NIA (Nee-Ah) in Sawahili Means   "WITH PURPOSE"

Nia is an integrated body–mind-spirit- emotions way of getting fit. Executed barefoot and set up in the style of an aerobics class. It creatively combines selected movements and concepts from nine different fitness techniques providing an all round workout that supports body-mind-spiritual-emotional balance and includes:

  • The Healing Arts: Yoga, Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais
  • The Martial Arts: Tai-Chi, Tae Kwondo, Aikido
  • The Dance Arts: Jazz, Modern, Duncan Dance

nia dance

The components of the healing arts provide sensation, the backdrop upon which all Nia practice takes place. Martial arts brings mindfulness, power and precision. The dance techniques provide the joy, fluidity, creative expression and grace.

Integrating all together provides a complete systemic workout including self-discovery which makes Nia a truly transformational experience.

Fitness Benefits of Nia

Traditional fitness benefits of Nia include cardiovascular conditioning, flexibility, strength, balance, endurance and relaxation.

Nia also delivers more esoteric benefits through meditation and moving mindfully

Nia engages the spirit and touches peoples’ hearts, giving them permission to play and more intimately connect with themselves and others.

Nia encourages inner exploration and self-discovery and guides students to move in their own unique, infinitely creative way.

Nia operates on the pleasure principle, if the body feels good, accepted and loved, it will naturally become stronger, happier and heal.

The original vision of The Nia Technique was born from the idea that fitness could look, feel and be experienced differently – in a more pleasurable less painful way. This vision included barefoot aerobics, holistic and integrated fitness, wellness, personal growth, education and community and still continues today.

NIA’S BACKGROUND

Nia was originally created in 1983 by Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas who owned and operated a very successful aerobics studio in California.

Teaching many classes a week the couple discovered their joints began to hurt and they sustained persistent injuries. They knew there must be another way. They began by taking their shoes off and in doing so noticed their connection to the ground. Then they began exploring other movement techniques and noticing how these changed the awareness of their bodies and how they moved.

Over time Debbie and Carlos gradually integrated their new found information about themselves and the techniques they tried into their own fitness classes and Nia was born.

Nia is now taught all around the world with many different teachers and students exploring and discovering the benefits for themselves.