What is Nia? | Typical class format

What is Nia ?

Nia is the original fusion fitness workout, tonic for body, mind, emotions and spirit, anchored in body science and healing arts, wildly fun, and deeply personal: the fitness approach that captures the zeitgeist of our time. Or, as the New York Times put it, "just plain exhilarating".

Nia was developed in the Bay Area of the US in the early 1980s by Debbie & Carlos Rosas. Owners of a successful chain of aerobics studios, they began to question the traditional fitness paradigm as a result of injury, burnout and their own exploration of other movement forms.

Based on personal experience, the Rosas stood conventional wisdom on its head and advocated moving for the JOY of it. Pleasure, not pain, became their guiding principle. One by one, the Rosas upended the dictums of a "no pain, no gain" path to fitness, advocating instead an integrated, holistic approach that incorporates conscious movement and follows the body's natural design.

Blending movements and principles from the martial arts, dance and healing arts, Nia delivers a cardiovascular workout that strengthens, tones, energizes and balances the whole person. Students dance bare-foot to soulful music, combining choreography and freeform movement that each person adapts to their body's way.

As other mind-body and fusion fitness techniques become increasingly popular, Nia stands out for its completeness and depth. Every aspect of the science and craft of Nia derives from 13 principles that structure the integration of joy, time, form, freedom, anatomy, emotions, awareness, music and space into a uniquely moving experience. Over time these principles infuse students lives beyond the dance space, leading to healing and personal growth.

Today, Nia spans the globe with over 1500 teachers in more than 30 countries. Teachers progress through four Belt Levels: White, Blue, Brown and Black, after which carefully chosen individuals progress to Trainer Level, when they may train others in the Nia Technique. Each Belt Level requires completion of an intensive 40+ hour training course (equivalent to 4.7 ACE CEC's or 38 AFAA CEUs), followed by at least a year's practice at each level before progression to the next.

If you'd like to know more about Nia, find a teacher, locate an Intensive Training or purchase a Nia video, DVD or music, go to: www.nianow.com, or phone: 1-800-762-5762. Nia is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, USA. That's US West-Coast time, or GMT-8.