When Food Is Not the Hunger: Eating in the Light of Consciousness with Anita Johnston

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 [https://stepinwithsusan.com/] Learn more about Debbie Rosas: www.debbierosas.com [https://www.debbierosas.com/] www.nianow.com [https://www.nianow.com/] www.niaondemand.com [https://www.niaondemand.com/]

SPECIAL EPISODE: 2025 Spirit of Nia Awards - Trainer of the Year with Laurie Bass

About Laurie Bass: My Nia journey began in the spring of 1999, when I stepped into my first class. I was feeling bored with traditional workouts, seeking something that truly felt good for my body, mind and stirred my spirit. What began as a joyful movement class soon became transformative for my body and life. Nia helped me listen deeply to my body, heal chronic pain, strengthen my feet, and rediscover vibrant energy. Through its mindful, sensation-based approach, I learned to honor how my body felt each day and move accordingly. Inspired by the sense of vitality I experienced I left my previous career to immerse myself in mind-body practices. I became a licensed Nia teacher in 2003, and progressed through the Nia somatic education system to become a member of the Nia Training Faculty in 2011. I now train 6 unique Nia courses which guide people on their personal and professional wellness paths. These include the Art of Sensation (White Belt), Art of Communication (Blue Belt) Art of Teaching (Green Belt) and the specialty Nia 5 Stages, FloorPlay and Move It trainings. Walking the path of a Nia trainer is deeply meaningful. It has been evolutionary in growing my somatic embodiment, communication and coaching skills in and beyond Nia. It is an honor to hold the space for people seeking to heal, evolve and transform their lives with Nia education. I love sharing my passion for movement, for collaborating with my worldwide colleagues and empowering the amazing global Nia community to shine, transform and grow through Nia education. Learn more about Laurie Bass: www.lauriebass.com [https://www.lauriebass.com/] Learn more about Debbie Rosas: www.debbierosas.com [https://www.debbierosas.com/] www.nianow.com [https://www.nianow.com/] www.niaondemand.com [https://www.niaondemand.com/]

The Way of Harmony: Living Aikido On and Off the Mat with David Nemeroff

What if the way you handle conflict could transform your entire life? In this episode of the GET IN Podcast, I am joined by master martial artist David Nemeroff to explore Aikido, not just as a practice, but as a way of being. Often called "the art of peace," Aikido teaches us how to blend with energy rather than resist it, offering a powerful framework for navigating stress, conflict, and everyday challenges with awareness and grace. With over 50 years of experience and black belts in 13 martial arts, David shares how Aikido principles extend far beyond the dojo, into relationships, healing, leadership, and personal growth. From working with law enforcement and corporations to supporting children with cancer through his Kids Karate Project, his work reflects a deep commitment to service, discipline, and compassion. In this episode, you'll discover: • What Aikido really is—and why it's called the art of peace • How to transform conflict by blending instead of resisting • The role of centering, awareness, and body intelligence • How martial arts can support healing and resilience • What it means to live with 100% of your spirit This is more than a conversation about martial arts. It's an invitation to move through life with greater harmony, presence, and power. Learn more about David Nemeroff: www.karatelehighvalley.com [https://www.karatelehighvalley.com] Read David's book: Aikido's Hidden Ground Techniques [https://www.amazon.com/Aikidos-Hidden-Ground-Techniques-Andrade/dp/0692199861/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ML3RD7DPO46G&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.5yW4KCEUg1hrckgM4VDnivnrEw_yO854xX7AcyWi58BL0Yh2LCxrO0ax4rFc1-tWkAllj6opx6068Gutxp6u0L9r38fwb8BdSmO2DbdcEFwofRHGCTOIC3j4skaRFTzow2gY3QLJt2Xm4U0YEQSui6NbU3MGnwlr0pjeGDUixhjfe4WONa7Yz2hI5iDH2kST.1dDZd1eZB5guIPtw5nm9c5njA3qVc-Oov3VE6pF3FDQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=Aikido%27s+Hidden+Ground+Techniques&qid=1777932485&sprefix=aikido%27s+hidden+ground+techniques%2Caps%2C158&sr=8-1] Learn more about Debbie Rosas: www.debbierosas.com [https://www.debbierosas.com/] www.nianow.com [https://www.nianow.com/] www.niaondemand.com [https://www.niaondemand.com/]

Your Brain and Body on Life: What It Means with Caroline Kohles

The Brain, the Body, and What It Means to Feel Well What if understanding your brain could change the way you live, move, and relate to yourself, and to others? In this rich and insightful conversation, I am joined by Caroline Kohles, Senior Director of Health and Wellness at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, a longtime Nia teacher and trainer, and a leader in integrative wellness. Together, we explore the brain not just as an organ, but as a dynamic, living system deeply connected to the body, emotions, and our experience of life. Drawing from decades of work with both healthy and challenged populations, Caroline shares how movement, awareness, and an understanding of the brain's design can support healing, resilience, and meaningful living. Influenced by her studies with Elaine de Beauport and Aura Sofía Díaz, this conversation opens the door to a more expansive view of intelligence, one that includes mental, emotional, and behavioral dimensions. In this episode, you'll discover: • The difference between the brain and the mind—and why it matters • How emotions can "hijack" the brain—and how to regain choice • The role of imagination, intuition, and neurodiversity in whole-brain living • Why meaning, love, and connection are essential to brain–mind health • How movement can reshape the brain through neuroplasticity This is more than a conversation about the brain. It's an invitation to understand yourself more deeply—and to engage with your life in a more conscious, connected way. Learn more about Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan: www.mmjccm.org [https://www.mmjccm.org/] Learn more about Debbie Rosas: www.debbierosas.com [https://www.debbierosas.com/] www.nianow.com [https://www.nianow.com/] www.niaondemand.com [https://www.niaondemand.com/]

When Food Is Not the Hunger: Eating in the Light of Consciousness with Anita Johnston

Welcome to GET IN with Debbie Rosas, a podcast dedicated to exploring what it means to truly live life in a body. In this episode, I sit down with Anita Johnston, PhD—clinical psychologist, certified eating disorder specialist, and internationally recognized author—to explore how struggles with eating and body image can serve as gateways to higher consciousness, deeper nourishment, and authentic self-connection. Together, we explore the symbolic language of food and the body, revealing how disordered eating is often an expression of unmet emotional, relational, and soulful needs longing to be heard. Through the lenses of psychology, mythology, archetypal wisdom, spirituality, and lived experience, Anita and I weave story, insight, and compassion into a conversation that invites listeners to sense the body not as a problem to be fixed, but as a teacher, guide, and source of deep inner intelligence. This episode invites listeners to reflect, reconnect, and reimagine their relationship with nourishment—beyond food alone—while discovering how listening to the body's messages can restore trust in one's inner guidance system: instincts, emotions, and intuition. More than information, this conversation is an invitation to experience healing as a return to balance, meaning, and wholeness. Whether you are a mover, therapist, teacher, healer, or simply a human being living in a body, this episode offers inspiration and insight for cultivating greater awareness, nourishment, and fulfillment—from the inside out. Learn more about Anita Johnston: www.dranitajohnston.com [https://dranitajohnston.com/] www.lightofthemooncafe.com [https://www.myofascialmagic.com/] Read Anita's book: Eating in the Light of the Moon [https://a.co/d/bCp8cRh] Learn more about Debbie Rosas: www.debbierosas.com [https://www.debbierosas.com/] www.nianow.com [https://www.nianow.com/] www.niaondemand.com [https://www.niaondemand.com/]