Testimonials

Nia

“The Nia dance has brought back an innocence …  the joy from moving and going with the music only remembered as a child.  The dance like no one is watching.  With that has come the motivation to become lithe and flexible again after many years of being “off” exercise as such.  It’s holistic approach better suits my current approach to and stage of life, and the connectedness it brings through dancing with other women in a non competitive, heartfelt, embracing environment can only be described as pure soul.  For women who feel they are losing their sense of natural timing due to being in a world where busy is “in”, I recommend coming back home to your natural way through Nia.  It has reconnected me with music, nature and above all JOY.

Many thanks to the Nia Team.”

Grateful

“I DANCE Nia because it powerfully connects me with Source benevolence, both spiritually and physically..And as an aging arthritic, Nia is accessible, adaptable and affirmative of the Body’s Wisest Way..

I STUDY Nia because its lifestyle philosophy and practice challenge the relentlessly imbalanced parts of me to come back to centre – and realign with all that is healing and potentialising, in both myself and others..In times of adversity or in the wake of Life’s “throwings and unknowings”, Nia has been a saving grace as both an anchor and an outlet – but most importantly, a teacher of  somatic wisdom.

The foundation of these learnings and the opportunity to experientially engage with the depths and breadths of the Nia Way, began for me with taking the first level of training offered universally – the White Belt Intensive. A WORLD of inner and outer Unfoldings have transpired for me since – strengthened by the leeway in the Nia education process to revisit any Belt undertaken at any time for no cost.  I am convinced Nia manifests a unique Life study path, multi-dimensional and multi-facetted, and which now addresses every fibre of my being. The White Belt both lies at the entry of that path and permamently ramificates into the healing and creative journey ensuing.”

Sarah Brown

 

Nia 5 Stages

When I was 29 years old I suffered from a major stroke. It caught me totally off guard. I had three small boys and a husband to take care of. I didn’t have time for a stroke. But what was I to do? I couldn’t walk, talk, or eat on my own. My brain was not functioning correctly. I spent three weeks in the hospital and an additional three weeks in in-patient rehab. After that I was released and put in standard out-patient rehab. The re-learning process was long. First I had to learn how to communicate. I learned all the vowels and how to shape my mouth for each particular sound to come out. It was probably 2-3 years before I could talk in a regular conversation. Meanwhile, I had to learn how to walk again, one step at a time. I was so stubborn and wanted to get out of that rehab so bad that I wouldn’t use a walker or a cane to help me. Come on, I was only 29! I wish I would have known about Nia then.

But I did walk again. I never gave up, and there were many times when I wanted to. I still suffer from aphasia and learning and memory problems. I will never fully get back to the mental state of my young self again, but I’m grateful my three boys kept me going.

Twenty years after my stroke I moved to Seattle and ran across Nia. It is the most wonderful class ever! I have the most amazing instructors, Jill, Jennifer and Randee. One day about a month ago, Jill was telling me about the Nia 5 Stages class that Laurie Bass was instructing at The Blue Heron Ranch. At that class I learned the process of self-healing (embryonic, creeping, crawling, standing, and walking). In all of my rehab, I never re-learned the vital steps a child has to take before walking. My body was missing that essential information.

Now I feel grounded. I feel whole, like I’ve regained those missing steps. I feel more confident, balanced and coordinated. I can move, bend down and get up. You don’t know what it’s like until you can’t do it. It all makes sense now. Everybody who has a stroke needs this class. The five stages of self-healing really was healing for me!

Mary Bemis, Seattle, Washington, USA