Fri, Aug 2<br />
5:30 pm<br />
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ BodyMoves Fitness<br />
1801 2nd St.<br />
Coralville, IA<br />
___________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Sun, Aug 4<br />
1:00 pm<br />
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ Academy Hart Dance<br />
4747 Pioneers Blvd<br />
Lincoln, NE<br />
__________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Sun, Aug 11<br />
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm<br />
"Bliss" playshop<br />
Communio Health & Fitness<br />
904 E Scott St.<br />
Pensacola, FL<br />
_____________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Mon, Aug 12<br />
9:00 am<br />
"ChakraDancer" Nia routine / Moving Meditation<br />
Communio Health & Fitness<br />
904 E Scott St.<br />
Pensacola, FL<br />
______________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Tues, Aug 13<br />
9:00 am<br />
"Nia Moving Mediation" routine<br />
Communio Health & Fitness<br />
904 E Scott St.<br />
Pensacola, FL<br />
_______________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Wed, Aug 14<br />
7:00 pm<br />
"Blue Earth" Nia routine<br />
Visionary Athletes<br />
716 N Main St<br />
Gainesville, FL<br />
________________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Sat, Aug 17<br />
9:30 am<br />
"Blue Earth" Nia routine<br />
Hip Expressions Studio<br />
2033 54th Ave. N<br />
St. Petersburg, FL<br />
______________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Sat, Aug 17<br />
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm<br />
"Bliss: Flight Playshop"<br />
Hip Expressions Studio<br />
2033 54th Ave. N<br />
St. Petersburg, FL<br />
_______________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Sun, Aug 18<br />
10:00 am<br />
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ Wild Ginger Lifestyle<br />
6557 Superior Ave<br />
Sarasota, FL<br />
_____________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Tues, Aug 20<br />
10:00 am<br />
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ Star Ballroom<br />
2309 E Atlantic Blvd<br />
Pompano Beach, FL<br />
__________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Thurs, Aug 22<br />
9:45 am<br />
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ Marla's School of Dance<br />
1015 16th Ave. NW<br />
Surfside Beach, SC<br />
___________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Thurs, Aug 22<br />
6:00 pm - 8:00pm<br />
"Blue Earth" Nia routine and playshop @ Blue Moon Ballroom<br />
554 Meeting Street<br />
West Columbia, SC<br />
___________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Fri, Aug 23<br />
10:30 am<br />
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ n~motion Studio<br />
867 Stockbridge Dr #757<br />
Fort Mill, SC<br />
_________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Fri, Aug 23<br />
6:30 pm<br />
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ Soul Shine Studio<br />
9200 Stony Point Parkway<br />
Richmond, VA<br />
________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Sat, Aug 24<br />
11:45am<br />
"Spirit Bird" Nia routine @ ACAC<br />
11621 Robious Rd<br />
Midlothian, VA<br />
__________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Sat, Aug 24<br />
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm<br />
"Bliss: Taking Flight Playshop" @ ACAC<br />
11621 Robious Rd<br />
Midlothian, VA<br />
__________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Mon, Aug 26<br />
10:00 am<br />
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ Ratner Museum<br />
10000 Old Georgetown Rd.<br />
Bethesda, MD<br />
__________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Mon, Aug 26<br />
6:45 pm<br />
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ Movement Lab<br />
301 W 29th St.<br />
Baltimore, MD<br />
______________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Tues, Aug 27<br />
1:30 pm<br />
"Spirit Bird" Nia routine @ Movement Lab<br />
301 W 29th St.<br />
Baltimore, MD<br />
___________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Wed, Aug 28<br />
3:00 pm<br />
"Spirit Bird" Nia routine PLUS "Taking Flight" playshop @ Portland New Church<br />
302 Stevens Ave.<br />
Portland, ME<br />
___________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Fri, Aug 30<br />
9:30 am<br />
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ The Center for Nia and Yoga<br />
1720 Central Ave.<br />
Albany, NY<br />
_____________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Fri, Aug 30<br />
6:00 pm<br />
"Spirit Bird" Nia routine @ Body Bliss<br />
69 Gettle Rd<br />
Averill Park, NY<br />
____________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Sat, Aug 31<br />
9:00 am<br />
"Blue Earth" Nia routine @ Berkshire Yoga Dance and Fitness<br />
55 North St.<br />
Pittsfield, MA<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-1720686729853560442019-01-10T15:39:00.001-08:002019-07-05T14:40:56.391-07:00JAG & River: Road Trip 2019This is a list of scheduled stops for my 2019 Road Trip. It's a list of places I'm sleeping and has nothign to do with where I'll teach and or visit during the day. Most nights I'll be at Motel 6 with a few exceptions as noted.<br />
Visit this page to see <a href="https://jasonalangriffin.blogspot.com/2018/06/jag-menu-2018.html" target="_blank">what routines I'll be bringing this year:</a><br />
And visit this page to see <a href="https://jasonalangriffin.blogspot.com/2019/03/jags-2019-classes-and-workshops.html" target="_blank">what teaching gigs I have set up</a>.<br />
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WASHINGTON<br />
Centralia - Wed, May 15 (Embody Studio teacher loft)<br />
<br />
OREGON<br />
Portland - Thur, May 16<br />
Springfield - Fri, May 17<br />
Medford - Sat, May 18<br />
<br />
CALIFORNIA<br />
Marysville - Sun, May 19<br />
San Rafael - Mon-Thurs, May 20-23<br />
Santa Barbara - Fri, May 24 - ? (Aunt Dorothy’s house)<br />
Orange County tbd<br />
Twentynine Palms - Thur, May 30<br />
<br />
ARIZONA<br />
Kingman - Fri, May 31<br />
Sedona - Sat, June 1 (Alba’s house)<br />
<br />
NEW MEXICO<br />
Santa Fe - Sun-Mon, June 2-3<br />
Albuquerque - Tues, June 4<br />
Santa Fe - Wed-Sun, June 5-9<br />
