Chris Allis takes years of experience with dance, movement and bodywork, and combines it with a love of working with people to form the perfect combination. "What I love about Nia is what I always looked for when I was training as a dancer and never found - the combination of fast and staccato with slow and stretchy, strength with relaxation, power with gentleness. It allows the mover to develop an awareness,a flexibility and a concious control of the body and body movement that is incredibly valuable, not just for dancers, but for everyone, in all aspects of living. I love playing with it myself, and sharing it with my students." [email]

Lee Bigman  I first experienced Nia in 2002. As a former aerobics instructor, I was familiar with the structure of an exercise class, but had never experienced the pleasure Nia brought to me until I took my first class. I was hooked. Now, as a Black Belt Nia instructor, my journey continues . I am committed to have every student in my class experience the joy of moving and being in their bodies. Come dance with me and discover the promise of Nia -Through Movement We Find Health - physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. [email]

Sarah Caveney discovered Nia here in Marin County in 2004 and hasn’t looked back since. With a background in gymnastics, some dance, and music, she fell in love with the Nia movement form and has been dedicated to her practice ever since. As a mother of two young boys, Sarah needed something to maintain her balance in life as well as feed her spirit and dedication to exercise and health. Nia is where Sarah finds tremendous happiness, a place to feed her spirit, and an opportunity where she can express herself. “It is my desire to help others find the type of joy I have found in Nia.”

Jill Cressy is a Black Belt Nia instructor and International Presenter. Ms. Cressy leads Nia & Energy workshops for a variety of wellness conferences and business organizations. Jill completed her Bachelor degree in Physical & Health Education at the University of Toronto. She is a certified Can-Fit-Pro Fitness Instructor Specialist, CALA Aquafitness Instructor, PhysicalMind Institute Pilates Instructor, GRAVITY Group Instructor, and GRAVITY Personal Trainer. Currently Jill lives in Toronto where she oversees the Fitness and Movement programs at the Faculty of Physical Education and Health. Jill Cressy loves leading workshops in The Bay Area. She brings a unique Canadian-California vibe to her classes and enjoys staying connected with the Nia community in the San Francisco Bay Area. [Website] [email]

Farcia Detoles-Medearis is a Certified NIA instructor, Certified Massage therapist, and African Healing dance therapist. Farcia infuses many styles of Black Dance: Dunham technique, Haitian, West African dance, African American dance and many other forms of dance & music from Africa and the African Diaspora in her Nia sessions. She offers Nia sessions in many forms; personal training sessions, workshops, classes, and camps twice a week held in San Leandro, CA. Farcia loves Nia because it’s a wonderful way to liberate the mind, body, soul and spirit- And is a great vehicle to bring people back to health. [More] [email]

Lynda Farmer Nia has changed how I move through life. And that change started three years ago when my first Nia class made such a distinct and lasting impression on me. I was already certified in Aerobics, Water Aerobics, and Personal Training; I taught standard programs of Step and weight training, I developed specialized group and individual programs to enhance strength and flexibility, and I had even expanded into more creative areas like plyometrics and tennis aerobics. But I began to find myself moving away from strict, hard-core, regimented movements as I started to resonate with the freedom of expression and the joy of movement that Nia exudes. To my surprise, I have found new strength and flexibility in body, mind and soul. [email]

Molly Fox has been teaching fitness, yoga, dance and now NIA for 27 years. Molly began barefoot teaching at the Jane Fonda Workout in San Francisco. She picked up some shoes and began teaching fitness classes in NYC for almost 20 years and then said enough...Took then off and started to teach Yoga, Pilates and NIA. Her philosophy..The Human Animal must move to feel truly alive. She regularly teaches at Equinox Fitness Clubs around the Bay Area.

