Nia and me

Mother-daughter bonding
Well into my own Nia conversion, I suggested to my then 16-year-old daughter that she join me. She came to the first class reluctantly and only because she had developed sore muscles due to long hours of violin and guitar practice. Two years later, she still shows up occasionally, much to my delight. There's room at Nia for both of us, and we dance there as equals.

No matter what else may be going on between us, we have fun together, and she occasionally drifts over my way if we have to pair up or do improvisational stuff. When Martha has her musician friend come in to play his drums and trumpet for the class, it feels like a party -- always a magnet for my teenager.

Nia has put dance front and centre in my life once more. Our family has started to bop around in the living room again on Saturday nights when my two kids are home. In class something continues to resonate: it's hard work that feels like play. My teacher sometimes notes choreography changes by calling out, "Join me here." And so I leap in with a full heart.

The facts about Nia
Nia's program combines various dance steps with martial arts and healing arts, including yoga. These are often fused together during routines to the sounds and rhythms of jazz, blues, world beat, funk and pop music, with occasional nature tracks or percussion.

Nia was founded by Carlos Rosas, a former tennis teaching professional, and Debbie Rosas, who headed an aerobics empire in the Bay area of California. Looking for an antidote to the no pain, no gain attitude that prevailed two decades ago, they created a workout that raises heart rates at the same time as it emphasizes the mind-body-spirit possibilities of fitness.

"It's like a movement meditation that leaves one both calm and energized," says Jan Rakovsky, a former competitive athlete and now an instructor in the school of kinesiology and health sciences at York University in Toronto. Nia technique is the foundation of one of the main practicum courses that she teaches. "Its movement options create strength, flexibility, balance and cardiovascular benefits -- the hallmarks of good health and fitness."

Leith Drury, a doctoral candidate in sports psychology and a world champion triathlete in his age group, adds that Nia is "challenging but self-monitored and, most importantly, people stick with it because it's fun."

For optimum fitness and weight control, Drury advises supplementing two 60-minute Nia classes weekly with three 45-minute vigorous walks.

There are now 1,000 Nia instructors in more than 20 countries. They come from the worlds of dance, sports, yoga, aerobics and other fitness forms -- and even psychotherapy -- and bring a vast range of experience and expertise.

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