Maui Yoga & Kickboxing

You might expect to see yoga combined with a slow, gentle martial art like tai chi, but kickboxing and yoga are a unique combination not often found in one studio. That didn’t stop the owners of Maui Yoga and Kickboxing from setting up shop in Kihei, Maui. And with a variety of offerings, including different types of yoga, kickboxing, martial arts, self-defense and massage therapy, the establishment has proven to be a favorite among locals.

  1. History

    • Owners Mary Grace Conti and James Onnikian opened the doors of Maui Yoga and Kickboxing on July 1, 2009. The studio is located upstairs at 115 E. Lipoa St. in Kihei. Conti was an established Bikram yoga teacher, who graduated from Bikram’s Yoga College of India, and the owner of two successful yoga studios in New York. Onnikian was a MMA (mixed martial arts) expert, personal trainer and longtime instructor of fitness and yoga who had won boxing and kickboxing titles. Together, their aim was to help people develop a balance between strength and flexibility.

    Philosophy

    • Kickboxing is about awareness and building confidence.

      “We’re choosing to combine yoga and kickboxing, bringing two opposites together,” says Conti in a video interview. “But really, they’re not that opposite at all.” Her reasoning is that both require alignment of your body, mind and spirit. Conti points out that kickboxing isn’t about being angry or wanting to hurt people; instead, it’s about being aware of your body and connected to your actions. Combing the two disciplines, she says, is a complete confidence-builder, while yoga opens up your heart so you can connect to the world.

    Offerings

    • Massage therapy is also available.

      Classes are offered several days a week, and they include Bikram yoga (otherwise known as Hot Yoga), Ashtanga yoga, AcroYoga, Thai yoga therapy, boxing, kickboxing, self defense and cardio-aerobic classes. Personal fitness training, nutritional counseling, weight loss, massage therapy and other healing arts are also offered. For aspiring yoga teachers, a certification program is available.

    Teachers

    • Mary Grace Conti was voted the Best Yoga Teacher of 2010 by residents of Maui, after only living on the island for a year. She’s been a certified Bikram yoga teacher since 2000 and also teaches Ashtanga yoga and Kids’ Yogarama. For aspiring yoga teachers, Conti leads Yoga Oasis Teacher Training Seminars.

      James Onnikian has been studying martial arts since he was a child and is a former Golden Gloves boxing champion and kickboxing world champion. He is also a yoga teacher and trainer and highly knowledgeable about nutrition.

      Other teachers at Maui Yoga and Kickboxing are yoga teacher Amber Lee and yoga/kickboxing instructor Karol Krauser. Krauser has trained in kickboxing, Muay Thai and Jeet Kun Do and is a Licensed Massage Therapist and personal trainer.