<br />
TEXAS<br />
Amarillo - Mon, June 10<br />
Dallas - Tues, June 11<br />
Houston - Wed, June 12<br />
San Antonio - Thurs-Sat, June 13-15<br />
Amarillo - Sun, June 16<br />
<br />
NEW MEXICO<br />
Santa Fe - Mon, June 17<br />
<br />
COLORADO<br />
Fort Lupton - Tues-Mon, June 18-24<br />
<br />
WYOMING<br />
Evanston - Tues, June 25<br />
<br />
MONTANA<br />
W. Yellowstone - Wed, June 26 (KOA campsite)<br />
<br />
IDAHO<br />
Couer d'Alene - Thurs, June 27<br />
<br />
WASHINGTON<br />
Richland - Fri, June 28<br />
Seattle - Sat, June 29 - Tues, July 16<br />
<br />
OREGON<br />
Seaside - Wed-Fri, July 17-19<br />
<br />
WASHINGTON<br />
Seattle - Sat-Tues, July 20-23<br />
Spokane - Wed, July 24<br />
<br />
MONTANA<br />
Butte - Thurs, July 25<br />
Billings - Fri, July 26<br />
<br />
NORTH DAKOTA<br />
Bismarck - Sat, July 27<br />
<br />
MINNESOTA<br />
Brooklyn Center - Sun-Tues, July 28-30<br />
<br />
IOWA<br />
Cedar Rapids - Wed-Fri, July 31-Aug 2<br />
<br />
NEBRASKA<br />
Lincoln - Sat-Sun, Aug 3-4<br />
<br />
KANSAS<br />
Lenexa - Mon-Tues, Aug 5-6<br />
<br />
MISSOURI<br />
Fenton - Wed, Aug 7<br />
<br />
KENTUCKY<br />
Louisville - Thur, Aug 8 (Red Roof Inn)<br />
<br />
GEORGIA<br />
Bremen - Fri, Aug 9<br />
<br />
FLORIDA<br />
Pensacola - Sat-Tues, Aug 10-13<br />
Gainesville - Wed, Aug 14<br />
Bradenton - Thur-Sun, Aug 15-18<br />
Dania Beach - Mon, Aug 19<br />
Jacksonville- Tues, Aug 20<br />
<br />
SOUTH CAROLINA<br />
Myrtle Beach - Wed, Aug 21 (Red Roof Inn)<br />
Rock Hill - Thur, Aug 22<br />
<br />
VIRGINIA<br />
Richmond - Fri, Sat, Aug 23,24<br />
<br />
MARYLAND<br />
Linthicum Heights - Sun, Mon, Aug 25, 26<br />
<br />
CONNECTICUT<br />
Southington - Tues, Aug 27<br />
<br />
MAINE<br />
Freeport - Wed, Aug 28 (Econo Lodge)<br />
<br />
NEW YORK<br />
Albany - Thurs-Sat, Aug 29-31<br />
New York City - "<a href="https://jasonalangriffin.blogspot.com/2018/10/ghost-light.html" target="_blank">Ghost Light</a>" Sept, Oct, Nov - ???<br />
<br />Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-89274666690316997842018-10-10T15:26:00.000-07:002018-10-10T15:33:06.137-07:00Ghost LightDoing this show was a whirlwind incredible experience. I consider myself, for the most part, retired from show business and now only pursue acting for the love of the art and the joy of practicing. I only occasionally look at casting call websites and am not interested in 95% of what I find there. But this particular notice for Ghost Light caught my eye for many reasons.<br />
<br />
Tod Rainey's ad introduced him as an award winning theater artist from NYC who had worked with Alan Menkin and Public Enemy and on the Sleep No More project. He didn't describe the Ghost Light script except to say that he was interested in doing an immersive thing similar to Sleep No More. If you don't know what Sleep No More is, I urge you to look into it as it was one of the most memorable evenings I have ever spent immersed in a theatrical production. So I put together a monologue really quickly and went to go meet Tod.<br />
<br />
Tod's energy was distinctly "New York"and I felt a connection right away as I did leave a big part of my heart in the big apple. He liked my monologue and gave me a piece of the script to read. His comment afterward was "you're the real deal" and he told me that the role of Max, which I had read for, was already cast, but that he's working on something and will get back to me.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvze5cEN7B24C3pFNgz2gvYTzMBP4i1ZAYJPtWx6wrcym4Rm1hrndkL4cyW_XojUWEppg3d8vOgJVQIvLGITmWUQMaYKqm9uZJYNt-75jfgERvUFL-5qngobfOzGWDwrRDIWjK7QhUn0t3/s1600/TodMax.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="688" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvze5cEN7B24C3pFNgz2gvYTzMBP4i1ZAYJPtWx6wrcym4Rm1hrndkL4cyW_XojUWEppg3d8vOgJVQIvLGITmWUQMaYKqm9uZJYNt-75jfgERvUFL-5qngobfOzGWDwrRDIWjK7QhUn0t3/s320/TodMax.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tod giving Jag a thumbs up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was invited to join the project and at the first read through of the script, I was listed as "Gabriel". But Tod explained that the "Max" he had cast was not able to commit, so he asked me to read the part of Max and someone else was to read the Gabriel part. That person also eventually dropped out of the cast and the wonderful Danny Willis was brought in later to play Gabriel. I read for Max that day and never looked back.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNlTC6J_2j-Hc-WPrmCmY793RKnLSX51mADVaGXkXKybC2Wfrogc16M59CaUk9vV1HdzLeB8V0mGy8fwbiwgUKetpuzIk5TjBZ26AqB0c3QY5V1QKVCmzNKhFooxQosywEsuX5BB2lOXx/s1600/Gabriel.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="769" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNlTC6J_2j-Hc-WPrmCmY793RKnLSX51mADVaGXkXKybC2Wfrogc16M59CaUk9vV1HdzLeB8V0mGy8fwbiwgUKetpuzIk5TjBZ26AqB0c3QY5V1QKVCmzNKhFooxQosywEsuX5BB2lOXx/s320/Gabriel.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Danny Willis as "Gabriel"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Tod hadn't shared the script before the first read-through. We all read it cold. So I had no idea what the story was or what the parts were. I saw that the script described Max as being a washed up vaudevillian who thought he was playing Lear on Broadway, and Tod told us that he wanted it 'big and broad like Looney Tunes'. So I didn't hold back.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV08P2sBtLL2k8Gm4vPFMzbkzb9gnZUdSzZqKWAnNy0xGlDVRPBg1Lx7xlgMFGbEjbb-GoM6488qwSYCdNKP-GQxhDWqXDhDKuIILkXhIFp-CXf7GVPc707mwmh1SXzYMYf9XnOY2ictoa/s1600/Max2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="357" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV08P2sBtLL2k8Gm4vPFMzbkzb9gnZUdSzZqKWAnNy0xGlDVRPBg1Lx7xlgMFGbEjbb-GoM6488qwSYCdNKP-GQxhDWqXDhDKuIILkXhIFp-CXf7GVPc707mwmh1SXzYMYf9XnOY2ictoa/s320/Max2.png" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Max Wraith"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After that first read-through, I still did not understand the script. I rode the elevator with the guy cast as "William" and we both scratched our heads trying to make sense of it. I was excited by what my intuition told me about the script but he seemed disappointed by it's esoteric existentialism. That guy did eventually end up leaving the cast and the role of William was recast twice before we finally found the brilliant Liam Schlosser.<br />
