It's a blend of the best components that came before,'' says Ralph La Forge, an exercise physiologist at Duke University Medical Center. La Forge recommends the technique for heart patients and people who want to lower their cholesterol. Sessions begin with deep-breathing exercises, during which you meditate on the feeling of your bare feet against the floor. Instructors depend instead on visualization, says Debbie Rosas. For example, you may be asked to wave your arms back and forth as if you are stroking the tips of tall grass.
Vocalization is also part of the experience.
Women's Health Issues found that NIA relieved anxiety more effectively than aerobics. As with aerobics, more women tend to participate. Routines vary from class to class. While conceived as a total body workout, sessions may focus on stretching and strengthening a particular group of muscles. The ambient music changes too, ranging from ecclesiastical choral arrangements to technofunk.