Blue Ridge Aikido & Yoga, Daleville

Against the serene backdrop of the Appalachian Mountain foothills, the ancient Eastern traditions of aikido and yoga are alive and well. Blue Ridge Aikido & Yoga’s cofounder Irene Malochowky is a registered nurse and certified yoga instructor equipped with exactly the skill set she needs to help students safely discover their bodies’ potential during gentle or challenging yoga sessions. As a certified advanced teacher in cardiac yoga, yoga for osteoporosis, and yoga for multiple sclerosis (MS), she is uniquely positioned to help students who struggle with injuries or chronic health issues. The studio’s cofounder Ron Malachowsky has achieved the rank of sandan in aikido—the equivalent of a third-degree black belt. He infuses his martial-arts practice with mindfulness and body-awareness principles from yoga, which he has practiced for over 20 years. The result is a marital-arts class that not only teaches self-defense techniques but also the mental focus and discipline required to get through to you inner child when he’s busy texting.