Strengthen your body while cultivating your curves
Help your body find it's natural weight in a healthy manner
Classes For Women
Ageless Body Technique (Abs/Core/Glutes)
this class alternates between abdominal strengthening exercises and butt/leg toning exercises. In this mat class the abdominal exercises combine breathing techniques with slow-motion crunches to awaken and fully engage your abdominal muscles. The butt/leg exercises involve standing exercises in which we use steps, bosus, balls, elastic bands and hand/ankle weights (5-10 pounds). Throughout the class we lay back on the bosus (the blue half-ball pictured above) to gently stretch the spine and relieve neck tension. This class is gentle but intense. The more you take the class, the more difficult the exercises become and the more you can transform your abdominals and butt/legs. This class is appropriate for those with back pain and knee pain. Please inform the teacher before the class begins and let the teacher know if you feel any pain during class.
Arms/Shoulders
this class focuses on the back of your upper arms (triceps) and your shoulders (deltoids). The exercises are designed to tone the back of the upper arms and to subtly sculpt the shoulders. This develops long, lean muscles and simultaneously releases neck tension and overdeveloped neck muscles. In this mat class we use light weights (1-2 pounds). The class ends with stretches for your shoulders, neck and upper back. This is a gentle class and is appropriate for people with back or knee pain. If you have forearm issues (carpal tunnel, tendinitis) please inform the teacher and the teacher can offer you variations. If pain persists, you should not take this class.
Brooklyn Booty
this class is a cardiovascularly challenging class in which you hold onto the ballet barre for balance. The class starts with a slow warm-up in which you learn the correct form for the exercises that will be done in class. Then the pace picks up as you alternate between toning exercises and cardiovascular exercises. The class sculpts all the muscles of the back of the body with a focus on developing the butt muscles. The more you take the Ballet Booty Class, the harder it becomes for you. You're also able to add weights to intensify the workout. This class is NOT appropriate for those with low back pain. If you have occasional knee pain, you can try this class. Approach it in a conservative manner and let the teacher know when you have knee pain.
Outdoor Stair Workout at Ft. Greene Park
this class builds lower body strength and increases cardiovascular endurance. The class starts at the top of Ft. Greene Park with exercises to activate the glute (butt) muscles. Then you go to the stairs for slow lunges up the stairs, followed by sprints up and down the stairs. You can go at whatever pace works for you and you can rest whenever you need to. This class is not appropriate for those with low back pain. If you have minor knee pain, you can try this class.
Low Back Class
this class is a rehabilitative class specially designed for those with low back pain. Every exercise has been created to alleviate compression to the low back while reprogramming the muscle patterns of the midsection of the body. Most people with low back pain have under-active abdominal/core muscles and over-active back and neck muscles. This class focuses on strengthening the abdominal/core muscles and training the back and neck muscles to be more passive. This class is the most appropriate class for someone with low back pain.
Mommy & Me
you are welcome to bring your baby (up to 8 months) to the following classes: Abs/Core and Yoga Breathing, Hourglass, Low Back and Arms/Shoulders. You can keep your baby in the stroller or set her/him on a mat next to you. The other people in class love to have a baby in class so please feel free to come!
Other Classes
The Following Classes Are More Intense and Are Not Appropriate for Those with Injuries, Joint Or Back Pain.
Intensive Core
this class is a mat class consisting of planks. alternating with crunches and exercises to raise your heart rate. Planks are an exercise in which you face the mat and hold yourself up on your forearms and the balls of your feet. Planks requires upper body strength. This class is NOT appropriate for someone who has neck, upper back or low back pain. If you have knee pain, you can try this class and let the teacher know if you feel any knee pain.
Lower Body and Core
this class builds cardiovascular endurance. Every exercise is done on the bosu (the blue half ball pictured above). You can stand, jump, sit and kneel on it. This class consists of lunges, squats, jumps, planks and crunches. This is a very challenging class and is NOT appropriate for someone who has back or knee pain.
Men's Core Training
Increase Core Strength and Cardiovascular Endurance
Push-ups, planks and crunches on mats, bosus or balls
Strengthen your core and define your abdominal muscles
Stabilize your low back and improve your posture
The abdominal area is often the most difficult area for men to strengthen and tone
Though weight training is effective for men, it is often ineffective at developing the midsection. Since the primary funcion of the abdominal muscles is to stabilize the spine, the way to increase abdominal strength is to put the body in unstable positions. This makes the abdominal muscles engage to stabilize the spine. For example, when you are doing a push-up with the hands on a ball, the challenge to the abdominal area is more intense than it would be if if you were doing a push-up on the floor. Since the ball has the potential to move around, it requires that the abdominal mujscles stabilize the body. The challenge is not to see how much you can lift. The challenge is to see how well you can stabilize the body in an unstable environment.
Core training is useful for beginners as well as experienced athletes
There is a full spectrum of core training exercises ranging from simple to extremely difficult. At Studio Maya, core training exercises are adapted to each person's skill level and progress as one becomes stronger. This ensures that a person improves steadily, avoids plateaus, and does so safely. In addition to transforming the midsection, core training can give you something similar to the "runner's high." At Studio Maya, people have described it as "feeling very centered" and others have said that it makes them "feel invincible." Though people articulate it differently, there is a general consensus that after a core workout one's mental state feels improved.
Classes For Men
Men's Core
this class focuses on shoulder stabilization, strengthening exercises for the pectoral and back muscles as well as the abdominal/core muscles. This functional training class uses body weight, the bosu, balls and cables. The exercises alternate between push-ups, cable exercises, planks and crunches to challenge and fatigue the upper body and core muscles. This class is NOT appropriate for someone with neck/back pain, shoulder dislocations or forearm pain.
