Nia is a unique sensory-based workout, practise and lifestyle that promotes health, wellness and fitness, in all realms; physical, mental, emotional and spirit. Created 38 years ago Nia is well anchored within a fickle fitness industry where fads often come and go. Nia is here to stay, evolve and impact many through a solid base of international trainers and hundreds of teachers world-wide. I suggest visiting the following two links from the NiaNow.com website; About Nia and the Nia Story. There are three clear layers to Nia, each building upon the previous. Click on image below for more information.
FAQ's
General Nia |
Nia with Alison |
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What do i wear / bring to class?
Wear clothes you feel comfortable to move in. Bring a water bottle and a willingness to explore new ways of moving. Some choose to bring a yoga mat or towel for the FloorPlay section toward the end of class, however, this is up to you. Friends are also great to bring!!
I am uncoordinated / overweight / unfit... (fill the gap). can i still do nia?
Nia is literally FOR EVERYBODY. Initially as you ‘Learn the Moves’, we encourage you to keep your interest and fascination up and your criticism and judgment down. Be gentle, be patient and allow yourself to be in beginners mind and beginners body. In natural time you’ll feel ready to move and energise the Nia moves in a way that is unique to you. In Nia we learn how to "tweak" the moves so that we are constantly moving with ease and pleasure in a very personalised way. Remember, you are in the drivers seat and we encourage you to build intensity gradually, guided by pleasure and comfort.
I am in my latter years. am i too old
for nia? Nia’s low impact, grounded movement can benefit people at all ages and stages of life. Nia can improve mobility, stability, agility, flexibility, balance, strength and energy levels. The adaptability of Nia means there’s no age limit on the ability to practice (or enjoy) Nia.
I suffer from a chronic illness / i have an injury. can i do nia?
One of the guiding ideals of Nia is what we call "the pleasure principle"; using comfort and ease as a way to move and get fit. In Nia, students are guided and empowered to make their own safe movement choices moment to moment. With awareness and time, Nia may help to heal. Please do share any illness or injury concerns with your teacher prior to class so they are aware of how to best support you. It may also be wise to discuss your intent to do Nia with your health practitioner.
can i do nia if i'm pregnant?
As with any form of exercise during pregnancy we'd advise first consulting with your health professional. However, Nia is inherently a low-impact form of exercise where you can self-regulate your exertion level. For the many women who practice Nia well into their pregnancies, it is the perfect pre-natal class.
Fun Fact: Alison was still teaching Nia classes at 8 1/2 months pregnant! is there a format to a nia class?
Yes. Every Nia class has 7 cycles:
i enjoy an intense cario workout.
will nia be enough for me? Nia is offered at 3 levels of intensity within various planes of movement (high, middle, low). Students are encouraged to play with movement variety to condition. To create a more athletic workout you could choose to increase range of motion (reach higher & sink lower), speed up movement sequences and introduce jumps / leaps where appropriate. While Nia is low impact, it offers excellent whole body cardiovascular conditioning. Come prepared to sweat.
is it required to do nia barefoot?
Nia is designed to be practiced barefoot. With bare feet we have access to sensation through 7000 nerve endings, providing greater stability as we strengthen the muscles, tendons and ligaments of the feet, legs and trunk. However, if being barefoot is uncomfortable, a soft sole shoe may be worn.
can kids come to nia class?
There are Nia classes specifically designed for children. Know that although Nia is great for all ages, having young children in a general class may be disruptive to the group, and some Nia classes may be for adults only, so please do check with your teacher whether children are welcome in class.
Note: Nia classes with Alison are designed to be for adults / young adults (eg, 14 years+), not for children. If you do have a child that would like to attend class with you as the parent / caregiver, please enquire directly with Alison prior to class. do men do nia?
Yes!! The gender balance generally tips in favour of women as is common for group fitness classes. However, message for the men, don't let that stop you from stepping into a Nia class.
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when and where are nia classes with alison?
There are currently two Nia classes per week:
SATURDAY 10am (Studio 1) and THURSDAY 6.15pm (Studio 2) The Studio, 207 High Street, Lower Hutt CBD FYI, a third weekly class may be introduced mid-term on a Monday either 9.30am or 12noon. Feedback welcome. This class is tentatively scheduled to start Monday 6 March and will be mainly taught by Nia colleague, Brenda Black. Learn about class offerings here where can i park?
Riverside carpark (south end), War Memorial Library, Queensgate Mall, anywhere in the CBD (all have 2hrs free parking on Saturdays)
what qualifications / experience does alison have?