France Laude-Gohard was born and raised in Paris, France. At the age of 23, she moved to the U.S. and it was in 1989 that she discovered Nia for the first time. A Nia black belt instructor and trainer she has been teaching since then in Marin and the greater Bay Area. France-Laude's study includes dance, Yoga, Authentic Movement, Pilates and the work of "Conscious Embodiment" developed by Wendy Palmer, Aikido teacher. France-Laude brings the very best of somatic teaching and with knowledge and compassion guides student into discovering themselves through the gift of the body. Her dedication and willingness to strive for excellence makes her stand high above the status quo. Nia has become her life's work and passion, "I am personally committed to helping students who are serious about making a commitment to their body and movement, getting fit, and healing." [email] [Website]

Sky Handke Born and raised in Germany, Sky's background ranges from management in corporations, non-profits and restaurants to body and energy worker, movement teacher and life coach. Re-inventing herself to follow her path and going through many transitions she has founded dare2Byou, a conduit for change in others, awakening their true selves with their passion, vision and dream. She works with visionaries, leaders and healers at heart, helping them create and live the life they are meant to live through connecting and integrating body, spirit, mind and emotions. Sky is a NIA white belt, certicied pilates instructor and co-active coach. [email] [Website]

Nancy Hoebelheinrich From her first Nia class experience in 2000, Nancy was intrigued by the innovative blending of movement styles, and Nia's focus upon freeing bound hips, shoulders, head, feet, fingers, and voice by moving creatively to music. When taking Nia classes was not enough, she went on to become a certified Nia teacher in 2003 at first to improve her own practice, but later to share Nia's technique, method, and magic. As an instructor with an athletic style, a dance background and training to teach special populations such as those with arthritis and related conditions, Nancy offers her students the opportunity to use Nia to transform themselves by developing self awareness and self healing of and through the body. Currently certified at the Nia Brown Belt training level, she teach classes and workshops in Palo Alto, Los Altos, and San Mateo that are adapted to meet the needs of students of all ages and levels of experience.

Jill Hoff holds a first-degree black belt Nia certification and has been studying and teaching Nia since 1989. She shares her joy of movement through Nia and brings her many years of experience through in her instruction. Her classes combine both the athletic and classic styles of Nia. In addition, Jill has been studying and teaching Pilates since 1997, certified with the Physicalmind Institute, and owns a fully equipped Pilates studio in Calistoga where you can receive individualized, personal attention and training in either Pilates or the Nia Technique. You can contact her at (707) 396-2442 or jillybeanhoff@yahoo.com

Janet Kaufman I have enjoyed Nia for over five years... as a teacher since the spring of 2005. The magic and pleasure of movement inspire me to dance, and teaching allows me to share my energy, enthusiasm, and Nia's healing powers. Please come share in the joy of movement in an open and accepting environment! My classes are in Pleasanton, Pleasant Hill, and Walnut Creek. Please contact me at jkaufadza@comcast.net, or by phone (510)853-9144 for more information. [email]

Liz Mac has a background in having fun with a BA from CSU Chico, a lifetime of playing in and out of the water, studying Martial Arts and enjoying a Vinyasa yoga practice. A Certified/Licensed Green Belt, my goals are to teach in locations where Nia can be made more affordable and available. I teach in fitness clubs where many classes are closed to the public, but would like to make Nia accessible to all people. Find my schedule of free to the public children’s classes offered through the Contra Costa library system at www.ccclib.org. Contact me to demonstrate a new class in your area. (925)212-4349 or nializ@sbcglobal.net Even at this computer you can find awareness of your body. Move and seek comfort. Let’s bring our practice into daily life!

LeeAnn Mallorie has been in love with the dance and music arts for 25 years, since her first ballet lesson at age two. She has training in ballet, jazz, and modern dance, international style Latin dance, yoga, musical theater, percussion and baton twirling. From 1997 to 2001 she performed as a feature twirler with the University of Michigan Marching Band where she performed at Big 10 Football games, including the Rose Bowl. LeeAnn has an MA in Social Psychology and currently works in the areas of leadership training and conflict resolution, where she aspires to merge the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual in her work. “I discovered NIA by accident when I moved to Marin two years ago and fell in love immediately. My favorite thing as a dancer was the performance “high” that I used to get after weeks of practicing a single routine. Nia allows me to share that high – The Joy of Movement - with a room full of people spontaneously. Through Nia I have also come to practice movement as healing, and have learned to use my body in new ways. Nia spans the boundaries of age, language and experience. It truly is for Every Body!” [email]

Nancy Mau

Alexis Mulhauser As an artist of mindful living, Alexis is utterly thrilled to be a Nia teacher. Since discovering the Joy of Nia in 1997, she has devoted her life to health and healing through teaching.

