If you have trained Nia you have heard and ‘incorporated’ the term sacred athlete.

The current Olympic Games, which I follow with admiration but also with a certain pathos for each competition, gave me the cue to remind myself to cultivate the sacred athlete in me.

I was reminded of this by the emotional opening speech of the Olympic Games given by Tony Estanguet, a former Olympic champion.

In welcoming the athletes to Paris he said :

‘What a thrill to see you all parading together, it is a rare and precious moment.

Although the Games cannot solve all the world's problems: discrimination, does not disappear in an evening, but you have reminded us how beautiful humanity is when it gathers. When you return to the Olympic village you will send a sign of hope to the world a place where people of all cultures and religions can live together, you will remind us that it is possible. Over the next 16 days you will be the best version of humanity. ‘ Tony Estanguet

When we use the term Sacred Athlete in Nia we mean this:

The Sacred Athlete follows his purpose by aiming towards a desired goal, the ideal he wishes to achieve. By following a purpose, the Sacred Athlete develops and increases his or her potential.

Sacred Athletes play the game of life by fully living their purpose in each moment, winning the game of life by living in their body and living their life using awareness, movement, joy and choices to play the game of life on the field of their life, transforming potential into possibility. The smallest choices are important and every step on the path of the sacred athlete is celebrated. The final destination is not seen as the only point of arrival. Each step of development is seen as an important part of the whole journey.

Perhaps you have followed the controversy surrounding the Italian swimmer who lost the race by one hundredth of a second and cried at the end of the race that she was still crying with joy for finishing fourth. In my opinion, she is a perfect  example of Sacred Athlete. She gave her all, she lost, but she is moved by her own performance and for taking part to the race.

Beyond the Olympics and the performance, what Nia teaches me is just this: it doesn't matter where I can get to, it matters how much attention, dedication, energy I put into what I want to achieve, whether it's a choreography, a difficult step or the  I set myself .

I can aim at practicing movement at least an hour a day , read two books a month, any goal is valid.

I can decide to feel sorry for myself and repeat to myself that I don't have the time or the willpower  to do what I set out to do, or I can unleash the Sacred Athlete in me.

These days we can truly be inspired by the young athletes who have dedicated years of their lives to achieving, and each of them has the chance to truly show the best version of humanity.

We can hardly be at the athletic level of Benedetta Pilato or Simon Biles, but on a personal level we can all become gold medalists of what we want to achieve.

So, gold medals for all!