Kelle Rae Oien

International Nia Technique Teacher & Trainer

Movement as Medicine, my motto! My purpose is to inspire my students to live wildly satisfying lives. Helping others to fall in love with themselves through the gifts of The Nia Technique is my greatest passion.

Kelle Rae Oien is a Nia Faculty Trainer, Second Degree Black Belt, Nia Faculty Choreographer and Rolfer of Structural Integration, with a resume as diverse and far reaching as the geography she’s travelled to work and dance. She is trained and certified in every one of Nia’s individual modalities.  Kelle is also the proud owner of StudioNia Santa Fe, a studio dedicated to world class somatic education, with over 30 Nia classes weekly. She has dedicated her life to self-mastery, through the discovery of healing through movement. Kelle brings a rich understanding of the human form through her training as a Rolfer, Rolfing Movement practitioner and certified 500-hour Yoga teacher and has been facilitating body-mind movement education for over 25 years. She was the first Nia Teacher in Brazil and continues to teach and spread the Joy of Nia in her hometown, Santa Fe, New Mexico and all over the world. In search of body literacy and self mastery, Kelle’s love of learning fuels each experience, making classes dynamic, explorative, fun and powerful.

About The Nia Technique ®

Created by Debbie and Carlos Rosas over 35 years ago, Nia blends dance arts, martial arts and healing arts, with an approach that will stimulate you to revolutionize the way you feel about fitness, focusing on how your body feels, rather than how it looks. Addressing the whole person, Nia will pump your heart, spark your spirit, lubricate your joints, motivate your mind, release your tension, enhance your balance and tone your muscles with expressive movement, and mindful awareness. Nia will move you!

The foundation of Nia is the pleasure principle: if it feels good, keep doing it! Movements are designed to be adaptable by students according to their own intuition. From those who are just beginning, to dancers and athletes, students of all levels and backgrounds will be challenged and energized.

[iframe id=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/8P1dI1TmxL0″ align=”center” mode=”normal” maxwidth=”800px”]

[iframe id=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/fBuPrEs9OLg” align=”center” mode=”normal” maxwidth=”800px”]

The Practice

Combining dance, martial arts and mindfulness, Nia strengthens and tones your body while transforming your mind. More than just a workout, Nia is a holistic fitness practice addressing each aspect of your life – body, mind, emotions and spirit.

We believe every person can discover, explore, unleash, and enhance their individual potential to live a healthy and meaningful life by engaging their senses and listening to their bodies.

Nia is based on the intelligent design of the body. Each workout brings mindfulness to your dance movement experience leaving you energized, mentally clear, and emotionally balanced.

Nia cardio-dance workouts combine 52 simple moves with dance arts, martial arts, and healing arts to get you fit in 60 minutes – body, mind, emotion, and spirit.

Nia is non-impact, practiced barefoot, and adaptable to individual needs and abilities. Nia classes are taught by licensed Nia teachers.

You can learn more about Nia Technique at one of my Nia Trainings.

Testimonials

“Taking classes and trainings with Kelle Rae is like getting a steroid injection of knowledge, power, and joy. If you desire to grow and shape your own life force energy, wellness, and creativity, jump into a training or class with her. If you desire to increase your ability to share conditioning and healing with others, you will gain invaluable insights to stimulate and help you in your own business and sacred livelihood. She is a master of her body and life!”

Heather Umberger, MS, CMT
Integrative Wellness Practitioner/Nia Black Belt
Richmond, Virginia

“Kelle is a master of her craft and I never cease being in deep awe of her. She truly walks her talk. Kelle, thank you for being such an inspiration to me and to the millions of Nia belts all over the world!”

Lola Manekin, Nia Black Belt Instructor, Owner “Movement Lab”
Baltimore, Maryland

“Kelle is incredibly imaginative and seemingly spontaneous. I feel like a real student in her classes. They have an academic quality, as her opening focus statements are so clear and deep, and she continues to remind us of the day’s intention. I feel she’s very serious about her work and I respect that.”

