Christina Mae Wolf, Black Belt Nia teacher and owner of Embody Movement Studio and Lifestyle Boutique in Centralia, Washington, US, published the following insightful wisdoms (very slightly adapted) so beautifully in her article ‘7 things I know for sure about your Yoga or Nia practice’ published on FB in June 2018.
If you maintain a regular consistent practice long enough, you are pretty much guaranteed to, at some point, experience the following:
1. You will fart in class. 💨 I promise... no matter how much you try to hold it in or swear to never eat beans before class... at some point, despite your best efforts, you will let one fly in class. Don’t sweat it. Allow yourself a brief moment of embarrassment and move on. You’re human... in a body... after all. It happens.
2. You will fall, stumble, trip, lose your balance, or otherwise “screw up” in class. 😜 Here’s the thing... it’s not “screwing up” at all. If you’re trying new things and working to grow your strength, flexibility, balance and agility, you’re likely not going to get it perfect the first time (or even the second, third or fourth). Sometimes you might just be having an off day. Oh well. This is part of the practice. Take a deep breath and try again.
3. Your teacher or a fellow student (or both) will hurt your feelings or royally piss you off. 😢😡 Yep... it’s not always all rainbows and butterflies on the dance floor. In the class experience, you’re sharing deep, intimate space with others who are walking alongside you on the path and you are allowing yourself to be guided by someone you (hopefully) respect and trust. As in any deep intimate relationship, feelings get hurt, words are misunderstood, someone’s habits or voice gets on your nerves. It’s part of the process. In Nia we bump up against ourselves as we bump up against our practice partners or teachers. The key to entering a serious, lasting practice is to see all of these moments as an opportunity to be curious about yourself and deepen your understanding of yourself and others.
4. An illness or injury - acute or chronic - will tempt you to give up your practice entirely. I get it... when your body does not cooperate in the way you want it to or pain becomes a limiting factor it can be extremely disheartening and disappointing. The first response is often to throw in the towel. “If I can’t do it 100%, I’m not going to do it at all.” There are some practices where that conclusion would be warranted - but Nia is not one of them. In fact, the right Nia class can actually help you heal or recover much more quickly when entered in to with the right strategy, tools and mindset.
5. You will become bored, disenchanted, disillusioned or disappointed with your practice and/or the organizations or community associated with it. 😕 Here’s the truth... I do not know one person with a long-time practice who hasn’t experienced this at some point. As in any long-term relationship, there will come a time when the new blush of twitterpation and infatuation with your new discovery and “how AMAZING” you feel will wear off. Pretty soon that new shiny feeling will start to feel like your usual routine and can progress to feeling confining and cause downright resentment. Again... another choice point in relationship. You can: a.) go in search of the next shiny new thing. b.) abandon any type of practice entirely... or c.) use it as an opportunity to listen deeply to yourself and your body and go deeper. Make tweaks and changes as necessary to honour your deep truth but stay IN it and progress forward to the next level and depth of your practice.
6. You will you enter a season of life that is busy and hectic and will threaten to derail your practice entirely. Maybe it’s a family wedding👰 ... or a new baby 👶🏼 ... or graduation 🎓 ... or school... or kids sports schedule ⚽️ ... or holiday. Life happens and we’re all busy. There are natural ebbs and flows where something else must be priority in the short or long term. And yet... life will always be busy. The invitation is to find a way to stay in your practice even in the midst of the chaos. This is when you can call on the practice you’ve cultivated to keep you grounded in the cacophony of life. Maybe it’s 5 minutes of breath once a day... maybe it’s 1 class a week... maybe it’s turning on music and dancing for 15 minutes at home. There is always a way to stay in your practice. I promise.
7. If you’re able to sustain and deepen and stay “in” your practice through these inevitable embarrassments, frustrations, challenges, disappointments or hurts, I promise you will be rewarded in ways you can’t possibly imagine. You will build an inner and outer strength, confidence, balance and beauty beyond anything you’ve known. You will build faith and belief in the power of your SELF. You will experience a deeper relationship WITH and integration OF your body, mind, emotions and spirit - allowing you to more gracefully and skillfully navigate all aspects of life. The strength, fortitude and depth of your relationship with yourself, your practice, your peers and your teachers will fortify all other relationships in your life. And you will marvel at the continuing unfolding, growth and evolution of your body, mind and spirit on this never-ending journey of health and wholeness. 😁🙌✨
One of my greatest joys is witnessing the profound transformation of those who keep saying “yes” to this life-changing journey. One of my deepest heartbreaks is seeing people get derailed from fulfilling the longings of their bodies and souls by one of these simple and predictable bumps along this well-traveled road.
If you’re in it... stay in it. If you need help navigating these twists and turns, reach out. There’s a whole community of people (including me) who have walked this road before you. You’re not alone. ❤️
P.S. if you have made it through the gauntlet of all 7 of these and are still firmly rooted in your practice, congratulations! Seriously! You’re DOING it!! 🙏👍