Summer is Fire Season ­­– the season to PLAY, dance, move, flare, seek out new experiences.

This summer season offers many opportunities to think outside the box and try a variety of activities to energize and condition your body. Here are a few activities to help inspire you to get moving and take advantage of the fiery, passionate energy of summer:

1. Get to the park! One of the best ways to get moving in New York City also happens to be absolutely free. And use it as an invitation to reconnect with friends.  Why not get a group together for a round of Frisbee golf? Rent or bring a bike to Central Park. Take a walk or run and catch up with a loved one. Now is the time to take advantage of the beauty that New York has to offer, right outside your door. And if you’re reading this and you’re not in New York, make use of the park in your area.
   
   
2. Midsummer Night Swing! Here in New York, Lincoln Center offers swing dance lessons followed by live swing and jazz performances. Bring a partner and come enjoy the summer night air with some fabulous music and lively dance! Take a risk and get out there – shake your body and feel the energy all around you.  Participate completely! Be fully present to be inspired by the moment – and the movement!
3. Come to a free Nia jam! Every month at the JCC in Manhattan, Nia teachers from all over the city get together to share the Joy of movement. It is an exciting, celebratory atmosphere where you can experience a variety of teaching styles in one evening. Contact the JCC in Manhattan for dates and times.  If you’re not in New York, invest some time to learn about Nia and find a class to experience it for yourself.  A simple Google search can get you started!
4. Free kayaking lessons! Enjoy the sunshine and the Hudson River at one of several piers in New York City, such as Pier 96 off of west 56th street. After a few lessons you can also join 3-hour guided tours down the river.

Whatever you do and wherever you are, use this season as an invitation to yourself to embrace life around you, literally.  Use your body to enjoy everything around you.  This is your one beautiful life and your amazing body. 

This summer, allow yourself to be inspired by movement and to be set on fire with a renewed passion toward health and energy through movement.   

Rachel Duvall, MFA - Nia Dance Instructor

Dance with Rachel every Wednesday night!

In the wintertime with fewer daylight hours and more time spent indoors, many of us experience a lower level of energy and possibly an overall sense of sadness. For some this sadness can progress to a depression which is linked to Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. So what are some ways we can turn this time of darkness, low energy and sometimes sadness into a time of light, renewal and joy?

• Get Moving! ~ Moving our bodies raises our mood by enhancing neurotransmitters in the brain and releasing feel-good endorphins. Hint: come dance with me on Wednesday nights!
• Find Community ~ Once the warmth of the holidays have past, the wintertime can often feel isolating and lonely. Find time to come together with others and dance, connect and laugh!
• Fresh Air & Rest ~ Take time to get outside and take in fresh air, breathe deeply, even if it’s only for a few minutes each day. Getting a full night’s rest, optimally 8 hours, also helps the body recharge, rejuvenate and prepare to welcome the light the next day.
• Get Creative ~ Use this time of darkness as a time for introspection, going within and tapping in to your creative spirit. Movement and music can be a wonderful way to tap in to your creative expression and release and relieve stress.