Teachers
Sharon
For a year Sharon walked past the Nia classes at the YMCA and thought "what are those crazy people doing?" Her version of working out was using weights (which she loved) and forcing herself to get on an exercise bike (which she hated but knew was "good for her.") Miraculously one morning she looked in the window and though "I want my body to do that." At 9:15 that Tuesday she took her first class ....read more
Kristie
Kristie Bryant, a Nia Blue Belt instructor and co-owner of NiaMoves, is a refugee from the corporate world who discovered Nia in Austin in 2000. At the time a national sales manager for a high-tech company's product line, she was seeking to restore balance to a life that had become overly work-focused and tried Nia at a friend's suggestion. In one of Kristie's first classes, a teacher encouraged t....read more
Cindy
Cindy discovered Nia in the fall of 2000. A close friend invited her to try a class, during which her body began to remember the childhood ballet lessons and high-school colorguard performances that had once served as a connection to the joy of movement. Better still, this type of movement allowed for individuality and freedom of expression, and there was no audience watching! That Nia class was l....read more
Georgia Lister
As a massage therapist for the past 16 years, I have a strong desire to honor the body's way and encourage strengthening as well as relaxation through movement. I appreciate the importance of finding JOY in everything we take the time to do and it is my goal to make Nia a fun experience for all who attend! I live very happily with my husband of 12 years, my two beautiful children, one dog, one rat....read more
Laura
What can I say? I turned 40; found Nia, and now my life will never be the same! At the insistence of a dear friend (Nia Doula Heather Barr), I took my first Nia class in January 2007. By September, I had taken the White Belt course. By October I was teaching 6:00 am classes and still wanting more!
I love Nia because when I'm in class I feel balanced, calm, healthy, happy and loving. When I leave ....read more
Helen
Helen holds a B.Ed (hons) in Physical Education and Special Needs, from the Chelsea School of Human Movement, UK and M.Ed in Exercise Physiology, University of Houston. She has presented internationally at over 30 Fitness/Wellness conventions, including IDEA and is the founder of Studio NiaMoves Houston, a successful body-mind studio. Helen's business, iLove2Move, integrates her speaking, coaching....read more
Maria
María (also known as Mary) Hooper celebrated her fifty-second birthday by realizing a long-time goal: taking the White Belt to become a Nia teacher.She says, "The White Belt was a wonderful gift to myself. Now I want to give to others, by teaching." María has two other occupations as well. She is the owner and operator of Dermatek Skin Therapy, where she formulates her own line of organic, botan....read more
MaryScott
MaryScott discovered Nia in 2001 after hearing about it non-stop from a friend in Austin. Still recovering from being told "you can't dance" as a child, she is thrilled to embody the true joy of movement that Nia brings. A compulsive career changer, MaryScott has worked as an architect, an HISD high school English teacher, education director at the Alley Theatre and currently as community manager ....read more
Yvonne
Certified Nia Brown Belt instructor Yvonne Myles has since 1997 practiced the Nia technique, an integrated approach for fitness and well-being. She has been a teacher of the technique since 2000. Yvonne's Nia offering is based closely on the work of Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas, founders of the technique. She blends athleticism and grace to guide participants toward a present-centered state of ap....read more
Joi
My earliest recollection of joyful movement was wiggling all around doing the “Hokey Pokey” at the age of 2. I then turned our living room into a Broadway stage, singing and dancing my way through all my mother’s Broadway and my father’s rock-n-roll and folk albums. Driven by the never-ending loop of music in my head and the life-long quest to express what I felt in my body, I voraciously ....read more
Lola
I found Nia though fate. I suffered from planter fascitis and my Dr. wanted to do surgery on both feet. I had heard of these shoes called MBT's and decided to give them a try first. In my search for the shoes I found Helen Terry. I learned how to walk again in this studio in her home and had to ask what else she used it for.She invited me to a Nia class at "The Castle". I went the next week and I ....read more
