Dance classes have the power to heal

11:31am Tuesday 5th February 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

A FORMER science teacher made a radical career change when she learnt to teach a new form of healing exercise.

Christine Davis, former science technician at Rednock School, Dursley, now teaches a form of exercise called nia dance - a mix of martial arts, dance and healing.

She claims it is an amazing exercise for all abilities, which has the power to energise and even help relieved muscle problems and depression.

Three years after taking early retirement Christine started taking courses in Indian head massage, reiki and reflexology.

But it was when she joined in a taster session of nia dance at Cardiff University she found something she really enjoyed.

"I just loved it straight away," said Christine, from Wotton-under-Edge. "I absolutely loved the way it felt. When I found out my closest classes were in Cardiff and Oxford I started training as a teacher of nia dance, without even having been to classes myself."

Christine now teaches classes in Wotton-under-Edge, Kingswood and Cam and has many dedicated students.

"I have 20-year-olds and 70-year-olds in my class. Nia can be easily adjusted to fit the person.

"I have found with some of my students that it has helped bad shoulder pain, chronic arthritis, anxiety and depression. It is excellent for healing.

"Although it is called nia dance, you don't have to be able to dance to take part. Everyone does it at their own level."

Nia stands for neuromuscular integrative action and it is a fusion of different martial arts, healing exercises and dance moves, including Tai Chi, Tai-kwan-Do, modern dance and yoga.

Christine added: "People have to come and try it to really know what it is like because it is so unique. After the class I look at my students and most are absolutely beaming and glowing and they say they feel amazing."

For a full list of classes and more information on nia dance log on to Christine's website www.niadance.co.uk.