My name is Ondine Constable. I'm a teacher of Nia—a fusion of dance, martial arts, and healing arts. I love the way it makes me feel—energized, relaxed, and strong. It's a means for fitness and creative expression that I can enjoy throughout my life.
I love to share the experience and see my students' faces light up with the Joy of Movement! (Please see my Profile for info about Nia classes.)

In this blog I share personal experiences that enrich my life, including Nia, Transcendental Meditation (which I have practiced for 40 years), and my exploration of natural approaches to health. I offer ideas that I hope will bring you greater health and happiness. Your comments & questions are welcome.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Nia Dance Jams - for home and Haiti

Every month our local Nia community hosts a Nia Jam to raise funds for a local non-profit that we feel is really doing good things for our community. Our next Jam is March 6, in support of My Place, a safe shelter for homeless young people in Hendersonville. Please see my other site www.dance-health.com for details.

Our February Nia fundraiser for Haiti got snowed out last month, and has been rescheduled to March 20. Join me, along with other Nia Fitness instructors and friends, for heartfelt music and movement on Saturday, March 20, 2010, from 10:15-11:30 a.m. at the Henderson County Family YMCA. A donation of $10 is suggested ($8 for Y members), but more is welcome. Proceeds will be donated to the What If? Foundation which is providing meals and water to thousands of people in Haiti every day.

Nia is non-impact, aerobic fitness combining elements of dance, martial arts and healing movement such as yoga. Nia is fun for all ages “eight to 108,” and is safe for all levels of fitness. Nia is especially beneficial for those with arthritis, joint or back pain, and is also excellent cross-conditioning for athletes. Dance up a glow, work up a sweat, and feel more alive and joyful in your body!

The What If? Foundation, established in 2000, funds food and education programs for children in Haiti, in partnership with St. Clare’s Community of Port-au-Prince. Since the recent earthquake, St. Clare’s Community has continued to feed thousands of people every day, and is arranging medical care and shelter. This community/volunteer-based program has a successful track record of getting aid directly to the people who need it. “At this point, each truck of food and water we send costs approximately $5000, and we are arranging six trucks a week to help keep people alive,” says Foundation Founder, Margaret Trost. To learn more about this organization, including frequent blog updates from Haiti, see www.whatiffoundation.org.

Registration for the Jam begins at 10:00. We’ll be dancing for joy from 10:15 – 11:30 a.m. in the Fitness Studio. The Henderson County YMCA is located at 810 6th Avenue West in Hendersonville, NC.

For more information about Nia, please see my home site www.dance-health.com and www.NiaNow.com. Many Nia teachers across the country are doing similar events, so check out the events and class finder on nianow.com.