The Joy of Movement: Yoga, Nia and the ChiBall Method
7 – 14 August, 2010
The focus for the Joy of Movement Retreat is relaxation, gratitude and nourishment.
Deborah ran her first course at Daku Resort in 2009, and found it to be the perfect location for her practice and philosophy. She writes:
We are fortunate if we have the opportunity of taking a break in a supportive and beautiful environment with like-minded people. Often in the business of everyday life it’s easy to forget how fortunate we are. This retreat is designed to encourage you to remember. The beauty of Daku is that it is a ‘real’ place. It’s relaxed, unpretentious, comfortable, generous. It has a sense of family, colour, tradition and honest life.
It is just so easy to enjoy the warmth, time slows and the body/mind can begin to let go of any tightness and grip to soften and be. The people, the palms trees, the misty mountains, the horizon, the temperature of the water, the hibiscus and the lush greens are happily incorporated into our sessions, deepening our sense of connection to place. In Yoga we breathe in the beach horizon and feel our expansive nature. ChiBall awareness of the seasons, and power of colour and the meridians will strengthen our organs and senses as we stretch. Nia invites a sense of playfulness, voice, and group to energise, gathering and releasing energies from Earth, Heart and Possibility (Open Sky).
When we work with the body in respectful and generous ways, the mind naturally quietens. By drawing attention back to the breath and sensations of the body we begin to see and appreciate that our posture (position) and how we move directly affects our minds, just as the state of mind will also affect our body. Being with what is in the present moment opens us to Life as the Joy of Movement. Appreciation becomes a life skill
Practices like Yoga, Meditation and the Martial Arts encourage students to approach the body with open curiosity rather than prescribed expectation and judgement.
The ‘family’ at Daku Resort are wonderful, down to earth, friendly and helpful. Like many Fijians, they are wonderful singers and dancers. They were enthusiastic performers and for this coming retreat I have asked that we learn a dance or two for a deeper experience of Fijian culture. This year we will also have the opportunity of making Tapa, a traditional craft.
After having led a wonderful retreat in 2009, I am excited to offer another designed to nourish energetic reserves and embrace a mutli-layered, sensation rich experience. The Joy of Movement Retreat is designed to keep your holiday open for rejuvenation and sense of connection.
During the course she will be using a variety of modalities
Yoga; a class focussing on the Breath and flowing sequences of postures using the ChiBall as a prop and focus. During this retreat Yoga will be offered as an extended section of the ChiBall class (30 mins approx) in the morning rather than a whole class. The ChiBall is a useful and accessible support tool, especially for stiff and inexperienced Yoga students. Vinyasa Yoga classes have an emphasis on the Breath, focus and flowing transitions and are suitable for beginners and layered for those with yoga experience.
Nia; a holistic movement class that encourages students to relax and enjoy their bodies moving in new and exciting ways. Nia blends aspects from The Martial Arts (Tai Chi, Tae Kwondo and Aikido), the fluidity and fun of Dance (Jazz, Modern and Duncan) and the alignment and awareness of Yoga with wonderful music from around the world.
Nia is reasonably new to Australia but it’s been operating for 25 years in the USA, and is practised in many countries around the world. It is for absolutely everyone and is easily adapted for different levels of fitness, flexibility and mood. There is no wrong way to do Nia so there is no need for ‘co-ordination’ or dance experience. It is a fun and relaxed session to an eclectic range of music.
The ChiBall Method; a blended class, (Qi Gong, Tai Chi, ChiBall Dance, Yoga, Feldenkrais, Pilates and Relaxation) which believe that good health and well being come from the inside and are expressed in our daily experience and outer reality. The ChiBall method is a unique set of movements and exercises that are practised with a ChiBall, which is infused with a matching aromatherapy fragrance. The synergy of colour and aroma in the ChiBall is a potent combination for healing imbalances, equalising emotional highs and lows, and nourishing a depleted spirit. Drawing from the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the ChiBall method liberates blocked energy (Chi), improves breathing and release tension while enhancing concentration, balance and co-ordination.
Teacher Deborah Shaw: Originally working in community development and social justice, Deborah began taking Yoga after a car accident. She became a teacher with the Ashtanga Yoga Centre of Melbourne and then completed the CAE – Diploma of Health Studies in 2001. Deborah is a Practioner of Mindfulness Meditation and a student of Qigong.
It was the sense of fun, meaningful imagery and sense of group dynamic used in Nia that seduced her to train as a Nia teacher. Nia opened the way to powerful work with group process in a fun and engaging way. She continues to be fascinated by the whole body/brain workout that taps into body sensations, emotions, thoughts and our ability to honour the power of the group experience.
