Nia ~ Weight Loss and Pregnancy

Nia has helped me to trust my body and listen to my body's way. I have struggled with my weight most of my life. My weight peaked in November 2002 after years of corporate travel and not taking care of my body. In fact, I had stressed my body so severely that I had developed polycystic ovarian disease, which causes the body to process insulin inefficiently, causing large weight gains and infertility.

When my husband and I moved to Houston from Austin in November 2002 for his job, I decided to take some time off and try to do as much Nia as I could. I was taking Glucophage as a fertility treatment and was planning to see a specialist when I found out I was pregnant--almost immediately after leaving my job and moving! I continued to take as many Nia classes as I could. I felt great considering that I was pregnant. In fact, I felt so good that during my pregnancy I took the Nia White Belt training with Helen Terry. I was so inspired by how I felt in my body that I wanted to share Nia with others. I started teaching and eventually opened NiaMoves in the Heights in partnership with Helen.

Although I had a very healthy first pregnancy, the birth in September 2003 was complicated and resulted in a cesarean. (Thankfully, my daughter is healthy today.) I quickly recovered from the surgery with very little pain medication and started walking in the hospital the next day. I immediately lost the weight gained during the pregnancy, but I continued to hold on to the pre-pregnancy-corporate job lifestyle weight.

Then I found out that I was blessed to be pregnant again, without any fertility treatments. I taught regularly during the second pregnancy. In fact, I taught a class just a week before giving birth. Nia is so easy on the body that I never thought twice about doing Nia while I was pregnant. I gained very little weight with the second pregnancy. The birth was a quick and easy, non-medicated vaginal birth. The doula who supported the birth was amazing.

Since the second birth in August 2005, I have continued to lose inches and pounds and gain muscle. Through listening to what my body needs, I now nourish my body instead of restricting food. I have a loving support group that I meet with weekly to help me continue through the spiral of self-care, which ebbs and flows. People ask me for "before-and-after" photos. I prefer to refer to my "before-and-now" photos. I continue to be on my path of nourishment.

When people ask me if you can lose weight with Nia, I answer "YES"! Nia encourages you to listen to your body, to get in tune with what it needs. Many students start shifting what they eat and how they live after doing Nia because they are listening to what their body needs. I have lost more than 120 pounds (70 pre-pregnancy pounds and an additional 50 pregnancy pounds) with Nia and nourishment, without dieting. When people ask me if Nia is appropriate for pregnant women, I also say "YES"! As long as there are no medical reasons why someone should not be exercising, Nia is one of the best exercises that a pregnant woman can do. All classes are taught in three levels, so the level can be adjusted for anyone's needs.

Benefits of Nia include flexibility, balance and strength. Regular exercise is good for the heart and lowers one's chances of getting diabetes during pregnancy. In addition to the physical conditioning of Nia, the mental and spiritual aspects of Nia are great for a pregnant woman who wants to connect and dance with her baby.