At dojo, a striking resemblance between yoga and martial arts

Yogic meditation and throwing other people on their backsides may seem worlds apart. But in Allston they aren't.

Not only is a local karate studio opening its doors to a yoga class - and planning to add more - but the studio's founder and director, Jason Gould, says the two disciplines have a lot in common.

"The roots of martial arts and yoga are part of the same tree," he said. Gould says both concentrate on four things: harmonizing the body, mastering a technique or posture, breath awareness, and mindfulness.

"Martial arts are a moving meditation. Yoga is a moving meditation," he said.

Yoga instructor Lisa Harrington agreed. In Kripalu yoga, she said, "we talked about the different stages: first, focusing on the body; second, the breath and coordinating breath and movement; and third, energy rising in the body - or meditation in motion."

Moreover, the classes are not simultaneous at the Emerald Necklace Martial Arts studio at 129 Braintree St.

The addition of Harrington's yoga is a prelude to November's move across the street to 95 Everett St., which will give the five-year-old studio three times the kicking-around space as well as a place for its community service activities and community meetings, Gould said.

"It will still be one studio for physical activities," he said. But the classes will be able to enroll more students. Eventually, Gould hopes to add more types of yoga and to extend the studio's hours.

Harrington stated that the first yoga class is free, and that the studio charges a drop-in rate as well as a per-class rate for those who aren't sure they want to commit to a whole series of classes.

More details on both the karate studio and the yoga class are available at karateinboston.com.

ANDREAE DOWNS