Class Descriptions
The following are descriptions of the various class offerings at the Ventura Nia Center. Our Nia classes are offered throughout the year on a regular schedule. Some classes are offered in a series or workshop format, or may not be offered each week of the year. Please visit the "Schedule" to view the regular and current class offerings. If you have never taken a Nia class you are invited to take two classes with us, just download and print this Complimentary Class Pass.
Our Classes
Classic Nia
Nia is a sensory based cardiovascular fitness program blending structured and free form movement to music activating the body, mind, emotions, and spirit through dance and self-expression. Using moves from varied styles of dance, martial arts and healing arts, Nia is designed to increase participants’ stamina, flexibility, balance, strength, and coordination. Practicing Nia helps participants connect to their body and find pleasure in regular physical activity. Nia is adaptable to all levels of fitness and abilities.
Core Play
A muscular conditioning program that focuses the Nia five sensations of fitness, flexibility, agility, mobility, strength, and stability. Moves from Classic Nia, Yoga, Pilates, and Nia 5 stages are composed into a flowing hour of conditioning for the core pathways. A variety of props are used including stability balls, foam rollers, free weights, and bands. This class is designed to enhance strength, mobility and flexibility, body awareness and comfort. All levels of fitness are welcome.
Fusion (Friday)
This is a blend of Classic Nia and Core Play. The class structure includes 30 minutes of Nia followed by 30 minutes of Core Play. Students are welcome to come for either of the two 30 minute segments or the entire hour.
Intro to Nia
This is a special class series that is offered several times throughout the year. Class sessions focus on Nia philosophies and basic skills designed to provide a solid foundation for new students. Demonstration and practice of the 52 moves, and then putting the moves together in dance will enhance overall conditioning of the whole person, body, mind, emotion, and spirit. Though this class caters to new students, participants of all levels of experience and abilities are welcome.
Gentle Nia
The philosophy of Nia is based on the pleasure principle: If it feels good, keep doing it; if it hurts, stop and adapt what you do to feel better. Gentle Nia is for people of all ages and weights and from all walks of life, who want to move and desire to get fit, to heal and to personally grow. Gentle Nia is taught at a level 1, the most intrinsic, close to the body movements, with an emphasis on breath and balance for body, mind and spirit. Students will leave class feeling limber, renewed and refreshed.
Nia 5 Stages
A one hour class dedicated to self-healing, moving from the ground up using the five stages of human development: Embryonic, Creeping, Crawling, Standing into Walking. Like Nia, each class has a specific focus and intent, and no two classes are ever the same. In this class participants learn skills that can be practiced daily in a short 5-7 minute format to help realign the body, mind, and soul.
Nia Personal Training
The Ventura Nia Center Teachers are available for private sessions focusing on your specific needs. Private sessions are versatile and can help you deepen your knowledge, and embodiment of the Nia philosophies and skills. Private sessions can also be used to deepen your understanding of anatomy and human movement. For more information visit the Studio Additional Services.
Hoop Habit
Level 1, Beginner: Explore dancing while hooping, with ample time to master moves. Each day is devoted to increasing awareness in a different part of the body while working with a specific principle of hoopdance. Course covers the foundations of hybrid hooping including moves both on and off-the-body; multiple hoops; isolation, directional breaks and hoop dance. A great series of classes for absolute beginners, those with a little hooping history and hoopers who are looking for a regular training space within a group environment. Caters to all level of skill and ability. The classes are both fun and challenging with the goal of putting together a repertoire of tricks by the end of the course to rock out your life with.
Level 2 & 3, Intermediate and Advanced: Every class is devoted to exploring a different emotion through hoopdance. Explore creative expression through more directed gestures; vocalization and facial expressions while hoopdancing. You will take moves from the beginner series and use them on different planes, developing strength and endurance. Create your own juicy combinations & jumps! Bi-directional breaks & sacred geometry isolations. Micro-movement tuning for the mind, body, spirit, and emotion*Pre-requisites: Beginner~ Hoop Habit ™ HoopDance or mastery in both directions of all core moves from that training workshop or seminar.
Visit Instructor Andi's Hoop Habit website for more information.
Belly Dance
Learn the fundamentals of Belly Dance & more in a fun & supportive environment.
Regular precise movement brings improvements in posture, stamina, flexibility and confidence. In Paulina’s classes you can be part of a community, which in itself improves feelings of wellbeing. Physical movement is essential to health and happiness. For many, belly dance does not feel like the grind of normal exercise. It connects people to a place of beauty within themselves. Belly-Dance workouts burn up to 800 calories per hour! Six-week sessions offered on a continuous basis covering a new topic each session. Drop-in’s welcome. Come Dance with us! Visit Paulina's website for more information
Beggining Belly Dance
Basic technique & muscle strengthening. This is a new class starting in January 2012.
Afro-Fusion Dance
A celebration of West African, Afro-Brazilian and other dance styles. Join this class for an hour and fifteen minutes of dance that will leave you with a smile on your face and even more joy in your heart.
Bollywood Fusion
Dance and play Bollywood style. Incredible music and fun dance moves inspired by Bollywood movies, classical Indian dance, Hip Hop, African and more. All levels welcome.
Note: Currently these two classes are only offered in a workshop format. Visit the Panzumo website for more information.
Women’s Alchemy Circle
The Relationship Alchemy Coaching Circles help women to not only find the love of their lives, or improve the relationship they already have, but to learn how to practice self- love and use their own personal power in a positive way. Currently this group meets off site every other week. Contact Kat Knecht for information.
Simplicity
A conscious movement experience inspired by Soul Motion™. Come join Randy while he journeys through the Soul Motion leadership training. Dance with the platforms, concepts & points of view of Vinn Marti’s mistral body of work, we’ll travel together into the inquiry of your dance, staying curious to all possibilities of movement moment, while dancing inward, outward, & onward. No previous dance experience is needed everyone is welcomed. Dance as if no one is watching.