<br />
The deeper I got into understanding the script, the darker it felt. It is literally dreadful, and not in a bad way, but extremely sad and with a desperate fear and suffering. I went to such a dark place to play this character and made the choice that I was disconnected with my family. It is a challenge, as an actor, to stay connected with the other actors while playing a character who is disconnected from and ignoring the other characters. Luckily the ensemble playing Max's family are all very strong and talented and I found I was able to connect as much as I needed to with Shauntal Pyper, Kaitlyn Lunardi and Reid Watson while playing that I was completely oblivious to them.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8W3pF7IJ2mycVfHyqPtHG91VwYr45c8-XbQgTLYgGKZ7XgN_tBNTcG6qmKmEyNP5XwgWR17nHad4DKv9htx7wPcYHs0OF4iMBmxlaLiKNKx9oiR73B_D2M2Fmkgwk6dWGCkzo5qw2Wr7L/s1600/Wraiths.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="748" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8W3pF7IJ2mycVfHyqPtHG91VwYr45c8-XbQgTLYgGKZ7XgN_tBNTcG6qmKmEyNP5XwgWR17nHad4DKv9htx7wPcYHs0OF4iMBmxlaLiKNKx9oiR73B_D2M2Fmkgwk6dWGCkzo5qw2Wr7L/s320/Wraiths.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">l. to r. Watson as "Ryan", Borràs as "Ashlin", Pyper as "Catherine", Lunardi as "Molly", Jag as "Max"<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Throughout the play, the only characters that Max got to connect with were his accountant and company clown, William, and his mistress, Ashlin. The latter played by a Spanish neophyte actress in her first show. I was amazed at how Angels Ratés Borràs had only learned the English language less than five years earlier and was now expertly playing a complex role. Her accent was adorable, but also, I had a great time giving her tips when her pronunciation made it hard to understand what she was saying. Connecting with her in our one scene together was one of my only moments of solace as Max, even though she ended up breaking my heart by the end of the scene.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDewBHhKuLF8-yTmDsFKrc6v1ZaxbwBzRvbzpkIXiKtcCoq_-_th3QTaIoedK8bW0Ma_A36niJdQT0HNSbrSxWIxfZk19rx7VhS3F08JLWuss_bt3_NABID3Bdu8R-vzDXP_TsjhNU41Or/s1600/MaxAshlin.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="733" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDewBHhKuLF8-yTmDsFKrc6v1ZaxbwBzRvbzpkIXiKtcCoq_-_th3QTaIoedK8bW0Ma_A36niJdQT0HNSbrSxWIxfZk19rx7VhS3F08JLWuss_bt3_NABID3Bdu8R-vzDXP_TsjhNU41Or/s320/MaxAshlin.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angel Ratés Borràs as "Ashlin"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But the highlight of the show for me was a scene I played with Liam as William the Clown. We did a bit where I teach William how to do a vaudevillian type comedy sketch called the Tipsy Teapot. It was a short scene, but it was always such a relief in the midst of such a brooding show to get to literally play with another gifted comedic actor.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDZggBHET22-TmB9BflgQhN2uCGLd86zxJwpPRfJqhWHvxj7jenaY_W6C_F4DuJGZfCuYg4xn5opnMo6fa5F80aJOXx2Ml3FP4SlWeNIlJkG6H1fnsjANi5K7ZfscZ7gaZDiL8ZWNtYnR/s1600/tipsy+teapot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="825" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDZggBHET22-TmB9BflgQhN2uCGLd86zxJwpPRfJqhWHvxj7jenaY_W6C_F4DuJGZfCuYg4xn5opnMo6fa5F80aJOXx2Ml3FP4SlWeNIlJkG6H1fnsjANi5K7ZfscZ7gaZDiL8ZWNtYnR/s320/tipsy+teapot.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liam Schlosser as "William"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We had a two week run at the Annex Theater and the audience response was understandable mixed. As I said, it is not a light-hearted romp, nor is it necessarily easy to grasp the first time through. But it is a spectacular and meaningful show with some very smart messages, some deeply touching moments and some good laughs all the way through. I can totally understand why someone would be so disturbed by the show as to not come back for the second act, and I can equally understand someone being so enthralled by the show as to want to see the whole thing over again. One friend who came to see the show was literally sobbing afterward and I held her as we talked about how deeply the show spoke to her.<br />
<br />
After it was all over, I describe the experience of playing Max in Ghost Light with the analogy of getting my sleeve caught in a passing train. I had no idea what I was getting involved in, and was swept up and running wildly for three months.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhDtaRsm6FDDfnRoT3ORPA3iXBKbe5ZFY2xvRCppfNVhYTSe1INoh-vZPtfHylV1uIH2AjwTKkyZBgjr555I0LYy2MBFFxByz2pu8wTj2hmIVpTQrTCB6hU33YqCI39lpPRrGSgzVA7LE/s1600/theaterRockBottom.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="805" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhDtaRsm6FDDfnRoT3ORPA3iXBKbe5ZFY2xvRCppfNVhYTSe1INoh-vZPtfHylV1uIH2AjwTKkyZBgjr555I0LYy2MBFFxByz2pu8wTj2hmIVpTQrTCB6hU33YqCI39lpPRrGSgzVA7LE/s320/theaterRockBottom.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Once it was over, I was emotionally thrashed and I could have crashed for several days. It was cathartic to cut off all my hair and to help load the whole show out of the theater and into a van and drive it to a storage facility to put it away. Also I was rescued by getting a timely call the day after Ghost Light closed inviting me to read for a part in It's A Wonderful Life.<br />
<br />
