Helen Terry is a Nia trainer, teacher, studio co-owner and Nia Retreat Center proprietor based in Montgomery, Texas. She has been devoted to teaching Nia full time since 1993, and travels around the world to share the practice. 

Before I fly around the world to share and teach Nia, I sometimes question leaving my family and my studio. I also question the time and money involved in traveling. Then I arrive at the venue, see the anticipatory excitement on participants’ faces, have a blast inspiring attendees, and revel in helping others rekindle the joy of movement. It makes it all worth it.

I was recently asked, "Why are you opening up the Nia 52 Moves Training to students?" I feel this is an important question to address and share with everyone, so that my intentions are clear, and both students and teachers are inspired to enroll.

The answer is simple: Nia is my gift for all people, and for 30+ years I have given most of my teaching life-force energy, time and consciousness to training Nia teachers how to share the Nia work with the public. But to rely entirely on the teachers to reach the incredible amount of people Nia can (and should!) serve is not functional. It is actually a cog in the wheel.

My desire has always been to give my creative work–Nia&nd...

I am sitting in the Waldorf Astoria, surrounded by old world elegance, with people from all over the world, listening the sounds of life happening in one of the most magical cities in the world: New York.

I love this city for many reasons: the numbers of people, the variety of people, and the opportunity to be and do anything at any time of the day. I feel at home here, and I feel the tension that comes from the positive energy of being unsure and even a little afraid–not for my life, but for what New York stands for... potential. Yes, my potential.

I have dreamed of living here. I have dreamed of having a Nia center here. I believe Nia deserves New York exposure. New York acceptance. New York push, the push needed ...

On Monday, May 7th from 9:00 - 10:00 AM PST, Nia Co-Creator Debbie Rosas will be hosting a free telecourse with special guest Miles Kessler. They will spend an hour exploring the foot's relationship to the principles of Aikido, as this month's educaitonal topic is, "Awareness of Feet: Sensing the Hands that Touch the Earth." 

Register now for the free telecourse to receive your call-in number! For more information on Nia's current course of study, visit our education section, where we post links to articles, student handouts, videos and more.

About Miles Kessler

Miles Kessler began Aikido in ...

This letter was written by White Belt trainees to Nia Trainer Yonit Lerner Ofan, in appreciation of her teaching and guidance.

Here we are at the end of our 7th week of the Nia White Belt Training (this training was structured a bit differently, as we met once per week for seven weeks in a row). We are excited and having difficulties sharing our words of closure.

This is a time of beginnings and not the end. We are just starting our journey. You, Yonit, know more than others that this White Belt training is an important and valuable milestone in our journey. Each one of us has her own life, family, friends, reasons, desires, purpose, dance and shining North...

Amy Podolsky teaches adult and kid classes at Yoga and Nia for Life in West Concord, MA, and truly aspires to share the same joy, enthusiasm and generosity of spirit that her Nia teachers have so freely given to her.

As I sit and write this essay, I am 3.5 weeks into a 4-week interruption of my “regularly scheduled” life. I am recovering from surgery (reconstruction after skin cancer removal, and all I will say is this: wear your sunblock!), and according to doctor’s orders, I am unable to perform “any activity that will raise [my] heart rate.” As both a devoted teacher and student of Nia, this mandated pause in my practice has been a big bummer, to say the least.

Wendy Roman is a Black Belt certified Nia teacher and Nia 5 Stages instructor based in Ontario, Canada. Nia continues to give Wendy a creative outlet where she can teach and inspire others to dance through life in a joyful way.

Recently, I hosted a Nia/Sound Healing retreat in Costa Rica with my co-facilitator Dennis Gaumond. Dennis is a soundwork facilitator, who I have been working with for the past three years. Our work dovetails beautifully together, and this February we took 15 of my Nia students from Canada to Finca de Vida, a healing retreat and organic farm on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. It was a great success, and was even described as "life-changing" by some. Our hosts a...

Now is the time to plan a mini vacation to Marin County, the place where Nia was first created more than 30 years ago. It's here that pre-registered attendees will have the unique opportunity to take a Nia class with Nia Co-Creator Debbie Rosas on Thursday, April 5th at Move Me Studio in San Rafael, California!

To experience Nia with Debbie in such a special location is to explore the profound magnificence of your body–the sacredness of your authentic self and the joy of movement. No previous experience is necessary to take this class, and all body types and ability levels are welcome. Registration is full for the evening class, which wil...

The following interview features Nia Teacher Alexandra Collas, who first began practicing Nia in 2006 when she was finishing graduate school at the University of Western Ontario. She is currently living in Lima, Peru, where she owns Peru Flow.

Nia HQ: How did you end up in Peru? 

Alexandra Collas: I am Peruvian and moved to Canada at the age of 18. After living abroad for 12 years, I never thought I would come back... until last year when I decided to become an entrepreneur. I always yearned for home, even though I am a traveler. I thought of Peru as a great possibility to reconnect with...

Nia jams are just one of the ways people come together to build community around their shared passion for the practice. This jam, led by Nia Trainer Loretta Milo, features 18 Nia teachers and 80+ students. The testimonials shed light on some of the benefits of Nia. As Jo Ellen Davidson shares, "When I started doing Nia, I was very, very ill. And now... I'm an instructor! I just finished my Green Belt."

Dana Hood says, "Nia makes me feel happy. It brings out my creativity, not only on the floor when I'm teaching or dancing, but also just in life. I'm inspired to do more things, to listen to new music. ...

For this month's continuing education focus, Awareness of Bones, 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 alignment by exploring The Body's Way. Be sure to also listen to the March telecourse call with Debbie Rosas and Lita Curtis.

Debbie Rosas, Nia Co-Creator, says:

This month we’re researching healthy bones and the sensation of alignment, which is vital to functional movement. As a way to begin relating to your bones, know they are alive. If you’ve ever broken a bone, you know ...