Nia is a fitness and lifestyle practice that has surprised me in its depth.  There seems no end to me to how deep and wide I can take my practice. Over time, my Nia practice has become more spiritual to me, which I realize is what I wanted all along. 

What do I mean by spiritual?  I mean feeling deeply connected to something bigger than myself, but not in a traditional sense.  Often when we say we want to connect to something bigger than ourselves, it means some cause or charity or passion.  What I’m talking about is a deeply felt connection, as in a sensory connection, an ability to feel IN THE BODY, the presence of something deeper and bigger. By awakening, cultivating, and tuning into body sensations I have not only gained body wisdom, but spiritual wisdom as well.  I can sense an aliveness, a depth, a peace in myself that I know is the essence of life itself.  That which is within each of us, and is bigger than us at the same time.  That which connects us to each other and to the divine as well.   That which is eternal and immediately accessible all the time.

Cultivating that connection to something bigger through my Nia practice has profound effects on my daily life.  I have a sense of peace that no matter what happens, I’ll be okay.  I feel a lot less fear, and a lot more love.  I am able to judge less and accept more.  I mostly believe that everything is happening just as it should be.

It begins with awakening sensation in the body, becoming aware of sensation.  That automatically brings us into the present moment, where all of life occurs. In my experience, it is nearly impossible to practice Nia distractedly or mindlessly.  Maybe that’s why some people don’t like it. I know that once I began to practice Nia at least 3 times a week, that connection to sensation, to the present moment, to life itself, began to accompany me off the dance floor and into my life.