There is talk of a continued life for Ghost Light. We are now in discussion about taking a pacific northwest tour in spring of 2019, and then taking it to New York for a short run in Sept 2019.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9jzPHRPZd8DDri4LSYPCoLqtoS9qRul-EM_E-3gXk6YRgge0ROc6-MjGHPPV8dQFrqqW5VQNsgSoRA14_rcGYpZ3P0HGk4hXJXW1bchsyOANbuOL0l3FrhUO4E7OGjtj01UVddzdBWGH/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-10-10+at+3.13.33+.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="798" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9jzPHRPZd8DDri4LSYPCoLqtoS9qRul-EM_E-3gXk6YRgge0ROc6-MjGHPPV8dQFrqqW5VQNsgSoRA14_rcGYpZ3P0HGk4hXJXW1bchsyOANbuOL0l3FrhUO4E7OGjtj01UVddzdBWGH/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-10-10+at+3.13.33+.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tod Rainey directing the cast of Ghost Light at Annex Theater, Sept 2018</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I'd love to do both of those things, but I'm not holding my breath. We'll see how it shakes out. For now, I'm happy to have had the experience of originating the role of Max, who will probably go down as one of my top five favorite created characters.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT34zVDVH4SKI9_V5OCi8hofGyWlwUYyhivpjhVhx4UCAJrkLqFQodEnMKLHhcD-LmGEK_iw2iCfFuATQumOmhxmY97nvbA1i2YlHLV5f5tXOM9LxQQjkij9fIX12RNML4sw1r995fQRCf/s1600/Max.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="539" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT34zVDVH4SKI9_V5OCi8hofGyWlwUYyhivpjhVhx4UCAJrkLqFQodEnMKLHhcD-LmGEK_iw2iCfFuATQumOmhxmY97nvbA1i2YlHLV5f5tXOM9LxQQjkij9fIX12RNML4sw1r995fQRCf/s320/Max.png" width="320" /></a></div>
ALL PHOTOS:<br />
<a href="http://www.annabelclarkphoto.com/" target="_blank">Annabel Clark Photography</a><br />
<br />Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-68625157289416170292018-06-24T15:46:00.000-07:002018-06-24T15:46:35.876-07:00JAG Menu 2018The two new routines I have for 2018 are Blue Earth and Spirit Bird.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSjJw4G6WJ3QmyJg-O6WkobAtbytXdD-AMfF26P2sfLWqaqZLebDrzNatKvbv2MoA1qTlMW2uvRjeVo9u_71ZAA6nHGLcq-6SbDc7Eyd7EBU5v8Z26DC1BVux4m5VqA3y8qVbyu0g6Ukc/s1600/url.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSjJw4G6WJ3QmyJg-O6WkobAtbytXdD-AMfF26P2sfLWqaqZLebDrzNatKvbv2MoA1qTlMW2uvRjeVo9u_71ZAA6nHGLcq-6SbDc7Eyd7EBU5v8Z26DC1BVux4m5VqA3y8qVbyu0g6Ukc/s1600/url.jpg" /></a></div>
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Blue Earth is a collaboration. It was created through a project I initiated on Facebook so that I could co-create with Nia teachers all over the world. What we put together is a wonderful routine, with a focus on the Sensation of Feet Touching Earth and the intention to both Relax into and Generate Power from the Steps and Stances. I have also used a focus on Feldenkrais Technique with the intention to invite Ease and increase Range of Motion. It uses great music and fun movements, some familiar and some new. <a href="http://jasonalangriffin.blogspot.com/2018/03/blue-earth.html" target="_blank">Further descriptions of the Blue Earth routine are here. </a><br />
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Spirit Bird is a routine that I created on my own, except that I included two songs that were created in Choreography Playshops. This is my newest creation and I'm sure it will grow and change as I teach it more. But at this time, the focus is on the Low Middle and High planes with the intention being to Sense Grounded Flight in our movement. </div>
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The feeling of Spirit Bird is being on the ground but flying. It is the sensation of being heavy on the outside and light on the inside. It is the duality of physical and spiritual and the paradox of peaceful chaos. </div>
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The music has a strong bird theme including "Spirit Bird" by Xavier Rudd, "Bird" by Dead Can Dance, "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley, "Little Birdie" by the Vince Guaraldi Trio, and other songs that allude to flying such as "Butterfly" by Xavier Rudd and "Superhero" by Kormac. This routine will give you the sensation that it's good to be alive and the idea that you're something special. By the time we step out of this routine you'll feel like a new star in the sky. </div>
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In addition to these two offerings, I can also teach any of my older material, including:<br />Fantastic - an adaptation of Carlos' "Fantasia" routine<br />
Profound - an adaptation of Winalee's "Deep Dive" routine<br />
Orchestra - classic Nia set to all Classical music<br />
Amazing - a cross-country multi-Nia community collaboration, a Nia trip across the USA.<br />
Woodstock - a Nia recreation of the famous 1960's New York music festival<br />
Goldfinger - a 007 Nia class featuring all music by Shirley Bassey<br />
FloorPlay - a whole class devoted to playing on the floor<br />
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In addition to single class routines, I can teach full workshops on many topics.<br />
Here are some examples, but I can teach on just about any topic related to Nia and/or fitness.<br />
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The Yin-Yang of Nia<br />
How to FreeDance (the nuts and bolts of letting go)<br />
Creating Nia Choreography<br />
Honing the Martial Arts of Nia<br />
Nurturing the Healing Arts of Nia<br />
JAG's 13 Principles of Being a Good Nia Student<br />
The Art of Joy: JAG's 13 Principles of Happiness<br />
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Please choose from the list above or ask me about anything you'd like to know. All of the above playshops were created when someone spoke up about a need they wanted met and I put the material together. So if you don't see what you think you might like to see, please let me know.Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-24485650442069747752018-06-24T15:03:00.002-07:002018-10-10T16:23:32.063-07:00JAG and River Itinerary, Fall 2018In October of 2017, as soon as I got home from my <a href="http://jasonalangriffin.blogspot.com/2017/07/where-heck-are-jag-river-aug-oct-2017.html" target="_blank">epic road trip</a>, I took over the classes of a teacher who was leaving town, so I decided to stay in town to nurture these classes. I didn't take a trip in 2018 so I could spend the year in Seattle.<br />
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But then I was invited to participate in the Men of Nia event in StudioNia Santa Fe in October. Originally, I planned to fly there and only miss a minimal amount of my classes at home, but it proved to be difficult to organize the flight and someone to stay home with River. Eventually, I decided to drive. <br />
