The Body's Way Training

"Nia inspires me to continue on a personal journey of self-discovery, self actualization and healing. For me, learning is one of the most exciting journeys and being in a body is one of the most poetic and romantic experiences. I thrive on educating, motivating and inspiring people to fall in love with themselves and their bodies. To me, life is my art and my body is the canvas."  – Debbie Rosas

Dedicated lifelong to self-healing and self-mastery, Debbie Rosas has been a pioneer and leader in the body-mind fitness industry since 1976. Her extensive exploration of dance, martial arts, fine arts, music, therapy and healing work inspired and developed into the creation of the internationally acclaimed body-mind fitness program and lifestyle company, Nia Technique, Inc. Debbie’s work also includes the writing and production of Nia® educational materials and lifestyle products, such as music, DVDs and the NiaWear™clothing line. Together with creative partner Carlos Rosas, Debbie has co-authored two books, Non-Impact Aerobics and The Nia Technique™, as well as the “Holistic Fitness” section of the AFAA Instructor Training Manual. 

Nia brings concepts and forms from Eastern and Western practices into mainstream fitness classes and has been instrumental in the evolution of the fitness industry, opening doors to more esoteric disciplines such as Yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates. Today, Nia Technique, Inc. is a thriving business supporting approximately 2,200 Licensed Nia Teachers across 38 countries.

In constant exploration of Nia's philosophy, The Body’s Way, Debbie continues to develop educational curriculum to facilitate optimal health and wellbeing. In addition to the Nia body of work, she has played a key role in developing programs for doctors at The Naturopathic School of Medicine, women, teen departments at Shriner’s Hospital and arthritis and autism departments at Oregon Health and Sciences University. Adored by the press, Debbie and Nia have been featured in over 850 publications and numerous television shows worldwide. Debbie served on the Mind•Body Committee for the IDEA Health and Fitness Association and has presented at IDEA World and Inner IDEA Fitness Conventions, IRSA, The Northwest Fitness Summit, The National Wellness Conference, Whole Life Expo, International Spa and Fitness Association, Science and Consciousness Convention, Sound Healers Convention, Mind Body Convention, OHSU, Fireman’s Fund and at Lucas Films.

Debbie currently travels worldwide, offering workshops, Master Classes, Nia Training and Licensing to communities across the globe, stopping regularly to teach and train in Portland, Oregon, home of StudioNia and Nia International Headquarters.

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In the spring of 1995 I walked into my first Nia class by chance - and my life changed forever.  I was totally disabled by asthma, a physical therapist unable to work and a dancer unable to even cross the room to answer the phone.  I could barely breathe and had no business being in a cardio class.  But Nia is no ordinary cardio class.

Nia gave me the medicine of awareness and the medicine of The Joy of Movement that allowed me to discover my body’s way to heal.  After two years of Nia, my breathing improved by 50%. After seven years, I was off all medication. Today my respiratory function is 130% of normal.  You can read about how Nia healed my asthma here.  

The Joy of Movement is a practice that is the foundation of the entire Nia body of work.  Nia teaches us to cultivate the sensation of of joy -- the sensation of the life-force energy in the body -- irrespective of circumstance.   The life-force energy is available to us to sense at all times.  Not just happy times, not just in strong times, but in grief, loneliness, pain, illness, frustration, fear, anger, goofiness and wonder.

My Philosophy:  My philosophy is that the body is sacred. The bones are sacred, the muscles are sacred, the brain is sacred, everything is sacred.  This philoophy guides my life and my work.  My purpose is to help people remember that their bodies are sacred.

Rachael R. Resch, MS PT/LMT, is a Nia Black Belt, Nia Training Faculty and physical therapist with over 30 years' experience in movement and health education.

Rachael's Nia trainings offer a unique combination of scientific and somatic inquiry, blending the perspectives of both patient and practitioner in exploration of the human body in motion for the purpose of healing and conditioning the body.

Rachael used Nia to help heal herself from years of severe asthma. She attended her first  White Belt training as a PT in 1999 with Debbie Rosas and Carlos AyaRosas, lugging her portable nebulizer to every session.  As a result of becoming body literate, she is now medication-free.

A third generation typographer and former professional dancer, she holds a BA in religion and dance from Oberlin College, a master of science from Pacific University and a green belt in Shotokan Karate.  She is the owner of Synergy Physical Therapy in Ashland, OR.

Since 1978, Rachael has studied with leading teachers in mythopoetics, somatics, energetics and the arts, including Robert Bly, Joseph Campbell, Coleman Barks, Marion Woodman, Michael Meade, Rabbi Aryeh Hirschfield (zt"l), Martín Prechtel, Stephen Victor, and Paul and Patty Richards. 

Rachael lives in southern Oregon with her husband, Richard Seidman.

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"I am always looking for ways to experience my physicality that are fun, therapeutic and soulful. I love the way Rachael's teaching style embodies all three of these. She is masterful in what she does." - Mary Gorman, PT

"Rachael knows how to respect each person's rhythms and limits, and, at the same time, how to inspire just a little more: a little more movement, freedom, expression, joy." - Deborah Gordon, MD

"In 25 years of medical practice, I've witnessed many health-related fads come and go, but none is like Nia. Nia has staying power because it is based on the body's way of moving. Nia epitomizes the 21st century healthcare paradigm that is changing our focus from treating illness to giving people tools to improve their own health and well-being." - Maureen Small, MD, Nia Black Belt/ Nia Trainer

"The Nia White Belt has enhanced my effectiveness as a physical therapist. Not only do I move and experience life differently, my patients do as well. The benefits are immeasurable." - LaSheryl Olsen, PT, Nia Black Belt

“As a chiropractor, the principles of the Nia White Belt improved my skills in assessing postural distortions and movement patterns, and developed my own body awareness by leaps and bounds.” - Barbara L. Jennings, DC, Nia Blue Belt

"Now is the time to add a fitness program to your practice. We have an immense opportunity to make a difference in the health and wellness of the communities we serve by educating them and prescribing fitness."  APTA, Impact, January 2012

"As an occupational therapist, I use the principles of Nia every day in my practice. The Nia White Belt gave me confidence, a deeper connection with my body and a passion to share the Joy of Movement with my patients." - Peyton Moore, OT, Nia White Belt