About Nia

Nia (officially, The Nia Technique) stands for ‘neuromuscular integrative action’, as well as ‘non-impact aerobics’ – but perhaps the best representation of the word is its Swahili translation, ‘with purpose’- because if Nia is about anything at all, it’s about giving purpose to movement.

Nia is a mind-body-spirt fitness routine that incorporates a unique mixture of Dance Arts (Jazz, Modern, Duncan), Martial Arts (Tai-chi, Aikido, Tae-kwan-do), and Healing Arts (Yoga, Feldenkrais, Alexander).

Nia is designed to provide a whole body workout that promotes flexibility, agility, mobility, strength and stability. Class begins with setting a focus and intent and moves into an easy warm up, gradually increasing the tempo to provide an aerobic workout and ends with a cool-down.

Every Nia workout is set to music (all styles from around the world) and lasts approximately 1 hour. Instructors are trained to provide levels of difficulty so that Nia works for every body, every age, every fitness level. Nia is for Everyone and Anyone.

Each Nia class is set to easy to learn choreography and, in some routines, a section for “guided free dance.” Students are encouraged to seek pleasure, to find the joy of movement moving mindfully, paying attention to their body, to sensation, to listening and dancing to the music.

And last, but not least, Nia is FUN!

Instructor

James Williams is a certified Nia 1st Degree Black Belt Teacher. James has been teaching Nia in gyms, fitness centers and dance studios since 1998. He has taught in Italy, Israel and throughout the United States. He currently teaches 3 classes per week in his private studio in Brooklyn, NY.

James has taught with Sprat working with an intergenerational population incorporating Theater, Improvisation and Movement.

In addition to his Nia training, James has studied Ballet, Modern, Jazz, African Dance, Capoeira and Tai-Chi.

James has danced professionally with American Dance Theater and Arthur Hall’s People to People Dance Company. He is also an actor, director and producer in New York City.