| MY
NIA STORY - ABOUT ROBIN BACH |
In
2000, after 20 years of teaching and managing in the fitness industry,
I found myself sitting at a meeting with other fitness coordinators
from the YMCA branches in St. Louis. The topic was “cutting
edge fitness classes”, and before us was a video showing the
so-called “future” of aerobics. This video showed a mind-body,
non-impact aerobic class where people wiggled, writhed (later I found
out that the term was undulation) danced, punched and kicked their
way into an elevated heart rate. I could barely contain my laughter
thinking, “ St. Louis is NOT ready for this far-out stuff*.
As I watched and listened to the video, I noticed that the participants
in the class were smiling…laughing…oh my, they were having
a blast... "There is no way these people are getting a good workout,"
I thought, "they are not in pain!”. My superiors encouraged
me to participate in an upcoming master class, despite my heavily
worded objections to this thing called Nia.**
Helen Terry, a Black Belt (oh, like this thing is an eastern discipline
or something!) Nia trainer from Houston came to St. Louis to conduct
the 3-hour workshop. I liked it; yes it was different, but it kicked
my butt while I was having fun. Helen was amazingly grounded with
no ”woo-woo” out there attitude like I imagined her to
have. She gently led us into a relationship with the sensation of
our bodies, the imagination of our minds, the feeling of our emotions
and the uniqueness of our spirits - she led us into awareness.
Toward the end of the routine called ”Miracle”, I had
a moment, you know one of those minutes called an epiphany. I saw
myself as a baby, 6-months old, nestled into my own dancing arms.
The thought came, “I am my own mother”. With that thought
came a flood of memories of when, at 6 months of age, I was put into
the hospital for pneumonia just one week after my adoptive parents
adopted me. Just as quickly as a dream, the memory surfaced, unfolded
its details, and left.
Powerfully moved by the experience, yet skeptical that the memory
was accurate or truthful, I phoned my mom after the workshop and told
her what happened. Through an outburst of tears, she verified the
story adding details of how the hospital would not let them visit
in the name of sterilized conditions. No wonder this little baby thought
she was being abandoned again. My veil of undiscovered and unexplained
resentment melted away with her tears; this was my ‘Miracle’.
From this experience I have learned how the body can hold on to unprocessed
emotions. I have also learned that by moving in new ways, these emotions
can be released--when we are ready. Can a fitness class really do
all this? You’ll have to find out for yourself. All I know is
that through the power of movement and the principles of Nia, I have
learned how to go inside and take care of myself.--how to be my own
mother.
I am now a Black Belt in the Nia Technique and in the past several
years of teaching Nia in the St. Louis area, I have had many more
‘moments’ -- but to hear those, you’ll have to come
to one of my classes.
Holistic personal training also available.
Call for appointment (314) 566-5855 |
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