Nia, an internationally acclaimed practice for over 30 years.
Nia is now taught in 49 countries around the world. Awakening the senses, Nia teaches you to love your body and your life. Here in Australia, Nia is shared with enthusiasm by a lively community that has grown organically since 2004.
Check out the Events page for the latest workshops, gatherings, retreats and trainings Australia-wide. Explore the Blog below for community news and stories.
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2nd August, 2018 in Body-Mind, Nia Practice
MOVEMENT IS MEDICINE – WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU?
When we think about Medicine we often conjure up thoughts of bottles of pills, prescriptions, potions and many other things prescribed to us to make us feel better, to heal from an illness or prevent us from getting sick.
What about if we switched the concept of medicine as we know it and think about how movement can heal our bodies, mind and spirit.
This is precisely why the theme for this year’s National Playshop – Movement is Medicine. At this Australia-wide event we will be guiding those participating to sense “movement as medicine”, experiencing the healing and conditioning power of moving your body in ways that feel good to you.
To explore this concept a little deeper we asked our teacher community what Movement is Medicine means to them. We have broken their thoughts into a few key areas:
PAIN FREE:
What does it mean to be pain free?Carol shared an interesting thought of how she has been able to reduce back, shoulder and neck pain.
“For many years now I have been holding tension in my upper spine, shoulder and neck. At times, the muscles become knots and it is quite painful. Nia has shown me that it is possible to let go of that which doesn’t serve me. By the end of class the knot is gone and I feel free.”
COMPLETE BODY, MIND & SPIRIT TRANSFORMATION:
We love the transformation Rebecca has experienced over the many years of teaching and practicing Nia.“Where do I begin? So much transformation on so many levels.
Physical being: skeletal restructuring, nerve damage repair, postural realignment, the creation of arches in my feet to name a just a few.
Mental realm: nervous system conditioning, focus, clarity.
Emotional body: constant and ever evolving heart healing.
The pathway to Peace. Spirit encompasses all of these and so much more. Purpose and Passion. Sign me up Every Body. Movement is Medicine.”
FINDING YOUR VOICE:
When we don’t speak our truth we tend to bottle up a lot of negative energy that can often result in disease.We love how Julie has found her voice through Nia.
“I wonder at my physical fitness, especially upper body strength (which was particularly weak for me) and cardio.
Definitely increased mental strength, flexibility and agility. Tae Kan Do helped me find my voice and establish healthy boundaries. Still working on the latter. To conclude Nia helps every aspect of my life and I believe “you can have anything you want at Nia’s restaurant”!”
Here is another lovely example from Yvette who has also found confidence in speaking her truth.
“Nia brings a sense of release to every aspect of my being. Beginning with the breath it allows me to listen to my body and actually feel where my body calls for my attention. There are so many tools I am able to take into my everyday life one most definitely is a confidence to use my voice and be heard thank you Nia. Movement certainly is medicine and brings a joy to my soul and a strength to my body and mind. Magic happens when we feel and express through movement.”
MORE STRENGTH & ENERGY:
We could all live with more of this!Anita kindly shares the gifts Nia has given her.
“So many gifts. Seriously I couldn’t live without practicing Nia. It has made me so physically strong and feeds me with energy that I never knew I was capable of! It inspires me, is a platform for creativity and fun. The friendships and community are wonderful. The relaxation and overall conditioning are immense. And seeing others (my students) discover self-healing and getting in touch with their bodies is awesome!”
Here are just a few examples of how Movement is Medicine to those who practice Nia regularly.
If you would like to join us in our upcoming National Workshop on the 26th August 2018 so we can all feel better together we would love to share this experience with you. With over 11 locations nationally, hopefully there is one with in your reach. To find out more information and book your ticket, please visit >> http://bit.ly/playshop18
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30th June, 2018 in Nia Community
Nia is more than a practice, it’s a community
If you are on Facebook you may have noticed a few people sharing a video about community. It is titled – ‘What we do together matters’ – a video celebrating community.
It pulls up your photos and has this text overlay over the video;
What we do together matters
Community means a lot
but it’s different all over the world
whoever you ask,
one things is always the same.
It’s what we do for each other
that makes community matter. -
4th March, 2018 in Nia Practice, Our Stories
This is for YOU – Nia is for Everybody
It’s Fun.
It’s Fitness.
It’s unwinding from the day and simply moving to beautiful music.
It’s Exercise without Pain.
It makes you feel grounded, relaxed, free, joyous, refreshed, happy, energised, centred, connected, feminine, strong, confident and inspired.
It’s Nia and it’s for Everybody.. Read More > -
27th January, 2018 in Body-Mind, Our Stories
Nia Dance – ‘Feel the Fear & Do it Anyway’
Whenever I’m about to do something that makes me feel nervous, I remember the quote from Susan Jeffers – “Feel the Fear & Do it Anyway”.
