Grown-Ups Dance like Kids!

Joanne Edgar – editor, writer, communications consultant

Nia is for everyone!  It is a fitness and lifestyle practice that any one, at any age or level of fitness, can do. It’s never boring, so you keep coming back.

I first stumbled into a Nia class at my local Y, after I turned 50. I didn’t know what it was, but I was curious because I heard fun music and saw people who were actually laughing while they were dancing and working out. By the time Suzanne interviewed me for INVENTING THE REST OF OUR LIVES, I had developed a passion for Nia.

What had attracted me to Nia was the simple joy of it, dancing around the room like a five-year-old, learning not to care at all what I looked like. As I went deeper into the practice, I discovered a lot more—an understanding of how my body works (not the body of the person next to me) and how my body influences how I feel emotionally.

Now, Nia is a permanent part of my life for three big reasons—my body, my spirit, and my mind… pretty much in that order.

My Body: At 65, I am physically stronger and more flexible than I was in my 40s. I can bound down the stairs, which used to hurt my knees. I can touch my toes. My posture is much better. Nevertheless, I am not immune to aging. When I get out of bed in the morning, I am not so nimble. A few hours of concentration at the computer or a long airplane ride can leave me with an achy back. Nia has taught me what to do about these minor problems—and it keeps me moving. I have no intention of being limited by my body as I age. When I’m 85, I want to still be able to get up and down off the floor with ease. I want to sit cross-legged in a chair. I want to bike and swim and do another triathlon, as I did last year. My Nia practice two or three times a week makes that possible.

My Spirit: Nia feeds my spirit. Most days, I feel as young as I ever have in my adult life. Dancing Nia keeps me enthusiastic. When I’m frustrated or cranky, it gives me perspective. When I feel like pouting, it makes me laugh instead. Nia helps me feel positive about my body, even as the wrinkles and sags appear. Nia also brought me an eclectic community of wonderful friends who share a love of music, movement, and play.

My Mind: I make my living, with my mind (and a computer). Nia helps me stay awake, alert, and engaged in my work. It keeps me optimistic about job assignments, a pretty significant advantage in hard economic times.  When I travel for business, I take Nia routines with me. When I’m tired after a meeting or a big deadline, Nia peps me up and sets me up for the next one.

Bottom Line: I don’t know where life will take me in the future. But I do know I’ll take Nia with me wherever I go. When I’m in my 90s, I might do Nia in a chair or a pool. But I’ll still do it. What other healthy, cardiovascular practice lets grown-up adults dance like kids, make strange noises and crawl on the floor in public? Why would I ever give this up?

Links
www.nianow.com
www.nianewyork.com
www.jccmanhattan.org