The Boston Healing Tao School for Taoist Practices has been around for over 20 years. I've attended…read moreweekly classes, workshops and retreats until I became an instructor too! There is a very high level of integrity in the teachings and all the instructors walk their talk. I recommend people check out the classes - it will change their lives for the better.

Charlie's group is great. His tai chi method is very insightful. I enjoyed my interaction with him…read moreand his group over the months I was near Cambridge. I would recommend this tai chi group.

I have been studying at Fresh Pond Taiji with Charlie for 1.5 years and have advanced substantially…read morefrom my previous surface understanding of the Yang style, which was limited to the choreography. Through pushing hands I have learned to sense the energy of my partner right into their feet. The five loosenings that each class begin with have transformed my posture for the better and released longstanding muscle tension in my neck and shoulders. My back, which I used to tweak every few months, is totally pain-free from the spinal alignment work. I recently had independent confirmation of this when I took a massage and the massage therapist remarked that, unlike 99% of her clients, I had no muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, or lower back. Yay taiji!

THIS WAS INCREADABLE. I felt like I was really connected to my spirit and soul. Best feeling coming…read moreout of there. Will definitely be coming back! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

Their informal "Open House" session is a really good beginner's class. One of the instructors,…read moreJanak, was very friendly and explaining all the nuances and differences between meditation, tai chi, yoga, etc..... I really enjoyed the 2 hour session as it was very relaxing and helped me deal with the stresses in life and at work. It's actually really good for those who are looking for a leisurely activity to do while getting away from the stresses of every day life, and I'm a very active person by nature. Definitely will go back for more classes and fit it into my schedule.

Body and Brain feels like home! It is a practice that focuses on the harmonizing of the body and…read morebrain/mind, as well as the power of the heart. The Masters are skillful, compassionate, supportive. We learn about the different energy channels in the body, or techniques that target specific physical issues. We focus on releasing and strengthening. It is a holistic practice, really. I truly recommend it for anyone who is a serious seeker of balancing the body, mind, and heart.

I was a member of (Dahn yoga) for three years many years ago and absolutely loved it. My work/home…read morelife prevented me from continuing. My schedule has since changed and this past summer I remembered my wonderful experience with the practice so I rejoined Body& Brain, and I have to say, I'm enjoying it even more this time around. Master Cho is inviting, kind and each and every class is different. Not only are the classes different each time, we now have the benefit of added classes and instructors because of zoom. I never miss a class unless I am working. I love the different styles each of them bring to the class. I'm fully committed in my quest for better health and am determined to remain in this practice for years to come as I've already noticed a big change, mentally and physically. I can't recommend it enough. Do not hesitate, you will not regret it!

First, this address on Salem Street is incorrect. Apparently this school closed years ago. It is…read morenow located in Somerville in a gym. Next, I've gone to a lot of different tai chi classes over the years, and this was not traditional at all. It was in a room where people were practicing martial arts, so there was a lot of grunting and fast movements as well as a few collisions as I was standing, trying to do tai chi. If you're OK with that sort of chaos, it might be entertaining to you, but don't expect anything traditional. I did however appreciate that they found a teacher for me, even though I was almost a half hour late after hunting for the correct location. That was nice.

If you're looking for a movement method that will keep you in shape, keep you motivated, give you a…read moremoment of peace in an otherwise hectic life, and give you incredible new skills, this is the place for you. Oom Yung Doe combines movement and meditation in a balance to create individualized programs for each and every student. The instructors are very knowledgable and give individualized attention, as well as are flexible in their schedules. Not only are there classes every weekday in the afternoon and evening, plus on Saturdays, but more than once, when I could not make it in for a class, an instructor has moved his schedule around so I could come in. If you are dedicated to the school, the school will be dedicated to you. Movement-wise, students study forms in eight different types and styles of martial arts, including many different weapons. While there is not an emphasis put on sparring, there are frequent self-defense portions of class so that students can defend themselves if faced with a bad situation. Students are also taught movements to help in medical issues they might have coming in, or to help prevent issues from coming up in the future. I have never been in better shape in my life. On top of it all, the school puts an emphasis on helping others in your every day life. While the message can get repetitive, it is always a good reminder that while you are helping yourself, you can always spend a little extra effort to help a fellow human being. Overall, I would highly recommend this school.

I highly recommend Body & Brain Tai Chi! It is a surreal experience to be able to harness my inner…read moreenergy during class and leave the studio completely relaxed. The instructors are friendly and kind and will subtly correct you poses if needed.The studio often posts different events on Eventbrite, including the opportunity to try a free class.

If you're looking for a traditional yoga studio this is not that place, and expecting that will do…read moreboth this gym and yourself a great disservice. HOWEVER, if your path crossed with Body & Brain Yoga Tai Chi's by what feels like a coincidence or accident, I assure you, it wasn't one. Follow your gut, embrace this at times silly place, and commit to trying it for yourself. If you take the leap of faith your life will be rewarded and enriched for doing so with a deeper sense of self and greater control over your life than you ever thought possible. B&B is more of a "self-discovery and self-improvement gym" than a traditional yoga studio; and as you peel back the layers of the onion you will realize this place is all about empowering you with a set of tools to attain a state of mindfulness and self-mastery to enable you to attain a more fulfilling, purpose-driven life.

