"What's fur ye'll no go past ye" *
I’m 60 years old, married for 30 years to my best friend, and we have one son.
I love my husband and son very much, but I didn’t realise that there was something missing from my life until Nia came into it, quite unexpectedly.
In April 2015, at a friend’s wedding, I was asked to take part in a surprise Nia flash mob. I’d heard of Nia, as some of my friends, including the bride, went to a class, but I had never fully experienced it. Joining in with this joyful dance at such a fabulous celebration, something clicked – this felt right, and I knew, without doubt, that Nia would be part of my life from that moment on.
Nia has taught me to listen to my body and only do what feels good. My fitness levels have improved to the best they've been in years, all from a no-impact practice. From my very first 'official' class, I was amazed by how much of a workout I got, while enjoying the feeling of moving barefoot - Nia encourages you to listen to YOUR body, to move YOUR body's way, and it is so much fun! How many 'fitness' classes can you say that about? And the music is, quite simply… magical.
I love that Nia is non-competitive, non-judgemental, but most of all, I love the sense of community, and the feelings of joy, well-being and vitality that it brings to me – it truly is a ‘workout’ for body, mind and soul.
I undertook my Nia White Belt in July 2017, which, after a week's intensive training, gave me the foundation to begin teaching. In April 2018, I received my Green Belt (the 'teaching' belt'), which felt like being given a gift to allow me to expand my understanding of being a Nia teacher; and in August 2019, I achieved my Blue Belt, giving me more tools to expand not only on my teaching but also on my own personal practice. I also took part in the Nia Moving To Heal training - Moving To Heal is the gentler form of Nia.
Nia is my oasis, the place I can retreat to from the challenges and stresses of everyday life, which affect us all. In particular, it helped me address the role-reversal that came with helping to care for my elderly mum, and then coping with her death - the Moving to Heal training was absolutely instrumental in facilitating my healing; Nia has helped me release long-held grief over losing other beloved family and friends; and it is still helping to heal my body from old injuries. Nia can have a positive impact in helping with mental health difficulties - please contact me for a confidential chat, if this is something you think you could benefit from.
In September 2019, I undertook training in another programme, one that was created by a Nia Black Belt teacher, Denise Medved, and that programme is Ageless Grace. Ageless Grace is described as "Timeless Fitness For The Body and Brain", and is suitable for all ages and abilities, and I am very delighted to announce that I am now an Ageless Grace Educator. I have been pleasantly surprised by how a chair-based 'brain exercise' programme can be so much fun, giving both my brain and my body a feel-good workout
Nia and Ageless Grace are so very much part of my life now, and I believe they are something that should be experienced by everyone - I would love to be given the opportunity to share my love of Nia and / or Ageless Grace with you.
I love my husband and son very much, but I didn’t realise that there was something missing from my life until Nia came into it, quite unexpectedly.
In April 2015, at a friend’s wedding, I was asked to take part in a surprise Nia flash mob. I’d heard of Nia, as some of my friends, including the bride, went to a class, but I had never fully experienced it. Joining in with this joyful dance at such a fabulous celebration, something clicked – this felt right, and I knew, without doubt, that Nia would be part of my life from that moment on.
Nia has taught me to listen to my body and only do what feels good. My fitness levels have improved to the best they've been in years, all from a no-impact practice. From my very first 'official' class, I was amazed by how much of a workout I got, while enjoying the feeling of moving barefoot - Nia encourages you to listen to YOUR body, to move YOUR body's way, and it is so much fun! How many 'fitness' classes can you say that about? And the music is, quite simply… magical.
I love that Nia is non-competitive, non-judgemental, but most of all, I love the sense of community, and the feelings of joy, well-being and vitality that it brings to me – it truly is a ‘workout’ for body, mind and soul.
I undertook my Nia White Belt in July 2017, which, after a week's intensive training, gave me the foundation to begin teaching. In April 2018, I received my Green Belt (the 'teaching' belt'), which felt like being given a gift to allow me to expand my understanding of being a Nia teacher; and in August 2019, I achieved my Blue Belt, giving me more tools to expand not only on my teaching but also on my own personal practice. I also took part in the Nia Moving To Heal training - Moving To Heal is the gentler form of Nia.
Nia is my oasis, the place I can retreat to from the challenges and stresses of everyday life, which affect us all. In particular, it helped me address the role-reversal that came with helping to care for my elderly mum, and then coping with her death - the Moving to Heal training was absolutely instrumental in facilitating my healing; Nia has helped me release long-held grief over losing other beloved family and friends; and it is still helping to heal my body from old injuries. Nia can have a positive impact in helping with mental health difficulties - please contact me for a confidential chat, if this is something you think you could benefit from.
In September 2019, I undertook training in another programme, one that was created by a Nia Black Belt teacher, Denise Medved, and that programme is Ageless Grace. Ageless Grace is described as "Timeless Fitness For The Body and Brain", and is suitable for all ages and abilities, and I am very delighted to announce that I am now an Ageless Grace Educator. I have been pleasantly surprised by how a chair-based 'brain exercise' programme can be so much fun, giving both my brain and my body a feel-good workout
Nia and Ageless Grace are so very much part of my life now, and I believe they are something that should be experienced by everyone - I would love to be given the opportunity to share my love of Nia and / or Ageless Grace with you.
* The Scottish equivalent of “Que sera, sera” - “Whatever is meant to happen to you, will happen to you”
Images by Kerstin Grunling