Neuromuscular Integrative Action
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Nia (Neuromuscular Integrative Action), pronounced "nee-ya", blends three dance arts (Isadora Duncan dance, modern dance, and jazz dance), three martial arts (aikido, tae kwon do, and tai chi) and three healing arts (Alexander Technique, yoga, and Feldenkrais). It is a form of aerobic exercise that can be practiced by people of nearly all ages and physical conditions. Many Nia students come to class for the workout but keep it up because Nia's unique approach allows them to achieve greater fitness in body, mind, emotion, and spirit.
Nia uses a wide variety of music styles, including world music, pop, jazz, Latin, and many others around which to choreograph the 52 basic moves. Based on the joy of movement, Nia helps you tune into ways of moving that not only avoid discomfort but increase pleasure.
Created in 1983 by Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas in Marin County, California, Nia later moved its headquarters to Portland, Oregon. As of 2007, there are more than 1,750 Nia teachers in 40 countries.
In addition to being an acronym, the word "nia" in Swahili means "with purpose"; in Hebrew, it means "a tiny movement."
