Published: Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013 / Updated: Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013 05:05 PM

‘No pain, all gain’: Nia is a gentler approach to health, fitness and well-being

By Kat Mansfield

Often referred to as the “Love Your Body Workout,” Nia is a sensory-based movement lifestyle that leads to health, wellness and fitness.

Nia is a dynamic blend of dance arts, martial arts and healing arts that brings the body, mind and spirit to optimum health through great music, creative movement and self-expression. Nia is based on the body’s natural design, or “The Body’s Way.” By teaching students to embody the joy of movement, it helps them achieve physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.

Each participant is invited to move at his or her own level of intensity. Nia delivers cardiovascular, muscular and whole-body conditioning. More than “working out,” Nia also incorporates mental and emotional components such as introspection, visualization and vocal expression. The result is a total body and life makeover that leads to falling in love with moving and living in one’s body.

Courtesy of Nia Technique - The Nia Technique combines several arts and emphasizes a pain-free workout for health and well-being.

The Nia Technique was created in 1983 by Debbie and Carlos Rosas, aerobics instructors who revolutionized the fitness industry by taking off their shoes and designing a barefoot workout that actively seeks pleasure instead of pain. Concerned about student injuries from the high-impact, repetitive movements of traditional aerobics, they replaced the “no pain, no gain” slogan with “no pain, all gain.” A creative cardiovascular workout, Nia invites students to explore the multidimensional mind-body connection through pleasurable movement, imagery, and fantastic music – a powerful and fun combination!

Revolutionizing the world of fitness and wellbeing, Nia today is taught to over 125,000 students by more than 2,500 certified teachers in more than 45 countries. Nia bursts boundaries of age, gender and fitness levels, delivering a fun, effective and life changing practice for all walks of life.

Here are some of the many ways Nia benefits the body, mind and spirit:

• Reduces stress and anxiety

• Increases cardiovascular, circulatory and mental health

• Improves balance and flexibility

• Increases strength and power through the martial arts

• Invites in playfulness and expression through the dance arts

• Inspires mindfulness and self healing through the healing arts

• Enhances sensuality and allows you to feel good in your skin

• Boosts whole body stability, agility and mobility

Step into your own joyful journey with Nia, and positively shape the way you feel, look, think and live.