Class Information
Syllabus (Coming in January)
Course Description
The Nia Technique™ is a barefooted fitness program designed to increase participants’ awareness of physical sensations, build strength and stamina, and increase flexibility and balance. Nia provides safe and effective exercise by teaching “The Body’s Way”: moving the body the way nature intended it and “Your Body’s Way”: learning to experience and understand being in your body, learning awareness of your body and connecting to sensations of pleasure. The Nia Technique™ is a system which invokes the natural intelligence of the body, mind, emotions and unique spirit of everyone to teach us to listen to the “Voices of the Body” to make choices that increase the sensation of pleasure in our Lives. The Nia Technique™ was the first “fusion fitness” program in the world and it blends Eastern and Western movement and dance philosophies into a powerful practice that inspires people to get healthy and fit while exploring their potential and purpose. Nia can be a lifestyle practice of self-expression, combining martial arts, dance arts and healing arts to foster physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.
Recommended Text: The Nia Technique™ by Debbie & Carlos Rosas, 2004. This book is on reserve at Zimmerman Library. There may be a few copies at the bookstore in the general bookstore area (downstairs).
Objectives
1. Demonstrate in class the 52 Nia movements.2. Define and describe the major concepts upon which Nia is based (sensory awareness, the 9 Movement Forms and barefooted non-impact movement)
3. Understand the meaning of “The Body’s Way” and “Your Body’s Way”.
4. Understand the basic skeletal anatomy of the body as it pertains to the practice of Nia.
5. Describe and evaluate in writing your experience of Nia in and outside of the classroom and your ability to connect sensory awareness to your experience.
Requirements
ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATIONBe on time. Students are expected to attend and participate on a regular basis. Roll call will occur during the first 5 minutes of class. Arrival after roll call will be considered tardy; two tardies constitute an absence. We’ll use the clock in the classroom for reference. You will be marked ABSENT when you arrive after 5:15p.m., 15 minutes past the scheduled start time of class. This is a department-wide policy.
The attendance policy begins on the first day of class which is Tuesday, January 17, 2012 and applies to all students (graded/credit/no credit/audit) without exception. That means that exceptional circumstances do not change the attendance policies as stated in this syllabus. Please inform me and the Dean of Students or the Student Health Center about extended absences or absences resulting from extenuating circumstances. This is your avenue for informing me and does not constitute an excuse from being absent. There are no excused or unexcused absences. You’re either here or not.
Maximum Absences Allowed
For a 16‐week class, the University PE department requires that students not be absent more than 4 days of class. If you miss three classes, you must contact me to notify me of your plans to return to class or not. When you’ve missed three classes you will be reminded and informed via email about the policy. It is required that students be dropped after their fourth absence, no matter the reasons. An email will be sent in advance of being dropped. There are no make‐up classes, but students may complete extra credit assignments for participation points.Further, doctor’s notes do not excuse an absence. I follow the “you’re here or you’re not” regardless of the reason philosophy. If you receive a note disallowing participation in class you must also get one allowing you back into class to participate. I allow one ‘freebie’ absence. Use the remaining 4 class absences allowed wisely.
Have a wedding to attend? Going to Mexico for spring break? Plan ahead!
Evaluation/Course Grading
Active Participation (66 points) - Participation is not attendance. Participation means being prepared (i.e. dressed appropriately) and present; having an open attitude towards the material and being engaged and active in class and following the instructor’s direction and guidance. With permission from the instructor, students who cannot participate due to minor illness or injury may "watch and respond" rather than participate in class (allowed only 3x/semester). Students who watch will be required to write a brief response of their observations of class, due at the end of that class in order to receive participation points.
Assignments and Quizzes (34 points)
I. Due TBA
You are required to bring in a signed copy of the last page of the syllabus (worth 3 points) to me by Tuesday,September 6th. If the syllabus receipt is not signed and submitted by Tuesday, September 6th, you will lose daily participation points until the syllabus is signed and submitted.
II. TBD
Pop Quiz (4 points) – The quiz will consist of questions relating to what we’ve covered so far in class about The Nia Technique™ and anatomy. The quiz will be completed in class.
III. Due TBA
Article/Reading Review (10 points) – See syllabus for more information.
IV. Due TBA
“Experience Dance” (5 points) - Attend any dance related performance or class (in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, elsewhere…). Take note of what you see and learn and experience. Do you notice any of the Nia movement forms being used? Tell me about the experience as it relates to your knowledge about Nia. Write me a brief synopsis of the experience, typed, emailed as an attachment. It must be at least 1 page long. You may also attend another Nia Technique class with a different teacher for this assignment.
IV. Due TBA
Personal Written Response (12 points) - Students will write one personal response paper. They must be at least 2.5 pages long. They must be typed and turned in on the due date. I will accept hard copies or email attachments on the due date. In addition summary of materials presented, responses should be thoughtful and contemplative, reflecting your own questions, concerns, and discoveries. See the syllabus for more information.