Community Highlights: Meet Beth Giles of Nia with Beth Giles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Beth Giles. 

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story traces a life trajectory that many women travel–an archetypical story of a woman recovering herself in mid-life. Back in 2004, I was a mom and wife living in Minneapolis raising two young sons. Life was good and busy. I was always busy doing for others, in the way that young mothers and wives often do. On a visit to Chicago that summer, my best friend said, I’m going to take you to a class today at the Evanston Athletic Club. We entered the class, a barefoot dance exercise class called Nia. I danced and moved my body like I hadn’t done in years. The music was inspiring and so varied–much of it new to me. Nia combines the energies of dance, martial arts, and the healing arts to create a unique fitness class unlike any other. I sweated, kicked, grooved, laughed, and marveled how the hour flew by. The women there were not afraid to move, to express, to be themselves, fully. At the end, we went down to the floor and I cried, a release of emotions, joy, sadness, and wonder at how good I felt. 

This sparked my journey with a movement practice called Nia. Back at its inception in the early 1980s, created by Debbie and Carlos Rosas, NIA was an acronym for non-impact aerobics. The name NIA then became Neuro-Muscular Integrative Action–mind/body movement. And now in 2021, the name is Nia, no longer an acronym and still synonymous with the joy of movement, self-love, and personal mastery. At the core of Nia, we practice being in loving presence with our bodies, minds, emotions, and spirits–the Whole Self. 

After my first Nia class, I immediately began taking Nia classes from Nia teachers Brian and Heather McCornack. Twice a week, in a small studio at the St. Paul Jewish Community Center we danced, shouted, kicked, punched, shook, stretched and rested. Something was happening to me, I felt so alive in class. The message of Nia is always move the way that your body moves, seek Joy- as in life force energy, become aware of your body’s sensations. 

Along the way, I had a dream of becoming a Nia teacher. There was always a reason not to do it. Then in 2012, the Nia White Belt training was happening in my own city. I took the plunge, signed up right away. My trainer, Barb Wesson, moved with and taught us with such care, knowledge, and fun and guided us through the 13 principles of the White Belt-the Art of Sensation. This is where it all started to come together for me. Nia is a deep practice, a lifestyle really, much more than a simple aerobic workout. The White Belt introduced me to the philosophy, science, anatomy, creativity, and musical resonance of Nia. I completed the White Belt in July 2012 and had set my new goal to teach Nia as my career, as my life’s work. 

The more I danced and learned about Nia the more I learned to love my body. I had the extra weight of my pregnancies and my long-time displeasure with my body’s pear shape and lack of being “in” shape. I could see my body slowly changing, developing more muscles, and I felt more at ease with my physical self. With Nia dancing in my life, I had more energy for my roles as mother and employee at our neighborhood public school. 

I began to teach a couple classes a week as part of the studio teachers at The Marsh. Talk about nervous! I had such a perfectionist streak in me that I was wracked with worry about not doing it right. I stepped in to teaching despite my apprehension and I continued to learn how to let go of my self-sabotage and not worry about getting it all right. 

In 2014, I made a move towards my dream of teaching Nia as a career. I began renting a sunny studio space in south Minneapolis at the Center for Performing Arts and offered 3 more classes a week there. I was building an audience, primarily of women, of all ages, shapes, and sizes. A truly wonderful thing was happening, a community had taken root! 

Along the way, my personal life was in turmoil, my husband and I separated in 2015. Nia, my community, therapy, and friends helped me travel through this time. My business continued to grow. I taught a classes at the neighborhood community center, classes for young kids, and offered modified classes (in chairs) for adults with traumatic brain injuries. I taught at outdoor festivals and in parks. Nia was now my livelihood. In the middle of divorce and the grief of our family changing, the movement and the healing philosophies of the Nia practice were a source of strength and resilience. 

As my Nia teaching progressed, I continued to take more trainings – the Nia Blue Belt in 2014, Brown Belt in 2016, Black Belt in 2018. Moving to Heal and Nia FreeDance are two other modalities of the classic Nia practice that I trained in, in 2017 and 2020 respectively. Each training brought new personal growth, more study of the richness of Nia movement, and an ever-growing community of friendships and support. As each training ended, we were asked to write ourselves a letter, to be mailed back to us by the trainer in the coming year. These letters are cherished possessions for me. I wrote to myself in 2015: “You have healed your mind and spirit. You know and love yourself. What a glorious feeling to LOVE YOU.” 

