In the movement practice, Nia, we have something called freedancing. Unlike typical fitness classes, this is the point when the student leads their own movement…or more truthfully, is led by their body’s movement to the music. Some students love this part of the Nia class while others get a bit intimidated, unsure of what to do and feeling self-conscious (these are the ones that have the most to gain from it). I love the freedance part myself – it’s about being set free. There are so many rules out there, that it is liberating to have some time to let go, enjoy and trust the body’s dance.
Freedance is about breaking old habits, something each of us needs to do once in a while to keep ourselves fresh, curious, and open to newness. Approaching freedance in class with a beginner’s mind, i.e. ‘let’s see how my body wants to move today’, is a focus that gets us out of our minds. This develops a deeper relationship with our body and gives us the opportunity to learn to listen to our body. Over time this skill becomes invaluable, helping us steer through life with cues telling us when to step forward, when to pause, and when to turn away or choose something else.
I love watching my students free themselves through this practice. It inevitably impacts their life. I had one student who realized how little she ‘moved’ in her body versus using it to do things or get somewhere. After only one class she began to have more fun being in her body, moving and dancing her way through her life. I didn’t see her for a while and then heard that she’d unexpectedly moved to Spain where she felt a greater resonance – a moving life of expression, art, colour (she’s a painter). Hmmm, any connection I wonder?
