Biography
Sophie Marsh is Australia’s only White Belt Trainer in the International Nia Training faculty and the first Aussie Black Belt teacher. She has completed the Nia White, Green, Blue, Brown and Black Belt trainings, the Art of Teaching (Level 1), Moving to Heal, 52 Moves and the Nia 5 Stages trainings. Sophie is based in Brisbane.
For over 20 years, she has guided and inspired people to reclaim their aliveness, fitness, well-being and sense of Self through Nia’s body-centred movement and education. After living and training in the US, Sophie brought Nia home with her when she returned to Brisbane in 2004. She has been collaboratively building and leading an Australia-wide Nia community ever since.
In her classes, workshops, retreats and trainings, Sophie holds a safe, welcoming and playful space for people of all ages and backgrounds to connect with their body’s innate wisdom and joy of movement.
Sophie also shares adapted Nia sessions, “Joy Therapy” for populations with special needs, including multicultural communities, teens and older populations, mental health groups, cancer survivors, and for women desiring to heal their relationship with their sensuous body. She is a Trauma Informed Practitioner.
“We are all born with unlimited magnificence. What if there was a way of moving and living in your body that reconnected you to the sensation of that truth? Whether it’s a Nia class or the 7 day White Belt training, you already have all you need within. Your body knows. You are ready now. It’s time to step in.”
Pricing and Details
Pricing for Paddington, Chelmer and West End classes:
No bookings required, join anytime, everybody welcome!
New to Nia? 3 classes for $30 (valid 1 month)
Casual $20 / $18 concession
10 class pass $160 (valid 4 months)
5 class pass $85 (valid 4 months)
Pension card holders 5 class pass $65 (valid 4 months)
Unlimited monthly $160 (valid 1 calendar month) up to 8 classes a week!
Nia 5 stages $10 or use your unlimited monthly pass. Knee pads provided.
Pure Health: Pure Members free, Non-members casual $25. 10 class options available – contact Pure 3324 1188.
Mobile: 0431 484 054
Current Classes
| Location | Class Type | Time |
|---|---|---|
4 Mollison St, West End, Queensland, Australia |
Nia 5 Stages | 8:00am - 8:30am from 1 February Saturday |
4 Mollison St, West End, Queensland, Australia |
Classic Nia | 8:30am - 9:30am from 11 January Saturday |
4 Mollison St, West End, Queensland, Australia |
FREE Nia FUNdamentals *see notes | 8:00am - 8:30am on 11 18 25 January Saturday |
4 Mollison St, West End, Queensland, Australia |
Classic Nia class + Bushfire fundraiser | 9:30am - 10:30am - 19 January only Sunday |
Naya Ubud, Sayan, Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia |
Retreat | 1-7 July 2020 Friday |
132 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington QLD, Australia |
Classic Nia | 9:30am-10:30am from 13 January Monday |
132 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington QLD, Australia |
Gentle Nia | 10:15am - 11:15am from 16 January Thursday |
8 Appel St, Chelmer QLD, Australia |
Classic Nia | 9:30am-10:30am from 15 January Wednesday |
8 Appel St, Chelmer QLD, Australia |
Gentle Nia | 9:30am-10:30am from 17 January Friday |
97 Fernberg Road, Paddington QLD, Australia |
Nia 52 Moves *see notes | 6:30pm - 7:30pm on 11 February Tuesday |
236 Old Cleveland Rd, Coorparoo QLD, Australia |
Classic Nia | 8:30am - 9:30am Thursday |
River City Ballroom – WEST END
4 Mollison St, West End, Queensland, Australia
For Nia feel free to wear any exercise or comfortable clothing that makes you feel good and free to move. Bring along a water bottle and a towel or yoga mat if you have one. Nia is designed to be practised barefoot. If there are physical reasons not to practise barefoot, soft sole shoes can be worn.
Classic Nia is a joyful, low impact, movement class inspired by soul-stirring music. Nia’s unique blend of martial arts, dance and mindfulness gives you an energising cardio workout that benefits – body, mind, emotions, and spirit. You will be guided to listen to your body and practice being with sensations of pleasure and ease. Adaptable for all ages and fitness levels. Nia meets you where you’re at and invites you to move in your own body’s way.
Nia 5 Stages is a richly-layered moving meditation which creates deeper body-awareness and self-healing. In this floor-based practice, you will be guided to move through the five stages of embryonic, creeping, crawling, standing and walking in your body’s way. Re-align and energize your body and calm your nervous system by connecting with the healer within. What does it look like?
Nia Sunday Series – Enter a sacred space for self and tune into your body, moving with the FUNdamentals of Nia. In this one-hour class set to soul-stirring music from around the world, you’ll get to learn and feel more embodied in the language of Nia, the 52 Moves while choosing pleasure and discovering dynamic ease. Be guided by Nia Trainer Sophie Marsh to explore creative and unique ways to bring your own personal and playful expression to the form. You’ll leave feeling more centred, connected and alive from the inside out. Stay tuned for 2020 dates!
