• Home |
• What is Nia? |
• About Nia Australia |
• Find a Class |
• Workshops & Events |
• Intensive Training

Testimonials by students of Nia in Australia

The benefits of Nia - A personal storey
As someone who had begrudgingly dragged myself around various aerobics classes and gyms to force myself to stay fit, discovering Nia really saved my life because Nia feels just like dancing, and as the music is so fantastic you don't really notice any hard work happening at all. It's the exercise you do without it feeling like it's exercise!

I had been doing Nia regularly for a year or so, when I was diagnosed with breast, then ovarian cancer, which I am treating with alternative therapies as well as surgery and chemotherapy. In a situation where I was too tired or depleted for any other form of exercise, I went back to Nia as soon as I had healed from surgery. Even during chemotherapy I was generally able to keep it up. There was always the offer of a fit-ball to sit on if I wasn’t up to leaping about. (I never had to take up the offer.)

Doing this class was really vital to both my recovery and my sanity, not only as my only form of exercise, but because it is so much fun, and I really get off on the music, it was a real upper, (which all the books say you must engage in - "Pamper yourself" they say.)

When other forms of exercise - like walking up stairs or even any distance, made me feel 'down' as I felt a failure (because I could'nt do it without feeling exhausted). Doing Nia was different because you can work to your own pace and balance your energy. In fact on the contrary, I felt terrific afterwards as I was able to keep up and leap about with the best of them (albeit in a limited fashion.) I must say that one of the greatest assets we have in our class is our teacher Deborah Shaw, whose energy and enthusiasm epitomizes the Nia slogan - the joy of movement, and she makes it infectious.
Karen, Warrnadyte.

Nia and my experience of healing Lymphedema
I mentioned to a woman that I have Lymphedema, and she proceeded to tell me about something I had never heard of before that would help my Lymphedema, and help me to lose weight and keep it off.

She told me she was an instructor for Nia and she has her black belt in it. The Nia Technique is a combination of Martial arts, Dance, and Yoga. She told me that one of the benefits of doing Nia is that it helped the lymph nodes to drain properly.

I admit I was skeptical, but I decided that since it was exercise, it wouldn't hurt to try it, so I did. Within only the first week my legs were only half the size they were and they aren't swelling back up. I do Nia at home with a DVD I purchased for one hour each day. So far this year I have lost 90 pounds. My goal for this year was to lose 100 pounds, so I only have ten more pounds to lose and I will have reached my goal for the year.

This is why I am wondering if I should go through with the surgery. The way I eat now and the Nia technique are both a way of life that focuses on the mind, body, spirit. It's working for me where every other thing I have ever tried failed. I have embraced a whole new lifestyle and I am loving it. My depression has gone away and I have so much more energy that I didn't have before. Six years ago I weighed 749 pounds. All together since then I have lost 229 pounds. I am only 45 pounds away from what I weighed when I was seventeen and after I get this next 45 pounds off I hope to be just as active as I was when I weighed that much. I wasn't stuck at home then and I was always on the go.
Tarra, Fairfield, California. 4/9/06

"Nia - It's poetry in motion." Vicki, Brisbane.

"Nia is my escape. It gives me the opportunity to find time in my busy week to focus on "me" - to put myself at the top of the pile for a precious hour." - Cathie Marr, Brisbane

"How do I feel about Nia? It's such an energising session - it really reminds me that my body is meant to move and that moving makes it feel good. As someone who's had chronic neck and upper back problems stemming from childhood, Nia is not only a physical salve but an emotional and mental boost too. The music, though not always to my immediate personal taste, always ends up having a spot in my heart because of the general pleasurable sensations generated by a session of Nia." - Helen S, Brisbane

"Nia is FAB! It's the most holistic form of movement I have discovered. My body thanks me every time I do it! Daily tensions are permitted to release or melt away as I provide my body with the opportunity to move freely. I sense the joy of moving in new ways and know my body is gradually healing from years of aching bones and joints. I feel stronger, fitter and healthier.
Nia is joy! The music is fun, stimulating, provoking, alive and soulful. You can't help but be inspired and let your body just MOVE. Move, groove and prove you deserve the joy of NIA! -
Antoinette B, Brisbane

"Nia ties together a lot of elements from body awareness, breath, relaxation and meditation techniques in a very accessible way.  I love it because it is a lot of fun.  Great music, simple moves that bring out the dancer because there is no sense of pressure to ‘get it right’.   I arrive tensed up and tired from work, and after the class, I have my energy back!  It connects me to my body every time and I leave feeling lighter in heart and freer in spirit."
Barbara, Sydney

"Nia is a boost to my week. Not only is it boosting my physical acumen but it is also about inner work.  The music and the visualisation along with the meditative processes help one to centre.  I highly recommend it."
Adele, Brisbane

"I have been dancing with Julie Bartley for some weeks now and find it to be completely liberating. Not only does it resonate with me physically but also mentally and spiritually.  I have had chronic pain in my right hip and I have found that the dance loosens up this area of my body and I no longer suffer this pain.  
For me Nia dance is beneficial in so many ways:

• it increases my flexibility
• it releases endorphins into the blood stream which makes you feel good;
• it helps me to be ‘in my body’ and take note of it instead of ignoring it like we do most of the
  ........time
• it brings out the ‘child’ in me which helps me feel younger.

Nia is like a ‘one stop shop’ for your physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing.  As a teacher, Julie immerses herself in every aspect of each dance and I find her joy and excitement are infectious. She also encourages us to dance to our own level and makes each class a great deal of fun." Laura Booth, Dural NSW

"I only have one complaint about Nia. My cheeks hurt after class from smiling so much." - Nancy

Website and all its contents copyright protected 2008
• Top |
• Contact |
• Links |
• Free Newsletter |
• FAQ