| I’m a guy,
surrounded by beautiful women, their perspiration tinged bodies
pulsating to the heavenly beat as we move our bodies around the
room.
Some sad male fantasy? No, I’m experiencing my first Nia
class. We’re moving to carefully chosen music and dance
steps, guided by Susan Muttit, one of the key teachers and facilitators
of this fusion fitness technique.
We begin with gentle warm-up movements, swaying and shifting as
one being, held together by the exotic rhythms and sure voice
of our teacher.
As the class progresses I find myself moving instinctively, allowing
my body to guide the process, letting go of my mind’s control.
This is extremely liberating, as it assists in the release of
many limiting thoughts and ideas about myself, and especially
my body.
I see I am not the only one who seems to be experiencing this.
One of the most striking things about attending a Nia class is
the fact that there are so many of us there that do not fit the
“body beautiful” mold forcibly imposed on us by society.
Real people, in all our many faceted shapes and sizes, exercise
with a joy and abandonment that I have never witnessed in any
gym or similar event.
We are encouraged to work at our own individual energy and fitness
levels, the whole class somehow staying on the same page as we
dance like pros or mess-up the steps, depending on where your
body and headspace happens to be that day
.
Each class has a focus and this helps with centering one’s
mind as you go deeper into the connection with your body. By the
time we wind down with some soft stretches, the whole room is
full of smiles, and a sense of self-assured calm.
Nia was founded by Debbie and Carlos Rosas, both
key players in the fitness industry since the mid-seventies. Their
personal and professional explorations of the martial arts, dance
therapy, music and healing energy has helped shape and refine
this unique technique.
Nia, Neuromuscular Integrative Action, fully supports the Pleasure
Principle – If it feels good, keep doing it. If it hurts,
stop.
By providing three separate levels of intensity within the choreographed
movements, this body-friendly technique is perfecctly adaptable
to people performing on all fitness levels, and of all ages. The
careful balancing of dynamic movement with a gentler, relaxing
flow of energy allows for a whole-body workout that has amazing
effect. Muscle strengthening and improved tone, weight loss and
maintenance, alleviation of emotional tensions and stress, to
name but a few.
It can even increase your sexual function and overall
pleasure of living in your body ! What are you waiting for, stop
reading this article now and go find a Nia class near you.
Click
here to download the Class Schedule for Studio Kairos, Dunkeld West
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