Body Mind Systems, Stoneham — Local services in Stoneham

I am very pleased with my training at the Body Mind Systems School of Martial Arts. I will not call it a karate school, or even a martial arts school. You learn about martial arts in this school; and how it can impact you in your daily life as well as how the various martial arts that you learn in this school can help you to become better prepared physically as well as mentally towards meeting daily challenges.

I would call this a school that enhances and teaches you life long lessons in utilizing your training, understanding, knowledge and observations in the teachings of the martial arts. The martial arts that you learn at this school should become a daily part of everyone’s life just as essential as breathing. We breathe every day but don’t think about it or even notice but it is essential to our daily lives and this is how much I feel about the martial arts as it should be a daily part of everyone’s life and lifestyle. By learning about the various martial arts that are taught within the school I personally have learned a lot about myself. I have learned about how my body and mind works and responds to various martial arts forms as well as the understanding of what my body can do today and what I could expect from it going forward.

When I first began this program I started out at the age of 49, my back was very sore to the point where my leg got numb from just plain walking for 30 min per day. I couldn’t even walk 3 miles without having to stop at least 2 or 3 times before completing my walk due to the numbness in my leg. My back went out four months prior to my attending this school and I had to use crutches and canes just to get up and walk around. At one point I couldn’t even put my leg on my other knee and couldn’t even bend forward to put on my socks. When I started with Body Mind Systems they told me to bend over and try to touch my toes, I couldn’t even get past my knees. I also experienced constant back pain each and every day.

Today exactly one year later, my back pain is either non-existent or I occasionally have minor back pain that will go away once I start stretching and practicing the martial arts. I can now without any warm up get to within about 2 ½ inches from my toes and with a good warm up actually go past my toes and touch the floor. I am now 50 years old and it is my belief that the last time I was able to touch the floor without bending my knees was when I was 4 years old. Right now I am very happy with my training as well as obtaining a better knowledge and understanding of the martial arts training that I am receiving. I practice each and every day and I feel better and stronger as well as more confident in myself that I can overcome any challenges presented to me. I would highly recommend this school to anyone wanting to improve themselves physically as well...

After bumping into Head Instructor Bob in 2014, at Stop & Shop, I was welcomed to attend a class at Body Mind Systems in Stoneham. The class began at 7:00pm with deep breathing and then shifted to warm-up exercises that engaged my core, arms, and legs. After that, we learned techniques in the forms of the martial arts they teach and ended the class with practical methods of how to use those techniques for self-defense. After a few months, I found Head Instructor Bob and the other assistant instructors to be consistent with their advice in training and the benefits.

Body Mind Systems offers students in the school the ability to grow through martial arts training and meet some cool people. From my experience, the personal growth from consistent training is full spectrum. The physical growth starts after the first session, where I felt muscles in my back stabilizing to straighten my spine that I never have felt before. The instructors understand the varying degrees of physical ability that the students bring into the practice room and they make adjustments depending on previous injuries and certain body types. The mental growth is of great importance to any student entering the school as well. Bowing patterns such as bowing to the flags of Body Mind Systems after the student enters the school instill an awareness of respect to instructors, other students, and ourselves. The student, in time, will understand that the bowing is mostly for themselves and their awareness of themselves. This is something that permeates into everyday life, adding awareness to my family, work, private life, and beyond. Emotionally, I started to feel myself behaving differently, such that situations where I became anxious no longer brought on the uneasy feelings I used to have. After around a year, I really noticed a more calm state of mind that fostered more settled, directed behavior. Certain angers that I had towards myself and others became much less noticeable as I became more aware of when they feelings would arise and how to change them.

Through my years playing basketball in high school and college, I had accumulated scar tissue in the hip due to overuse and misalignments, sprained joints, a fractured rib, and hyperextensions, among others. Through the last couple years of training I have been able to strengthen the joints in my hip and knee and bring alignment to these areas where I no longer have discomfort. I can say today, that my body feels the healthiest that it has ever been. It has been a privilege to work with Assistant National Instructor Bob and Assistant Regional Instructor Igor. If anyone has any questions or interests, feel free to reach out to me or contact any of...

I have tried many physical and mental practices over the years and nothing can compare to my experience training at Body Mind Systems. I had no prior martial arts experience when I started and no idea what to expect, but I was at a crossroads facing challenges in life and knew it was time for change.

Throughout my training, I have learned many memorable lessons and continue to experience personal growth in unexpected ways beyond what I could have imagined or done on my own. After just a few weeks of training, my then 6-year old daughter noticed how much I was enjoying myself and she started the kids class. We are both still training two years later. Now I feel more like myself, more empowered, and more physically capable than ever before and I want others to experience the benefits of training as well.

Taking the opportunity to train every day enables me to make a positive impact on others and show up for my friends, clients, family, and colleagues, with strength, clarity, and energy. I am so grateful for my instructors and fellow students in the Body Mind Systems community for enriching my life every day and bringing me back to life. I only wish I had started training sooner. If you’re curious, don’t wait...