Caroline Kohles (She/her/hers)

Caroline Kohles has a diverse work experience spanning over three decades. A health and wellness professional for over 25 years, Caroline is co-founder of Nia New York™. Nia is a holistic lifestyle and fitness practice. As a somatic educator and Nia Trainer, she co-facilitates intensive trainings at the white, green, blue, brown and black belt level. She holds certifications in yoga, indoor cycling, personal training, life coaching, and 5 Rhythms—a dynamic movement meditation practice. A former professional dancer with a passion for anatomy and the brain, Caroline is drawn to using movement to help special populations. In her years working at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan as Senior Director of Health and wellness Caroline has been instrumental in leading a progressive slate of fitness programming. She created and designed our 100+ group fitness class schedule and health and wellness programs for every population, from tweens/teens to prenatal/postnatal moms and seniors. Her signature work includes developing a range of cancer care programs in partnership with breast surgeon, Dr. Alison Estabrook. She also designed the nationally and internationally recognized Edmond J. Safra Parkinson's program, now in its fifteenth year, in partnership with Dr. Alessandro DiRocco first at The Fresco Institute at NYU Langone Medical Center and now with Northwell Health. In addition, Caroline developed the JCC's popular "Doctor Is In Program, as well as many other nutrition and brain health programs. Caroline has been recognized as a teacher, programmer, a wellness mentor for staff, and a constant advocate for JCC members and the Upper West Side community. She was honored with the Award for Staff Excellence for her leadership, dedication, passion, and contribution to the JCC's Center for Health and Wellness. Her interest in the science of resilience led her to become certified in Positive Psychology from Wholebeing Institute in 2021 during the Covid Pandemic and to continue her studies and become a Mental Fitness Coach at Positive Intelligence in 2023. She has also been working as a Life Coach Practitioner at Handel Group® since 2018. Caroline has also worked as the President of Life Moves from 1998 onwards. Caroline's career in health and wellness began in 199 when she became an Nia teacher at The Nia Technique.

Caroline Kohles holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree from UC Santa Barbara. Her studies at the university focused on Dance, Performance, Choreography, and Teaching.