Sensing Whirlwind Energy by Patti Rieser
I’m betting I’m not alone in sensing whirlwind energy in the world. What a juxtaposition of opposites - the earth renewing herself with the bursting life of spring as we humans confront another natural force that is causing illness, taking lives, fomenting fear, and inviting us to change habits and look at our connections and relationships in new ways.
My emotions have been roiling in superspeed: shock, dismay, rage, sadness, sorrow, relief, happiness, powerlessness, curiosity. When the world seems to be in an especially crazy spell, it can be hard to remember my self-care practices - unplugging myself from news, eating with care, spending quiet time alone outside, doing what I can to support sleep. Expressing my emotions is an important part of my self-care and part of the practice of Nia.
Here are some excerpts about emotions and freedance from the Nia White Belt Manual (this is from an old version):
Just as the body can become stronger using physical movement, one can strengthen the body's relationship to emotional energy. When you are present with your emotions and let them move through your physical body, you move without thinking.
In Nia, we teach you to open to all feelings, to connect to all your emotions without judging them as good or bad. All emotions are valuable... and when they are expressed in a conscious, loving, respectful way, fitness and healing occur. Emotions are energetic responses to our experience.
Observe the way emotions move physical energy and cultivate your ability to direct physical movement using emotional energy. Refine your ability to define and consciously recognize your individual emotions and turn their volume up and down. Become emotionally diverse, strong, balanced, flexible, agile, powerful, and sensitive.
Use emotion as the chemistry to fuel organic and authentic movement. Don't leave the body to experience, rather, have an embodied emotion. Develop the ability to access every emotion while staying in your body, physically present, aware, conscious, and grounded in the experience.
In my Nia classes, we sometimes play with emotional scales to practice emotional agility and healthy expression. Set a timer and invite yourself to experience and express fear, anger (hiss), sadness, hurt, joy, and laughter for one minute each. Fake it till you make it. This is not directing the energy to or at anyone else, rather inviting the juice of it to fill you so you can get to know it. Rest for a few breaths in between each emotion, receiving it the way you would your own child's expression - "I see that you’re angry/scared/hurt/sad/happy, I’m here with you." We then take this emotional agility with us to freedance, allowing even deeper healing through creative expression and transformation.
Nia events and classes in the Triangle are paused for the health of our community. Check with your teacher to see if she’s offering online classes or events. This is a GREAT time to check out NiaTV, there’s a free 30-day trial! You’ll find a wide variety of classes from 20-60 minutes, gentle to vigorous, as well as guided meditations and wellness programs to support your health! Also be sure to sign up for inspiring and informative emails from Nia HQ (scroll to the bottom).
Like a sound, spring spreads and spreads until it is swallowed up in space. Like the wind, it moves across the map invisible; we see it only in its effects. It appears like the track of the breeze on a field of wheat, like shadows of wind-blown clouds, like tossing branches that reveal the presence of the invisible, the passing of the unseen. -- Edwin Way Teale