Movement is part of the prescription for healing many ailments, including arthritis, fibromyalgia and just plain old loss of range of motion due to aging.  Whether you have physical limitations in movement due to age, injury, illness, or disability, customizing your workout is key to sustainable pleasure and health. The Nia Technique is a completely customizable movement practice appropriate for Every Body.  There is never direction in a Nia class to mimic the instructor – the focus is always on finding Your Body’s Way.  Your Body’s Way is the key to customizing your experience in each moment, in every class.  Here’s how we do it:

1. Through Levels – every Nia movement can be done in 3 levels – 1, the smallest movement and the least intense; 2, slightly bigger movement and more intense; and 3, full range of motion and the most intense experience.  In each moment you are encouraged to sense what your body needs and adjust your level to meet it.  Using the principle of levels to customize any activity you do will help you avoid injury and pain, and experience more pleasure. 
2. Through Natural Time – Natural Time is different from mechanical time.  Mechanical time is absolutely standard from person to person, as in there are 24 hours in a day.  Natural Time is relative to each individual, and to each activity.  Have you ever done an activity that felt too fast for you, like you could not keep up or felt out of synch?  That was you experiencing being out of YOUR Natural Time.  Each of us experiences the world differently, and each of our bodies has its own Natural Time.  Therefore in Nia class, you are encouraged to play with varying speeds of movement to find what works for you.  Usually that means moving slower at first, until you gain mastery. Using Natural Time to customize any activity means less thinking about it, because your mind and body are in synch.

Nia is more than a fitness class – it’s a lifestyle practice as well. Taking these 2 concepts into any activity you do will aid you in finding sustainable movement for you and help you to reach true mastery.  Remember, speed is the illusion of mastery in any activity!  So slow down, listen to your body and achieve true mastery AND a sense of well-being.

For more on this topic, check out the article, "Maximizing Comfort to Prevent Injury for Seniors" in Healthy and Fit Magazine online.