What is your personal “favorite” exericise – the stand-by that you always find yourself returning to?
I have been practicing the Nia Technique for the past 20 years. Nia combines 9 movement forms (3 dance arts, 3 martial arts and 3 healing arts) for a pleasure-based fitness routine. The moves are easy and address everything I need in an exercise routine: flexibility, agility, mobility, strength and stability. I enjoy its expressive component and its adaptability….when I’m feeling highly energetic and want a powerful workout, I can bring Nia to level 3…on the other hand, if I’m I need a gentle practice, I can bring Nia to level 1. Nia encourages me to listen to my body and seek pleasure and sustainability (which is the key to lifelong exercise). The “five stages”, one Nia floor exercise (which generally is done at the end of class) begins on the floor and takes the practitioner through 5 stages (embryonic, creeping, crawling, standing and walking) simulating the 5 stages of physical development. And the best part, is that it can be done anywhere (even in a Queen size bed!) Nia brings me back time and time again, because it not only feels good, it’s effective…and I anticipate that I will practice it for the rest of my life.
