Ready ..Set...Re-enter life!

My last two days of Nia training were fraught with internet complications, thus my visits to the coffee shop by the sea didn't make it into the daily schedule.But , like my Blogs prior to this, they were intensive and emotional days for all of us.We continued to bond as a group, over dancing, cooking together and sharing our fears and concerns about re-entry into everyday life after Nia Training.By now we have all been connected by a powerful tool...we have a sense of sisterhood and going home is a bittersweet (for some more bitter than others) reality.We all choked up with emotion and you could feel the nervous tension the last day as we graduated , which culminated in a tear packed,lump in the throat ceremony when we all received our white belts.We had graduated. Notice there was not a "!" on the end of that sentence.Yes it was an accomplishment,but I don't think most of us were ready or excited to leave.We were given a lesson on re-entry so I assume this is a common issue and we were not the only group to feel this way. But, we all left Sullivans Island evntually with a suitcase full of memories that will last a lifetime. I am not really sure why this week was so memorable and impacted us all so deeply,but I think there was a combination of factors. It was a nuturing enviroment,it was a creative enviroment, It was a non Judgement Zone and it was a learning enviroment. Take those factors, a great group of women from all over the country with open hearts and open minds,add a teacher full of insight, retrospection, creativity, honesty,and a great sense of humor....and you have it...A week of Joy...May you find joy in your day..

It's all about the Arms

Well here I sit at my coffee shop by the sea again....Day 5 Nia training has come to a close. I am tired...nothing hurts or is sore, Just bone tired from a day of dancing from 7am til 5:30. Just noticed a young man reading grays anatomy at the table next to me...Turns out he is a first year medical student in Charleston (USC) and went to UF ! So, talked a while about football,medicine, Gainesville etc...should I get his phone # for Rebecca???Hmmmm.Anyway, back to Nia....One of todays themes was arm movements involved in your dance of Joy. Wow! lots of options, punches, blocks, creepy fingers,just to name a few. It's amazing how Nia "builds" a dance from the ground up.Starting with your base,or the steps of the dance...adding core movements,then arms to create art in motion,blended to music ,all at different intensity levels so Nia can be enjoyed and done by ANYONE, even in your 80's, Even if you have Arthritis, too heavy, thin,fit, or just trying to get there.Most of all it is fun and when you can find the joy in your movement it is pure bliss.You are full of Sensation and emotion...all while buildng a stronger,toned, leaner,more agile,and flexible body!!After class today Patty and I ate lunch at a great little cafe with fresh salads and soups...A tomato basil to die for....just a kick of spice after the tang...I think my tastebuds are even more aware !Then on the way back we had to do some retail therapy...It was part of the training ..really!!!! We went to the "Shoe Fairy" ...it even sounds like Joy!and it was.Bought a cute pair bright yellow wedges. In the Chakra system Yellow builds self esteem...we could all use a pair of yellow shoes every now and then.right?Only 2 more days of training.Is there really more to learn? I feel liked a soaked sponge .Full of information I need to take home and slowly squeeze out and utilize to continue to bring the Joy I have found here when I dance!And even take it out of the studio, into life, so I and those I eventually teach can feel the Joy .Signing off from the coffee shop by the sea...tommorow is another full day.Goodnight all...feel the Joy

The Witness Surrounding Us

Day 4 Nia White Belt training....you got it, still finding more and more joy in my movement..Crazy huh? Woke up early to the South Carolina Chill of the wind blowing through the beachhouse. I have found myself in a comfortable yet vulnerable place in this training. We have been practicing so many different techniques for shedding our outer self to reach the inner heart to enable our bodies to strengthen the container in which my soul resides. Due to this and the fact I have 3 other terrific housemates...we have shared our lives, fears, passions, like we have known each other for 40 years.And, it's so easy! It just comes like a flowing faucet over dinner,cooking or cleaning together or just hanging out. We learned the concept of allowing your witness to watch you dance at all times...just to watch..not to judge or even change. Just to gather information about your movement "personality" and utilize the information to expand your creative dance, to go someplace you never have before, try a new dance movement...I found dancing on the floor( you read that right)..moving with reptile movements or embrionic like movements really gave me a joy I never thought I would experience dancing.Or walking the beach moving my pelvis like a butterfly.Pure Joy. Even with my witness watching. Now I realize this witness has served at least 2 purposes to enhance this whole experience...First, It has allowed me to try new movements WITHOUT judgement! Wouldn't that be wonderful if we could all do this in everday life.Do something new without judgement.Wear something you would never wear,say something you would never say , but really mean.What a great concept. In fact we should all be doing this for it promotes healing in ways our bodies and mind inately need.The second joy my witness has allowed is the healing and cathartic relationship I have with my Nia group....they are witnessing me talk, share,open up my guarded fears , dreams and emotions...WITHOUT judgement! This is why it is so easy to do.
I came to learn Nia, to dance...but I am finding new strength,agility,ability,and potential in not only my dance movements, but in me!I think we all are....I see everyone transforming in so many ways.So as day 4 comes to a close,again from the coffee shop with internet,I wish you all joy for now....and talk to your witness...you may learn something!

