Pamela Berk -- Pamela discovered Nia 5 years ago, and has been dancing through life ever since. After raising 5 children and teaching 26 years in Chicago, she decided it was time to follow her passion........dancing. Years of running had taken a toll on her knees, so Nia offered her a perfect way to keep fit. As an Instructor, she feels fortunate to be given the opportunity to meet other people who share her zest for life.
Candace (Candy) Crossley began her Nia journey with a sample class offered at a Well Woman Conference. She had read about Nia and after taking the class was impressed by how Nia movements provided a vigorous workout as well as a satisfying and meaningful experience for the mind and spirit. While taking Nia classes, Candy was encouraged to consider being a Nia instructor since she was moving to Galena where Nia was not yet available. The intensive training for Nia Teacher Certification convinced her that Nia was something that she needed to share. In addition to her certification as a Nia and Yoga teacher, Candy holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Education and a Masters Degree in Public Health.
She is currently teaching both Nia And Yoga at the Galena Territory Owners Club. Candy believes that wellness is achievable for anyone desiring it, regardless of age , gender, size, or level of fitness and that Nia is an effective and joy-filled way to work toward wellness of both body and spirit.
Karen Dexter is a coach and personal development practitioner. She is a Certified Nia Technique Instructor, Blue Belt, a training and development professional and founder of Karen Dexter & Associates, Inc. (“KD&A”) and a certified Zumba teacher. Prior to meeting and falling in love with Nia, Karen taught Dance for fun and health, Flexibility and Freedom, pop dance and coached racquetball. Karen is a student of yoga, salsa, Pilates, feldenkrais and kickboxing. Karen has been a licensed SCUBA diver, CPR certified, USTA B Team Tennis player. Karen is co-author of Being Your Best, a workshop for personal success, author of Creating Bliss a workshop utilizing various art forms to discover your individual way. KD&A designs, develops, and presents personal development tools & coaching services for individuals and groups.
Catherine Ehret is a Blue belt Nia teacher. She began teaching fitness in 1992 and in 1998 discovered Nia while living in Charleston, SC. She took the White Belt intensive in 2000 and began teaching Nia in Downers Grove in 2004. Her education and experience is varied from music, art, dance and education to animal nursing and management. She has taught aerobics, step, boxing, Pilates, aquatics, strength training, offered personal training services as well as facilitated Fibromyalgia Self-Help Workshops through the Arthritis Foundation. From these experiences she has discovered that Nia truly is the body’s way to move. Through Nia alone she believes she has become stronger, leaner, happier, more flexible, more grounded and more confident. Moving the Nia way has stabilized loose joints and created space in tight places. On the home front she has one sensational husband, Randy, two fabulous kids, Joe and Rachel and three deliciously wicked kitties, Bouf, PluffMudd and Bumble. Without these amazing spirits, she believes that very little of what she has done with Nia would have been possible.
Renee Kosiarek - White belt. Renee began taking Nia about 5 years ago and fell in love with it. She enjoyed dancing to all difference types of music, and exercising in a way that allowed her to express, move & enjoy! She took her White Belt in 2003, and subsequently had 2 children, Maya (almost 3 years old) and Ryan (6 months old). She currently teaches in Westmont and loves sharing the Joy of Nia.
Kristen Mshar-White Belt. I was introduced to Nia by my mother, Candace Crossley, who is also a Nia teacher. My journey to become a Nia teacher began after the loss of my daughter Angela. The goal of becoming a teacher gave me focus and purpose at time in which it was hard to see any purpose. I received my white belt in the spring of 2005 and began teaching in the fall of 2005 at a health club in Burr Ridge, IL and for the Lyons Township High School Adult and Community Education Program. I continued to teach at both locations until I was 5 months pregnant with my second child and resumed teaching eight weeks after the safe arrival of my daughter Sarah. I currently teach for the Lyons Township Adult and Community Education Program. In addition to my Nia training, I hold a Bachelors of Science degree in Dietetics and Nutrition from Purdue University and have worked as a dietitian since 1994 in various clinical and community settings. In September 2007 I received my license as a certified Lactation Consultant. I am very thankful to my mother for introducing me to Nia and her support of my Nia journey. Nia remains a very important component in the ongoing healing and restoration of my body, mind, and spirit.
Tiffany Skelton (White Belt) - My Nia experience began when I took my first Nia class at a Wellness Conference while in Graduate School in 1998. I was completely moved by the experience and was finally at a place in my life to take the White Belt Nia Intensive with Winalee Zeeb in November 2002. I began teaching right away at Del Webb's Sun City where I was Fitness Director for five years. In June 2004, I gave birth to my first daughter, Sophia and in April of 2006, I gave birth to my second daughter, Sydney. I am now at home with my girls and enjoy teaching Nia and Prenatal Yoga at Delnor Health & Wellness Center in Geneva. My focus is primarily the well-being of my husband and girls and somewhere in there, myself. Therefore, my interests are healthy cooking, exercising, being outdoors, church activities & finding time for social activities with friends and family. We currently reside in Elburn. I like the small town feel since I grew up on a farm, but don't have to drive a great distance to go shopping!