The Nia Technique

Nia is a dynamic cardiovascular workout that stimulates and integrates your mind/body/spirit and leaves you feeling recharged, rejuvenated, and fully alive. Nia blends dance, martial arts, and healing arts (including yoga) to allow your dancer, athlete, warrior, and child within to expressively emerge.

Nia, pronounced "knee yah", is an acronym for Neuromuscular Integrative Action. It incorporates a diverse blend of movements from martial arts and dance, with body-integration therapies including, Tai Chi, Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, Duncan Dance, Jazz, The Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais and Yoga. It is non-impact and aerobic, encouraging whole-body movement. It is movement with purpose.

For its creators, Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas, Nia is as much about "tapping into the mental, spiritual and emotional aspects of being, as... the physical. It aims to make movement more conscious, to release blocked energy, to enable participants to connect to a greater whole and learn to be guided by the pleasure principle: if it feels good, do it."

For James G. Garrick, M.D., director for Sports Medicine, Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, San Francisco, California, "by combining non-impact aerobics, dance and martial arts, the Rosas have created an imaginative program that integrates aerobic conditioning, balance and flexibility. Although high in energy, the program appears both safe and adaptable to any fitness level."Web MD Article find Fitness Bliss with Nia" by Gila Leiter, MD.

For Helen Terry, "this workout touches your heart, fascinates your mind, and expresses emotion to empower the fully alive you." Join Helen and others that enjoy the many benefits of Nia.

Nia is a fitness, personal growth and lifestyle program based on three arts: martial arts, dance arts and healing arts. What does N-I-A stand for? Initially it stood for non impact aerobics, reminding and teaching people how to move in a new and gentle way to get fit. More scientifically, Nia stands for neuromuscular integrative action, which is a descriptive term for the complex actions that occur when we consciously integrate body mind actions. However, Nia is very personal, so we say it is a lot like chocolate, you have to taste it to get to know it!

What is unique to Nia? Nia is a barefoot, grounded, cardiovascular program which incorporates East and West functional movements and integrative concepts with all kinds of music, and is an adaptable group exercise program that blends movement and energy variety to help people get fit in a holistic, joyful and pleasurable way.

Who goes to Nia? People of all ages and fitness levels enjoy Nia. Even people with limitations such as fibromyalgia and arthritis can benefit from Nia's safe, user-friendly and adaptable program.

What benefits do people experience? Integration of their body, mind, emotions and spirit because Nia addresses all parts of being human. Strength, not only of muscles, but a more balanced kind of strength that comes from working out with opposite energies such as; fast and slow, in and out, up and down, linear and circular and masculine and feminine movements. Read here about Nia and weight loss.

Where can people find Nia? Nia is taught in the U.S. and internationally by over 1000 certified licensed teachers in 24 countries. People can find out about Nia and can find where to take a class through the Nia web site at www.nianow.com. They can also call the toll free number 1.800.762.5762.

Why is Nia gaining in popularity now? We live in an experience economy. People want more, and Nia gives them more. Boomers are living longer, and they know that aging is something quite different than it used to be. Boomers, seniors and youth are interested in changing and doing life differently. They want to live longer, enjoy life more and with more passion, and Nia shows them a way. Nia stimulates, motivates, and educates people about the body and about their body, and while working out people actually learn how to self heal parts of themselves and their body so they can reach the fullest potential they desire.

Why is movement important? All life is maintained through movement. In Nia we say "Through Movement We Find Health," which is a reminder to us all that it's not about exercising to stay fit and healthy, it is about Dancing Through Life, and finding ways to include movement into our everyday. Regardless of the injury or illness, or the desire on the part of a student such as to lose weight, movement is the most crucial component to achieving health and well-being.