SPECIAL EPISODE: 2025 Spirit of Nia Awards - Teacher of the Year with Susan Rees

Susan Rees discovered Nia in 2011 after years of searching for a movement practice that felt both joyful and accessible. Having enjoyed aerobics in the 1980s, she found many modern fitness classes either overwhelmingly intense or uninspiring. While caring for her elderly mother, Nia became more than exercise, it became a lifeline. For the first time, she experienced movement as freedom and expression rather than performance, discovering a sense of confidence, creativity, and joy through dance that she had never felt before.

In 2014, during a particularly stressful period of caregiving, she attended her first Nia White Belt training in London with the intention of simply taking a break. Instead, the experience transformed her life. Inspired by the passion and mastery of the trainers, and moved by the embodied, experiential approach to learning, she realized she wanted to share Nia with others, especially people who believed they "couldn't dance." She began teaching in Stirling in 2015, gradually growing classes in Stirling, Dunblane, and Perth while continuing her own training through Blue, Brown, and Black Belt levels.

Over the years, she has become known not only for creating welcoming, joyful classes, but also for her dedication to building thriving community through thoughtful outreach and connection. Through consistent promotion, personal follow-up, and genuine care for her students, she has helped many people rediscover movement, confidence, and vitality. After navigating the challenges of the pandemic and rebuilding both online and in-person classes, her community is once again flourishing in 2026. Her passion remains rooted in the same transformative moment that first drew her to Nia: helping people discover that they can move, belong, and experience joy in their bodies.

Learn more about Susan Rees:

www.stepinwithsusan.com

Learn more about Debbie Rosas:

www.debbierosas.com

www.nianow.com

www.niaondemand.com