Intensive Core
this class focuses on the core muscles: the transverse abdominis, obliques, rectus abdominis, erector spinae, diaphragm and the pelvic floor muscles. Core training has revolutionized the abdominal workout by working the deeper abdominal muscles, especially the transverse abdominis. Core training differs from sit-ups and crunches even though both are working the abdomen. Although useful, sit-ups and crunches primarily work the superficial muscles while core training forces the deeper abdominal muscles to engage. This presents a greater challenge to the abdominal area producing more significant results. This class is NOT appropriate for someone with low back pain/injury.
Lower Body and Core
this class is the most cardiovascular challenging class. Every exercise is done on the bosu. A bosu looks like a ball cut in half. You can stand, jump, sit and kneel on it. This class consists of lunges, squats, jumps, planks and other full-body exercises. This is a very challenging class and is NOT appropriate for someone who has chronic pain or an injury. This class is not appropriate for someone with knee pain.
Outdoor Stair Workout at Ft. Greene Park
this class builds lower body strength and increases cardiovascular endurance. The class starts at the top of Ft. Greene Park with exercises to activate the glute (butt) muscles. Then you go to the stairs for slow lunges up the stairs, followed by sprints up and down the stairs. You can go at whatever pace works for you and you can rest whenever you need to. This class is not appropriate for those with low back pain. If you have minor knee pain, you can try this class.
Low Back Class
this class is a rehabilitative class specially designed for those with low back pain. Every exercise has been created to alleviate compression to the low back while reprogramming the muscle patterns of the body. Most people with low back pain have under-active abdominal/core muscles and over-active back and neck muscles. This class focuses on strengthening the abdominal/core muscles and training the back and neck muscles to be more passive. This class is the most appropriate class for someone with low back pain.
Improve your Flexibility
Train your muscles to release their tension
Relieve compression to the joints
Relax the mind
Classes
The Foam-Rolling Stretch Class
teaches you how to use the foam roller, a 3 foot long cylinder made of a soft, foam-like material. You learn how to sit on it, lay on it, lean on it and roll on it to release stiffness in your calves, knees, hips, low back and upper back. You also learn how to use balls and cables to release tension in your feet and neck/shoulders. This class focuses on full exhales to help the muscles relax into the foam roller. As the muscles relax, the joint stiffness and pain lessens and can melt away. This class also has a calming effect on the body and mind.
Feldenkrais Method
is a mat class with slow-moving exercises that you repeat over and over again. Each time you repeat an exercise, you try to use less and less effort. By practicing this, you train your muscles to disengage on command. We often assume that it's easy to let go when in fact, it's often the opposite. Certain muscles groups are prone to over working i.e. the neck/shoulders, the forearms, the piriformis, the calves and the bottom of the feet (otherwise know as plantarfascitus.) Overactive muscles can make themselves very sore and can complicate your movements causing undue stress on your body. Over time, muscle fibers tear and compression at the joints can cause the joints to be ground down. By training your muscles to relax and release tension. you protect the muscle fibers and you alleviate compression of the joints. This class also has a calming, almost meditative quality to it.
Strengthen and sculpt with standing exercises at the barre
Develop the legs, butt, back and arms
Exercises are done while holding onto a barre to help you balance
Open to all, no experience needed
Classes
Brooklyn Booty
is a cardiovascularly challenging class in which you hold onto the ballet barre for balance. The class starts with a slow warm-up in which you learn the correct form for the exercises that will be done in class. Then the pace picks up as you alternate between toning exercises and cardiovascular exercises. The class sculpts all the muscles of the back of the body with a focus on developing the butt muscles. The more you take this class, the harder it becomes for you. You're also able to add weights to intensify the workout. This class is not appropriate for those with low back pain. If you have occasional knee pain, you can try this class. Approach it in a conservative manner and let the teacher know when you have knee pain.
Adult Beginning Ballet Class
is a ballet class. You hold onto the barre to help with balance so you can focus on your posture, alignment and coordination. Every exercise is set to piano music that has been composed for ballet barre exercises. No experience is necessary. The teacher will explain and demonstrate each exercise without the music first. This gives you a chance to learn the exercise. Then the teacher will do the exercise with the music, with the class. This teaches you how to coordinate the exercises with the music. If you have taken ballet before, even 10-20 years ago, you will be surprised at the how much you remember. If you have not taken ballet before, feel free to follow the teacher or other students. We want you to enjoy dancing to the music. There is no right or wrong. We just want you to come and enjoy moving.
Dance classes with a cardiovascular challenge
Dance the hour away to latin music
Move your hips and loosen up your spine
Open to all, no experience needed
Classes
Zumba
is a Latin-inspired dance class created by Colombian dancer/choreographer Alberto Perez. Zumba is a fusion of salsa, samba, merengue, mambo, hip-hop, Bollywood and Belly dance. The Zumba class uses Latin music as well as Flamenco, Reggae, Bhangra and Tango. Zumba is outrageously fun whether or not you've ever danced before. The class starts with simple steps and repeats them. Then you add more and more steps. You keep repeating the combination so that you learn it, inside and out. By the end of class, you're dancing non-stop. Everybody is moving and having fun.
Samba
is a Brazilian art form fusing dance from Rio de Janeiro and Africa. Samba has been traditionally performed in street shows and carnivals. Now, it's also taught throughout the United States in studios and dance schools. Samba dance is set to samba dance music and has has a basic step that you build on. This class is fun while challenging your cardiovascular endurance. No experience necessary. All are welcome!
Studio Maya offers a holistic approach to health including personal training and classes in Core Training and Injury Recovery as well as Zumba, Samba, Ballet Barre & HipHop.