Alison registered as a Nia teacher in 2007 after completing the accredited first level Nia White Belt Training with the Nia co-founders; Debbie Rosas Stewart and Carlos Aya-Rosas at Nia Headquarters in Portland, Oregon, USA. Since then she has achieved:
* Nia Blue Belt, NiaHQ, Portland, Oregon - 2009 * Nia Green Belt (advanced teacher training, Auckland, NZ - 2011 * Nia Brown Belt, Brisbane, Australia - 2015 & 2017 * Nia Black Belt, Brisbane, Australia - 2019 Alison has also retrained the entire Nia White Belt training twice since her original White Belt to further anchor and embody the content. She has also retrained parts of the Nia Blue Belt, all of the Nia Brown Belt and has attended numerous Nia Master Workshops with various Nia Faculty Education Trainers. Aside from offering regular Nia classes, Alison has offered Nia workshops around NZ and internationally; from building a 30+ strong Nia community in Subic Bay, Philippines during 2010 whilst travelling, to sharing Nia with guests on a super yacht helipad, to being an in-house guest teacher at Five Star exclusive resorts including the luxurious spa resort Kamalaya in Koh Samui, Thailand. Alison is one of NZ's most experienced and qualified Nia teachers. How do i pay for classes?
There are a few options:
1) Via the Class Passes webpage (best if paying for a New to Nia Special (Beginners) or a Multi Class Pass (regulars). 2) Via the Bookings + Schedule webpage (best if booking and paying for a one-off casual class). 3) Online payment into the following bank account: ASB. 12-3449-0112479-00. A M Whitton. Please reference your name and chosen pass. For this and subsequent forms of payment Alison will load your pass and/or class credits for you to then manage your class bookings via your Momence account. 4) Cash at beginning of class (correct amount appreciated). Note EFTPOS is not available. are gift vouchers available?
Yes! Gift vouchers are a great way to give the gift of Nia for a special occasion. Vouchers are for 2 Nia classes with Alison and are valued at $29. Contact us directly to arrange. Also, read the T's & C's about redeeming gift vouchers
i just want to sample a nia class.
can i do a trial class for free? No, Alison does not offer trial classes for free. However there are low cost / low risk ways to step into Nia. The New to Nia Special - Buy 1 get 2 FREE! offer is available for all who are new to Nia. Also, the Intro to Nia workshop will be very reasonably priced to allow a low cost option for those who would like to sample Nia.
Where can i learn more about term
passes and deals for beginners? Read the Terms and Conditions associated with all Nia class attendance options here
Do i need to book into class?
You do not have to book, however it IS strongly recommended that you do. Note; Saturday morning Nia classes are held in the smaller studio and are limited to 10 students (12 at Alison's discretion if the additional two people agree to be right up the front). If you do not book for a Saturday class you do risk being turned away if class is fully booked. Max numbers will not be exceeded.
If you have previously paid for a casual class or a Class Pass via this website, then you'll have done so via the Momence class booking / payment software that Alison uses to manage class listings, and you would've been prompted to create an account (enter your email + password) in order to proceed to payment. Therefore you can continue to manage your bookings via your Momence account. Here are some useful Momence FAQ's and support to help you with managing your class bookings. do classes run during the school holidays?
No. Classes are informed by the school terms. Note that term classes may begin on a Saturday just before the school term starts or they may end on a Saturday just after the school term ends. Occasional Nia workshops or pop-up Nia classes may be offered during the school holidays. Here's a link to the 2023 Nia term plan.
I've done nia before. what pass is best for me?
Out of a total of approx. 22 classes offered per pass validity of 3 months, if you'll come to:
* between 13-20 classes; the best value is a 20 Class Pass * between 8-12 classes; the best value is a 10 Class Pass * between 4-7 classes; the best value is a 5 Class Pass * 3 or less; the best option is a TASTER casual class i'm new to nia. what pass is best for me?
If we're approaching the beginning of a new term then best consider the Beginners 6 class series; the first 6 Thursday evening Nia classes each term. If the term is underway then best step into Nia with the New to Nia Special - Buy 1 get 2 FREE!
What does a nia term look like?
A combination of form and freedom; spending time learning a new Nia workout and staying with it for a few weeks, then shifting to experiencing other workouts shared in the past.
A term is comprised of classic Nia classes, and specialty Nia classes such as Nia MoveIT may be offered as pop-up classes in school holidays. Read more about Alison's term / seasonal rhythm here. |
Where can I find out more about Nia, and Nia in the Wellington region?
- Bookmark the Nia Wellington Facebook page to see all Wellington Nia classes and events.
- Check out www.NiaNow.com, the international Nia website.
- Get the Book: "The Nia Technique: The High-Powered Energizing Workout that Gives You a New Body and a New Life" (2005) by Debbie and Carlos Rosas. It explains Nia's history, guiding principles, and Nia’s 52 Moves with some easy to follow sequences.
- Ask your local Nia teacher. We are passionate about what we do and love to share our Nia stories.
What Our NIA STUDENTS Are Saying
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