Shannon Mairs

Nia Black Belt Instructor

• Tell us, when did your mind-body first bend or move you to it's will? In November of 2003…I was in a Nia class and we inhaled, brought our hands to our hearts, and I was lost! I remember thinking that I had finally found “it”…the movement that I could make my practice!
• Besides your obvious coolness, what makes you so qualified to teach? What, my obvious coolness isn’t enough? All righty then…it has to be my heartfelt sire to share the gift of health with everyone I meet! Discovering the amazing movement that my body creates for me everyday has been such a gift…a gift I want to share wholeheartedly.
• What other things are you qualified to do? I am working on a MS in Natural Health, and a PhD in Natural Health so I can create healthy life plans for people and their families. I am a mom of 8 year old twins, Michael and Alaina, and wife to my ever patient, wonderful, supportive husband, Scott…so I suppose you could say I am the CEO of my home!
• What can we expect to see, hear and do in your classes? You can expect to see YOU through authentic, every day movement! You will learn to fall in love with your body and the amazing things it accomplishes for you every day. We will use the Martial Arts, the Dance Arts, and the Healing Arts to create a moderate intensity cardio workout. You will see lots of toes as we move barefoot, and you will see lots of smiles. As far as ear candy, you will hear an eclectic blend of music…world, electronic, jazz, celtic, dance/club, latin, and euro-techno…just to name a few genres. Nia’s intention is to move The Body’s Way, and in turn, translate that into Your Body’s Way…it is all about YOU!
• What pose/move do you dig the most and why? I love moving the 13 major joints (ankles, knees, hips, wrists, elbows, shoulders, head/neck/spine)…I call it a lube job for the joints. There is nothing like systemic (whole body) movement!
• If you could push a button and remove a pose/move from history, which one and why? Who invented the splits, anyway? Seriously!
• Like, what's your sign man?
  Gregorian: Pisces, man.
  Galactic (Mayan Calendar): White Electric Wind ;^)
• What are 3 things that make you smile real big and cheesy?
  My husband’s corny jokes
  The Nia Shimmy
  Goofing around with my kids
• What is your favorite quote when you're in need of a little inspiration? A woman in harmony with her spirit is like a river flowing; she goes where she will without pretense and arrives at her destination prepared to be herself, and ONLY herself. –Maya Angelou
• If you could do anything to change the world, what would it be? Encourage people to treat our planet as a gift, not a right. Also, tolerance…no one is the same as another, yet that means nothing other than that! We all have the same bones, you know?
• Any other interesting information you would like to share with the nice people reading this here Bio? I’m a bookworm, I love the symphony, and I am a needlepoint fanatic. Go figure!