Fear itself is not the enemy, sometimes it protects us from real danger. Sometimes we give fear the power to make us much smaller than we are destined to be. We need to feel our fear and then decide if it’s based in reality.
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17th December, 2017 in Community News, Nia Belt Trainings
The Power of Two: Open Nia classes with Sophie Marsh + Laurie Bass
Are you ready to start 2018 feeling inspired to BE the best version of yourself, to listen more to your own inner wisdom, to understand your body’s voice and learn how to move and live with more awareness, pleasure and purpose? For the first time in nearly 6 years, the Nia White Belt training in Brisbane 5-11 January will be led by two members of the International Nia Training Faculty – Laurie Bass from Portland Oregon and Nia Australia Trainer, Sophie Marsh. Read More >
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23rd November, 2017 in Nia Belt Trainings, Our Stories
What does it feel like in a Nia training?
“So many of my Nia friends from far and wide are gathering and bubbling with excitement at the prospect of stepping into the third level of Nia training, the Brown Belt with International Nia Trainer Ann Christiansen. And their excitement and anticipation comes from knowing what it’s like in a Nia training.
Read More > -
1st November, 2017 in Body-Mind, Our Stories
Medicine for my whole being.
I discovered Nia . . .
at a farmers market in Eugene, Oregon where Nia was being shared on a grassy patch. I happily danced along with the group and was given a pass for a free class. I can’t remember who it was or what they looked like but that person changed my life! Read More >
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Fitness Pioneer Debbie Rosas to Tour Australia in April 2017
Fitness pioneer and thought leader Debbie Rosas is embarking on a tour of Australian Nia communities starting April 15th. Debbie will be teaching in Melbourne, Brisbane, and Mullumbimby, to audiences of both Nia veterans and new dancers. Read More >
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Universal Joy connects our global Nia community
Imagine finding a movement practice that spans the whole world and connects you to a global community. A fitness class that speaks not one singular language, rather a universal dialogue of the body. A mindful workout that opens your eyes to each moment as a possibility of seeing new aspects of yourself. For me the image of an exercise class that encompasses all those qualities became a reality in the form of Nia. And it continues to expand as I travel the world taking classes, connecting with communities and experiencing the ever present Joy of Nia.
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Dancing together to create something great!
Collaboration means to work (or play) together to produce something and that’s exactly what we did in Ulladulla. Together with the Canberra Nia community, our NSW South Coast Nia community came together to deliver a doozy of a Dance Jam on 6 August this year.
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14th September, 2016 in Body-Mind, Our Stories
Go There! Embracing change …
When Nia student ‘Cosima’ experienced a sudden change in circumstances, her first response was panic. But thanks to Nia’s practice of listening to the body’s voice, she found a way to embrace the change. “The beauty, the simplicity of it was uplifting”
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Blue Belt – Art of Communication
Blue Belt, the second level of Nia education, explores how to create healthy relationships through body-centred communication. This intensive introduces the 13 Nia principles (that follow the White Belt’s 13 Nia Principles), which focus on the 4 realms of body, mind, emotions and spirit. While the White Belt curriculum focuses entirely on awareness of physical sensation, Blue Belt applies these skills to explore internal sensations as perceived through – but distinct from – physical sensations in the body.
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Nia White Belt in Perth
My journey with Nia began in 2003 in South Africa when I took the White Belt with dear Kathy Wolstenholme. I had taken one class and was sold! Since then I have learnt so much and had Nia by my side to express the continuum of emotions through life’s many transitions and undulations! I have travelled to Germany and Portland with my Nia friends and left with many more friends and aha’s.
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16th August, 2016 in Body-Mind, Nia Practice
Health, fitness, beauty + power
In a society that generally promotes an image of health, fitness, beauty and power that is air-brushed, ageless, homogenous and unattainable, Nia says, ‘Come as you are, in your glorious wholeness and imperfection, learn to listen to your body’s wisdom, be kind to yourself, and dance like no one’s watching.
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5th August, 2016 in Community News, Our Stories
Our Community In Our Words
The most rewarding part of having a Nia community ..
“I feel deep passion when I dance with my Nia tribe.
The energy in the room sometimes brings me to tears of joy.
Thank you Nia x” Mandy Loveday
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5th August, 2016 in Community News, Our Stories
From Little Things Big Things Grow
Communities thrive when they share a common purpose and sense an ability to connect and contribute. A seed was sewn in 2007 when four Nia teachers formed the Nia Australia Association with the intention to support and grow an Australian Nia community.
