Two Businesses Combine to Make 'Mahwah Movement' Studio

A longtime Mahwah business owner has tweaked his business model, and says that so far, his decision to partner with another local entrepreneur has paid off.

About a month ago, Shido Kan Karate in Mahwah moved from its location in the bottom portion of the shopping center at the intersection of Ridge Road and Macarthur Boulevard to the top – expanding from about a 2,500 square foot space, to one that is over 5,000 square feet.

As part of the move, Shido Kan has combined with Ma Yoga and Meditation, which has two studios inside the new location. Together, the two businesses make up ‘Mahwah Movement Arts.’

So far, owners Sensei Mitch Cooperman of Shido Kan and Lorin Oneal of Ma Yoga, say the marriage between their two studios is a perfect fit.

“We saw that there are actually a lot of similarities between karate and yoga, and the need for the whole family to do [some physical activity] in one place,” Oneal said. “It’s a great set-up because the two businesses are separated, so they maintain their own identities, but are able to compliment each other since they are in the same building.”

Walking into the new Mahwah Movement Arts, patrons can choose to either enter the karate studio to the left, or yoga studio to the right. So the owners say, each studio maintains its own feel. The tranquility of the yoga studio not interrupted by karate, and the high-intensity karate classes not thrown off by yoga meditations happening next door.

However, being together does allow the two businesses to share clientele, the owners said.

Karate students are starting to take yoga classes to improve their concentration, and Ma offers “Yoga While You Wait” classes to parents of kids taking karate lessons, the owners said.

“It’s an express class, so parents can do something for themselves while their kids are taking karate,” Oneal said.

“I really like to think of the concept as wellness for the whole family.”

The integration of the two different disciplines was the driving force behind the move to the new location, Cooperman – who decided last year to move into the bigger space, which was previously occupied by the Prime Time Learning Center.

Cooperman, a Mahwah resident, has owned and operated Shido Kan in Mahwah for the past nine years. Oneal, a resident who has been practicing yoga for 18 years and teaching for 10, was teaching yoga classes at the karate studio’s previous location.

The move has allowed the yoga studio to expand, the owners say.

In addition to a full schedule of Kundalini yoga, Ma offers lunchtime yoga for corporate workers in the area, a children’s yoga program, Fusion Fitness, and an “Embodying the Goddess Within” individualized fitness program.

Fusion Fitness is a combination course that marries yoga and belly dancing in its ancient form, Oneal said.

“There are many links between the [two disciplines],” Oneal, a trained belly dancer, said.

“I don’t perform, I just teach women for spirituality and for fitness.”

The Goddess Fitness program is a 40-day one-on-one program that works to “sculpt the body,” through yoga and belly dancing classes, healing and massage therapy, and nutrition consultation.

As it goes on, the owners say they plan to expand their offerings, reach out to more students, and even start hosting events like a grand opening and yoga concerts.

“We really want this to be a wonderful community center,” Oneal said.

Shido Kan's previous location will be replaced by a bakery and frozen yogurt shp.

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