My healing was ignited through joyful movement
Since I started teaching Nia in 2006, I have been in a process of recovery. Healing from adult onset anorexia and an exercise addiction was not easy. But it sure helped that I had the medicine called “joyful movement” through Nia.
Now, almost 15 years later, I have been teaching Nia through a body/fat positivity and Health At Every Size lens. I was grateful to join Catherine Brown and Francis Iacobucci on their podcast Navigating Recovery Podcast recently. During the interview, I spoke to the importance of changing our perspective from “no pain no gain” to one that aligns with the core principle of Nia: finding joy in movement. Listen here.
I am enjoying your content. I just recently got my white belt in S-Afr , and am hoping to be teaching soon . I so resonate with the core of NIA, because even though I am a ‘skinny’ ex ballerina, who definitely stopped dancing at 44 due to pain, I have found joy in movement yet again through NIA, and soooooo get body issues, which are largely created in exercise or disciplines like ballet. There is such healing balm in being able to move , in a different , new , to my body way. It is difficult to express it in words, and much easier just to dance it out on the floor, barefoot. Thank you Jenn
Hello Liz,
Thank you so much for your comment! I am thrilled to connect with you! How wonderful that you (and I) found Nia and that we are experiencing the “healing balm” as you say. And yes I agree it is so difficult to express it in words and just so much easier to dance.
Love, Jenn