Monday, April 30, 2007

Exhausted, tired, buggered...

Any other acronyms for simply worn out? The past week has been - for want of a better word - intensive. My Nia White Belt intensive training was completely draining. Speaking to a few others it was more emotionally charged than the average White Belt so by the end of the week it was a matter of "enough already!!".

I needed to take today off to regroup, get my thoughts together and not be as much of an emotional wreck as I have been over the past week. I am not an openly emotional person, yet this week pushed buttons I didn't know I had.

But it is completed now. I am officially a licensed trainer in the Nia technique. My first routine is White Belt Dreamwalker. Big deep breath and it is time to start my bars...

1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 and 7 and 8 and...


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Tuesday, April 24, 2007

NIA White Belt - One day down 6 to go...

So I have finished day one. Last night I came home and was completely exhausted - physically and emotionally. It was really full on. Mark said to me "what's going on" but I can't really explain what was going through my head. I think it was the exhaustion that made me a more emotional. If you know me you know I VERY RARELY express my feelings - EVER! So it is really hard to explain to people the sensations and the feelings that are going through me at the moment.

We only covered 2 of the 13 principles in the first day, but it went much more in depth than I expected it would. I have been told that it is called intensive for a reason, but really didn't have a concept to what level this would be taken.

Highlight of Day One: Dancing Chains and Connections routines with Ken our trainer. The energy in the room was like something I have never experienced in a NIA class. I have done the Chains routine a number of times and normally it is pretty energetic and we have a great time, but last night people were pushing themselves and loving it. I got to dance next to my normal trainer, Sophie, which was really nice - to dance with her instead of following her. People were moved to tears by the energy in the room and the Joy of Movement.

So it is now 6:46am and I am getting ready to embark on Day Two of my NIA journey. The brain, bones and muscles are more than a little weary, but there is so much more to look forward to and explore.

Here goes...


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Sunday, April 22, 2007

Today I start my NIA training.

I'm not sure if I am excited or worried about commencing my NIA White Belt trianing this afternoon. One this is clear - I am regretting the 2.5 hours I spent at the gym yesterday. Boy oh boy my thighs are killing me!

So I start my white belt this afternoon at 5:30pm... Bring on the next 7 days, 11-12 hours a day, of physical training, theory and spirituality. Not sure exactly what to expect on the spirituality side of things, but apparently it is a "personal journey". I know there will be a lot of chakra and harnassing ch'i energy type of thing. But apart from that I am really not too sure what to expect.

The description is...
Nia White Belt Training: Joyful. Transformational. It is unlike any other educational training you have ever experienced.

I did a chakra test this morning to see where I need to do more work on during this week. The results are:

Root: under-active (-6%)
Sacral: open (19%)
Navel: over-active (69%)
Heart: over-active (81%)
Throat: open (38%)
Third Eye: open (38%)
Crown: under-active (13%)

An explanation of this can be found here. I was quite surprised as these results were different from another chakra test I did a few weeks ago in a workshop. But I guess it is just that they are constnatly moving asnd changing according to what is happening within and around you. Although the root chakra result didn't surprise me one little bit!

I have to admit I have ALWAYS been very, very sceptical about ch'i and chakras, but the more I learn the more I am open to the idea. Funnily enough I was talking to a farmer a few weeks ago and I have no idea what we were talking about but he got talking to me about how he harnesses his energy when hammering or doing something that requires very specific forces. He looked at me and said that there must be something in all that ch'i energy stuff because if he concentrates his focus and directs his energy he gets the result first time. It completely blew me away that this person who I looked at and always thought of as a "typical farmer" came out with this. So it got me thinking and I have to admit that there is something in what he said.

Anyhow... got to do the grocery shopping and washing before I head off to class this afternoon.

I hope everyone is healthy and happy. Wish me luck as I take a huge step into the unknown and embark on my NIA training.


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Remember - Nirvana were just a band... Minor Threat were just a band...

Lula Fortune posted this great video from You Tube. I love it!

Do yourself a favour... Watch it!


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Tuesday, April 17, 2007

A snap from Jo and Dion's wedding.


Steph and Mark 2
Originally uploaded by Kratzy.
Ain't this a sweet photo? Looking our loveliest at Mark's cousin's wedding last weekend.


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Hayden photo on Easter Monday


Hayden Finlayson 2
Originally uploaded by Kratzy.
This is my friend Wendy's little guy, Hayden.

I have to admit it is my favourite photo in a little while! What do you think would be going through Hayden's head?


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Thursday, April 12, 2007

Flickr photo upload tool test...


17 March 07 - Max (5) Sml
Originally uploaded by Kratzy.

Testing my "blog a photo" option in Flickr... Here is my little guy waking up from a sleep.


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