The following post is written by Nia Trainer Martha Randall, who is based in Toronto, Canada.

"Take me to the places on the earth that teach you how to dance, the places where you can risk letting the world break your heart, and I will take you to the places where the earth beneath my feet and the stars overhead make my heart whole again and again."

-Oriah Mountain Dreamer

As the world’s athletes were celebrated with a closing ceremony in London, England, last week, a number of Nia sacred athletes were gathered in the woods of an earthy, rural section of Ontario, Canada, to be witnesses to the opening ceremony of Rhythmwood, the Nia studi...

The following post is written by Erika Ruber, who is a Black Belt certified Nia teacher and LCSW in Portland, Oregon.

Today I experienced a beautiful culmination of my paths as Nia teacher and psychotherapist. Witnessing my client/Nia student courageously and gracefully share her “60th Birthday/Transition Dance Ritual” that we co-created was indeed a gift and a blessing.

The seed was born in a therapy session we had about a year ago. We were discussing her powerful transformation from a victim to a powerful woman choosing her own destiny. As we discussed the feeling of choice, I asked her to stand up and show me a gesture to symbolize how she felt. She began to use her hands,...

This guest post is written by Lori Lynn Meader and Teresa D’Angelo, and was first published in American Dance Therapy Association's newsletter.

Have you ever wondered what dance/movement therapy (DMT) and Nia have in common? Here in New Jersey, we recently had the opportunity to find out for ourselves by teaming with practitioners of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Dance Therapy Association for a workshop on "Dance/Movement Therapy and Nia–More Than Just Dance." We opened with the basic principles behind dance/movement therapy and Nia, and then experienced movement with each modality used by Nia.

Dance/movement therapy ...

The following post is written by Daniel Curtis (the son of Nia Trainer Holly Nastasi), who suffered a spinal cord injury in May of 2011. Those interested in donating directly to his cause may do so here.

It’s important to remember how fickle life can be. Memorial Day, May 31, 2011, was one of the tamest holiday weekends I have ever celebrated in my adulthood. It seemed like the smallest moment in time; it happened so quickly, but it detrimentally changed my life forever. We’ve all had a misstep, or stubbed a toe, rolled an ankle ...

This guest story is written by Susan Sloan, who is a Nia teacher and trainer based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

I followed my passion and became a Nia teacher and trainer. I have been a recruitment agent for 19 years. My journey to follow my passion started eight years ago, when I discovered the Nia White Belt Training and naturally felt the pull to enroll in the training to heal my knees. However, after the training, I wanted to use the tools I had learned to start teaching Nia. I, along with two colleagues, created the first regular Nia class in Johannesburg. Within a year, we were offering three classes per week, and the classes had grown so big, the students were...

This guest post is written by Tahirih Silcock, who is a Nia teacher based in Portland, Oregon.

I started my Nia practice a little more than a year ago and had no idea the blessings yet to come. In a life that is so unpredictable, the thing that has been my constant is Nia.

I recently moved back to Portland from Boise, Idaho. While there, I searched out a Nia class. I came upon Nia Trainer Britta Von Tagen’s Nia studio, The Dojo, and made that the place of my rebirth as a Nia dancer and teacher.

The Dojo offers classes for adults and kids; I was fortunate to observe and assist in the kids classes, and learn how to adapt Nia to a younger crowd. ...

Are you looking for a movement practice that makes your body feel good? Would you like to increase your flexibiltiy? Become more agile and grounded at the same time? Tap into your body's ability to self-heal?

Clear your calendar for the upcoming Nia 5 Stages Training at StudioNia on August 9-10 or October 18-19. Or register for the Nia 5 Stages Training in London, happening August 28-30.

Led by Laurie Bass and Carol Gonzalez, this two-day experience is based on the five stages of human development: Embryonic, Creeping, Crawling, Standing and Walking. Practiced with awareness, these sta...

This guest post is written by Allison Wright, who is a Nia trainer and teacher based in Portland, Oregon.

As Ram Das said, "Practice is like a roller coaster. Each new high is usually followed by a new low. There are stages at which you feel pulled to inner work and all you seek it a quiet place to meditate and get on with it, and there are stages where you turn outward and seek to be involved with the market place. Both of these parts of the cycle are part of one’s practice. What happens to you in the market place helps your meditation. Likewise, what happens in your meditation helps you to participate in the market place without attachment. At first you will think of practice as a l...

The Nia community congratulates Nia Teacher Lynn Gravatt for auditioning for So You Think You Can Dance and getting a feature clip of her interview and audition on tonight's episode, airing Wednesday, June 13th at 8:00 PM PST on Fox. 

Lynn has 15 years of extensive dance training (in the areas of ballet, tap, jazz, modern, african, latin and swing). After a seven-year hiatus from the dance world, Lynn discovered Nia in 2009 and was hooked! She got her White Belt in November of 2009, her Green Belt in July of 2010, and her Blue Belt in September of 2011. She is also...

This post is written by Nia Teacher and Trainer Sophie Marsh, who thrives on sharing her contagious passion for Nia and inspiring people to live authentically. She teaches innovative Nia classes, playshops, retreats and White Belt Trainings.

Have you ever wanted to go beyond what feels safe and shape your life into a magnificent tale of adventure and triumph?

During my childhood, the "good girl" in me gained a feeling of worth by helping and pleasing others, taking roles of responsibility (read bossy big sister!), achieving academic success and doing what I believed was expected of me. Her strengths gave me self-discipline, the power of intention, and ...

For this month's continuing education focus, Awareness of Ankle Joints, we're excited to feature the following masterful voices from the worldwide Nia community. Read on to hear what they have to say about sensing dynamic relationships by exploring The Body's Way. Be sure to also listen to the June 4th telecourse with Debbie Rosas and David Samson.

Debbie Rosas, Nia Co-Creator, says:

As sensation scientists, it's critical for us to research the ankle joints, a part of our anatomy that's in partnership with the feet. No foot works without an ankle joint, so keeping the ankles healthy and well is one of the most important things you can do to have an...