When have you experienced moments that are completely free of self-criticism? Do you give yourself permission to create – even when you are sitting in a class with an instructor? Have you allowed yourself the freedom to express yourself in a way that feels right for you…even if the rest of the group is doing the task in a different way? I recently experienced one of the purest forms of wellness coaching when I showed up for my first Nia experience. Now, I can honestly answer all of these questions with “yes.”

Canyon Ranch in Lenox offers Nia, but you can also find it in locations across the globe. Nia is an expressive movement practice that draws from nine different movement forms, including yoga, tai chi, jazz dance and Feldenkrais technique – to create freedom and health through movement. From the technical side, Nia is about the mind sending signals to the body through nerve pulses that are authentic. This means that the individual is moving in a way that feels perfect for his or her body as the instructor encourages very specific movement patterns that promote healthy bone and muscle. But those of us who have experienced NIA do not return because of the technical mumbo jumbo; we come back because we love feeling perfect just the way we are.

Most Nia enthusasts are women, but it’s not exclusively a female experience. The transformation that you see during the Nia experience is nothing less than phenomenal. Most first-time participants (including myself) try to follow the instructor’s movements to the tee, but by the end of the class, you feel as if you are part of a choreographed dance that has been in motion for years. People are moving, laughing, sweating and being true to their bodies in celebration of movement. It is such a joy to be a part of a Nia experience. It is so much more than a great workout.

This year, for my Mom’s birthday, my gift to her was something new. She can register to try something that she never has done before and I will pay for it. At my urging, she’s going to take a Nia class; we will share her experience with you in a future post. I encourage you to do something this year that you have never experienced. Consider putting Nia on your to-do list for creating your true self.