News Flash

After tallying the votes, we're thrilled to announce Dana Hood is the 2011 Nia Teacher of the Year. This award reflects both a dedication to the Nia practice and a strong community of students who have been personally moved by that commitment.

Located in Denver, Colorado, Dana is a Black Belt certified Nia teacher who has loved dance since she was a child. After her first Nia class in 2006, Dana knew she had discovered a new path to pleasurable fitness. She fell in love with how Nia encourages fun and energetic movement with self-expression, while also emphasizing creativity, conditioning, community, spirit, acceptance and love for the body just as it is. 

It is Dana's passion t...

NiaWear is growing very fast, so we are expanding the line to include a wider range of items that promote both active and leisure lifestyles. The Yoga Pants are one of our newest designs, and are unique and sleek. Wear them to Nia, yoga or lunch with friends. You'll never feel under- or over-dressed. At 50% off their retail price, these pants are a steal at $57.50. View more photos, check out our sizing chart, and order yours now! This is a limited-time offer.

Details: Our Yoga Pants sport a modern look with detailed seaming that flatters all shapes. The legs feature a bootcut design instead of a flare opening. A fold-over wa...

The Nia Black Belt Training is magical to say the least. And it's perhaps the least talked about training in our five-belt series because it's about "entering the river of the unknown – a place of infinite creativity." The principles are only known by those who attend the transformational, one-week experience. However, we wanted to give you a peak into the most recent training with Debbie Rosas and Ann Christiansen at StudioNia by sharing some photographs.

To view the full collection of photographs from the 2011 Black Belt Training at StudioNia, vi...

Janet Shook Leitâo is a White Belt certified Nia teacher located in Lisbon, Portugal. She first found Nia while working as a dancer and dance teacher in Istanbul, Turkey.

Nia: How did you first begin practicing Nia? Where were you and what was your mind-set at the time?

Janet: Even though I grew up in Oregon, I had not heard of Nia before. I moved away in 2005 and was living abroad in Turkey, working as a dancer and dance teacher of Orientale and Turkish Gypsy. Then I came home for my sister's wedding in Corvallis. I was looking at a notice board for some sort of exercise class just to get my body moving, and the only thing that caught my ...

We are pleased to announce that Holly Nastasi is the 2011 Nia trainer of the year!

Holly is honored as trainer of the year for many reasons. As a Nia teacher, Holly has been successful at creating strong and vibrant communities in Austin, Texas, Sante Fe, New Mexico, and now Lincoln, Nebraska where I have no doubt she will rock the house as she always does.

I remember Holly's first White Belt Training. She was the one sitting on the floor with piercing eyes that questioned what we were doing. Made sense to me, as she is a trained, educated Kinesiologist. As life would have it, she fell in love with Nia, and went on to teach classes at the University of Texas and...

Every year we honor an outstanding Nia teacher with the Nia Teacher of the Year Award. However, this year marks the first time that members of the Nia community may choose the recipient by voting online. Everybody can vote, including students, teachers and trainers. Votes may be casted through December 30th, 2011, and the winner will be announced in January.

To vote:

• Search for your favorite teacher
• Click on their profile page
• Press the red "vote for me" button

Here are a few things you might consider before casting your vote:

• Does (s)he inspire students?
• Does (s)he model the w...

From the music that makes us groove (downtempo, world, reggae, electro-acoustic, jazz, rock) to the clothes that make us feel free to the workouts that let us dance from our hearts, Nia is so much more than an opportunity to sweat and get our heart rates up. It's a chance to remind ourselves just how much we love our bodies and lives. And here are 12 tips to make every experience that much better:

1. Arrive with purpose
Set a personal intent for yourself before you walk in the room. What do you hope to accomplish?

2. Dress for passion
Wear cool, loose fitting clothes that make ...

After a beatiful evening spent celebrating our latest line of NiaWear at StudioNia, we've been crafting a new photo gallery where you can browse all kinds of images from Nia, purchase prints, and get free downloads. We'll be posting some of our favorite moments from Nia trainings, events, classes and more. Below are a few of our recent additions from the Portland NiaWear fashion show.

All NiaWear looks can be worn on the dance floor, around town or out for a night of wining and dining. It's this kind of flexibility that makes NiaWear truly adaptable to any style. Mix and match our signature pieces with your own wardrobe, and never ...

Alissa is a yoga teacher, personal trainer, bellydancer and Schwinn Indoor Cycle instructor. She is certified through YogaFit and the American Council on Exercise. Students can take yoga classes from her at StudioNia on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

Nia) Why did you decide to become a yoga teacher?

Alissa) I started teaching yoga when I was 24 which was also the time that I became a certified personal trainer. Mind and body wellness had become a priority for me and I wanted to share its benefits with other people.

N) Name the top three benefits of yoga, as you personally experience them to be.

A) The first benefit I exp...

If you've never been to a Nia training at StudioNia, the Nia International Training Center in Portland, Oregon, this video tour led by NGT Allison Wright is for you!

StudioNia is located on the fourth floor of the Pythian Building in downtown Portland, Oregon (918 SW Yamhill Street). Classes, trainings, workshops and events are offered here year-round. It is the ideal place to practice and further develop your skills under the guidance of our globally renowned teachers and trainers.

Features of the space include high ceilings, large windows, gorgeous wood floors, and a fabulous sound system. If you would like to ...