-
Nia (pronounced “Nee Ah”) has been described by many as a
"joyful workout" and is one of the latest trends in mind-body
fitness fusion.
-
Nia blends dance arts (Modern,
Duncan, and Jazz), martial arts (Aikido, Tae Kwon Do, and Tai
Chi), and healing arts (Feldenkrais, Alexander Technique, and
Yoga).
-
In 1983 Nia co-founders Debbie
Rosas Stewart and Carlos Aya Rosas found the Aerobics craze to be limiting and myopic. The stress of aerobics' high
impact workouts also cut out a large portion of
the population who needed to be moving.
-
Nia is the answer to chronic couch-potatoism. Exercise physiologists and doctors praise Nia's positive effects on health, as the workout inspires more
people into a fitness regimen.
-
Nia's low impact workout
improves strength and flexibility. There are also cardiovascular
benefits depending upon how much one’s heart rate gets
accelerated. Other medical benefits include enhancement of coordination and improvements in breathing,
which also tends to improve circulation.
-
One of the
biggest benefits of Nia is getting people back into their bodies and
reconnected to sensation. This is the healing component of Nia--using
the body the way it was meant to be used.
-
Nia is a natural
stress-reliever. The release of stress and pent-up emotions is
healing in itself. The more connected one’s body is to feelings, the
more power, strength and grace one has, and the more stress one will
be able to release.
-
Nia is
grounding. People are moving their joints in the ways that joints
like to be moved. People are moving their bodies in ways bodies are
designed to move. Body awareness is increased through body movement.
Many diseases occur because people don't notice early on that
something is out of balance. Exercise physiologists believe Nia can
help people detect earlier when something may be wrong with their
health.
-
The
workouts are flexible and adaptable to one's fitness level. There's genius in its simplicity.
Classes, which typically last an hour, are designed for all ages and
fitness levels. Nia is done barefoot to uplifting
music and gives cardiovascular and whole-body conditioning. Nia teaches you how to physically
interpret and direct your movements; to allow your body to be your
guide.
-