Cullen Curtiss, Writer

“The American writer and theologian Frederick Buechner defines vocation as “the place where your deep gladness meets the world’s deep need.” Kelle’s vocation, her calling, is Nia. Her “deep gladness” – her passion for Nia and her joy in it – permeate her vibrant teaching, choreography and practice of it. They fuel her enthusiasm for sharing it with others here and abroad through Nia classes, MoveIT classes, White Belt trainings and workshops. She continuously strives to learn and grow, and she is ever generous in sharing new knowledge with her students.”

Janet Elder, Ph.D. – Nia White Belt

“I participated in Kelle’s Sacred Nia routine immersion in San Rafael and loved it! I didn’t have the cd/dvd to listen to or watch beforehand. I came out of that workshop and taught it for the first time in 9 years without having watched the dvd first! I just had my immersion experience to go from. It felt GREAT! I have to say, I have never had a more pleasurable experience somatically.  What a fantastic way to observe, listen, guide. Being RAW (relaxed, alert and waiting) and swimming in the river of the unknown with this was such a gift. Thanks for caring so much!”

Aimee Retzler
Nia Black Belt Instructor

“I’ve had very few teachers as skilled, loving and conscientious as Kelle. Her presence and purpose is evident in every class, and her sense of humor keeps me laughing all the while i’m gettting a workout!”

Daniel Quat, Photographer

“Six years ago, I stumbled on a Nia class that was scheduled right before my yoga class. The most immediate thing I noticed was that everyone coming out of the Nia class had a smile on their face. I asked the instructor what Nia was; and, was told that it was a modality that used movement to heal. The instructor was Kelle Rae Oien. That was six years ago. Today, I go to Nia classes 5-6 times a week. My body is in the best shape, physically, that it’s ever been. Having recently completed my annual physical exam, the MD commented on my low cholestrol, my low heartrate, and excellent overall health. I can, unequivocally, point to the healing that I’ve experienced from Nia. Under Kelle and the other Nia instructors, Nia isn’t just a workout routine. Kelle’s skill at making each class fun and motivating is a worthy skill. Combining physical exercise with a deeper inner perspective has allowed me to grow both my physical condition and my skill at understanding myself and my connection to others. Practicing a daily routine of motion and mindfulness has added to my enjoyment of my life. After six years, I still look forward to each day’s classes.”

Bill Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer – Nia Black Belt

“Kelle’s unique skill set allows her to create an extraordinary class experience. Her movements are flawless and fluid. Her broad knowledge of music enables her to put together engaging playlists and routines. The Nia philosophy informs every aspect of her teaching. Kelle illustrates and teaches the correct form students need to learn and use. I’ve discovered that as my own form improves, I gain more freedom to play with the moves and explore their limits. Kelle’s high-level skills are complemented by her deep passion for Nia and for teaching. This passion, along with her beginner’s mindset, keeps her teaching fresh and innovative. ”

Jim Elder, JD – Nia White Belt

“I took my first training with Kelle in 2017 and it will certainly not be the last! A master teacher and very skilled in human interaction, with a lovely sense of humor, Kelle is a delight to train with. She brings skill, energy, intellect, fun and very importantly, humility, to everything she does. She came as a foreign trainer and left as a friend.”

Fathima Dada, International Educator, Businesswoman – Nia Black Belt

“I began moving with Kelle several months after my oldest child had died while serving in the Peace Corps. Somehow Kelle’s class became a container for me to start pumping those great chemicals that help us all resolve stress whether we know it or not. Kelle’s rock-star enthusiasm and kindness always kept me distracted in class. She has a remarkable way of embracing everyone, as if she’s performing for an audience of 20,000. She prances like Mick Jagger, and sings with the music–while keeping all of us pumped and framed in a picture we see of ourselves getting more and more healthy. Thanks, Kelle, for taking the edge off, and allowing me to escape into physical creativity.”

Kristena Prater, Writer