Deborah combines her understandings from Yoga, Nia and ChiBall into The Joy of Movement Program. She offers it to community development organisations using it as a tool for supporting self-expression in individuals, relaxing interpersonal boundaries and strengthening the positive sense of group dynamics. She has worked with groups like the Immigrant Women’s Domestic Violence Service, trainings teams for Uniting Care Community Leadership, Mornington Shire Council and Awakening the Dreamer Symposium.
Deborah is a community organiser and facilitator for the Symposium and is active in the vision group working on Making Well Being Sustainable, a group encouraging the fitness, health and wellness industry to adopt and champion sustainability and social justice principles. As a part of the retreat, Deborah and interested ‘retreaters’ will participate in ‘Seva’ –community service and support local Fijians in their environmental concerns.
She runs MOVINGWORKS, offering training in somatic education for business, educational institutions, public classes, workshops and retreats in Nia, Yoga and ChiBall. She teaches The Joy of Movement course as a weekend course at Tafe level.
Programme
Yoga, Meditation, Nia and ChiBall are all centering and energising body-mind holistic practices that help calm our nervous systems, build a sense of connection to Self and nourish our sense of optimism and happiness. Each in their own way contributes to building strength, confidence and sense of balance in the world. Nia is a perfect counterpart for the quiet development of the personal journey that is Yoga. Nia is fun and sometimes loud where laughing is infectious. It can be hot and sweaty if you want to workout or it can be gentle and soothing. ChiBall takes a stronger, cogent TCM approach to health and well-being. After each class we will spend time in guided relaxation and meditation as ways to integrate the shifts of energy and enhance the benefits of these wonderful modalities.
The program is based on an early morning session of ChiBall with a 30-minute Yoga section and a mid morning Nia session, afternoons exploring the island and leaving open the possibility of evening Nia or ChiBall movement, history or theory sessions.
The complimentary massage, the rest, the warmth, friendliness and utter beauty of Fiji will have you leave refreshed and feeling wonderful.
The week’s retreat will cater for all levels; there’s a kids’ camp available ($250 for 6 days) during the morning sessions so you can enjoy your time away from them in confidence.
If you would like to find out more about Nia visit www.niaaustralia.com.au
The ChiBall Method visit www.chiball.com.
For more information contact Deborah at info@movingworks.com.au
www.movingworks.com.au
Programme
Saturday 7 August
Arrive Nadi.
3.00pm: Local flight to Savusavu.
Welcome to Daku
Sunday 8 August
6.30—8.15am: Morning ChiBall, Yoga
Breakfast
10.30—12.00pm: Nia, sensation, the wisdom and communication of the body
Afternoon: Optional visit to Savusavu town
Monday 9 August
6.30 – 8.15am: Morning ChiBall, Yoga
10.30 – 11.30am: Nia
After lunch you will have some free time for snorkeling, swimming and relaxing. Or there’s an optional visit to town, visiting the geothermal hot springs, local market and shops. Boat / beach outing
After Dinner an informal discussion on some of the concepts of Nia and The ChiBall Method with a relaxation session
Tuesday 10 August
6.30 – 8.15am: Morning ChiBall, Yoga
10.30 – 11.30am: Nia or Fijian dance instruction by local
After lunch we will visit the village to experience the church choir.
Enjoy an evening candle-lit session of Nia, the 5 stages of Healing or ChiBall
Wednesday 11 August
6.30 – 8.15am: Morning ChiBall, Yoga
10.30 – 11.30am: Nia
Coconut demo and Tap making workshop or Afternoon free for optional visits to waterfalls (good level of fitness required), pearl farm or snorkeling: cost not included in program.
Thursday 12 August
6.30 – 8.15am: Morning ChiBall, Yoga
10.30 – 11.30am: Nia,
Afternoon Free time
Evening – we will go into Savusavu for drinks at the Yacht Club and a fabulous dinner in town.
Friday 13 August
6.30 – 8.15am: Morning ChiBall, Yoga
10.30 – 11.30am: Nia
3.30 – 5.30pm: Village visit and Traditional Fijian meke (dance)
Enjoy an evening candle-lit session of Nia and party
Saturday 14 August
Return to Nadi and on home feeling fabulous.
All the listed activities are part of the course and are covered by your fees. You will also receive a wonderful free half hour massage. If you want to add on extra excursions eg diving / special snorkelling trips they will be added to your room bill.
