As social beings, our happiness is determined by the strength of our social connections. According to an 80 year Study at Harvard University we are happier when our social bonds are a regular occurrence in our everyday lives. Social exercise groups are plentiful in the Raglan and Hamilton area. We are blessed with a community feel that allows these social bonds to build friendships beyond the weekly or monthly Exercise group meetings.
As a Raglan resident, I see many forms of social exercise classes available, from Yoga in Raglan and Hamilton to Zumba and even Running groups. The variety is there for the individual to select and try what they fancy.
A movement modality that uses nine movement forms and is based on the Science of the Body Way is Nia Dance
How can Exercise Improve our mental Health ?
In a Nia Dance Class our scientific approach to the movement and philosophy respects, “The Body’s Way”, we know the design and function of the body thrives on easeful movement, pleasure, and joy. A happy body is a Healthy Body
When a body is stressed it is unhappy. The Body’s response to stress is linked to the amygdala, the emotional immune system in the brain that regulates our emotional state and serves as an information filter.
Nia Dance is designed to create easeful movements, therefore allowing information to be flowing from the Amygdala to the prefrontal cortex, this is where executive functions like decision making take place
When we’re feeling negative and stressed information stays in the amygdala to be processed, shutting down executive functioning and causing reflexive reactions of flight, fight and freeze.
When we are enjoying ourselves and engaging in activities we find pleasurable our brains are flushed with the neurotransmitter dopamine.
The dopamine pleasure surge peaks when we are engaged in learning and feelings of gratitude, hope, optimism, and well-being. The mere anticipation of pleasure creates dopamine!
Come DANCE the FUN at a Nia Dance Class near YOU! World wide classes can be found at nianow.com
If you live in the Hamilton and Raglan area you may want to try Nia Dance classes at Dance NZ
Belinda is a licensed Nia Dance teacher a Waikato Strength and Balance class leader and a Certified Parkinson’s Dance Teacher. Here is a wee extrapolation of Nia with Belinda
Making time for your exercise class is made even easier with a 24-hour replay of the class allowing you to view the class again as many times as you like within 24 hrs!
Nia Dance at Dance NZ offers a 24 hr replay of all weekly classes, to access these replays and find online HYBRID style Nia Dance classes with Belinda Click HERE
Weekly Dance classes to choose from , dancing Live Online or In person at our Dance Venues
• Nia Dance Move to Heal Tuesday classes (11:15 am) are held at Saint Aidan’s Hall (located on the corner of Thames Street and Heaphy Terrace, Hamilton), and can be booked here.
• Classic Nia Tuesday classes (5:30 pm) are held at the Waikato Sports Fishing Club (located on Grantham Street, Hamilton), and can be booked here
• Gentle Nia Wednesday classes (9:30 am) are held at the Raglan Town Hall (located on 41 Bow Street, Raglan), and can be booked here
• Classic Nia Friday classes (9:30 am) are held at Saint John’s Hall (located on 20 Wellington Street, Hamilton), and can be booked here
• Nia for Parkinson’s Freedom Dance Friday classes (12:00 pm) are held at Saint John’s Hall (located on 20 Wellington Street, Hamilton), and can be booked here.
For all information regarding these classes and to access 24 hr Replays contact us at Dance NZ
If you want to find out more about the Nia Technique, visit nianow.com.