Day two at World IDEA, and I’ve just finished my second of two presentations: Nia Barefoot Cardio Workout and Nia-The Body’s Way-the five sensations of physical fitness.

Part of presenting at these conventions is coming up with catchy titles. I’m not saying these titles are catchy, but I picked them because this group is into working out, into traditional fitness.

I remember it well. Fitness. It’s what drew me into exercise and into moving in the first place. I loved working out. I still do. There’s a real connection between me, and fitness. It’s where I got my feet wet and it’s where I got my first training. It’s the foundation Nia grew from. It’s where I found my body and where I found pleasure. Yes, I said “Pleasure”.

I was one of the lucky ones. I never got hurt. Even back when the mentality was burn baby burn I listened to my body. I remember planning a five-mile run and if my body said, “stop, I’m tired,” even after only a mile, I’d stop. This is why I didn’t get hurt—I listened to the voices of my body.

I’m always nervous when I give presentations. It’s not so much about me, what I might say, but it’s the muscle memory, me and my body remembering the beginning days of Nia, the people looking at me like I was crazy and, some walking out as soon as I asked them to take off their shoes. I hated it then and I guess I anticipate it may happen again, even though it seldom does. I want people to get it, to hear me, and to embrace Nia. I still believe Nia is on one of the best programs for fitness professionals to teach, to take care of themselves and, for people to experience, to take care of themselves. After twenty-five year’s you’d think I’d get over the nervous fear, but I don’t. Some say nerves keep you sharp and on top of your game. Whatever, it certainly keeps me in my body and paying attention.

My first session, Nia Barefoot cardio experience, came at the end of the day. It was scheduled from 4:04 to 6:00 PM. It was great! The afternoon is a good time slot. People are tired and ready to slow down. It’s easier to get them to feel and breathe at the end of a day when they’ve workout and gotten what they love, the workout. I was in one of the smaller rooms so it quickly filled to capacity. It’s always great to have a full room and a group open and receptive. They were. Many had done Nia before and were old friends. This is one of my favorite rewards when coming to these events, seeing old friends. I had not seen Lizbeth Garcia from San Diego in years. She used to teach Nia at Eight Elements West along with Pilates and since chosen to commit her time to Pilates. I must say when I see Nia teachers gone exclusively Pilates move they seem to have lost the fluid, free motion I so love about a Nia dancer. To me Nia dancers look youthful when they move no matter what their age, which is not the same for Pilate’s dancers. Maybe some, but from what I see the rigidity and structure creates a kind of rigidity. I believe what I see the result of a disruption to the bodies natural flow and systemic nature to move. Who knows? All I know is I watch a Nia dancer move and I breathe deep and feel deep.

When I begin a presentation I always begin by asking who’s in the room? Who has taken Nia, read or, heard about Nia? I address who’s in the room to bring them in. Then I attempt to follow a flow and use specific language to speak to a broad market and certainly to the people in the room. If I lose my way, I tend to get, well you know, to woo-woo! I can see it on their faces.

There were lots of new to Nia participants in the room even though the group was small. This is good. My intent in presenting at conventions is to spread the word, market and brand Nia to teachers who may be interested in training, in teaching Nia. I find fitness conventions to be a good place to find teachers with experience in teaching, and already educated in the fitness and health fields.

My explanation of Nia was a quick five-minute history and description of what Nia is. Yes, I said, “Five-minutes”.
My class was good. They were into it. I did Amethyst. I love the form and freedom in Amethyst and the music is different from what this audience generally listens to. I was tight but loose and I met my goal of, “Debbie, be with them, dance with them, and have fun!”

I love watching a group let go and get more and more into themselves, moving, not exercising. Their bodies coming to life right before my eyes, the Nia magic doing what she does; turning people onto moving in pleasure in their body!

Jeff was with me in this first class. I like having him there. He gives me feedback. I felt I did I great job and he agreed. Like always we discussed how I might make it better, what I could better.

My second session, The Body’s Way; the five sensations of physical fitness was a workshop. This session was at 8:05 AM. The group was small, the room big, and I felt disappointed that my room was not packed like Zumba! I quickly let it go and reminded myself to e here for who was here.

For this workshop I decided to first have the group experience the five sensations in their hands. I could see on their face I had them. The language we so carefully use to craft a Nia class always gets them. The blending of mechanical, sensory and poetic language combined to keep the participant in the body, playing with their mind, and connected to their heart. It works for them and for me, keeping me connected to my body as guide them into theirs.

After experiencing the five sensations in the hands I then had the group experience them in the 5 Stages, and the last experience was in a Classic Nia experience. I felt good about the workshop. I especially enjoyed the confirmation coming to me from the Chinese man sitting in the back nodding his head throughout. I told myself the story that he loved the way I was blending martial art moves and, martial art philosophy and theory with, The Body’s Way, creatively getting everyone to move physically and energetically.

Jeff was at this session too and again, after, I asked him for feedback. We discussed what I could do better. There’s always something to learn and improve. While I felt good about the session, he felt I lost the group a bit. So we talked about it.

Jeff reminded me, Debbie, “It always comes down to the language,” how you say what you say. “Keep it simple, be clear, and don’t forget to make a promise and, be certain to deliver the promise”. I forgot the promise and got carried away telling them too much.

Next time I’ll close my eyes and hear Jeff’s advice, “Debbie, engage the audience by giving them a experience in the first five-minutes. Remember that people who don’t’ know you or don’t know Nia, don’t want to know the story, your story, until you in some way become interesting and have made some kind of impression on them. Until then, they’re distracted by what they want, by what they think they need. They are waiting for you to deliver it. They want to be sure they’re going to get their monies worth. Until you grab then and make them go, “Wow, chances are they’ll remain in their heads. You want them in their body. The Wow gets people into their body and it bonds them together. Once you Wow them and have their attention and make the promise, for the rest of the presentation, they’ll sit on the edge of their seats waiting for you to delver. They’ll want more.
I love this work. It is my profession, personal practice and the way I grow. It is how I create a sacred livelihood for myself. I would have it no other way.

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