My name is Tom. I am 81 years old. I take no medications. I have been cancer free, have no heart disease, and have avoided many of the major ailments that take so many of us too soon.

But longevity is not simply about staying alive. It is about continuing to live.

I enjoy full mobility; I bike and swim regularly. I've practiced yoga for over 50 years. My wife, Lu, is 79 and also a lifelong yogi who continues to teach classes. We feel grateful to have surpassed the average life expectancy, but more than that, we are truly embracing life.

Today, there are countless podcasts, books, experts, and theories on longevity, wellness, movement, spirituality, and happiness. But I think there is value in learning from someone who has lived these ideas for decades.

I have dedicated decades to practicing and teaching yoga, mediating, practicing law in divorce cases, studying movement, and collaborating with indigenous communities worldwide as a peacemaker.

I had been practicing many of these concepts well before longevity and wellness gained popularity, applying them during times of stress, financial difficulty, uncertainty, and all the challenges life eventually presents.

Today, these ideas are widely scattered. However, they are often shown without the complete picture. Concepts like movement, relationships, spirituality, adaptability, happiness, and our self-connection are all intertwined.

That is what I would like to share.

Come experience your first Class in Movement with me. Bring a friend, and the first class will be complimentary.

A Convergence of Physical Motion

What if exercise didn't have to mean doing the same thing over and over?

Class in Movement is a 75-minute private exploration of conscious physical movement, drawing on decades of Tom DiGrazia's experience as a yoga practitioner and teacher, a mediator, and peacemaker, martial-arts student, dancer, and student of the human body.

The class brings together elements of Yoga philosophy, asana, pranayama and savasana, along with Tai Chi, Taekwondo, modern dance and strength training—all accompanied by music in the beautiful poolside studio of the Yoga School of Kailua.

THE IDEA

As we age, movement becomes increasingly important—not simply as exercise, but as a way of maintaining our relationship with our bodies, ourselves and the world around us.

We don't necessarily need to be confined to one exercise system, routine or schedule.

We need to move. And we can learn to move in many different ways.

A Class in Movement invites students to consciously experience that diversity. No two classes are exactly alike. However, in any given class, there will be a process in which some or all of the disciplines mentioned above will be taught. Each session will also be responsive to the individual student's abilities, interests, energy and needs.

The goal is not perfection.

The goal is movement, awareness, adaptability—and enjoyment.

As one Santa Barbara yogic sage once put it:
“If it ain't fun, better left undone.”

Takeaway: As we age, the two most important aspects of health and wellness are our relationship with ourselves and others and daily physical movement. One does not have to be chained to any one physical discipline or schedule. What the body/mind crave is physical movement, and the greater the variety of movement, the better. Our class offers students an opportunity to consciously experience this diversity in a safe, unstructured manner that can be easily adopted for use over a lifetime. No two classes are exactly the same, as the instructor improvises according to each student's abilities and needs.

Come find out for yourself the fun and healthful benefits of conscious motion.

WHO IS IT FOR?

The class is designed for adults of varied ages and fitness levels, particularly those who:

• want to remain active and mobile as they age;
• want to explore movement beyond a single discipline;
• are interested in improving flexibility, balance, strength and body awareness;
• are adapting their movement practices to a changing body;
• are returning to movement after an injury or period of inactivity; or
• simply want to exercise in a supportive, personal and fun environment.

Movements are adapted to the individual—not the other way around.

A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

Classes are private and limited to one or two students.

This allows each session to be responsive to the person or people in attendance. We may work with breath, balance, stretching, strength, flowing movement, stillness, rhythm, or relaxation.

The particular combination may be different every time.

You don't have to be a yogi. You don't have to be an athlete. You don't have to be young.

You simply have to be willing to move.

Movement is not a discipline. Movement is a human capacity.

Yoga, Tai Chi, dance, martial arts, strength training, walking, breathing, balancing, and even music, dancing, and play become different languages through which a person can explore that capacity. In sum, our Movement Class seeks not to force a person into a particular exercise system or discipline. Rather, it seeks to adapt the system to the person.

NOTE: A Class in Movement is a movement and wellness practice, not physical therapy or medical treatment. Students with significant injuries or medical conditions should consult an appropriate health professional regarding their participation.