Namaskar - Oct 09

Workshop Review
Surf
urfing the Vin
inyas
asa a Wave
Leah Kim
As impressive as Simon Park’s Vrischikasana is on the
advertisement for his workshop (and on our front cover),
there is a noticeable fluidity, grace and ease in his inverted
and backward-bending pose. Similarly, Julia Horn’s yoga and
Tripsichore-inspired performance piece, which starts off their
workshop, is a display of incredible physical talent, and (more
importantly) an expression and offering from her heart.
Their story together began in New York City, where they saw each
other in Dharma Mittra’s class. They soon realised that they are two
peas in a pod. “We’re two very different peas, but we’re definitely in
the same pod,” Julia explains. Perhaps more complementary than
different, the two have a similar essence in their view of yoga and
life, but there is a yin/yang unifying duality about them and their
presence together as teachers.
They share their balanced embodiment of, and approach to, yoga on
their first world tour, teaching in seven countries in seven weeks,
with Hong Kong their first stop. While it is Julia’s first time in
Asia, for Simon it is a return home to his roots. Born in Korea, he
moved to the States at a young age; this is his first trip back to Asia.
the globe. People just seem to understand the language and
movements of vinyasa; it’s inherently universal. It’s a reflection of
today’s fast-paced world. What’s especially powerful about vinyasa is
its accessibility. You can bring in a lot of different elements from
different practices. It’s not about constricting yourself to a label to
say who you are, where you’re from, and whom you belong to. Life
is universal, meaning there is a guiding energy that is beyond
human that informs us all. It’s not about limiting yourself to one
guru. Yes, I have teachers and will love and embody them eternally
in who I am. But evolution is key. Dharma always teaches that God
is right here in the centre of your heart. He is devoted to his guru,
but in his own practice, he creates.”
Julia adds, “the sacred part of the practice is the right brain stuff.
This is where creation happens, and where you connect to the
Collective Consciousness. I believe in the art form of yoga, sacred
lines and geometry of the poses. But anything is and can be yoga,
based on the intention and presence. Having a teacher or learning a
particular style is kind of like being in your family. Your family is
your heritage; you love and respect them and you abide by their
rules, but then you grow up and become a very unique individual. “
Their teaching philosophy is evident in their workshop, “Surfing
Simon still felt his Asian influence growing up, “playing karate”
with his brothers and eventually enrolling in proper karate classes.
Later, wanting to assimilate more to American culture, he moved
towards sports, playing rugby and basketball through college. A
motorcycle accident led him to yoga. “I was at UCLA at the time,
and a friend suggested yoga as a way to rehab my injuries. I looked
at the curriculum and signed up for a class called Yoga for Dancers,
taught by Shiva Rea. It was Shiva’s first class as a yoga teacher at
UCLA and my first yoga experience.” Simon studied with and
assisted Shiva for several years, and considers Shiva and Dharma his
main teachers and influences.
For Julia, “mom did yoga, so as a baby, I was already crawling
around her yoga classes. I started dancing at a young age, so I have
always been in my body. I was blessed with amazing circumstances
growing up. We lived in a small town in the mountains of North
Carolina where I was always running around, jumping off of
things, swinging on ropes into the creek. Acrobatic actions became
second nature to me. I danced in college and worked at a gym,
where I met Dana Flynn of Laughing Lotus. That’s when I realised
dance and yoga are an amazing fusion.”
As far as their teaching style, Simon is hesitant to use labels. “I
don’t want to have a label to my style, but for survival as a yoga
teacher today, it’s kind of a necessity. I think of how Bruce Lee said
to learn from everyone, and then to create your own style.” So
Simon loosely dubs his style Liquid Flow Yoga, which falls within
the general framework of Vinyasa. “I have taught in the States,
Paris, Barcelona, Costa Rica, and now being here in Hong Kong,
what strikes me the most is how similar the styles of yoga are across
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JULIA & SIMON