Looking for something new?
Try Nia®
If the thought of crunches, weights
and high impact exercise has you running for the couch, maybe you should try
Nia®.
The opposite of the no pain, no gain
approach to getting fit, Nia® is a sensory-based
movement practice that encourages practitioners to listen to their bodies and
to follow the guideline, "If it feels good, keep doing it — if it
hurts, stop!" That's part of what makes Nia®
different from many other forms of exercise you may have tried.
But taking a Nia® class will still give you a good workout.
Regular sessions can help you tone muscles and increase flexibility while getting the health benefits of a cardio workout.
What is Nia®?
A Nia®
class combines choreographed movements, set to music, that involve every part
of your body.
Movements are repeated in such a way that the flow is easy to follow. It draws
on the disciplines of dance, various martial art forms and the healing arts.
You don't need any special equipment
— just comfortable clothing that's easy to move in. You don't even need
special footwear, since an essential principle of Nia®
is that it's practiced barefoot, to help you feel grounded and to get in touch
with the way your body naturally moves.
Taking Nia® classes
Nia®
is best practiced, especially by beginners, in a class setting where you can
benefit from an instructor's guidance and be inspired by the high level of energy
from other participants.
Look for classes at gyms, yoga studios
and healing arts clinics. Every class offers a range of intensity levels to
choose from, so you can customize the hour to your unique needs and abilities.
In addition to promoting physical
fitness, the movements of Nia® are also
designed to foster emotional and spiritual well being. By building awareness
of body and mind, the goal of Nia® is
to help students live more conscious lives.
Nia®
is a great way to improve your fitness level — and you may also notice
an improvement in your confidence and happiness, too.