Nia: Myths vs. Facts

Over the years, l’ve heard some interesting interpretations of Nia.  While people’s perception of situations tends to vary wildly, I have to set the record straight. Nia, first and foremost, is a physical fitness practice. It delivers cardiovascular conditioning as well as flexibility, agility, mobility, stability and strength.  There’s some pretty cool other stuff that comes out of it, but you have to really experience that to understand. For now, let me dispel a few myths….

Myth
Nia is for “hippies” and is “new age” .

Fact
Nia suits people who are intimately interested in respecting adoring their bodies. So you won’t find a anyone dancing around a maypole in a Nia class*. No way. You’ll find people who want to get a workout and have fun while doing it. People who are moving their bodies in the way they were designed to be moved, creating sensations of pleasure vs. pain.

Myth
Nia is for older people.

Fact
Nia helps those of ALL ages.  My youngest student is 14 and my oldest is 96. Nia truly suits everyBODY. Read some inspiring stories about the folks who practice Nia here.

Myth
Nia doesn’t offer a real workout.

Fact
Nia encourages you to use your WHOLE body — you’ll use your head, fingers, tailbone, and your feet in every single Nia class.  Using your whole body is indeed a workout, how can it not be?  I guarantee you, using a combination of power and grace, you will get your heart pumping, stretch, sweat and increase the mobility in your joints.

Myth
Nia doesn’t offer strength training.

Fact
In Nia, we use our own body weight to develop strength. We push and pull in space, we get up and down from the ground, and stretch and twist our muscles along our bones. We move energy through our whole body, developing both inner and outer strength.

*Not there’s anything wrong with that. But that’s just not Nia.