Sonoma Yoga Martial Arts

Sonoma Yoga Martial Arts is a meditative, beautiful little place in what counts as «downtown» Penngrove in between Old Redwood Highway&Main Street. It’s in an otherwise nondescript strip mall (it’s called The Grove), yet beside Full Circle Baking that prides itself on using flour from Utah (?) and the Bauman School of Nutrition. While the signage is confusing, the place itself is well-​marked with a sandwich board on Old Redwood Highway announcing its karate instruction&tons of Tibetan Buddhist prayer flags.
SYMA is more beautiful&meditative than the usual yoga studio. There’s a spectacular shrine depicting Krishna&Radha&various Hindu religious beliefs such as reincarnation adorned with flowers&candles. SYMA offers traditional Hindu devotionals on Friday mornings&philosophical discussions on Saturday mornings. Cogen&his wife lead thoughtful philosophical talks on the sutras&yoga… something not usually offered at your typical yoga studio. An oasis of peace.

Please do take the classes a couple of times yourself before you enroll your kid (s) here. I think kids need to be treated with better sensitivity and respect than can be available here. I think the instructor has a good heart but a strong narcissistic attitude (and often a fowl mouth) that negates any benefit you can get from here. Especially at the kids age attitude and respect is way more important than physical flexibility!

Awesome awesome yoga classes that are unlike anything else on the market.
If you want to sit and «ommmm» and have a nice gentle stretch this is not the place for you. If you want to get in the shape of your life and learn to do things you did not think was humanly possible? This is the place for you! It does come with a warning: you will become addicted to this :)
There is a great atmosphere — people can joke around and nobody takes themselves too seriously (even though many of them are complete bad asses)

Cogen is one of the most amazing instructors I have ever been exposed to. From yoga to martial arts, he is able to challenge his students physically while also engaging them intellectually. I myself am a fitness instructor and aficionado and can say that Cogen’s work outs will improve both strength and cardio without ever getting boring or repetitive.

Awesome yoga classes for both men and women. Cogen sets the bar high, yet is very good at accommodating all levels. Highly recommended

My son (6 years old) has been attending Karate classes at SYMA for about a month. This is the first activity we have enrolled him in that he actually begs to go to! I love that we pay one flat rate and can come as often as we like. I started out thinking we would do 2 afternoons a week but he has wanted to come every day! I’ve been surprised at how well my son has done in a short time.
One thing I love is that Cogen is very patient and calm with the children. They respect him completely but also have fun with him. He is serious yet playful so he isn’t intimidating. He is able to meet the needs of a variety of ages in the class, from very young up to pre-​teens and all of the children get along and respect each other.
The facility is clean and beautiful — very peaceful. The only «negative» is there is only a small space to sit so if you want to observe or do not have anywhere to go while waiting for your child, you can either use a bench outside, or visit the pizza parlor next door, or wait in your car. I love watching, though we are new and it is fun for me still!
I highly recommend the children’s Karate classes!
Karen