Daria F.

D. Paget, Professor emeritus, CUNY (Testimonial)

Darya F-M is a marvelous practitioner of various forms of Tai Chi and Kung Fu, and a mesmerizing athlete to watch. Equally importantly, she is a fine teacher, one who knows how to work effectively even with beginners. She is always supportive and encouraging, and, with gentle good humor, steadily brings her class forward, no matter what its members' starting points. She paces the introduction of material carefully, presenting it in a clear, well-analyzed manner. As one of her older students, I particularly appreciate Darya's sensitivity to her students' physical condition, and her understanding of how to lead them through the exercises in a way that protects them from unhealthy bodily stress. Darya's Tai Chi class has been highly beneficial in improving my balance, leg strength and breathing. Her application of this martial art's physical and philosophical principles has without doubt improved my general condition, for which I am grateful. Above all, Darya is a delight to work with.

A. Prasad (Testimonial)

Daria has been training me and my wife (Sangeeta) for over a year at our home. Daria is very thoughtful and observant, tailoring the types of exercises as well as their intensity according to what each of us needs at that moment. She also adds some variety to make sure each class is different and interesting. Each session is a good combination of stretching (for flexibility), kicks and stances, and strength training. Daria doesn't take it easy on her students (for their good -- so that they can push themselves to improve), but she doesn't go to the other extreme either, the training is customized to be at the right level. Having trained with some of the masters who are at the top of this field during a long stay in China, she has a very deep knowledge of the art and science of Kung Fu and it shows in her outlook. She knows exactly which muscles are involved in each activity and if we have any aches or pains, she is able to modify our plan to avoid injuring that area in any way. Plus she is so friendly and supportive! Both Sangeeta and I are very pleased that our sessions with Daria have so substantially improved our flexibility, stamina, strength and energy levels and we look forward to training with her for a long time!

Y. Levin (Testimonial)

I was visiting New York for 6 month in 2015. I came to Daria’s Kung Fu class during the second week of my stay and attended it regularly several times a week until the end of my visit. Daria is a very special teacher, and she had a great influence on how I exercise and think of a relationship between my mind and my body. She presents her lessons with calm demeanor and gentle humour, but at the same time she has an absolute passion for Kung Fu and Tai Chi movement. She gives a lot to the class, and she expects a lot from her students, but she is careful and sensitive to the student's physical ailments and limitations. My physical transformation has been very significant. I went down to 75kg from 85kg, my joints and tendons were stretched beyond what I ever thought was possible for a 45 year old male with no previous stretching experience, my back, crooked from days of sitting at the computer, straightened up, and the strength and extension of my kicks made me feel more confident on the streets of Harlem where I lived. What was also very significant for me was the overall understanding of how important it is to feel in harmony with your body and how much it positively impacts my everyday life. I brought my wife and several friends to Daria’s classes, and everyone was very impressed. Many of them are now her regular students. Based on my own and my friends’ experience, I strongly recommend attending Daria’s classes. When I come back for visits to NYC, this is one of the first things I do myself.

M. Harrold (Testimonial)

I have been taking Tai Chi with Daria for a little less than a year. I love how she not only addresses the anatomical perspective of the body and the application of the movements, but also engages your imagination in imagery and encourages a deeper connection to yourself and the world. Daria has a way of being lighthearted and at the same time no-nonsense, which creates an environment where you can make mistakes, have fun and smile while keeping the integrity of the art form she is teaching. She is extremely knowledgeable which will be apparent to anyone after the first 15 minutes of her class. I have a background as a professional dancer and have also studied yoga and Wing Chung before starting to take Daria FM’s Tai Chi class. She is able to talk about the complexities and intricacies of movement with me and just as effectively simplify concepts to students for whom this is their first endeavor studying a physical form. Not being a morning person, I am constantly surprised at how easy it is for me to wake up at 6am if it is for Tai Chi class in the beautiful Morningside Park. The practice enriches my day and mood every time.