Adaptability

Day 5 of 52:  Bow Stance - Stand in Open Stance (feet hip width apart), then take a step back onto the ball of one foot.  Feet should still be hip width apart, as if standing on two separate railroad tracks.  Maintain balance by keeping knees slightly bent and back heel high.  Bow Stance builds powerful strength and agility in the legs and feet.  The 3 Planes of Movement (Principle #7 of Nia) are available with Bow Stance -- High, Middle and Low. Practicing Bow Stance is excellent conditioning for walking and for delaing with changes in levels, descending and ascending, changing the body's center of gravity.

Bow Stance can also be achieved from "A" Stance and Sumo Stance.  Stand in either "A" Stance or Sumo Stance and take a step back onto the ball of one foot.  My preference is Bow Stance from Sumo Stance.  The wider base makes it easier for me to descend and ascend.  There is more mobility in my pelvis and hips.  My range of motion throughout my body increases.  

Like Sumo Stance, I really love Bow Stance...my body has learned to descend and ascend easily in Bow Stance.  This was not always the case.  Rigidity moved into Flexibility and Mobility.  Experience and practice has allowed my body to adapt to the rising and lowering -- the changing of my body's center of gravity.  

Meditation:  One of my favorite aspects of Nia is it's adaptability to any body type, any size, any weight, any level of experience.  Adaptability.  I notice that my cats adapt to whatever changes occur in their environment.  It takes a little time and most cats are more comfortable with a set routine; yet they adapt to change very easily.  

Do you resonate with change?  I find that human beings actually do resonate with change, they adapt quite easily when the change is something they already want or desire.  When the change is sudden, unexpected, or if the person is being asked to change an attitude or a behavior, the adaptability tends to go out the window.  Change is the only constant in this world.  We can depend on it, so why is it that we tend to fight it?  

What changes are you willing to make?  Make a list.  Start with the small stuff -- the changes with which you can resonate.   Notice any resistance that appears as you continue to make a list of areas in your life where changes might be necessary -- food, exercise, addictive attitudes and behaviors.  

Change...adapt...change....adapt...