Nia Technique
Nia Dance is a mind-body program that refines fitness, posture, and our ability to move in space. Nia combines the softness and expressiveness of dance, the power and precision of martial arts, posture, breath, and body alignment from healing arts.
Nia Dance – A Fascinating Blend for Body and Mind Training
Nia's philosophy is health through movement. Nia is a dance oriented toward listening, self-discovery, and releasing the body, enabling connection to physical and inner-conscious bodily sensations and creating a path of healing through movement and enjoyment.
Nia is recognized worldwide as a safe cardiovascular fitness method. Nia offers a fascinating blend for body and mind training, being a highly dynamic method while also providing great enjoyment and deep inward reflection.
Nia brings you to live with pleasure in your body;
Nia helps with weight reduction and balanced weight maintenance;
Nia contributes to relaxation and relief from everyday stress;
Nia develops sensory and physical awareness, body knowledge and acceptance;
Nia is listening to your body and releasing yourself from competitiveness;
Nia improves blood flow and strengthens the immune system;
Nia strengthens emotional resilience: improves mood, enhances personal expression;
Nia refines coordination, flexibility, and concentration skills;
Through Nia one arrives at self-discovery and the fulfillment of potential;
Nia empowers and improves sexual function;
Nia is simply genuine fun!
The Nia Technique: Moving Instead of Talking
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Nia, 5Rhythms and Biodanza?
All three are conscious movement practices, but they feel very different. Nia is a structured workout. The teacher demonstrates and teaches movements drawn from nine sources across dance, martial arts and healing arts, with a clear intention of aerobic training, coordination and technique. Every movement comes in three intensity levels, so the same class works for someone who wants to sweat and for someone who prefers to go gently.
5Rhythms, developed by Gabrielle Roth, has almost no demonstration or choreography. Practitioners move freely through five rhythmic waves, and the focus is on what surfaces in the movement rather than on doing it correctly.
Biodanza, developed by Rolando Toro, centres on the group encounter. It uses guided exercises, work in pairs and in a circle, touch and interaction, and its aim is emotional and social more than physical.
In short, Nia is the closest of the three to a fitness class, with technique to learn and a structure that repeats, yet without competition and without any demand for precision.
Do I need a dance background to join a Nia class?
No. Nia is built so you can join with no previous experience in dance or movement. The teacher demonstrates every movement, there is no sequence to memorise and nothing you need to remember from one class to the next, so you can simply follow along.
Every movement has three intensity levels and you choose which one to work at in any given moment. There is no partner and there are no roles, each person moves in their own space.
Classes are done barefoot, in comfortable clothes that allow a full range of motion. It is worth arriving a few minutes early and telling the teacher it is your first time.
Which branches have Nia classes and who teaches them?
Nia classes run at three Studio Naim branches:
- Ramat Gan, Bialik 25: Vered Raikin on Monday evenings, Irit Levy on Thursday mornings.
- Ramat Hasharon, Sokolov 40: Merav Yones on Tuesday evenings, Sharona Guy on Friday mornings.
- Petah Tikva, Arlozorov: Ayelet Zehavi on Tuesday evenings and Thursday mornings.
Exact times, changes and class booking are on the timetable. A studio membership covers every branch and every class type, so you can attend Nia at any of them.
