Adventure: Nia Class

Photo by KevinM.

Last week I had the fun opportunity to try out a NIa class at a lovely wellness studio called Solcare. Wait, huh? What kind of class? Yeah, that’s what I said at first. Nia is a way to condition, heal and express yourself through movement. A combination of dance, martial arts and healing arts (think: yoga) Nia allows you to release emotion through moving your body- and get a good workout in at the same time. Our instructor informed us that on this particular day the theme of the class was “a celebration of movement.” However, I can also see this is a running theme throughout all Nia classes.

Ok, all of this might sound a little bit hippy dippy to you, I know. But the bottom line is: it’s FUN. The great thing about Nia is that it can be done by anybody, any age, any fitness level. From children to the elderly, athletes and dancers to people suffering from disabilities and illness, Nia is something that anyone can participate in. There are technically 52 different moves- but before that overwhelms you, know that you don’t have to be super coordinated or a trained dancer to pick these movements up. The first thing my instructor said to me when I came into class was that I should let go, have fun and “fake it till you make it.” There was a bunch of repetition in the movements so you get a lot of time to catch on- plus there was tons of improvisation or “play” where you can move however you want! This may sound scary to some of you who don’t necessarily feel comfortable dancing in front of people but once you get in there with the music, surrounded by everyone all having a good time it becomes much more comfortable than you may think. I believe the words “no judging in Nia” were even used. My kind of place.

What are the movements like? Well, without going into every detail I can tell you that there were a lot of basic dance moves like kick/ball changes, three-step turns back and forth, and some gallops (or chasses for you technical people out there.) We also did a number of punching and kicking moves and finished up with some stretching on the floor. You are always free to move at your own level, adapting the movements to your preferred intensity. The feeling in a class like this is completely non-competitive as everyone is there to have fun and feel good about themselves.

If you are interested in trying out a Nia class, you can check out Solcare in Glendale, right across from Bayshore Mall. You can also find out more about NIa and search for instructors in your area at NiaWisconsin.com. No need to bring anything. Just bring yourself, an open mind, and a willingness to learn something new!

*Photo by KevinNM.