Fusion Fitness is everywhere

Fusion fitness is everywhere: hybrid classes include Koga (Kick boxing and Yoga), SoulCycle (Yoga and Spinning), Piloxing (Pilates and Boxing), BodyBalance(Yoga and Pilates); it’s a trend offering numerous fads and interesting wordplay but it’s nothing new. The Nia Technique, is the original fusion-fitness program. Devised in America, it draws from 9 different movement disciplines in the areas of dance, healing and martial arts, it originated in 1983 and has evolved ever since.

In Nia, the fusion is one of respect for the different modalties and resulted in a class and practice which is more than the sum of its parts. The principles from many of the included practices infuse all parts of Nia not just when a move is done which is an adaptaion from a practice eg. child's pose from Yoga. Nia is not a fad or a cash-cow. it is here for the long-haul had has now been around for 30+ years in 49 countries. It is much beloved by students (ie. class members) and teachers alike and has an extraordinary loyalty and community aspect. People who do Nia do it because they love it, not because it is a job or to make money. Many also teach one of the contributing modalities, for example, Yoga, Alexander Technique, Tai-Chi or dance; demonstrating that Nia has room for all and is about each teacher and student's individuality not a formula or prescription.

Co-created in the USA by Debbie Rosas and Carlos AyaRosas, fitness professionals who had witnessed the damage of competitive sport and high impact aerobics, they sought a new way in which to exercise and promote sustainable fitness. Their quest led them to develop a visionary fitness and lifestyle practice that was low impact, yet highly effective as a weight loss and functional fitness program, as well as being balancing for body, mind and soul. Three decades later, Nia is growing globally and today there are over 2300 teachers in more than 48 countries around the world. Nia is also a sensory-based fitness program, where classes are done barefoot to inspiring, diverse music and students are encouraged to move in ‘their own body’s way’- seeking pleasure, comfort and safety as they move. Music is an integral part of the class experience. Internationally sourced, from all genres, in a Nia class, everybody gets to feel the joy of being a dancer, even those who feel they are uncoodinated, or that they 'can't dance'. Benefits of Nia

One of the remarkable aspects of Nia is that it is a multi-faceted workout with a huge list of benefits and yet it is suited to all people, irrespective of their gender, age and current fitness level. Teachers offer various options for students to adapt their movements to one of three levels during class. This way each person can adapt the movements to their own pace and current state of fitness.

Nia can be adapted for special populations and the routines can be taught as a seated holistic fitness class, an ideal option for elderly and those with limited mobility.Nia is a holistic fitness program, its benefits include all the traditional benefits of a cardio vascular program, including weight loss, toning and increased energy and much more. Nia has been proven to have a healing impact on people with depression and high stress levels, as well as proven benefits for Parkinson's disease, asthma and women recovering from breast cancer.

Nia integrates dance with cardiovascular fitness with healing, a unique life changing program, packaged as an hour-long fitness class, which offers a deeper practice to those who want it too.