We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marie McKay. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marie below.

Marie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How’s you first get into your field – what was your first job in this field?

I took my first Nia training in 1999 with every intention to become an Nia teacher after graduation. Upon completion I was surprised at how much more practice and study was needed before actually putting on a microphone and teaching a class. I panicked and told myself that it was too much and that I was just going to apply the training for my own personal growth and development and not teach classes.

Fast forward to a month later. I was having dinner with my Nia trainer, whom I had tremendous respect for, and she told me she had signed a lease on a new studio space and needed me teaching 9 Nia classes a week beginning in two weeks. My heart skipped a beat. I felt like she had just pushed me into the deep end of the pool and I didn’t know how to swim. I caught my breath and realized what an honor it was to be asked to work with her and for her.

I got my act together quickly and the rest is history. I’ve been teaching Nia classes ever since. I’m pretty certain had she not asked me to join her that my life would be on a very different path today.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Movement has always been my medicine, and in 1999 while living in Boulder, CO, a holistic fitness class called Nia changed my life. At that time I was working as a marketing manager for a national restaurant company, working long hours and traveling about 200 days. I was burned out and my life and my body were way out of balance.

Nia revitalized me in every way. It taught me to become more present and showed me the significant difference between exercise and embodied movement, the interconnectedness between the body, mind, and spirit. This new perspective of moving and living with deeper intention, awareness and joy ignited a powerful ripple effect into every area of my life. I took a leap of faith and left my career job and began to study and integrate Nia, yoga, meditation, and energy healing practices into my personal and professional life.

For the past 20+ years I have blended knowledge from my degree in Speech Communications and Educational Psychology with my passions for personal growth and development, holistic movement, and mindful living to create inspiring classes, workshops, and retreats. I teach at dance studios, health clubs, retreat centers, corporations, and hospitals. I have a practical, playful, and spiritual teaching style and my classes are known to be educational, transformational, energetic, interactive, and fun!

I love creating and leading embodied movement classes, workshops and retreats. My passion lies in helping people activate their own unique energy to experience more joy and awareness in their bodies at every age and stage of life. In my classes you can expect to feel an energetic mix of joy, serenity, empowerment, strength, grace, sensuality, and playfulness all within a judgement-free one hour class.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I grew up in the 1980’s Jane Fonda fitness era, a time when the proverb “no pain, no gain” was THE exercise motto. Under this concept, enduring pain, stress, and even suffering were considered necessary in order to achieve fitness goals.

In the late 90’s when I began to study and teach Nia I had layers and layers of unlearning to do, both physically and mentally. In Nia the motto is “Move Your Body’s Way” which translates to listening to the wisdom of your body and choose movements that feel good. It was a contradiction to my former conditioning.

Also central to Nia is the concept of being a “Sacred Athlete.” A sacred athlete understands the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and spirit. They view their fitness journey not just as a quest for physical strength, but as a holistic endeavor that nourishes the mind and feeds the soul. Nia practice facilitates this balance by incorporating elements of dance for creativity and expression, martial arts for strength and discipline, and mindfulness for mental clarity and spiritual growth.

Being a sacred athlete in the Nia practice is about far more than physical prowess. It’s about reverence for the body, using movement as meditation, fostering the mind-body-spirit connection, embracing the journey, and connecting to a higher purpose. It’s a holistic, mindful approach to fitness that can bring about profound personal growth and transformation.

I’m so grateful for this new perspective. It has opened me up to experiencing more joy in my body at every age and stage of my life and I have more mindful awareness with everything I do.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

A great Nia teacher must be dedicated to having their own personal daily Nia practice, You can’t fake passion.

It’s also important to have a sincere desire to inspire people to become the healthiest, strongest, most authentic and alive version of themselves.

Contact Info:

• Website: mariemckayembodiedmovement.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089853094004

Image Credits
Dave Puentes Natalie Jennings