The Emotion Potion

Today(day 3 Nia training) was a breakthrough kind of day for me. I am actually beginning to "get it" and dare I say I have moments of Joy in Movement now. I stopped trying to follow the teacher's feet and used my other sensations to dance, and I found Joy in the dance. Then I added emotion (we did emotional play acting techniques -It was hysterical....My husband would lock me up in the psych ward if he saw me!)and it deepened the sense of Joy and to layer it more I let the "music seduce me" Wow!Yesterday at this time I was drained, now I feel energized...I feel alive!!
So, how am I going to keep this emotion potion once I leave nia class??I have no clue! I am in an enviroment yhat doesn't mimic every day life.I am not worrying about work,kids,Jeff,teaching yoga or going to class. I'm in Kindergarten again and the childlike awe and sense of pleasure is a place I want to come back to . I am comfortable in letting go, in movement in thought and in talking to those around me. My insides are smiling.So, to my children, husband,friends family and coworkers....watch out....it may change my life!(giggle..giggle)Update tommorow, but as I asked you all to do yesterday...find some Joy....give yourself permission to fake it if you have to...It will come...Practice!

Finding the Joy in Movementmt

Well Day 2 of Nia white belt training is over. It was a long day. My muscles and bones feel worn down and my mind is overwhelmed. We started at 8am and danced, talked, listened, shared and moved trying to find "the Joy in Movement",our lesson for the day.We tried to find this joy by many techniques including creating freedance, tweaking our dance to allow the sensations of our body to dominate. We even allowed the music to seduce us (my personal favorite).So as I wind down this day at the coffee shop by the sea(I dont drink coffee, but they have internet),I ask myself....where is all this Joy???Well we all have obvious joyful events in our lives..births,marriages,falling in love,that first kiss. But joy is really all around us and we in our efforts to live life to it's fullest,need to learn how to find our own "Joy", whether it's in movement(like Nia),work,relationships,friends and all we encounter on this beautful journey we call life. I am working hard trying to find the joy in movement,but I want more...I want the sensation of joy in all aspects of my life.Is this acheivable? I think it is.I'm not sure how, but I am hoping this week will let me extrapulate my joy of movement into every day life.For those who don't grasp Nia...it is a lifestyle practice of self expression, combining dance,martial arts and healing arts, such as yoga. Hard to describe, but so is choclate until you have had it!I think CHOOSING pleasure is a critical tool. My Nia Instructor Stephaney, compared it to choosing battery acid or peach juice for your body.Ok, let,s explore that, shall we? Every day we are faced with choices...who we want to associate with, what we put into our bodies,how we speak to others and how that reflects on your self esteem,how we release stress. There are millions of choices everyday. Now some clearly will make you feel like you just drank battery acid, others the joy of peach juice.We need to start making our everyday choices CONSCIOUS choices as a tool towards our personal joy.We need to be purposeful in what we do and say to others and ourselves.We need to understand our potential in reaching for choices and then there is an endless possibility at mastering pleasure.I believe joy is a true healing energy for all of us,and who doesn't need a little healing...or a lot ! The concept of "tweaking" your choices rather than changing them can profoundly affect your joy in a movement and in every day life.
So tonight, to all my friends , family, and followers...tweak a decision to invite the joy into your life.Let me know how you did. Nobody said it was an easy concept to grasp,but worth pondering...try it for one day..I did.

Balancing by the beach...Nia training begins.

I have arrived ! Sullivans Island,South Carolina for a somatic experience of white belt Nia training.For those that don't know what Nia is, neither did I 6 months ago.Now I am living in a beachhouse beginning a program to teach it! Although,this should not surprise those that know me. What possessed a busy mom,and physcian,to take a year long yoga training?(one weekend a month for a year). Instinct? love of yoga?(could have kept taking classes) While all of the above are feasable, I believe we all have growth spurts throughout our lives. These growth spurts often lead to change in our lives,some more profound than others. Just as growth in childhood is a natural and healthy progression, so is it in adulthood. We should look at these "milestones" as messages connecting our mind and body,sending us down a healthy,often healing path.Now of course, many "growth spurts" in adulthood, come out of events that we perceive as unfortunate. Relationship problems,job or career situations or illness, but how often does getting through these rough growth spurts bloom a happier,healthier and more insightful person. I believe we need to allow our growth spurts or growing pains to occur naturally, as they should. I am not sure what led me to take a Nia training, but I know another phase of my personal growth will be starting. There may be pain, but I will embrace it,breathe through it,and to find the joy in it.I have learned many lessons from my Cancer Patients., One I see everyday is that finding what gives us joy is so relative and variable,but we need to grab each moment and hold it tight...for it may be gone in the blink of an eye.So, from a coffee shop with WiFi in a small little beachtown in South Carolina, I end my blog to join my group of fellow Nia trainees to begin my growth spurt and find the joy. May you all find your joy today, even for a moment....ahhh.

Well this is the start of a new chapter in dr.yogi's life...Blogging! I have always wanted to share and by nature of being a physician, It is part of me to share knowledge, compassion and the art of living. My love of Yoga incorporates further healing to my profession, my life, my goals and interests. Yhis will hopefully be an inspirational blog,full of thoughts, adventures,health and disease,and well.......whatever evolves . Today is a good day, starting off with a morning class of Yoga with my wonderful office staff and nurses. A ritual we started several years ago during my yoga teacher training.They were my first dress rehersal for teaching others my love of yoga.It balances us for our day treating patients with cancer and blood disorders, a field full of bittersweet emotions ranging from pure joy to profound sadness.