We provide neurological and motivational coaching inspired by:
evolutionary psychology
the serious leisure
index measure (SLIM)
neurobiology
yogic philosophy
Did you know? The first 12 weeks of strength
adaptations are NEURAL.
"I've used all of these methods to
help win tournaments on my Taekwondo
journey. They were also crucial in
rebuilding the elite level of strength
and stamina needed for such an endurance
based sport when I was recovering from
invasive abdominal surgery in 2022.
This year, they practically
saved my life as I rehabilitated myself from
a minor stroke: I spent weeks hardly
able to walk, speak, or eat. I felt a complete
disconnect between my body and mind.
These mental exercises allowed me
to retrain the two to work together, and
I feel stronger than ever.
I wouldn't have regained control over my
body nearly as quickly without the
positive energy these practices help you
cultivate."
-Ian Kibria, Head Coach, Ikona Sport
Team Baltimore Taekwondo, Home of Team USA
We've looked at thousands of clinICal research papers
on the extraordinary mind-body system to
develop nervous system regulation protocols that ensure
total alignment of mind and body. Becoming mindful of
the brain's role in training will help solidIFy healthy habits,
improve performance, and build positive self-concept
by rewiring deeply-ingrained neural pathways that
contribute to self-sabotaging behaviors.
Kinetic Visualization
Research shows that imagining physical activity ignites similar neurological pathways as actual exercise. More interestingly, findings suggest that coupling visualizations with feelings of contentment or joy may have the ability to improve athletic outcomes. It is clear that "mental rehearsal" is a way to refine technique, strengthen the mind-body connection, and reduce anxiety around exercise.
Breathwork
Breathwork is the practice of modulating the tempo, forcefulness, and duration of one's breathing. It is the foundation of Yoga, dating back as far as 700BCE. Ancient yogis understood intuitively what modern science says about breath today: it is a major regulator of cellular energy in the body, influences blood flow and heartbeat, and contributes to our emotional states through interactions with the parasympathetic nervous system. We teach breathwork techniques to help our trainees achieve internal balance and harmony.
Meditation
Breathwork is the practice of modulating the tempo, forcefulness, and duration of one's breathing. It is the foundation of Yoga, dating back as far as 700BCE. Ancient yogis understood intuitively what modern science says about breath today: it is a major regulator of cellular energy in the body, influences blood flow and heartbeat, and contributes to our emotional states through interactions with the parasympathetic nervous system. We teach breathwork techniques to help our trainees achieve internal balance and harmony.
Positive Identity Shift Journaling
Going hand and hand with breathwork, daily meditation is a great way to limit negative self-talk, reduce doubt, and transform your belief system around getting fit while we work together. Considered an esoteric practice by some, many people want to meditate but give up because they don't know how to start. We take the guesswork out of the equation and guide our trainees through 1-on-1 meditation sessions to heal the nervous system and cultivate deep self-love.
Available