Testimonials:
I often arrive for Nia with my mind in a state of chaos, my self esteem and body image in the gutter. After a Nia class, I feel strong, feminine and beautiful exactly as I am. In Nia, all bodies are beautiful. Nia gives me the space and the opportunity to heal. And it does it in such subtle ways that I rarely seem to notice when it's happening. I come, I dance, I feel better. Much better.
Taura G.
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I am a person who has always HATED exercise classes, and usually dropped out and lost interest. I find Nia to be fun, invigorating and joyful! I have always loved to dance, but with my arthritis and fibromyalgia I was not able to keep up with a regular rigorous dance class. With the varying levels that we can choose to move in, I am able to make the movement safely my own, and feel like a beautiful dancer for an hour. I am feeling so much more confident about my own body and I can feel myself getting stronger. It's a great way to creatively release lots of anger and stress. I recently lost my mom and I have found that this class has helped me to work through my grief. Through our teacher's imagery in the movement I have felt my mother pushing me on a swing as a little girl, waving at me and watching over me. I danced with tears in my eyes joyfully knowing she's with me. What more can I say - I'm thankful for Dina, Dara and Barb. Their words are encouraging and know I will continue to keep coming back.
Shellie B.
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Through the years I have always been conscious of the need to exercise and participated in many different types of dance exercise - Nia far surpasses any experience I have had previously! I wish I'd discovered it sooner! What an effective way to overcome stress in such a pleasurable way through an all over body workout. The several hours I spent in the Seattle Nia dance class this past year were the best hours of the day creating an increased sense of vitality while discovering the joy and power of your body in motion. Hooray!
Annette Innominato (Dina's Momma!)
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Thanks to my NIA teachers Dara, Barb, and Dina I have been able to turn back the clock and reclaim the dancer who had been sleeping inside of me these past 30 years. As I celebrate my first NIA Birthday and my 64th actual birthday, I can look back at my out of shape heavier self with complete amazement.
Bonnie Tarses
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I started taking Nia classes at a point when my regular stairmaster and free weights routine wasn't getting as many results as it used to. The great things about Nia are a) it's nearly impossible to plateau on it because every day of dance is different, even with the same routine; b) it's an all-over body workout that combines stretching, core strength, dynamic tension, and cardio; and c) it's so fun that I forget I'm working out! I'm always excited to go take a NIA class - and I can't say that about my regular gym days. What a fantastic way to combine creative expression (eg dance) with health maintenance. I wish I'd discovered it years ago.
Rachel Carroll
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I started Nia in June of 2005 and discovered that it was the dance class that I had been waiting for my entire life. I find my strength and stamina increasing at a steady pace and finding pleasure in just walking down the street. Also it's a wonderful tool to accessing the summer meadow that resides in my heart and that sometimes gets clouded over.
Marguerite M.
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I have been participating in Nia since October of 2005. Although I am only 24 years old, at the time I began dancing I had already been diagnosed with hypertension (likely attributable to stress) and was on medication for both that condition and chronic anxiety. As someone who has struggled to maintain positive physical and mental health from a very young age, I am now proud to say that through Nia, I have found the most pleasurable and effective way to combat stress and it's related effects. My doctor took me off of both of my medications and my blood pressure is now naturally within normal limits! Best of all, I no longer experience the debilitating anxiety that has plagued me for over a decade. I attribute both of these milestones to Nia, both for bringing me back into my own body, and for giving me the joy of movement! Thank you Nia, and to all of you beautiful ladies that spend your time teaching it at Dance Underground!
Christy B.