Yoga

Aaron was first introduced to yoga in the mid-1990s through his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training with the Gracie family. Seeing Rickson Gracie’s yoga and pranayama practice in Choke made a lasting impression on him, and he knew he wanted to learn as much as possible about this powerful and beautiful practice.

Through Rickson, Aaron met Cameron Shayne, who trained at Rickson’s academy in California. Cameron was developing his Yoga and Mobility system, Budokon. Aaron traveled to Kripalu to meet and train with Cameron, and the two became close friends. Aaron eventually became a Budokon Yoga instructor and began integrating yoga into his BJJ classes, while also teaching yoga on its own.

In 2008, Aaron was hired by the State of Maine for a new employee wellness program called ME First. The program was based on Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and included yoga, body scan meditation, walking meditation, and the attitudinal foundations of mindfulness. Aaron found that these practices deeply resonated with him and were very similar to, and complementary with, his martial arts training.

This led him to pursue his first yoga certification, and it also motivated him to earn his master’s degree in psychology, which he completed in 2012.

Beyond the physical benefits, yoga has brought a sense of calm and peace into Aaron’s life. He is more mindful and less competitive, and he sees yoga as the yin he needed. He is deeply passionate about sharing that gift with others.

Budokon Yoga Instructor - 2006

Core Power Yoga 200hr - 2008

Power Pilates Instructor - 2013

Yoga For BJJ 200hr - 2022

PEARS Recovery Certification 2024

Well Heart Yoga 200hr - 2026