new choices in movement
by anne lowry parr

NIA is a rich blend of movement forms, music, focus, and intention that can add new dimensions of playfulness, depth, and joy to your fitness practice.

WHAT IS NIA?

First taught in 1983, NIA is a mind-body-spirit workout that incorporates philosophical concepts and movements from both East and West. NIA delivers all the traditional fitness benefits like cardiovascular fitness, strength, toning, and flexibility; in addition, it can increase agility, muscle coordination, body awareness, comfort level with and enjoyment of moving in a wider variety of ways, as well as enhancing a sense of personal power, confidence and purpose.

NIA blends many movement forms from the worlds of martial arts, dance arts and healing arts, to help you expand your range of motion and increase the vocabulary of your body language. These movement forms incude tai chi, tae kwon do, aikido, jazz, modern dance, ethnic and primal dance, the Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais and yoga.

A living system that grows and expands as you do, NIA approaches everything with purpose, feeling, passion and electricity. It addresses the unique, ever-changing needs of individuals and their lifestyles and situations.

NIA is based on a universal law of physics, which is: form functions best when energy moves along the path of least resistance. In NIA, those paths are love, comfort and pleasure. Using movement as the metaphor for life, we believe that when you allow the body to search for what feels good… that which is nurturing, respectful and pleasurable… you naturally become strong and balanced.

We have found that anyone interested in exploring and experiencing the dimensions of mind, emotion and spirit as they are connected to the physical body are naturally drawn to the experience of NIA.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TECHNIQUE

Nia welcomes all ages and fitness levels.

It teaches students how to physically interpret and internally direct their own actions and choices.

It develops awareness using the traditional five senses, plus the added senses of intuition and love.

It uses every kind of musical style, rhythm and speed.

It expands the mind by teaching students how to perceive, intuitively sense, visualize and consciously direct energy with intent.

It encourages the elusive quality of spirit to come out and play.

It allows students the time to observe and feel the movements they are doing so that they can adjust their movement to fit their personal needs, thereby safeguarding themselves against injury and giving themselves the best workout for their fitness and energy levels that day.

It is a systematic approach, building from simplicity to complexity using repetition, spontaneity and practice so students can learn about movement and become self-aware. It is taught in easy-to-follow steps and stances designed to provide a foundation or movement, as well as a way to gain cardiovascular conditioning without jumping up and down. Three levels of each movement are illustrated, making it easy for students to personalize their workouts.

It is taught with words and images selected to stimulate sensation and feeling in the body.

It is done in bare feet, activating the body’s natural sensors.

Every movement is biomechanically sound.

NIA is based on the “pleasure principle” and therefore teaches students to guide themselves to places of physical, mental and emotional comfort.