“Nia originally stood for non-impact aerobics, because we wanted people to know we weren’t going to be jumping up and down,” says Debbie Rosas, co-founder with Carlos Rosas of Nia and coauthor of The Nia Technique (Broadway Books, 2004). “Now, the initials stand for neuromuscular integrative action.” The word “nia” has meaning in other languages: In Swahili, it means, “with purpose”; in Hebrew, it means “a tiny, subtle stir”‹both appropriate translations for the essence of Nia, which celebrates small, subtle movements in the body as well as purposeful self-expression.

And self expression is apparently big business; in 2005, more that 634 students signed up for the first level teacher’s training at a cost of $1,499 for the weeklong program. What began in 1983 as a holistic approach to working out with two full-time employees‹Carlos and Debbie‹has spread to 30 countries, with 1500 teachers and 20 certified teacher trainers. In addition, Nia’s related products now include books, videotapes, audiotapes, and a line of clothing with innovative flourishes. Nia’s headquarters based in Portland, Oregon, has 13 full-time employees, and sales of Nia trainings and related products grossed $1.4 million last year.

Perhaps we have tired, at last, of step aerobics and jogging. Maybe we’re ready to move into a more soulful and transformative way of working out. In this interview with Ravi Dykema, publisher of Nexus, Carlos Rosas and Debbie Rosas tell us how they came to Nia‹and invite us along on their continuing journey.