Posted on: Tuesday, September 10, 2002

Free-spirited exercise offers physical freedom

By Paula Rath
Advertiser Staff Writer

Nia just may be the next fitness craze in Hawai'i.

Unlike some trendy extreme sports, Nia is not for the hard-core exercise enthusiast who believes no pain, no gain. It's more of an alternative workout; a softer, gentler form of exercise, closer to yoga and Pilates than running or step aerobics.

Away from the "boom, boom, boom" of high-impact aerobics, Nia takes participants into a place of barefoot, free-spirited movement enveloped with flowing, rhythmic music.

Nia means "with purpose" in Swahili, in the 19 countries where it is practiced. As an acronym it stands for Neuromuscular Integrative Action.

In a phrase, Nia is a mind-, body- and spirit-soothing cardio class usually offered in health clubs and spas.

Enthusiasts say Nia offers the stillness and concentration of tai chi, the stretching poses of yoga, the power of martial arts and the grace and spontaneity of ethnic and modern dance. Think Martha Graham, Bryan Kest and Jackie Chan creating a workout program together.

Grace Moon of Manoa said Nia offers her physical and mental freedom. "You can move as you wish." Even the stretching portion was individualized, she said.

Marcia Morgado of Palolo, on the other hand, "liked that it made me sweat. I thought it would be more yoga, and that I wouldn't get as much of a workout."

Although Nia has been on the Mainland for nearly 20 years, it is in its infancy in Hawai'i, where we have only two certified Nia instructors: Erin Graue on Maui and Megan MacArthur on the Big Island.

Professional progression in Nia is measured in the same way as martial arts: with levels defined by four "belts." Graue is a white belt (level one) and MacArthur is a black belt (level four, the highest).

Nia was introduced on O'ahu at the Honolulu Club recently, but this is its second time around in the Islands. MacArthur taught Nia at Clark Hatch Fitness Center and Gold's Gym in 1993 before she moved to New York to start Nia in Manhattan, where there are now 15 instructors.

Although MacArthur said Nia was becoming popular, no other teacher stepped in to take her place.

Now, with the popularity of yoga, tai chi, qigong, Pilates, fitness balls and other no-impact, mind-body fitness forms, the time seems ripe for Nia's comeback.

A dance major in college, MacArthur said, "You can do Nia on a daily basis without punishing yourself, yet it's always challenging and offering something new I can do to deepen the experience." Each class is designed to offer three degrees of intensity, depending on the participants' level of fitness.

While Nia has a base in fitness, MacArthur said, it involves healing, self-expression, creativity and spirituality. She will travel to O'ahu in late September to teach classes at the Honolulu Club.

Graue, who will be giving classes at the Honolulu Club, studied Nia for five years in Boulder, Colo., with Carlos Rosas, one of the founders of the form.

"Nia is easily accessible regardless of your dance, fitness or age background," Graue said, adding, "I'm drawn to it because it's fun. I get a workout and an emotional release at the same time."

The emotional release comes up often in conversations about Nia. Pauline Ivens, of Kaimuki, said she is sometimes tearful at the end of a Nia session because "it has an emotional release element to it. I find it to be cleansing and healing because I can be expressive in a safe and trusting environment. You're allowed to let go and do the movements that are all about you. I find there's a 'Yes!' feeling at the end of a class."

That is especially important to Ivens, who danced ballet as a child but was told she did not have the right body type to pursue it as a career. She turned to modern dance, receiving her bachelor's degree in the art and science of movement.

Imagery and visualization play a role. For example the Nia instructor might ask the class to wave their arms as if they are stroking the tips of tall grass.

Graue likens Nia to "dancing alone in your living room with the curtains drawn. It's that kind of freedom."

Nia was founded in 1983 in San Francisco by Debbie and Carlos Rosas. Debbie had owned an aerobics organization called The Bod Squad. Her husband, Carlos, was an aerobics instructor. They created Nia as a form of purposeful movement that would heal.

Debbie Rosas is scheduled to teach classes and workshops at the Honolulu Club in December.

Kiwi Heilman, group fitness coordinator for the Honolulu Club, plans to hold Nia classes during the last week of every month.

Heilman sees Nia as an alternative cardio class for those who want to condition their cardio-respiratory system, but prefer less complex choreography, gentler, more inspirational music, individualism and freedom of expression within a group setting.

One sign that Honolulu Club members are ready for more mind-body exercise: Several racquetball courts have been given over to yoga and a former meeting room is now used for Pilates. Visit www.nia-nia.com for more information.