Young & Driven
Forged in the Storm:
A Man’s Perilous Journey Through Addiction & Enlightenment
Photos by Kalyn Ruijters
Cogen Bohanec, 32, is on his way to becoming a third degree black belt in Shotokan karate. He has also begun to successfully pioneer a new form of yoga in his new studio in Penngrove, Calif. This new form of yoga, known as Virya Power Yoga, is a new discipline that is yet to be tapped in the yoga world. This form of yoga challenges the practitioner to develop an extreme unity between the body and the mind.
But if yoga isn’t your thing, Bohanec’s new studio teaches traditional Shotokan karate for those looking to delve into martial arts. Bohanec has spent the better part of 12 years dedicating his life to perfecting the art of Shotokan, while developing his own style of yoga. Bohanec plans on taking this form of yoga to the next level. This new style is not only geared for the lower body, but upper body as well.
One of Bohanec’s childhood dreams was to take martial arts, but his constant working with his family and schooling had left him no time to consider it. “My father was a refugee from Croatia and all my summers were spent working 6 days a week.”
The dream became reality when he set foot in the dojo. Immediately, he was disgusted with himself. “When you are a homeless punk kid, you think you are the toughest person out there.” Bohanec quickly realized that he was the most out of shape, along with the unwelcome discovery that he was not that tough. At the same time, the excitement of achieving a dream was beginning to take hold. “I went through this dark area as an adolescent where it seemed that dreaming wasn’t worth it.” The rediscovery of his ability to dream fueled his new ambition to better his life.
Bohanec’s new goal was to become a martial arts instructor. He was overwhelmed with the ability to see the progression of his physical being. The strict discipline of the art also brought a calming effect to a once raging spirit. “At the beginning I thought I could kick anybody’s ass, you know, you’re a typical aggressive and arrogant 20-year-old.” It quickly became humbling when he lost his first few matches. The sport helped him confront his own deficiencies and forced him to look deep within himself for the first time. “It takes all of these internal conflicts that you have and puts them at peace.”
Bohanec continued studying the Shotokan form of martial arts and has earned the title of Second Dan, or second degree as commonly known in the States. The drive to fill his mind and body helped Bohanec rediscover school, and he went back to Santa Rosa Junior College. He gave up the fear of not chasing his dreams. Martial arts is what he wanted to teach. “Society has this notion that you need a career, but I didn’t want a career, I wanted to do what I love and that is teaching martial arts.” Bohanec watched as friends around him sacrificed their dreams of happiness for careers and as he put it, “I was the only one crazy enough to do what I love and make a living out of it.”
Despite knowing that he might be poor, he was not afraid. He had already lived life on the streets and was ready to live out of his car as long as he could continue to chase his dream. “I would rather be poor doing what makes me happy instead of living a successful life that has nothing to do with my goal.”
Bohanec had climbed the mountain, but a new challenge loomed overhead. His martial arts knowledge had grown but he felt that there was more to be discovered. He found a book on Hatha yoga written by Sri Swami Satchidananda. “I saw this man with a gray beard wearing a Speedo doing some crazy things with his body that I had never imagined.” His encounter with yoga only stoked his physical and mental fire. He began incorporating his Shotokan knowledge with yoga. His martial arts stretching routine soon became a yoga routine.
Bohanec then met his future wife, and shortly after dating, she asked him to join her in a yoga class. Since he had no formal instruction aside from literature, he obliged and as he puts it, “It was all over after that.” He would sign up for every possible yoga class available and has now developed his own form of yoga called Virya. Virya is Sanskrit meaning effort, vigor, diligence, zeal, high-energy, or indomitable will. It is the one quality that Bohanec can’t physically teach, but it’s the one requirement needed before setting foot in class.
Bohanec is on his way to earning a PhD in Sanskrit at Berkeley. His ultimate goal is to eventually give back to the community for all he has taken. He would especially love to give back to India, as he has taken so much from the country in terms of teaching and philosophy. “If this were to end right now, I would be happy because I have become a success.”
Cogen Bohanec has successfully opened his new studio in Penngrove Cailf., called Sonoma Yoga Martial Arts. Despite his growing success teaching and opening his new studio, there is the tale of a man who almost didn’t end up on this path of enlightenment and tranquility. For more of this interview go to our website, click on Young & Driven. For those who are interested in getting in touch with their own inner spirit, head over to http://www.sonomayogamartialarts.com/ for more info.
/By Jonas Magana
