July 7, 2005

ANCIENT ART IN A MODERN SPACE
By Monica Deady/ Staff Writer

Some sweat. Others look weary. Still, most are energized and excited about their practice. As Brookline Village bustles below their Harvard Street studio, they focus, work on their breathing techniques and learn new movements. The students of the Boston School of Boabom, which opened in Brookline Village last fall, feel a deep connection to the practice of an ancient Tibetan art. Although Boabom was developed more than 10,000 years ago, the Brookline-based school is the first school of its kind in the United States. Up until now, Boabom has been taught in the United States, but not within its own school.

Boabom is a system of relaxation and self-defense, which is achieved through breathing, meditation and movements. Teacher Mauro Nunez, who goes by Sayani, said the art served as a way for the people of ancient Tibet to "take care of themselves" by exercise and philosophy that taught to future generations and is still alive today. The philosophy behind the art form is to have a simple life and to take care of the body through Boabom training.

The teachers, who acquire new names, try to be examples of simplicity for their students, Nunez said. The teachers have long hair and beards because it is the natural way to live, Nunez said. Neither teacher shared much personal information, saying that who they are is not important because they are instructors to their students in the art.

"It's a good workout, but I definitely feel energized [after]," said student Alex Calhoun of Brighton. Calhoun said he spotted an advertisement for the school in the Kenmore MBTA station and took a practice class. Although he was slow to learn at first, now he enthralled and plans to keep coming back. Calhoun said he thought the class would be more like yoga, but found it to be different.

"It makes me feel very good, very relaxed, stronger, very happy," said Katia Bazilevsky of Brighton, who has been taking classes at the school for nine months. Bazilevsky said she likes learning new movements every class.

Using words from ancient Tibet that are part of Boabom, one teacher led small groups of students last week at the studio. Each week, the school holds about 30 day and evening classes to about 60 students. During the class, students breathe loudly in unison, sharply in through their noses and forcefully through their mouths. Their breaths coincide with the various movements. The movements students learn, which look like self-defense and stretching, were done for the most part rapidly and sharply, with much energy. Nunez said a slower form of Boabom, called Seamm-Jasani, is also taught at the school, and advanced classes sometimes use props, such as sticks, in their movements.

Each student moves in a slightly different way, but teacher Mauro Nunez said this uniqueness is part of the art form. Boabom is progressive, Nunez explained; the breathing is learned slowly and the movements build on each other. Once a movement is learned, it is forgotten and new movements take its place. Yet, in order to learn new movements the earlier ones must be mastered, said teacher Benjamin Kelley, who goes by the name Tiem Nai.

The teachers said there are thousands of movements, which build upon each other. "You learn something new in every class," Nunez said. "There is always a feeling, or a sense of progression." The students learn respect, humility and discipline through the movements in class. Prior to their studio space in Brookline Village, Nunez said he and Kelley taught in various locations in the area for different periods of time, without a permanent home.

The health benefits of Boabom include stress relief and overall fitness, according to students, who ranged in age last week from mid-20s to mid-60s. Nunez said many students are bikers or runners, and often they supplement their Boabom with Pilates or yoga. Their desire for fitness also increases through practicing Boabom, he said. Nunez said students often quit smoking after starting the practice, and see the benefits in other parts of their life. One student, Chaney Becker, said he quit smoking about 10 months ago, and through Boabom, his lung capacity has grown. "So just the size of my breath during the rest of my life has expanded," said Becker.

Nunez and Kelley chose Brookline as a place to open their school, in part because of "the intense alternative health life" they saw here. Nunez pointed out the large number of yoga and Pilates studios, the Brookline Tai Chi School and several gyms, as well as alternative bookstores and food stores in town. "Brookline is really alive in that sense," Nunez said.

Student Erek Ostrowsky of Medford said he keeps coming back to the school for the challenges. "I keep coming back… my mind keeps seeing things I don't thing I can accomplish [in the classes]," he said, but then finds he can do them.

For more information about The Boston School of Boabom, visit www.bostonboabom.com or call 617-852-8077.

Monica Deady can be reached at mdeady@cnc.com.