Bali Nia Retreat – Your Body~Your Temple – 2020
Naya Ubud, Sayan, Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia
dates TBA July 2020 with Taryn Pallister and Sophie Marsh (Nia White Belt trainer)
Step out of the busy-ness of your every day routine and feel tension melt away as you relax into a blissful sanctuary in the heart of Bali. Join International Nia Trainer Sophie Marsh and Nia Black Belt Taryn Pallister for a nurturing and life-enriching retreat, to connect deeply with yourself in beautiful natural surroundings.
Enter a sacred and supportive space for purposeful transformation through conscious movement – 6 days of daily Nia classes, Nia Playshops, gentle Yoga, Yin yoga, meditation, Nia 5 Stages, a shamanic dance journey and meaningful rituals with plenty of time for pampering and cultural exploration.
Be lovingly guided to relax into the flow of your body’s unique rhythm, reconnect with your heart and reclaim your relationship with your inner wisdom to experience more pleasure, power and Joy in your body + life.
Beginners welcome. No prior Nia or yoga experience is necessary!
Includes: Full retreat program, 6 nights twin or triple share accommodation at Naya Resort, 3 nourishing organic vegetarian meals daily, daily coconuts and green juice, Balinese dance performance, Balinese temple offering, groups adventure, 1hr massage, ozone swimming pool and 1 airport transfer.
BrisWest Centre – PADDINGTON
132 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington QLD, Australia
For Nia feel free to wear any exercise or comfortable clothing that makes you feel good and free to move. Bring along a water bottle and a towel or yoga mat if you have one.
Nia is designed to be practised barefoot. If there are physical reasons not to practise barefoot, soft sole shoes can be worn.
Classic Nia is a joyful, low impact, movement class inspired by soul-stirring music. Nia’s unique blend of martial arts, dance and mindfulness gives you an energising cardio workout that benefits – body, mind, emotions, and spirit. You will be guided to listen to your body and practice being with sensations of pleasure and ease. Adaptable for all ages and fitness levels. Nia meets you where you’re at and invites you to move in your own body’s way.
St David’s Community Hall – CHELMER nr Graceville Indooroopilly
8 Appel St, Chelmer QLD, Australia
For Nia feel free to wear any exercise or comfortable clothing that makes you feel good and free to move. Bring along a water bottle and a towel or yoga mat if you have one.
Nia is designed to be practised barefoot. If there are physical reasons not to practise barefoot, soft sole shoes can be worn.
Classic Nia is a joyful, low impact, movement class inspired by soul-stirring music. Nia’s unique blend of martial arts, dance and mindfulness gives you an energising cardio workout that benefits – body, mind, emotions, and spirit. You will be guided to listen to your body and practice being with sensations of pleasure and ease. Adaptable for all ages and fitness levels. Nia meets you where you’re at and invites you to move in your own body’s way.
Gentle Nia is a playful and relaxing movement experience infused with music that benefits body, mind and spirit. It includes the fundamentals of a Classic Nia class at a slower pace for those wanting more of a work-in than a workout. It provides more time and space for you to mindfully connect to life-force energy and move in your body’s way.
Nia 5 Stages is a richly-layered moving meditation which creates deeper body-awareness and self-healing. In this floor-based practice, you will be guided to move through the five stages of embryonic, creeping, crawling, standing and walking in your body’s way. Re-align and energise your body and calm your nervous system by connecting with the healer within. What does it look like?
Rosalie Baptist Church hall – PADDINGTON
97 Fernberg Road, Paddington QLD, Australia
For Nia feel free to wear any exercise or comfortable clothing that makes you feel good and free to move. Bring along a water bottle and a towel or yoga mat if you have one.
Nia is designed to be practised barefoot. If there are physical reasons not to practise barefoot, soft sole shoes can be worn.
Classic Nia is a joyful, low impact, movement class inspired by soul-stirring music. Nia’s unique blend of martial arts, dance and mindfulness gives you an energising cardio workout that benefits – body, mind, emotions, and spirit. You will be guided to listen to your body and practice being with sensations of pleasure and ease. Adaptable for all ages and fitness levels. Nia meets you where you’re at and invites you to move in your own body’s way.
Nia 52 Moves® is a fun barefoot, cardio movement class that incorporates mindfulness and aerobic conditioning set to fabulous global music. You’ll be guided to listen to your own body as you shift from move-to-move every 60-seconds, isolating the move and then integrating it into systemic, whole body movement that leaves you feeling energised and alive! It’s a body mind spirit workout for all ages and levels of fitness. Nia 52 MOVES® class is great for beginners who want to ‘learn the moves’ of Nia as well as seasoned students who are looking to refine their technique and increase the conditioning potential of their practice.
Pure Health Clubs – COORPAROO
236 Old Cleveland Rd, Coorparoo QLD, Australia
For Nia feel free to wear any exercise or comfortable clothing that makes you feel good and free to move. Bring along a water bottle and a towel or yoga mat if you have one.
Nia is designed to be practised barefoot. If there are physical reasons not to practise barefoot, soft sole shoes can be worn.
Classic Nia is a joyful, low impact, movement class inspired by soul-stirring music. Nia’s unique blend of martial arts, dance and mindfulness gives you an energising cardio workout that benefits body, mind, emotions, and spirit. You will be guided to listen to your body and practice being with sensations of pleasure and ease. Adaptable for all ages and fitness levels. Nia meets you where you’re at and invites you to move in your own body’s way.