fitbody
Wylie have also received benefits
from Nia.
Fielder attends classes twice a
week. “In my practice as a therapist,
I was amazed at how too much in
my head I was,” she said. “Nia has
allowed me to change and focus from
the inside out. They use a phrase that
‘everybody has their dance’ which is
the idea of moving away from self-
consciousness to acceptance and
being comfortable in who you are no
matter how that comes out.”
Wylie commented, “I’ve been a
martial artist for years. Nia is like a
form of dance with martial arts moves.
It makes you sharper and more aware.
There’s structure with Nia, but yet at
the same time you’re free to create
your own thing within that structure.
It’s all about the mind, body and
working with your energy.”
The Nia Technique is celebrating its 25th
anniversary with work-
Finding art in the human form
shops and special events this month. To join in the fun, and to
and elevating fitness to a conscious,
find a happening or class in your area, check
NiaNow.com. self-healing practice have been the
work of Nia founders Debbie and
Carlos Rosas for 25 years. According
Creativity in Motion
to the Rosas, Nia enables students to
use movements learned in class to
enrich all aspects of their lives, inside
Dancing Through Life with Nia
and outside the studio.
“The Nia practice, what we call
L
ooking for a cardio workout that ages individuals to get moving. ‘dancing through life,’ is choosing to
engages both mind and body A Nia class “celebration” is an make every movement a dance of self-
with a side order of conscious- active, sweaty, cardiovascular workout healing,” explains Debbie, who lives
ness? The Nia Technique may be just currently practiced in 39 countries. in Portland, Oregon. “When I wake
the ticket. In each hour-long Nia P. Casey Barish began teaching Nia up in the morning, I can jump out of
class, enthusiasts experience the cre- in 2005 at her own wellness center bed any which way or I can connect
ativity of dance, the precision of yoga in New Jersey. She moved back to to my body and move organically,
and the power of martial arts, as they Phoenix about a year ago and has the way the body moves naturally. As
move to music that rocks the body been leading classes in the Valley ever I move through my day, I can create
and soothes the soul. since. pleasure by adjusting my movements
Nia blends the energy forms of “As a teacher, it is amazing to and practicing a kind of living medita-
Tai chi, aikido, tae kwon do, Duncan pass along this wonderfully com- tion. All of it adjusts my perspective of
dance, jazz, modern dance and yoga prehensive fitness and wellness. Nia life as art.”
into a holistic, self-healing experience. helps people tap their own intuitive Nia’s blend of conscious aware-
The underlying principle of it all is healing abilities. For me, it’s helped ness, dance fitness, martial arts and
finding joy and pleasure in movement. me free up parts of my body that I healing philosophy easily puts one’s
Renowned physician Christiane never knew needed to be free. My own creativity into motion. Carlos
Northrup characterizes Nia as “a total thoracic spine, for example, becomes warns: “Watch out, this can change
mind, body, spirit celebration.” In her much more fluid which has eliminated your life.”
book, The Secret Pleasures of Meno- my migraine and tension headaches.”
pause, she notes that regular exercise Two of Barish’s students in Gail Condrick, a black belt Nia instruc-
can add 20 years to a life and encour- Phoenix, Dr. Katy Fielder and Bernard tor, can be reached at
NiaVisions.com.
38 Phoenix
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