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I figured a fairly direct route to Santa Fe and back could be pretty quick. As it turns out, I'll only need to take two weeks off from my classes.<br />
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So here's the schedule I worked out.<br />
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Friday, Oct 12<br />
DRIVE: Seattle to Walla Walla<br />
TEACH: Nia in Richland (Shelley)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5AEEMYiCStUNlYoYhzIEAqtCfOhTDGzK4a-kdj2mUY4ohI53idmYA4tCGLqJtxAfAhKkZ7f5aol995Sf4W7f8XpIR-x29T7tdAx9EQ5e_wGgc8t0U58IyWNmY-SnEk5VBituOycuGF1y/s1600/BlueEarth+Richland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1237" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5AEEMYiCStUNlYoYhzIEAqtCfOhTDGzK4a-kdj2mUY4ohI53idmYA4tCGLqJtxAfAhKkZ7f5aol995Sf4W7f8XpIR-x29T7tdAx9EQ5e_wGgc8t0U58IyWNmY-SnEk5VBituOycuGF1y/s320/BlueEarth+Richland.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
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Saturday, Oct 13<br />
DRIVE: Walla Walla to Boise<br />
TEACH: Nia in Boise (Britta)<br />
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Sunday, Oct 14<br />
DRIVE: Boise to Woods Cross, UT<br />
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Monday, Oct 15<br />
DRIVE: Woods Cross to Green River<br />
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Tuesday, Oct 16<br />
DRIVE: Green River to Farmington<br />
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Wednesday, Oct 17<br />
DRIVE: Farmington to Albuquerque<br />
TEACH: Nia in Albuquerque (Erin)<br />
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Thursday, Oct 18<br />
DRIVE: Albuquerque to Santa Fe<br />
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MEN OF NIA, Santa Fe<br />
October 19- 21<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZvRFfFD3_3PCdnEgTiJVCO5NUYkip5gob2RJvXK67A41ajN8qIDsDl_HQgxMgRpwNvhzYnqEF9awS-dPhJS_ymUPi3K0XpzwLl6aKyaKKor7J08YPL12x8Al8ZehglQOG6NT83dGrwfZ/s1600/43514719_10217144354622755_5612404439093608448_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="742" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZvRFfFD3_3PCdnEgTiJVCO5NUYkip5gob2RJvXK67A41ajN8qIDsDl_HQgxMgRpwNvhzYnqEF9awS-dPhJS_ymUPi3K0XpzwLl6aKyaKKor7J08YPL12x8Al8ZehglQOG6NT83dGrwfZ/s320/43514719_10217144354622755_5612404439093608448_n.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
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Monday, Oct 22<br />
DRIVE: Santa Fe to Farmington<br />
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Tuesday, Oct 23<br />
DRIVE: Farmington to Green River<br />
TEACH: Nia in Durango (Evonne)<br />
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Wednesday, Oct 24<br />
DRIVE: Green River to Woods Cross<br />
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Thursday, Oct 25<br />
DRIVE: Woods Cross to Boise<br />
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Friday, Oct 26<br />
TEACH: AM Nia in Boise (Britta)<br />
DRIVE: Boise to Moses Lake<br />
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Saturday, Oct 27<br />
DRIVE: Moses Lake to Seattle<br />
TEACH: Nia in Chelan (Gayle)<br />
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Sunday, Oct 28<br />
My classes resume. Starting with...<br />
GUEST TEACHER JENNIFER LUCERO-EARLE<br />
teaching her Tori Amos routine at 10:30am<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXl_UZE0RIaeHuF3eajWMBlWvw6Ow1jmrRUayUxYIj3OgGvm-x4PbOugvGwYGth6wqrV6_nvmaDHS0FH5vWzKcWZybNNA1tQ_r5ua_4TewTWM2hgIDBhLIWz1i2K6PXwEUGahw2dgvb_2/s1600/28279367_1820519754626405_3760324381065379536_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXl_UZE0RIaeHuF3eajWMBlWvw6Ow1jmrRUayUxYIj3OgGvm-x4PbOugvGwYGth6wqrV6_nvmaDHS0FH5vWzKcWZybNNA1tQ_r5ua_4TewTWM2hgIDBhLIWz1i2K6PXwEUGahw2dgvb_2/s320/28279367_1820519754626405_3760324381065379536_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jag's Class in Seattle<br />
Tuesdays 6pm<br />
Sundays 10:30am<br />
Balance Studio<br />
418 N 35th St. </td></tr>
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<br />Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-70773483126211143672018-04-14T15:09:00.000-07:002018-04-14T15:09:32.453-07:00the SPIRIT of NiaI come from a sports background. After I got out of school, I no longer had an outlet for my athleticism so I got into dance. I felt it was a discipline that offered me a good physical challenge. I had considered going into boxing or martial arts, but I had a problem with the fighting mentality that pervaded. Being a dancer eventually led me to become an aerobics instructor, professionally.<br />
This satisfied me for several years until I started to notice my body breaking down. I was in constant pain and it was not uncommon to see overuse and misuse injuries in my field.<br />
So it was this that led me to Nia. I read about it as a practice that combined the best of all worlds. The martial arts barefoot practice of self discipline, the healing qualities and self awareness of Alexander and Feldenkrais, the spiritual connections of yoga and tai chi, the freedom and expression of modern and jazz dance.... it was perfect for me. It combined exercise with self improvement with healing.<br />
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And as I scientist I appreciated that Nia had taken the time to research all of these modalities and gleaned the most germane aspects and combined them into one single practice. I fell in love with it immediately and my body was immediately healed by the shifts in paradigm it offered me.<br />
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Another thing happened too. I was exposed to some mystical concepts like following an ancient Mayan calendar as opposed to our Gregorian; like belief in the powers of certain rocks and crystals and seemingly magical abilities of the oils of plants and flowers to alter us psychologically, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I was also introduced to the concept of chakras. There were several other things of this ilk that I consider as extra-curricular to Nia's pedagogy. I learned more about it during breaks by talking to women who actually considered themselves goddesses or witches; a concept that was new, but fascinating to me.<br />
