Nia Faculty Member, Certified Personal Trainer & Size Inclusive Fitness Specialist

Many of you may know that beginning in January 2020, I began training to become part of the Nia Training Faculty. I entered the 3NGt cohort (the 3rd generation of Nia Trainers) without knowing a pandemic was on the horizon. Specifically, I was learning about how to share the Nia curriculum at the first belt level – the White Belt.  Along with learning how to deliver the material, I was learning about myself.

In the early part of the training there was a lot of self-reflection as I examined our relationship to sensation (feeling to heal), topics like Beginner’s Mind (at physical, mental, emotional & spiritual levels) and what my personal life philosophy is. I also developed somatic leadership skills and learned to integrate my skills and talents into the way I share the material and work with music and movement. I affirmed my desire to bring Nia to those who would not ordinarily be able to participate in classes or trainings due to opportunity barriers.

On Mar 4, 2022, I officially graduated and am now a member of the Nia Training Faculty as a Nia White Belt Trainer.

Without my study partner, workshop co-facilitator and friend Teresa Myers (pictured at our graduation), this would have been a less enriching and rewarding experience! It was a thrill to be together for our graduation after 2 years virtual meetings and phone calls!

One of our colleagues, Elaine Wolf, pointed out that it was no surprise that Teresa work pink and that I wore green in that both are associated with the heart chakra (pink rose quartz stone and the colour green).  We are both definitely guided by our hearts and minds in our quest to use Nia for social justice.

During the training, as you can imagine, LOTs of things came up for me. I thought I had learned and integrated all that Nia had done for me, but there was SO much more! The way I’m called use what I’ve gained towards furthering social justice is a path less-traveled in the Nia world. So there’s lots to consider.  What I do know at this point is:

Everybody deserves to have the gift of learning about Nia. The lifestyle benefits associated with the principles of the White belt are profound. From living a more conscious and aware life, to attracting more ease and beauty into life, to inviting self-healing into every moment there are endless benefits.

In November, 2020, I started a parallel journey to examine how I might meet even more people’s movement needs. I registered in a Personal Training Course (for the first time). At the time, my brain wasn’t ready for the heavy memorization, so I took a break from that and in October 2021 studied with Louise Green at the Size Inclusive Fitness Academy, who is doing the work to serve all bodies. This is work I deeply align with.

By January 2022, I was ready to get going and become a Certified Personal Trainer. After a written and practical exam, I passed and was certified on April 11, 2022.

During this whole time, I have gone through spirals of much learning, confidence and even more self doubt.  I hired a Life Coach to help me examine… well, my life! Life is looking quite different now without much of a roadmap and I know that I need to slowly build and craft my own way. The path forward for me requires expansion and trust on so many levels.  There is still so much learning to do and I’m here for it!

For example, last week I completed a self-directed certificate course called “Be There” to help me be more aware of other’s mental health needs. Check it out – it’s very good!

Stay tuned for exciting offerings coming soon!