Teachers
Kate Nash, Nia Black Belt, and Nia 5 Stages Teacher
Kate Nash lived in London, England for many years. She worked in the entertainment business for 20 years, mainly in live theater. Kate’s movement background is based in many years of collaboration with physical theater companies, exploring the realms of expressive and improvised movement and dance styles. Always interested in self-awareness, expression and healing, Kate focused her energies on becoming a Nia Instructor and fulfilling her ambition to create a Center for a holistic lifestyle program which uses movement as it’s foundation. Kate was introduced to The Nia Technique in 2000 and from her very first moment she knew she had “come home.” “ I stood at the back of a room filled with bodies all moving to the most beautiful music. We floated, skipped, stretched, and played together in a way that I hadn’t done for many years. I remember saying to myself "Oh yes, this is it.” Kate went on to train for her Nia Teacher’s License in 2001 in Santa Barbara, California. She began teaching in the fall of the same year in Ventura, California.
Teaching alone for the first 3 years she saw clearly the need for such a program that Nia offers and decided to open her own Nia Center in Ventura. This is the first NIA Center in California, devoted primarily to the Nia Body of Work and Life-style Program.
Kathy de Wet-Oleson, Nia Black Belt, Nia 5 Stages, and PiYo Teacher
Kathy has been a health, fitness, and outdoor education professional since 1984 when she earned a Masters Degree in Exercise Science and Sport Psychology. In 2006 Kathy took her first Nia class with Kate Nash, and knew she had discovered something she wanted both in her personal and professional life.
I have worked with thousands of individuals in pursuit of improving their lives with physical activity. I have witnessed more success in individuals who love what they do and play as if their life depends on it. Nia embraces the concept that movement should be pleasurable, playful, and a unique expression of self. Whether on a studio dance floor, walking through a forest, or surfing a wave, the key is engaging in activities that condition the whole person, body, mind, emotions, and spirit, and being fully connected to the sensation of the moment.
Kathy has been teaching at the Ventura Nia studio since 2006, and teaches the Nia philosophy and movement skills throughout all the varied fitness formats she teaches at Moorpark College. Kathy's Website
Ann Patricio, Nia Brown Belt Teacher
Ann Patricio is thrilled to be teaching at VNC among this vibrant community of Nia enthusiasts! She is a CA certified massage therapist, was classically trained as a theatre actress and spent years performing in regional theatre. While living in Boulder, CO, she discovered Nia. “It integrates everything I love about the performing and healing arts into one exhilarating technique of healing, awareness, creativity and Joy! ” Within months, she went through the White Belt and has been teaching and moving through the belts ever since. She currently lives in the Conejo Valley, with her husband, Scott, and their three children.
Pat Perrine, Nia White & Green Belt Teacher
Pat discovered Nia 9 years ago. She loved the music, the movement and the mind, body, emotion and spirit connection. And she loved the Nia community. As a senior citizen she realizes that “dancing through life” is the answer to health and wellness problems that occur with aging. She became a Nia teacher to share this with other senior citizens and people with disabilities. Pat teaches a “Gentle Nia” class that is taught at level 1 with an emphasis on close to the body movements.
Pat is a small business owner in Ventura where she lives with her husband.
Randy Miller, Nia Black Belt Teacher, and Simplicity Teacher
Randy Miller is an inspiring, dynamic and energetic Black Belt Nia Instructor who shares the spirit and joy of movement with each of his students. In his hometown of Fayetteville, Arkansas in 1997, Randy discovered Nia and reconnected with his playful-childlike dancer within, a part of him that had been lost for too long. Two short years later, he became a licensed Nia Instructor and has been teaching ever since. Randy passion to share the Body of work has inspired him to deepen his knowledge of the body’s physiology and its connection to the mind and spirit. He regularly attends trainings and workshops which facilitates his talents for creating unique, soulful, and liberating movement experiences. Randy is currently in the process of becoming certified as a Soul Motion leader and teaches a class called Simplicity monthly at the Ventura Nia Center. Randy's Website
Andi Epstein, Hoop Habit Teacher
Andi Girl's energy is off the charts with her passion of Hooping FUN meets functionality. Hooping for the first time ever in Fall 2005 in her mid 30's, she went from a size 20 to a size 12 in six months. A real woman in an every day woman's body, she is on a mission to get the "Cutie with the Bootie on the Move". Andi teaches all levels of Hoop Habit Holistic Hoop Dance and offers Hoop Habit Mentor Training for any practitioner of energy or movement. In 2009 she was called a 'Modern Goddess of the Boardroom' fusing the alternative Rising Star Healing System™, Hoop Habit™ the Healing Habit into Corporate Wellness Programs. Committed to raising global consciousness through healing & applying practical tools for mind, body, spirit, and emotional fitness.
"Feed the craving...get into the Hoop Habit." (TM) Licensed HoopGirl (TM) Instructor. Andi's Website
Paulina, Belly Dance Teacher
Paulina has been drawn to music and dance all her life and has participated in formal dance training since she was 6 years old. Over the last 15 years she's studied numerous styles of Belly Dance: anywhere from Egyptian and Tribal to Traditional Folk Dances from all over the Middle East. Paulina spent two years at UCSB studying and performing with the Middle Eastern Ensemble. Her unique style is a fusion of Classical Egyptian & Modern Oriental Dance. Paulina welcomes all levels of students to participate in her classes. Paulina's Website
Lisa Beck, West African and Bollywood Dance Teacher
Lisa has studied West African drum and dance, as well as Afro-Brazilian, samba, Classical Indian, Bollywood and hip hop dance since moving to Southern California 11 years ago. Her mission is to inspire people of all ages through music and dance by sharing what she has learned from her incredible teachers and mentors over the years. Lisa has been a performer most of her life in dance and voice, and began teaching aerobics at the young age of 18. Her dance classes are joyful, upbeat, and geared for all ages and abilities. Be prepared to sweat and smile! Lisa's Website
Kat Knecht, Relationship Coach
Kat Knecht is a love, dating and relationship coach. Along with her husband Curtis she is the co-founder of The Relationship Coaching Connection, which delivers positive and productive private and group coaching programs, workshops and retreats to benefit all kinds of relationships. Her program The Art and Science of Romance has helped hundreds of women find the romantic life they desire. The Relationship Alchemy Coaching Circles that Kat facilitates weekly 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. With this they can create a fulfilling life and confidently navigate the territory of romance for the rest of their lives.
Kat has hosted a radio show in Ventura and is called in as a Relationship Expert for many organizations and media outlets. Kat is the creator of the Staying Engaged Cards, a relationship card game that sparks conversations and helps people make deeper connections in a way that is both fun and informative.
Kat's Website