Meet William Valencia!

I’m 32 years old, Filipino-american, and originally from San Diego, CA. I graduated from UC Davis, studying biology. I’ve been in the Biotechnology industry for ten years, and am currently working in research as a biochemist. I recently got married to my beautiful wife, Theresa. I’ve been training martial arts, especially Brazilian Jiu-jitsu for about ten years as well.

Yoga has been very complimentary to my training, but still very intense at the same. Aside from technique, jiu-jitsu can require a lot of explosion and aggression. Yoga, on the other hand, has allowed my body to actively settle into positions, deepening and lengthening a pose, requiring not only my body to be calm but my mind as well. Yoga has greatly increased my flexibility, helped control my breathing, and improved my isometric strength. I also feel yoga has helped me recover faster from injuries and prevent them from happening too. For me, jiu-jitsu is to yoga as yin is to yang.

– William Valencia, Yoga Practicioner