Description:
Nia Healing Dance is a low-impact, low-pressure movement practice rooted in ancient forms of energetic healing and release including Tai Chi, Yoga, West African, and Modern Contemporary dance. Nia (which stands for Neuromuscular Integrative Action) helps trauma and stagnant energy move out of the body through gentle fluid motion, dynamic expression, and mindful awareness. During this 90-minute workshop, perfect for beginners or experienced movers alike, we will honor our ancestors and Spirit, work up a little sweat, devote ample time to cooldown & stretching, and learn somatic techniques you can take home to add to your own practice. With barefoot exploration and mat play, Nia healing dance will leave you feeling refreshed, relaxed, and mentally clear. And because we focus so deeply on listening to each body's unique wisdom, the experience is adaptable to all needs and abilities.
Class will be conducted indoors and barefoot, mostly standing with some stretching on the floor at the end. There will be limited mats available to use, but feel free to bring your own as well. Wear clothing you feel comfortable moving in, and make sure to bring water to stay hydrated!
BIO:
Stephanie Parker (she/her) is a Black intuitive somatic healer (Somatic Experiencing Practitioner in Training), licensed Nia movement instructor, and anti-oppression facilitator based in Oakland, California. She is a graduate of Stanford University (B.A., M.A.), and worked at Google for 9 years before being called to the path of ancestral healing. Stephanie creates safe, affirming, sacred, decolonial spaces, guiding in a nonhierarchical way that allows collective wisdom to emerge from the group.
Stephanie's journey as a healer began with her own body’s divine act of refusal in the form of severe upper body-wide nerve pain, a condition that led her to step away from both her social justice organizing work and decade-long career in the tech industry. Stephanie’s search for relief led her to her first Nia Dance class, where she experienced the physical release of trapped emotions, loving intergenerational community, and the embodied sensation of feeling both freedom and safety at the same time. It was this spirit-led encounter that served as a catalyst for her decision to walk in her purpose. You can learn more about Stephanie and her offerings on her website, and on Instagram at @catchlight27.