Technique touts mind-body fitness
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Advertiser Staff Writer
Nia, an exercise program that combines yoga, tai chi and martial arts for a cardio workout, is taking off in Hawai'i.
Nia creator Debbie Rosas is visiting Honolulu tomorrow through Thursday with two goals: to teach classes and to recruit more people to teach the technique.
The program, about to observe its 20th birthday, is growing across the nation. Popular pockets of Nia enthusiasts are found in New York City, Little Rock, Ark., and Lubbock, Texas.
Photo courtesy of Debbie Rosas
Rosas introduced Nia in 1983 after running a successful fitness club in Marin County, Calif.
Debbie Rosas developed Nia in 1983 because she wanted a program that would emphasize focus, concentration and breathing techniques.
"I was looking for a way to expand our classes into the mind-body arena, emphasizing focus, concentration and breathing techniques," she said.
She said Nia offers participants flexibility in emotion, thought and motion.
"You can turn everything into a sensation and use what you feel to notice what's in or out of balance. The physical experience of Nia is like eating chocolate. You have to taste it to see what it's like for you."
Nia is done barefoot to music as varied as jazz, classical and New Age. No special clothing or gear is required.
Those who have taken the classes in recent months at the Honolulu Club enjoy the physical and mental freedom Nia offers. It has special appeal to dancers, runners, bicyclists and yoga enthusiasts who are drawn to mind-body fitness.
Rosas will also be looking for people who want to take a weeklong intensive class March 2 to 8 that can prepare them to become Nia teachers. Early reservations are recommended, as materials must be sent (and studied) in advance.
Nia classes will be taught at the Honolulu Club from 5:30-8:30 p.m. tomorrow (master class and workshop); from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Wednesday (regular class); and from 11 a.m.-noon Thursday (regular class).
Hourlong classes are free for club members and $16.50 for nonmembers. (Fee includes a day's use of workout facilities, sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi.)
The three-hour master class and Introduction to Body-Mind Fitness is $30 for members and nonmembers.
Reservations required; call Kiwi Heilman at 543-3970.
