Graduada Mulher Maravilha

GRADUADA MULHER MARAVILHA
Lori Evans Maciel, also known as Graduada Mulher Maravilha, has been training with Axé Capoeira for over 16 years. Lori trained directly under Mestre Barrão for approximately 5 years, at Vancouver’s headquarters, until he moved back to Brazil. After this she remained training under Mestrando Barrãozinho and Contra-Mestre Ossoduro, who currently leads the Vancouver location. Lori has been teaching children for approximately 13 years. She has taught children of all ages, from 3 years old and up. Currently, she leads the mini kids, (ages 3-6 years old), program at the Vancouver Academy. She also helps support Contra-Mestre Ossoduro teaching youth and adult classes weekly. Lori has travelled to Brazil 5 times to participate in capoeira events and competitions and she has also travelled to events across Canada and the United States. Furthermore, she is a part of the Axé Capoeira Show Team and is the manager of Axé Capoeira Vancouver.

Social Benefits

Meet new people: When you join a capoeira group, you become part of a family. You will definitely make new friends along the way. You will meet people from your own city and all over the world through capoeira events and practice.

Learn a new language: You may not become fluent (though that’s always a possibility), but there is no doubt that you will come to understand and perhaps speak a bit of Brazilian Portuguese.

Travel abroad: There are frequently opportunities to travel both regionally and internationally for capoeira activities. And traveling as a capoeirista is far superior to traveling as a tourist. When you do, you will undoubtedly have the opportunity to experience visited cities as a personal guest of a fellow capoeirista. You will often even have the option to stay in someone’s home for low or no cost.

Learn about a new culture: Capoeira is deeply connected to Africa and Brazil. In a time when many martial arts are reduced to aerobic workouts and cookie cutter dojos, capoeira maintains all of its roots and traditions. For those who value heritage and generational wisdom passed down over hundreds of years, you will love this about Capoeira.

Join a Community: Capoeira is at once a widely communal and a deeply individual experience. Once you become a capoeirista (practitioner of capoeira), you form an instant bond with thousands of people across the globe who share your passion. At the same time, you will gain the ability to do things that most of the general public could never dream of. And in doing so, you will discover a true sense of uniqueness.
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Physical Benefits

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Stress Reduction: A regular capoeira practice does wonders for relaxing the mind and body. Any capoeirista can attest to the dramatic shift in attitude before and after class.

Strength: Capoeiristas are always moving around on their hands in handstands, rolls, poses, etc. This makes a marked improvement on upper body strength. Also, so many of the movements require one to engage the abs and core strength that one has no choice but to whip them into shape.

Flexibility: Some capoeiristas are on par with serious yoga practitioners in terms of their flexibility. But even those who moderately improve their flexibility lower their risk for injury and increase their everyday mobility.

Cardio and Stamina: Many times athletes from various sports are surprised when they feel winded from a capoeira workout. This is because capoeira uses muscle groups and cardio fitness in unique ways. Intense capoeira games can require enormous amounts of energy. This, combined with constant repetition of movements and techniques, makes capoeira a valuable cardio exercise.

Overall Fitness: Capoeira will improve your strength, flexibility, and stamina, thus improving your overall fitness. It may take a while to become fit, but once you start to take capoeira seriously you can become the picture of fitness.

Personal Growth Benefits

Gain confidence:If nothing else, capoeira is perfect for instilling a sense of pride and confidence in anyone who plays. Not only will you feel stronger and more courageous once you become comfortable in the jogo (game), you’ll find confidence in knowing that you are unique among your (non-capoeira) peers because you can do things they couldn’t imagine doing.

Live authentically:Capoeira is a total body, mind, and emotional expression. It involves one’s whole authentic person. Now that takes time to do with ease and regularity. But as one grows more confident in the martial art, he or she also grows more confident in the ability to express one’s unique voice.


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