‘Non-impact’ workout for a summer-ready body

Mia class at East Gate Plaza Photo provided by Debbie Van Ginkel

By Liang Meilan

With summer just around the corner, many are preoccupied with how to look good in their bathing suits. The default solution for many is to hit the gym. But if you’re looking for something new, try out Nia, or non-impact aerobics.

A Nia class in town meets every Tuesday and Thursday evening at East Gate Club, at the basement of East Gate Plaza. You’ll see people stretching, punching, kicking and dancing freely to the music. To any onlooker, the class combines fun with well-being.

Nia, a workout for the body as well as the mind, is the most advanced fitness routine combining classic movements from yoga, modern dance, jazz, aikido, tai chi and taekwondo. It also incorporates the methods of Feldenkrais and Alexander Technique.

“Nia is special because it brings al the basic moves together – the stretching and flexibility of yoga and the power of martial arts and taekwondo. You get all the benefits, all the movements, in one fitness workout,” class instructor Debbie Van Ginkel said.

“Many traditional forms of exercises only focus on one aspect of fitness, like strength. And many focus on one part of the body, like body building. Runners are always going in the same direction, but Nia i a whole-body workout that constantly challenges you in new ways,” she said.

On the mind and spirit level, Nia creates awareness of the body. “We dance barefoot so we can feel what’s happening in the little bones of our feet. Nia teaches us to be aware of sensations in every movement, like feeling the neck and feeling the fingers,” she said.

Nia is guided by the philosophy “follow the body’s natural way,” meaning each participant can work at his or her level of fitness and skill. There is no pressure to catch up with more advanced classmates, which leads to less incidence of injury or pain, Van Ginkel said. “We don’t believe in aerobics’ motto ‘no pain, no gain.’ Nia tones and trims the body gradually through pleasure, not pain.” 

Rachel, one of Van Ginkel’s students who has been doing Nia for two years, said she used to dread exercising. “When I was a (college) student, I knew I had to go to the gym but actually hated it … With Nia, time goes by fast as you’re exercising and sweating. It makes you feel really good afterwards,” she said.

People who consider themselves inept at dancing need not fear. “Everybody can dance. There is no right or wrong way to dance,” Van Ginkel said. “Nia is adaptable to every fitness level, and you don’t need to be super fit or good at dancing,” she said, adding that her oldest student is 79 years old and her youngest 12.

Each class takes approximately an hour, including warm-up and cool down. To read more about Nia, visit niachina.com.