UVA Cancer Center’s Nia Moving to Heal Classes
Our classes are love-streamed on Zoom Wednesdays and Fridays at Noon EST — Plus
Four in-person classes have been added to the Fall calendar!
Saturday classes at McGuffey Art Center in October
October 14, 21, & 28 at 11 am
As a healer, dancer, and bodyworker who teaches people to fall in love with their bodies and stay connected to sensation, Susan’s words, advice, and insights give us tools for having a passionate and sensual relationship with the body.
~Debbie Rosas, Founder of The Nia Technique
The dynamic precision of martial arts ~ T’ai Chi, Aikido, & Tae Kwon Do
The expressiveness of dance arts ~ Jazz, Modern Dance, & Duncan Dance
The self-healing potential of ~ Yoga, Feldenkrais, & The Alexander Technique
It was truly a JOY to discover Nia in 1997 while I was the Director of Health Promotion and assistant professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Virginia. I remember a colleague walking into my office with a flyer advertising a free Nia class that night at a local studio. She said, “Susan, this has your name all over it!” She was right. After enjoying classes for two years, I flew to California to take the first level of Nia training. I began teaching in Charlottesville a few months later and have now taught for 24 years.
It has been a privilege to complete all my trainings with The Nia Technique co-creators Debbie Rosas and Carlos AyaRosas. As a black belt Nia instructor, Nia Moving to Heal master teacher, and certified Nia 5 Stages of Self-Healing instructor; I continue to learn and grow through joy with each class I teach and each Nia training I take. And after teaching several thousand classes, I can assure you that the learning and the joy continue.
Nia students and teachers in Antwerp, New York City, Washington DC, Toronto, Seattle, Kailua-Kona, and cities in between have been moved by my signature workshop: Igniting the Power of the Pelvis. It combines the best of my experiences as a sexuality health educator, nourisher, and Nia teacher.
When I moved to the Seattle area in 2000, I happily expanded my Nia practice and found it to be such a wonderful complement to my wellness coaching, writing, and speaking. As a health educator for five decades, adding the Nia principles into all of my offerings has made my work more sustainable and valuable for those I serve.
In 2016 I moved back to Charlottesville, where I danced my first Nia steps over 25 years ago. Thanks to many generous donors, I am teaching free Nia Moving to Heal classes for the Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center at the University of Virginia. You’ll find links and more info at the top of this page.
I am the ecstatically proud mother of two amazing adult children and I delight in being a dancing grandmother! Gratitude fills my days.
Do you want what I’m having? Come dance with me!
A delightful mixture of dance arts, martial arts, and mindfulness, Nia is a holistic movement and wellness practice for your body, mind, and soul. Practiced barefoot, (but you can wear shoes!) Nia is non-impact and adaptable to individual needs and abilities. Nia encourages people of all shapes, sizes, and abilities to dance at their own pace, listen to their bodies, and welcome in pleasure.
WE ARE RESILIENT NIA GLOBAL PROJECT
In the words of The Nia Technique, this video features ” . . . over 1,000 movers, ages 5 to 95, of all abilities, shapes, sizes, and fitness levels from countries all around the world… including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Canada, Finland, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sweden, and the United States. . . we hope this project inspires you to celebrate YOUR resilience! In a world where so much can divide us, we are united by one song, one dance, and our collective JOY + RESILIENCE through Nia!”
You’ll catch a 2-second glimpse of me dancing from Charlottesville, Virginia at 1:45 on this video! It is an honor to join my Nia colleagues from across the globe to spread the positive energy of resilience.
Over 130 Nia teachers from 20 countries are now live-streaming their classes.
Check out the YouTube video below to see this song shared at our Nia Seattle group dancing Break the Chain at the One Billion Rising event back in 2013.

Please visit me on Facebook:


CLASSES WITH SUSAN
UVA Cancer Center’s
Nia Moving to Heal ClassesMoving to heal, your body’s way, for all abilities!
UVA Cancer Center’s Nia Class Schedule
Love-streamed on Zoom every Wednesday and Friday at noon.
Learn More
Private Healing Nia Classes With Susan in person or on Zoom
Learn more
“An emotional fitness odyssey, Nia is just plain exhilarating.”
~The New York Times“Nia is both therapeutic and enjoyable. The movements feel natural
and open up insights and feelings that will make you feel
like you are discovering yourself in a new way.”
~Bernie Siegel, MD
Author of Love, Medicine & Miracles
POTENTIAL (AND JOYFUL HEALING) SIDE EFFECTS OF NIA
WHAT IS NIA?
WHAT IS NIA MOVING TO HEAL?
TIPS FOR GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR NIA WORKOUT
Nia has opened the doorway to profound joy, healing, passion, and wholeness in my life.
I respect each opportunity to share this lifestyle practice with others.
~ SUSAN TATE, Black Belt Nia Instructor
You’ll find Nia classes in over 50 countries
across the globe!
Click here for classes worldwide.
This quote describes what Nia has given to me and to many of my students:
“There is a dance only you can do, that exists only in you, here and now, always changing, always true. Are you willing to listen with fascination? If you are, it will deliver you unto the self you have always dreamed you could be. This is a promise.”
Photo credits
Photos of Debbie, Carlos, and group dancing photos courtesy of The Nia Technique.
Nia Community Graphic created by Randee Fox.
©2000 – 2023 Susan Tate