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MARTHA
RANDALL
Teacher
Trainer Biography
Black
Belt
Martha
brings over 30 years of experience as a movement artist and teacher to her
classes and trainings. Formal training began at York University where she
received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance.
Throughout
her movement career Martha has played and studied in an eclectic range of
movement modalities including modern dance, ballet, contact improvisation,
Gabrielle Roth's 5 Sacred Rhythms, tai chi and karate, yoga and clowning.
Martha is a dance artist who most recently performed with Claudia Moore's
Moonhorse Dance Theatre. She often collaborates with musician and sound
therapist Gary Diggins who offers his soulful music at times to her
classes.
She
has offered body awareness classes to educators through the Toronto Board
of Education and teaches an expressive arts movement course at the
Haliburton School of the Arts. She also volunteers Nia classes at Gilda's
Club, a support centre for women affected by cancer.
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From
Martha
"I’ve
always said that Nia gave me context and confirmation – a place to land
with my passion for movement, teaching and community and a place that
inspired me to grow in my own unique way and time with the gifts that I
have to share with the world."
In
1996 I was teaching my own type of movement classes in Toronto, Canada,
which I called Martha’s Mystery Gym. Yet, after a short period of time I
found I wasn’t excited about the direction I was taking the classes. I
literally said to the Universe, “I think there is already a technique
out there that I am meant to teach.”
About
a month later, I ran into an earlier dance connection of mine, Roberta
Mohler, who had just started teaching Nia and she invited me to attend my
first Nia class offered by visiting trainer Zeta Gaudet. Being curious
about any dance form that put spirit and movement together, I had to go
check it out. During the class a tear of recognition and gratitude ran
down my cheek – I knew I had found my movement art for teaching. The
combination of music, movement and spirit compelled me to register
immediately for the next White Belt training with Zeta in British
Columbia.
I
taught Nia for five-and-a-half years, gaining skill as a teacher and going
deeper into my own Nia practice. My daughter Dylann was two years old in
March 2002 when I was invited to be a Nia Trainer. I remember sitting in
Portland thinking, “Oh my…can I really manage adding another large
aspect to my Nia business and raise a daughter with mindfulness?” In a
moment I knew that I wanted my daughter to witness a woman living her
dreams, living large in the world. It has been a dynamic experience with
her. When she attends class she chooses the songs for the Freedance
section, she also sends drawings to class for me to share with my students
and loves to practice “Tae Kwon Toe” Nia with Daddy at home. I often
hear, “Mommy, is this a Nia move? Is this? How about this?” “Yes,
Dylann,” I tell her, “Every move is a Nia move!”
I’ve
been teaching Nia for over 10 years now and training people in the Nia
White Belt for three-and-a-half years. These have been the most rewarding
years of my life. I knew that I was called to guide people into awareness
and health through movement and Nia gave me the context to realize that
vision.
I
have always been committed to personal growth, and running my own Nia
business while in relationship with a dynamic community of my Nia peers
has provided many opportunities to step into roles of leadership, be part
of cooperative initiatives, and accept and provide mentoring.
I
have stretched my entrepreneurial muscles in all kinds of ways by being a
Nia professional. From facilitating the Nia Technique book tour in Toronto
in 2005, to connecting with local media for the tour and for other Nia
events, to traveling to various cities and towns to introduce the work, to
getting the word out about Nia by my sandwich board on the street or
giving classes in the local park, I’ve stretched and grown as a
professional with Nia.
I
also have an amazing community of students who are committed to my classes
week after week and even laugh at my jokes – with the occasional groan.
Through my work as a teacher and Trainer I have created a web of people
who lead me into many new and interesting teaching opportunities. From
teaching a three-day course for the Expressive Arts Therapy program at
Haliburton School of Fine Arts, to volunteering at the Gilda Radner Breast
Cancer Support Centre, to presenting Nia to physicians at the University
of Toronto, my Nia work and community is rich and diverse.
Being
a Nia Trainer and guiding people through the White Belt training continues
to nudge me gently in the direction of mastery. I appreciate the guidance
I receive from Debbie and Carlos and Nia headquarters to refine my craft
and be all that I can be in this work.
I
love watching my trainees awaken to the richness and depth of Nia,
breaking through personal limitations and inhibitions, committing to live
more fully in their bodies and sharing that experiential journey with
others.
I
believe that living well in our bodies requires a practice of awareness,
fitness variety, and pleasure. And I think we really groove when we can do
it in community with one another. Nia is a celebration of all of this and
more. I feel so blessed to have this as my path!
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