1. Using your body to heal your mind emotions and spirit

2. a) The mind and body are intimately connected. --Today’s adults live with approximately 100 times more stress, anxiety, and depression than their grandparents --Stress and conflict exacerbates illness and disease --Chronic stress can make us more vulnerable to develop cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and depression What can we do to heal our mind and body? --Practice centering techniques to produce emotional and physical stability --Practice self-soothing techniques: deep breathing visualization laughter (releases pleasure-producing endorphins that counteract stress hormones) deep play --Exercise/dance/express yourself - Yoga, Zumba, Pilates, Tai Chi, Nia, etc. The Nia Technique --A mind-body fitness practice --Encompasses concepts and movements from the martial arts, dance arts, and healing arts --Uses systemic whole body movement to your body’s way --Practiced in bare feet to music from around the globe   Barbara L. Starling, LMSW, ASCW, CAADC is a clinical social worker in Lansing, Michigan. She also holds White, Green, and Blue Belts in The Nia Technique and teaches regularly in the Lansing area. She can be reached at bstarlingnia@yahoo.combstarlingnia@yahoo.com

3. What is the feeling of being Centered ?

4. Can create rigid body structures

5.  The need to express ourselves through movement is very old.  Many systems of movement both ancient and modern,  One modern system: Nia

6.  Integrates concepts and philosophy's from the martial arts, dance arts and healing arts  Benefits of Nia:  Sensory awareness  Balanced and healthy nervous system  Powerful breathing and circulation system  Balanced and integrated emotional body  Self healing and self confidence

7.  Multidimensional effects of deep breathing  The way we breathe affects the nervous system  Branches signal automatic physiological reactions in the body (fight or flight or relaxation response)  Diaphragmatic breathing = empowerment

8.  Breathing has the ability to change the pharmacy within the brain body.  Potent and Powerful enough to quiet the nervous system or  Elevate the body level of excitation

9. Let’s move…….

10.  Bertherat, Therese and Bernstein, Carol. 1989. The Body has its Reasons. Healing Arts Press. Rochester, Vermont. Crum, Thomas F. 1987. The Magic of Conflict: Turning a Life of Work into a Work of Art. Touchstone. New York, New York. Ferguson, Jacquelyn. 2010. Let Your Body Win: Stress Management Plain and Simple. Whole Person Associates, Inc. Deluth, MN. Hendricks, Gay and Wills, Russel. 1975. The Centering Book: Awareness Activities for Children & Adults to Relax the Body & Mind. Prentice Hall Press. New York, New York. Johnson, Don H., and Grand, Ian J., eds. 1998. The Body in Psychotherapy. North Atlantic Books. Berkeley, California.

11. 1. Healing Senses by Parijat 2. Heal This Land by Tina Malia from The Silent Awakening CD 3. No Quiero Nada Mas by Sancti Spiritus 4. Prayer for Grace by Michael Franti 5. River Crossing by Nomad 6. Breathe by Karen Drucker from The Heart of Healing CD

12. Barbara Starling LMSW, ACSW, CAADC bstarlingnia@yahoo.com For Nia class information internationally Nianow.com Thank You!