Her life as a teacher continues to be inspired by the innate wisdom of the human body and its masterful anatomy and physiology, the sacred teachings of Yoga, Ayurveda and Indian astrology, and the rhythm and flow of life through music, meditation, art, food and dance. Alexis has a degree in Nutrition and Human Ecology, is a macrobiotic chef, and loves to take naps. Her greatest teachers are planet earth, the Sun and Moon. When Alexis turns 108, she hopes to still be learning, listening, loving, laughing, and dancing through Life with a big smile.[email]

Carrie Peters' love for dance began in the musical theaters of the South Bay at
age 10. Since then she found herself developing a career in movement after
graduating with a degree in Dance from Mills College and Masters in Theater
and Dance from University of New Mexico. She is a certified Black Belt in
Nia and has been teaching Nia and expressive movement for over 10 years here
in the Bay area and throughout the Southwest. She developed and continues
to evolve through the teachings and studies of June Watanabe, Bill Evans &
Bartenieff Movement Fundamentals, German Tanztheater, Synergy Yoga and Peri
Ness, Debbie & Carlos Rosas, Isadora Duncan and recreating her original
works for the public, performance, Circus Probiscus, and much more.[email]

Julia Rigler BA, RRT Julia's Nia classes are enriched by her diverse background in movement and the performing arts. As a professional dancer since 1987, she has focused most of her dance training on the folkloric and contemporary dances of the Middle East. She has also studied jazz, modern, afro-Haitian dance and tae kwan do. Julia is a licensed respiratory therapist teaching pulmonary rehab in an outpatient hospital setting. "My work with Nia has brought an increased awareness and sensitivity to the relationship with my patients. My work at the hospital helps me understand the variety of issues that my Nia students may have when faced with movement challengesThrough it all, I am learning valuable lessons and I am happy to share the experience with the members of my classes." Julia is also Ace certified as a clinical exercise specialist and teacher of Pilates mat exercise. [email]

Angi Spector has been the director of Mind-Body Connection, a Mind-Body Fitness Studio, for 13 years. Angi Spector has an extensive background in dance and movement therapy. She has created and presented wellness programs at Esalen Big Sur and incorporated NIA into many workshops and special agendas at the Claremont Resort and Spa in Oakland, California including the Dean Ornish's nationally renowed Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. -Angi is certified in NIA (Black Belt), Bowen Bodywork Therapy, Hatha Yoga, the Physicalmind Pilates Method, Yamuna Body Rolling, Certified Massage Therapist and Somatic Educator. [email]

Kate Titus A dancer all of her adult like, Kate discovered Nia at the recommendation of her physical therapist/Pilates trainer after foot surgery. “Nia allowed me to explore free movement for the first time in an organic systemic way allowing me to peel the layers back from set choreography to discover creative movement. What a release! I enjoy working with the contrasts of the Nia elements, exploring the yin and yang of movement – power and grace. Nia celebrates the body’s natural way of moving, all the while offering whole body and heart health to all fitness levels. I really like that my students of all levels feel an immediate connection.” Kate is a Blue Belt Nia instructor and certified Pilates trainer and Group X Instructor. “The 13 principles of Nia are a part of everything I do."
[email]

Monica Welty I am a certified Nia Brown Belt and have been teaching Nia classes, workshops and retreats in San Francisco for 2 years. I discovered Nia while living in Portland, Oregon in 2001 and have been taking and teaching Nia classes ever since. Everyday, I am inspired and impressed with Nia's effects on my life and my student's lives; be it weight loss, strength gain, increased confidence, stress release, more self expression, or greater overall Joy. Nia is so much more than an exercise class! Come discover Nia for yourself and join our growing community of Nia students and teachers in the Bay Area! [email] [website]

Karri Winn has practiced Nia Technique since 1994, has taught since 2000 and carries a Brown Belt. Karri combines her passion for ecological systems theory, her MS in Community Development, and her MBA in sustainable business to relate to the body as an ecosystem that thrives through enhanced consciousness.