I have been attending classes at Boston Boabom for 13 years. The teachers are so supportive,…read morerespectful and adaptive to everyone's situations. Boston Boabom was an early adopter of remote classes at the beginning of the pandemic. Continuing to exercise and meditate by practicing a calming art that connects mind, body and energy work, while maintaining a sense of community with others, even with different countries during such a difficult time was truly a gift. The style of teaching is wonderful-- there is a gentle progression of building upon movements for many different styles of the art. I highly recommend Boston Boabom for its wonderful, kind and respectful community of teachers and students.

I saw an ad for Boabom ("Bo-ah-bomb") a few years ago on the T, and I was curious. The ad made it…read morelook like yoga, but the website promised something more like martial arts. I went to the free Saturday intro class, and decided to give it a shot. The instructors of Boabom will tell you that it is "meditation through movement". To the rest of us, it's a great form of exercise that will improve your flexibility, balance, coordination, breathing and leave your head clear at the end of class. You can follow the core "Boabom" classes, which focus on strength and speed, or try Seamm Jasani (pronounced See-ahhm Ha-sah-nee), which is much slower. I've seen people practice from age 8 into their 70's. Boabom isn't taught like most forms of self defense, in that you don't spar. You will practice carefully with each other, but there is no hitting, leaving you bruised or hurt. If you're looking to learn how to fight someone, this isn't for you. But over time you WILL learn how to defend yourself effectively, getting into shape as you do so. In every class, you learn something new. Every class. There are so many different movements, that you progressively add new ones, and leave others behind as you have mastered them. This keeps classes interesting, instead of having the same session week after week. I practiced Boabom for three years before moving to Somerville. As much as I love it, the trek to Brookline is too long to keep up regularly. I would still be there if I lived closer, though. If you're looking for a good workout, for something that's different, I'd give Boabom a try!

During my glory days in Tae Kwon Do at age 12, I really loved the physical activity and stress…read morerelief that came with punching and kicking. So recently I've been looking to get back into martial arts. I found Oom Yung Doe on Yelp because of its great reviews and its proximity to my house. I'd never heard of this form of martial arts, but the website claimed I could take a complimentary introductory lesson. Why not? I called on Sunday afternoon and was signed up for a free class the next day at 8 PM. That was quick. Not knowing what to expect, I showed up to the small studio in workout clothes, looking very out of place among the robe-clad martial artists. I signed a liability waiver and was led into the practice room by the instructor, John. There were a few people practicing individually in the room with wooden swords and fans. I had no idea what they were doing, but they sure looked cool! Where were the other students in this introductory class though? John starts by explaining the many benefits of practicing Oom Yung Doe. It focuses on connecting the mind and the body. He used to have asthma and back pain, and now they're gone. It improves your strength, flexibility, and focus. With regular practice, people start excelling in other parts of their lives as well (high GPA,s promotions, the works). Sounds great! Turns out I'm the only one in the class. Unexpected, to say the least. And pretty intimidating. But John was very supportive and great as leading and explaining each movement. We started out with some breathing excercises, then moved to some strength and flexibility movements, punches and kicks, holding positions, and finished with some self defense training. At the end, he did two full forms, a beginner and a dragon form, to demonstrate what you will work toward. He's been practicing for 7 years so is very committed and pretty incredible at it. The entire lesson took almost an hour, and it was completely free. The individual attention and professionalism was so impressive. From experiencing this class, I'm wondering if this form of martial arts is for me. I'm definitely lacking some of the strength, focus, and flexibility required, but I'm sure those are all things you work toward. I'm also not sure I'd be able to work it into my schedule, as John told me that they encourage people to come at least 3 times a week in order to improve. The introductory month is $150, which includes 3 private lessons and unlimited classes at the studio afterward. I liked seeing the space, learning more about the practice, and witnessing the personal connections the instructor has with the others practicing. It seems like a great environment to try something new and improve your physical and emotional well-being. I very much enjoyed the introduction and encourage anyone to try it out. What do you have to lose? (Except maybe your dignity.. if you care about looking like an idiot as you tremble trying to hold difficult positions or unsuccessfully fend off a fake attacker.)

Starting training in traditional martial arts is the best thing i've done for myself. The…read moreinstructors here are patient, knowledgable, and warm. Movements are challenging but results are almost immediate, no doubt there was a huge improvement by the end of one month. Just like all exercise , consistency is key and instructors are good at reminding you of this without being intrusive or self promoting. This place makes me feel i belong there and i am so glad i've brought it into my life

I worked here and at first I really liked it. As a fitness coach I never saw a raise which in my…read moreopinion is being cheap. if you want to keep good staff a raise is essentiAl. When a coach was out on vacation or sick the owners never wanted to teach classes in my opinion why open a gym then. I wanted to wear a mask do to Covid and one of the owners told me he didn't like me doing that. I enjoyed teaching and I liked the clients but I wouldn't recommend working here.

I started going to Soul Train in 2020 after working out at the local BSC for years. I was looking…read morefor a studio to do classes because I needed a slower gym pace after a herniated disc. All of the instructors are so helpful and always make sure that I feel comfortable with every exercise. If I feel like a workout is too much, they always provide a modified version for me that works the same muscle group, but isn't too hard on my back. I have also really appreciated how accommodating Kourtney has been- from anything to having to cancel/swap a class last minute to pausing my membership for a month. Everyone clearly cares deeply about the member experience and there is a true community feel to the gym.