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I investigated. I bought some rocks and some essential oils and some books about chakras and magic. I was confused by how there seemed to be no one answer to the meanings of the chakras or the powers of the crystals. If I compared one source to another, I would come up with different answers. Eventually I learned that there is no agree-upon scientific basis for it. So I accepted that it was a belief-based practice. Like religion or astrology, I respected that other people got value from it, but I didn't buy into it.<br />
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The years went by and I explored adding some of those mystical things into my classes here and there, and the responses ranged from feeling blissful to being called out as a charlatan. In the end, I have concluded that if I am going to include any non-science mysticism in my class, I will be sure to frame it as such. I see no harm in playing around with different beliefs as long as I am not passing them off as true. Just as my skin crawls when someone tries to convince me that their God is real I would not force my beliefs on anyone else.<br />
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One event stands out for me when I was teaching a routine called ChakraDancer as part of a larger workshop on the chakras. I noticed a very faithful student of mine not participating fully by the end of class. And afterward, she shared with me a phrase that stuck with me. She said it felt like I was "rearranging her gem garden". It hurt me to think I was having that effect on someone and it taught me a valuable lesson in how to approach mysticism. Now if I ever broach a mystical or metaphysical subject, I will always frame it as opinion, theory or belief and leave it open to individual interpretation. I know the difference between something I can state as a scientific fact and that will be supported by a consensus among respected professionals and when I'm dabbling in an inexact science that it largely interpretive, subjective and unprovable.<br />
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In order to be taken seriously as a professional in a medical-based field, I protect my reputation by limiting my use of magic and emphasizing science. I do still enjoy exploring theoretical and mystical topics when they are approached in a way that doesn't imply that they are solid fact.<br />
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I have, on occasion, been confronted with someone who I'm trying to interest in coming to my Nia class, but they balk, by saying "I've tried Nia before and it's too woo-woo new agey for me." I think that's a shame because while I see that "new age" aspect as an integral part of Nia, it can be abused and overshadow the fact that Nia is ultimately a physical fitness practice based on sound medical principles. But when teachers use crystals and dance with scarves it sullies the intellect and dilutes the integrity of what I believe Nia can be.<br />
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So if you come to my class, you will be in a class that is based in science and that is focused on improving our ability to live fully and comfortably in our bodies. To me this includes addressing the contribution of our minds and the energy of our emotions as well as a bit of attention to acknowledging our spirits. But you will not be asked to believe in anything unscientific. If I do present a mystical topic, I will describe it as such and ask you to imagine it, consider it and make your own determination as to it's value to you.<br />
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I sometimes catch myself attempting to police other Nia teachers from being too 'woo-woo'. Mainly because of how I see it effecting me in my efforts to attract serious legitimate students. But I know better than to do that and when I do catch myself issuing citations, I retreat. I wouldn't want anyone telling me what to believe, and I certainly don't want to ever again rearrange anyone's gem garden.<br />
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Now, after teaching for 22 years, I am a First Degree Black Belt in Nia and am going to get my Second Degree in January, '19. Some time ago I came to the conclusion that if I speak about spirit energy, then I'm doing it wrong. I made a commitment to myself to transit spirit energy in the way I believe it lives, which is beyond words, beyond thoughts, beyond feelings and emotions, to a place that cannot be properly outwardly expressed. My students often say they feel a spirit in my class and are often surprised when I tell them I didn't say anything about it, but I do believe it and make a conscious effort to transmit it. I believe that my hands-off approach to this aspect of the work not only preserves my integrity as a scientist but also allows the spirit to be present in class. It can be available for anyone to interpret their own way but without forcing itself on someone who isn't ready.Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-33537527427200480532018-03-07T17:26:00.002-08:002019-03-20T12:16:51.856-07:00Blue Earth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Blue Earth routine was created as a very special project initiated by JAG in July of 2017. His idea was to enlist Nia teachers from all over the globe to collaborate via electronic media on a brand new routine. Using mostly Facebook and Dropbox, JAG, in Seattle, worked together with about a dozen teachers from as nearby as Portland, OR and as far away as New Zealand. Together they compiled a playlist and shared choreography ideas over video until, after several months, they co-created a wonderful routine.<br />
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The focus of the routine is on The Base and the intent is to bring Stability to our movements by touching the Earth. The routine begins with a strong Feldenkrais energy and then moves into a sultry jazzy Tai Chi feeling. The third song features Graham style Modern Dance and Nia FreeDance while the fourth is strongly rooted in Aikido. The fifth song captures a sparkly Jazz feeling, while the sixth has a very powerful Tae Kwon Do attitude. The seventh song has a lovely Duncan Dance technique flair to it. The eighth song is a great opportunity to practice the Alexander technique and the final song has a relaxing Yoga flavor.<br />