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22nd July, 2016 in FAQ and Tips, Nia Belt Trainings
What IS the Nia White Belt?
Imagine a week of tuning into your own body and moving in a way that feels good. In the Nia ‘training bubble’, you’re invited to leave distractions behind and connect with other like-minded people of all ages and experience, as you explore ‘The Body’s Way’ and ‘Your Body’s Way’. Learn to let go of the ‘have to’ voice of your mind and drop into authentic being, guided by the voice of your body.
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17th May, 2016 in Body-Mind
Remember the floor is your friend: Maintaining Mobility as We Grow Old
‘Are you comfortable down there on the floor?’ my sister, who is younger than me by several years, asked while we sat around with Mum, Dad, our other sisters and their husbands. We were talking about the physical ‘woes’ of getting old. I was sitting on the floor, as I often do and always have and looked up at her and answered truthfully with a ‘YES’.
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3rd December, 2015 in Our Stories
Pieta ~ our International Nia Student of the Year!
This year, one of our Nia students and members of Nia Australia, was honoured by the Nia community globally, receiving the International Student of the year award by Nia HQ in Portland. We are so proud of Pieta as she truly embodies and walks the path of a wise woman intuitively following the signs that are leading her to a life filled with Joy and wellness. As is Pieta’s style, with her overflowing kindness, Pieta’s response to the award was to send a gratitude hit and love bomb to the Nia Community. Here are Pieta’s beautiful words of thanks and story for you.
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14th November, 2015 in Our Stories
Nia Conditioning and Cycling
Nia, as a whole body conditioning practice, is a powerful addition to any exercise program and can be used effectively and efficiently to improve all-round athletic performance and expand body awareness. A Nia student in Brisbane, Paul, shares his experience of incorporating Nia into his weekly routine to enhance his speed and strength in the sport of cycling.
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16th October, 2015 in Nia Practice
Music, Movement, Magic
Many of our Nia students come from the medical and physiotherapy professions. As a barefoot practice, grounded in increasing the movement options available to the body, Nia creates pathways to optimal well-being and is adaptable for all. Mandi Cavallaro, was recently interviewed by one of her students, a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist, to explain a little bit more about Nia for the new student…
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13th October, 2015 in Community News
Embrace your Uniqueness within Community
Nia Australia is offering three playshops, in three States, on one day! On Sunday the 25th of October, we will be coming together to move, receive and share Nia, as we weave our magic across the land, in Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast. Each playshop creating the space for you to share, explore, play, collaborate, connect and dance with community.
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30th August, 2015 in Nia Practice
Awareness – A Parable
Once upon a time …
there was a little girl who loved to sing, dance and frolic through the fields gathering brightly coloured flowers, warm stones that twinkled in the sun, and any other treasures that interested her curious little mind.
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24th July, 2015 in Music & Videos
Feel Good, Look Good
“I feel fantastic, I feel really in my body and I feel my body is alive. I can sense my skin and my muscles and my bones, tingling, feeling. It’s always important to feel good first. The body wants to feel good and when the body feels good it looks so good; it brings a smile to my face.” Fantastic!
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22nd July, 2015 in Our Stories
An Inner Connection and Sense of Being
Ann Boon teaches in Morningside, Brisbane. One of her students, Glenys Gibson, shares her experience of Nia, describing what drew her to a Nia class and why she keeps coming back!
“I feel I have benefited so much from Nia and I want others to have the opportunity to experience Nia, so I share my experience and encourage others to attend.”
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22nd July, 2015 in FAQ and Tips
Tips for Beginners
Here are our Tips for Beginners, to help you get the most out of your Nia movement experience.
- Bring a water bottle and dress to move. When you dance, wear anything that makes you feel free, comfortable and excited to move. Yoga clothing, dance or exercise wear or even a skirt changes the way you move, feel and workout.
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22nd July, 2015 in FAQ and Tips, Nia Belt Trainings
The White Belt – Nia’s Foundational Training
The White Belt is open to everybody: no Nia experience necessary.
Learn how to access your body’s innate wisdom and power through Nia’s 13 foundational principles. This training focuses on the ‘Art of Sensation’ with techniques, information and inspiration for you to feel deliciously embodied and more vitality, connection and Joy every day.
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20th July, 2015 in FAQ and Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are our FAQ. Feel free to email or call a teacher directly or Contact us if you have any more questions. Nia classes are adaptable for all ages, body types and fitness abilities. Everybody is welcome!
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15th July, 2015 in Nia Practice
The 7 Cycles of a Nia Class
All Nia workouts use seven cycles. Each cycle has a unique purpose, and each is designed to fulfill specific student needs to ultimately deliver holistic conditioning. The Body’s Way reminds us that to maintain harmony and balance, we must move through these cycles.