We Are a School

We are a school, not a studio.  The distinction may seem small, but to us it captures the essence of what we are trying to accomplish and share with our students.  


Regardless of what class you are in, tai ji, yoga, or kung fu, we look at you as our students, not clients.  In a school, you are there to learn, to grow, and to strive toward your goals.  We create bonds with our students and try to learn what they need to progress.  We are not only thinking about that one class or workout.  We are looking at the bigger picture.  Not only where you are today, but where we can help you be in 3 months, 6 months, or a year from now.


We have both been in education and teaching for many years and it was natural for us to apply the same logic, care, and dedication to the mind body arts as we did in the classroom.  We have always been deeply committed to our practice and have experienced the benefits first hand.  In our own development, we both have had influential teachers that have given us the support we needed to be where we are now in our practice.  This is the main reason why only the two of us teach classes at the school.  We are very mindful of the instruction we give our students and the integrity of what we offer and hold ourselves to a very high standard.  


One of the greatest joys we have had since opening Sequoia Kung Fu & Yoga is seeing the progress of our students.  We often comment to one another on how far people have come, especially those who have been with us for awhile now.  It is common for Maya and I to chat about how different people are doing.  We get excited to share with each other when we see someone make a breakthrough.  We also use each other as a resource to improve our understanding and teaching methods.  So in short, yes, we do talk about you;)


So like a school, Sequoia Kung Fu & Yoga is a place for learning, exploration, discovery, play, and experimentation.  We set up our environment to enhance our students learning and to foster curiosity, kindness, and constant growth.  We constructively critique and evaluate ourselves to adjust our teaching and lesson plans to fit the needs of our students.  We believe all are capable of practice and want to make learning accessible to everyone.  

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