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Students are saying that they love the routine and really appreciate all of the opportunities to settle into stability through focusing on the Base: the Lower Extremities. And while the focus on Stability offers an opportunity to self-heal, there is also great opportunity for a good work-out. This routine leaves students with an open, expansive feeling.<br />
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Some of the musical artists featured in the routine are Vibrasphere, Sacred Earth, The Spy from Cairo, and dimmSummer.<br />
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The main signature move of this routine is the Heel Lead. It is used in many different ways to track stability as we take steps. And a non-impact changing of feet in a Cat Stance teaches us how to quickly replace the foot underneath our body so we never lose stability.<br />
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Learning this routine taught me some new movements, such as placing the back of the hand on top of the forehead during the Turn/Return (much more complicated than it sounds) and the quick switching of the feet that we call the Tennessee Walker.<br />
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Below is a sample of a flyer and some graphics and copy that you are free to use to create your own flyer announcing JAG's visit.<br />
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IMPORTANT: Please do include some mention that River will be present. I do not like anyone to be surprised by the presence of my dog, even though I go to great lengths to make him as invisible and unobtrusive as possible. Those with allergies and/or phobias would definitely appreciate knowing in advance, and please do inform ALL students with the message on the flyer that River needs to be ignored or he will be upset and bark.<br />
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SAMPLE FLYER:<br />
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Graphics and Copy:<br />
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Experience Jag’s original Nia routine </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">JAG is a Second Degree Black Belt Nia teacher who, with his dog, River, in the back seat of his car, travels the USA sharing his talent and passion for Nia, which he has taught since 1996. He has taught in all 48 lower states as well as in Italy and Ireland. JAG’s beloved routine, Blue Earth, was created by collaboration. JAG orchestrated a team of about six Nia teachers from all over the world and using Facebook, they co-created this routine. It is a wonderfully strong and flowing routine that focuses on the power accessed through awareness of our feet touching the earth. The music of Vibrasphere, Sacred Earth, Club de Belugas and more lays down a beautiful sonic landscape, with each song taking on the chemistry and energy of one of the Nine Movement Forms of Nia. This unique multi-teacher-created routine is not available from Nia, so set aside this date with JAG to experience the healing and empowering Blue Earth routine.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">JAG travels with his dog, River, who sleeps in his crate during class. Please ignore River so he can relax.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-47023974355324114812018-03-07T16:56:00.003-08:002018-03-07T16:56:37.786-08:00The Cocktail Hour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have wanted to do an A. R. Gurney play for many years. His vivisection of upper middle class WASP culture speaks to my upbringing and I've always been drawn to the humor and humanity in his writing. So when I heard that Renton Civic Theatre was doing The Cocktail Hour, I was thrilled and excited to audition. It was one of his plays I hadn't heard of, but as soon as I read it, I loved it.<br />
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The story is of a playwright who has written a play about his father and comes home one weekend to ask his permission to produce it. The play contains some family secrets and a less than flattering characterization of his father, so he's not surprised when the father denied permission to produce the play. I loved the fact that the play the characters are discussing is actually the one we are seeing on stage. It is a fun, meta experience with lots of laughs and some seriously touching moments.<br />
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As I was preparing for my audition, I focused on John, since he was my age. But I was envious of the person who was going to get to play Bradley, the 75 year old father, as he seemed to have the bulk of the funny lines. John, his late-40's son, the playwright, was more of a straight man who spent much of the play chirping, "Yes, Pop... I know, Pop... That's right, Pop.. etc. "<br />
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I was surprised to actually get cast as the 75 year old! I enjoyed learning all of those funny lines and getting laughs each night. My biggest challenge was to make the curmudgeonly old man not too unlikeable.<br />
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The play was so much fun and I was thrilled to work with three excellent actors.<br />
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(above, left to right: Dawn Cornell as "Ann", JAG as "Bradley", Caitlin Gilman as "Nina" and Mark Fox as "John")<br />
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I grew a mustache and learned how to color my hair using Tempera paint and the fine art of drawing wrinkles on my face with eyeliner pencils. I wore a pair of glasses low on my nose and made a point to always tilt my face down so I could look over the top of the glasses. It accentuated the lines in my face, but after a couple of months of doing that, my neck was terribly sore.<br />
