Nia is a cardio workout.

Nia* is dance exercise done to a variety of music**. Nia is fun like Zumba. It sometimes has kicks, punches, and jabs like Turbo Jam or Turbo kick. And like Jazzercise it has been around a long time. As with most well rounded exercise classes Nia has cycles, there is a warm up portion, an aerobic portion, and a cool down portion.

One of the ideas utilized to create Nia is what we call "the Body's Way". By that, Nia means the moves done in a Nia routine are moves the body was designed to do. In addition to moves which are natural to the body's design the Nia teacher encourages you to move in your own body's way.

Nia is non-impact cardio, but don't let that fool you. Intensity is not necessarily set by impact, you can get a very high intensity workout if that is what you desire. It is up to you. You are to be your own conscious personal trainer----you decide what you need at that moment.

Nia has a lot of variety, it includes nine basic movement forms. From the martial arts; T’ai chi, Tae Kwon Do, and Aikido. From the dance arts; Jazz Dance, Modern Dance, and Duncan Dance, and from the healing arts; teachings from Feldenkrais, the Alexander Technique, and Yoga. This means in one workout you can experience all those things. Yet no formal training or previous experience with any of those things is required in order for you to fully participate.

A lot of workouts make you feel good after you do them. I believe that people should get moving and if they find something they love that gets them moving, that is what they should do. Nia is for everyBODY.

Quick information about Nia:

  • --If you are doing a move that causes pain, stop. Seek pleasure.
  • --Discomfort is understandable, but not pain.
  • --Nia helps joints loosen and muscles tighten.
  • --Nia assists in promoting a sensation of relaxation, yet leaves you feeling energized.
  • --They say, “Nia is like chocolate. You can’t describe it---you have to taste it.”
  • --Nia wants you to learn to pay attention to the sensations of your body.
  • --Nia has a lot of ideas behind it. One of them is “fitness must address the human being, not just the physical body."

*Nia Technique was created by Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas. All information relating to Nia on this site is based on their creation. I am licensed through the Nia Technique to teach Nia. As teachers we are encouraged to share information regarding Nia.

**There is also Nia 5 Stages, which is another type of Nia Movement Practice. It is a guide through the five stages of development.

Below are videos to give you a better idea of what Nia is and an idea of the type of movement done in a Nia class.

New to Nia?  The next page you might want to read is Nia Information.
Feel free to use the Contact Terre page or you can call Terre at 408-564-2649 or
e-mail her at [email protected]
NiaNow.com

What is Nia? / Contact Terre / Terre's Nia Class Schedule / Present Nia Location
Nia Information / Nia Class Cycles / Main Benefits of Nia / Principles of the Body's Way / Tips for Moving with Nia / Nia's 52 Moves
Indexes for The Nia Technique Book (Alpha) / About Terre / Nia Monthly / Gentle Yoga