iCast: Nakia & His Southern Cousins

Nakia has once again awoken to some serious pain. After his session with personal trainer, Robert Reed, at Castle Hill Fitness, where they focused on legs, chest, and arms, Nakia is feeling a great deal of pain. This video is a cry for help for fitness minded people to help him find a way to help ease this pain today and in the future as he continues on his journey of getting in shape.

One week after Nakia began his journey into a new healthy and active lifestyle, he discusses meeting with his trainer for his second session, getting a new heart-rate monitor, walking at the Mueller park, and taking part in HAAM Benefit Day 2009.

Day 2 of Nakia's journey into the world of healthier living finds him stiff and sore from his first day of working out. Hear him discuss what's ahead and watch for pop-up thoughts that give you an opportunity to interact with him. For more information about Nakia - Please visit NAKIA.NET

Nakia checks in after completing his first workout with his new trainer, Robert Reed, at Castle Hill Fitness in Austin, TX.

As Nakia gets ready to meet with his new personal trainer, Robert Reed, at Castle Hill Fitness in downtown Austin, TX, he introduces the viewer to the ideas behind the diary and explains what is to come for future entries. He also takes a moment to show the viewer his body so he may begin tracking progress. When Nakia last weighed himself, he was at approximately 280 pounds. Future entries will include a documented weigh-in and body fat calculation.

Recently, the Austin-American Statesman published a list of their Fortunate 500. The list was sectioned off to include everything from Food, Nightlife, Education, Movies, and of course... Music - which Nakia's album, Water To Wine, was "fortunate" enough to be chosen to be listed among some of Austin's finest musicians and music-related business folks. Here's what Nakia had to say...

By itself, it is an honor to named of Austin's Fortunate 500. In a city full of so many great and talented people, to narrow it down must be a mighty task that I would never want to take on. However, I am especially humbled to be included on a list where you can find the likes of Rose Reyes, Ed Bailey, Terry Lickonia, Bob Schneider, Susan Antone, and Suzanna Choffel - just to name a few. Thank you to the Statesman and thank you to Austin for continuing to believe in me and nurture my very soul." - Nakia

To take a list at the entire list of the Fortunate 500 for Music, visit Austin360.com.

A note from Nakia...

Hello everyone! I wanted to take a moment to tell you about something new going on in my life. Recently, my Father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. For those of you who know much about cancer, you know it sucks, but pancreatic cancer is up there pretty high on the level of super suckage. My dad's is stage four. It has already spread into other areas of his body. This news came after discovering that both of my parents were also diabetic. The list of health issues in my family really goes on too long to list here. The point is, that it got me thinking about what I could to try and avert something like this happening to me.

So, I set out on a journey to get myself healthy. Everyone can tell from looking at me that I am overweight and recently, one journalist who was giving my band's performance at the Austin Chronicle's Hot Sauce Festival, even referred to me as chunky. Being overweight is something I can take into my own hands and my overall health is something that I can change and learn to maintain.

That brings me here - to you - to tell you that I have begun a new video diary. This diary is intended for the sole purpose of allowing you to follow me through my journey to a healthy, more fit lifestyle. I am holding no punches (as you'll see from my first entry) and will be keeping a blog that will go along with the video diary as well as many photos along the way.

As I progress, you will be able to stay informed as I meet with trainers, nutritionists, attend some cooking classes, (are you a fitness professional? I would love to hear from you!) and possibly some other things along the way. I am certainly open to your suggestions, feedback or comments (hopefully positive encouragement!) so if you have ideas, let me hear from you! I have begun this video diary today and it is hosted at my YouTube page here. I will not be keeping the videos or blog on this website, but will instead be unveiling a new place for you to find all of this content and hopefully join me in this new experience. Thank you for being a part of my life. Please know that I think of all of my friends and fans like family (hence the name Southern Cousins??) and that I am choosing to share this part of my life with you in an effort to connect and hopefully receive encouragement to achieve a goal that I truly believe in. Yours, Nakia

Nakia & His Southern Cousins performing Touch, Feel, & Lose (Ryan Adams) and Where There's A Will There's A Way (Delanie & Bonnie) with a short segue into Fire (Jimi Hendrix) live At The 19th Annual Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival.

From Nakia's Notes 07/22/09...

Hi there! Great news... KGSR has been playing "Water To Wine!" Please take a moment and call 512-390-KGSR to request it. They are also taking requests via Twitter. You may follow them:@KGSR and make sure to follow me: @nakia too!

Read this entire edition of Nakia's Notes by clicking here.

Nakia & His Southern Cousins featuring Tommy Shannon performing Tobacco Road at the Hole In The Wall - Austin, TX as part of the annual post-SXSW benefit for the SIMS Foundation organized by Paul Minor. This year's theme was Woodstock. Tommy Shannon sat in on bass with Nakia on a couple of tunes. He performed this song at the original Woodstock with Johnny Winter.