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"The Cocktail Hour" ran from Feb 9-22, 2018 at Renton Civic Theatre and was directed by Bill Huls.Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-18402539391281361532018-03-07T16:30:00.002-08:002018-03-07T16:33:35.566-08:00April Playshop of the Month: Mental Energy in NiaNia is described as a Body-Mind Workout. But how do we integrate the Body and the Mind?<br />
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April 1 is Easter this year. And it's April Fools Day. April 1 is also the first Sunday of the month, which means JAG is teaching a Nia playshop at Balance Studio from 9 - 10:30 am, followed by a one-hour Nia class at 10:30 am. <br />
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This month we're focused on Mental Energy in Nia. There are many ways that Nia asks us to use our minds. Some examples are Awareness, Conscious Personal Trainer, Measure and Movement, Counting, Pattern Recognition, and many more.<br />
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This playshop is going to cover the myriad ways we utilize Mental Energy in Nia to keep our minds sharp and quick and the ways we connect our Body to our Mind.<br />
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Students are encouraged to bring questions and concerns regarding Mental Energy for JAG to answer and discuss. The first 90 minutes of this playshop will be discussion and practice without music. And the final hour, from 10:30 to 11:30 will be a full classic Nia class where we'll have the opportunity to put all that we've learned into practice.<br />
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The cost for the playshop, including the one-hour Nia class is $20. The class on it's own is $15.<br />
If you have a JAG class card and you want to use it to pay for the workshop, you just need to pay the extra $5 for the playshop.<br />
Use PayPal to prepay here if you wish:<br />
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<option value="Drop-in Nia class">Drop-in Nia class $15.00 USD</option>
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Balance Studio is located in Fremont, at 418 N 35th St. <br />
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Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066233672916822855.post-41853805699735286002017-11-30T20:33:00.000-08:002017-11-30T20:43:34.624-08:00January Playshop: Dance Wild -- Reflexive ConditioningOn the first Sunday of 2018, January 7, JAG is going to throw a "Wild" party at Balance Studio in Fremont. We'll meet at 9:00am and go through all of the moves of the routine.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyH2Y9w0ZJjV4DIjB2uTWvSE1kceXerVAiagvdscBt3G1Bdr9uC1laeZjN6yKgsDJ2CYkZa3VGzFSgrjJk1RJ5kCSEA-a1imDCIMPTp3FZ7J_fE49zNtw0WsY4m76E1daEvgIuBPogwSyZ/s1600/38642165461_3c27a9dd33_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyH2Y9w0ZJjV4DIjB2uTWvSE1kceXerVAiagvdscBt3G1Bdr9uC1laeZjN6yKgsDJ2CYkZa3VGzFSgrjJk1RJ5kCSEA-a1imDCIMPTp3FZ7J_fE49zNtw0WsY4m76E1daEvgIuBPogwSyZ/s200/38642165461_3c27a9dd33_z.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by Sandra Caldwell<br />
NiaSeattle teacher Jam, Fall 2017</td></tr>
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First we'll Learn them and then Move them. This will all be done without music so that we can take our time and really appreciate the structure of each move and kata. We will also be having a conversation about reflexive conditioning as we go through the routine.<br />
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And then, at 10:30 we'll do the Wild routine all the way through with music and enjoy the opportunity to Energize all of the movements. The focus of the routine is on Reflexive Conditioning.<br />
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Reflexive Conditioning is one of the four types of conditioning that Nia offers and one that is often overlooked. Nia encourages us to exercise with fluid ease, softness and gentleness, but it's also just as valuable and important to engage the nervous system with suddenness, surprise, sharpness and intensity. Life isn't always gentle and easy, and if we're only conditioned for that, we'll be taken by surprise when life throws something unexpected at us. The sudden, explosive movements that show up all throughout the Wild routine, condition our ability to act quicker than we can think so that we can immediately recover when we slip on the ice or misjudge the height of a step or to react when something falls on us or we have to catch something. If we have been conditioning our reflexes, we can gracefully maneuver through those situations as a part of life, but if our reflexes are slow and soft, they could spell injurious disaster.<br />
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This playshop will teach us how to engage and sharpen our reflexes and will be a great primer for the Wild routine for any student of Nia or any teacher as well. No prior experience is needed, but if you are learning the routine, this experience will certainly help cement it in your body.<br />
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Debbie Rosas will be in town the day before, teaching the very same work in an afternoon workshop at Blue Heron Ranch in Sammamish. That event goes from 2pm - 5pm and costs $99. The one on Sunday with JAG is 9am - 11:30am for $20 and can stand alone or would be a wonderful supplement to spending the previous afternoon with Debbie. It'll be a WILD weekend! Contact Randee Fox or <a href="http://www.nianow.com/node/1265031" target="_blank">click here</a> to register for the Saturday playshop with Debbie Rosas, co-creator of Nia and choreographer of the Wild routine.<br />
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Use the PayPal button below to register for the Wild Party the 'day after' with JAG on Sunday, January 7. You can also pay at the door. JAG's students can use their class card and just pay $5 for the playshop.<br />
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<option value="5-class card">5-class card $70.00 USD</option>
<option value="10-class card">10-class card $130.00 USD</option>
<option value="Martial Arts Playshop">Martial Arts Playshop $20.00 USD</option>
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Jason Alan Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499882940619660413noreply@blogger.com0