I was born and raised in The Bronx, NY and relocated to Seattle in 2005. I love the Pacific Northwest and all she has to offer. I’ve loved movement since I can remember and have always been a kinesthetic learner.

I have been an avid explorer and participant of the movement arts since 1993. Most of my movement journey has been in various types of dance including African, Afro-Caribbean, Latin, Bellydancing, Yoga and Nia. In addition to these physical movement modalities, I engage my mind and creativity with writing, reading, painting, and the art of listening.

When I am not doing or teaching Nia, I am advising students and managing programs in the Global Health Resource Center, Department of Global Health at the University of Washington in Seattle. I have the great pleasure of working with students, faculty and colleagues engaged in the work of addressing the causes of, and providing solutions for, disparities in health around the globe.

As a licensed and certified Blue Belt Nia teacher

I discovered Nia in 2003 as part of my graduate training in the Experiential Health and Healing program at the Graduate Institute in Connecticut. The experience transformed my life and ignited within me a passion and love for the human body, my body and especially, the movement of my body. This awakening, as I call it, became the foundation for my ongoing exploration of kinesthetic awareness and the somatic healing arts.

I believe my purpose in life is to serve as a conduit for others to awaken to the wisdom of the body. Our life experiences are lived and expressed through and within the body. With awareness of this lived experience I believe we can transform, come alive, engage and dance through life with a playful spirit!

My Nia classes focus on developing a student's self-awareness so that they can access and hear their bodies wisdom and are designed to make it easy for anyone to step right in, at any age, level or experience.

As a facilitator, I strive to create a loving, mindful and open space for you to experience the joy of movement, self-expression and healing power of the Nia technique. My maiden name, Lucero, means “bright star.” I am excited to move, groove and share my light with you.

As a licensed Nia 5 Stages teacher

The Nia 5 Stages is an integrative movement practice based on the five stages of human development: Embryonic, Creeping, Crawling, Standing and Walking. Practiced with awareness, these stages have the power to facilitate optimal alignment, improved function and comfort in the body. Whether practiced at length or for as little as five minutes a day, this system provides a tool for reclaiming and sustaining mobility, flexibility, strength, agility and stability.

As a Nia 5 Stages Teacher, I facilitate classes, private sessions and experiential workshops on these five simple moves that contribute to the overall health of your mind, spirit, heart and body. This practice can facilitate the realignment and restructuring of the body and help you to regain flexibility, agility, mobility, stability and strength.

My Training

Licensed Blue Belt Nia Teacher, 2011: Blue Belt, the second level of Nia education, explores how to create healthy relationships through body-centered communication. This focus of this intensive training focuses on the mental, emotional and spiritual realms of the body and introduces 13 additional principles.

Licensed White Belt Nia Teacher, 2010: The Nia White Belt training lays the foundation for all Nia training and education. The focus of this intensive training is on physical sensation with the intention getting to know your body. There are 13 principles of the Nia white belt, all focusing on the physical realm of the body.

The first principle, The Joy of Movement, is the foundation for the entire body of Nia work. This principle teaches you to choose sensation to connect to Joy. In Nia, the word Joy expresses a universal energy, different from emotional enjoyment. As you learn to sense your body, you can invite Joy into the experience of your life. Over time and through Nia practice, you learn to sustain and increase the amount of Joy you sense in every experience.

Licensed Nia 5 Stages Teacher: The Nia 5 Stages teacher training provided me with the tools to facilitate a 60-minute Nia 5 Stages Class and qualified me integrate this body of work in classic Nia classes, private sessions and experiential workshops.

My Education Background

M.A. Experiential Health and Healing, The Graduate Institute: This 36-credit Master of Arts degree program allowed me to explore complementary and alternative (CAM) healing on a continuum with allopathic medicine. From the ancient roots of medicine to contemporary practice, I studied a number of integrative modalities designed to treat the whole person. Through this program, I learned to celebrate health as the optimal alignment of body, mind, and spirit – not merely the absence of dis-ease. My research and experiential focus was on kinesthetic awareness, somatic practices and experiential learning. It is my pleasure to share what I learned with you.

B.A. Psychology, State University of New York at New Paltz: While a student in psychology, my research and focus areas were neuropsychology and mind-body practices such as guided imagery and meditation.

A very special thank you:

To my husband, Gary, who not only developed this website for me but is my biggest fan and source of strength and support. He doesn’t really know what Nia is but rallies behind me with the greatest love and enthusiasm. He made it possible for me to have this website and to deepen my practice at home by creating a mirror on wheels for me. Those are just two minor things among a list that just keeps on growing. Gary provides a container of love for the two of us that is so huge that I feel like there isn’t anything I can’t do. There are no words in the English language to express my gratitude.

And to Kirsten Carle, my dear friend and soul sister, who developed the beautiful logo for Everybody, Love Your Body. Kirsten is a healer-in-training (as a naturopathic medical student), artist, visionary and one of the kindest people I've ever met.