This is the power of movement based in sensing life force energy–choosing Joy. When life sends me challenges or I stumble, I tune into my body and my Nia practice. I’ve learned over these 17 years of dancing and 8 years of teaching Nia that the miss-step, the stumble is a beautiful part of the dance of life. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I continue to grow as a woman and am constantly learning as a part of my business of teaching Nia. When the lockdown came on March 13, 2020, I had to shift my business to online quickly. With the help of other Nia teachers and friends, I converted my dining room to a Nia studio and began teaching Nia on Zoom on March 16, 2020. The community responded well to the livestream classes and now they are continuing part of my business. I had struggled with feeling good about presenting myself on video and with the advent of Zoom and its ease in recording a class, I now have overcome that hesitancy and offer my students a chance to dance with a recording when they can’t attend class. 

We’ve been impressed with Nia with Beth Giles, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
As a Nia Black Belt teacher, my brand is my personal style, embodiment, and energy as I guide and teach. I use the 52 foundational moves of Nia plus freedance and sensational music, to create a work-out that is faithful to the practice of Nia and also celebrates my individual teaching style. “Energy medicine on the dance floor” is one way to describe the class experience. My Nia classes feel both calming, grounded and invigorating, and empowering. I invite all my students to move their body’s way to receive all great benefits of dancing Nia. 

Some of the benefits of taking my classes include: 

Increases pleasure of living in your body 

Strengthens muscles 

Calms the mind and relieves stress 

Improves posture and increases grace 

Enhances sensory awareness 

Strengthens immunity 

Creates weight loss 

Improves heart and lung function 

Elevates self-esteem, creates self-love and self-care 

My classroom culture is welcoming, open, and kind. People of all genders, shapes, and fitness ability are invited to participate. I offer special workshops for deeper study of Nia, and custom-created dance parties to celebrate birthdays, life events and simply to have fun! In the summer months, we dance outdoors at Hidden Falls Regional Park in St. Paul. 

Currently, I offer online Nia classes via Zoom four days a week and two in-person classes at Center for Performing Arts in Minneapolis. First-time attendees can register on my site and choose a sliding scale option for payment or purchase a class package or membership. For my regular students, I also offer recorded classes on a weekly basis, donations help support this area of my business. 

I recently asked my students for their feedback and here are some of their words about my teaching and classes: 

“Dancing with Beth and practicing Nia, in general, has been a wonderful experience and part of my life. Life-changing really. Not only do I get a great workout in my own pace I also take that time to get in touch with my emotions and my mind. It’s a time to let go and to be grateful. It’s way more than a workout! Maria J 

“Nia has made me feel like a true dancer. It brings me joy more than any other modality, even Yoga,” Anonymous 

“Nia with Beth is a real mix of martial arts, contemporary dance, and spiritual connection. It is always both freeing and challenging. Beth is constantly learning and changing the routines. There is NO boredom on her classes, just fun!” Pam L 

“Nia is a source of joy, healing, fun, and exercise for me. I know that movement, especially dance, is essential to my wellbeing and to managing the stress that is part of life. I always leave class feeling more fully alive and equipped to face whatever is next. Nia serves as both a sanctuary and recharging station for me. Beth is a fantastic Nia teacher and I love our Nia community. ” – Joan C 

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I’ve lived in Minneapolis for 35 years, more than my hometown of Champaign, Illinois. I moved here for the vibrant arts community and the beautiful parks and lakes. I love this city and St. Paul, We have so much to offer and yet have the ease of not being a huge metropolis. Our city has a great reputation of its citizens being active–enjoying exercise of all kinds and taking advantage of all the outdoor spaces for hiking, biking, camping, dancing, and playing. 

Our city must work on healing from and ending the systemic racism that is prevalent in many areas of our community. I’m hopeful that our leaders will make changes to our city government that will create more justice, safety and benefit all people. 

Pricing:

• Single Class $5-$15
• 5 class package – $65
• 10 class package – $125
• Monthly membership – $100

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://nianow.com/user/bethgiles
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bgilesnia/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethgilesnia
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHGYNmXW13GMwqbkY8VaNog
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/nia-with-beth-giles-minneapolis
• Other: https://withribbon.com/u/bgilesnia

Image Credits
Katie Howie
Rachelle Bigler