Biography

Malaysian Josephine Ong has been practicing yoga for about nine years. After years of working in the hectic Graphic Design and Public Relations field, she decided to turn her passion for yoga into her full-time profession.

Josephine holds an International Diploma in Ashtanga Yoga from the Sivananda Vedante (institute) Training Academy of Chennai, India. Under the guidance of Indian masters, she was formally trained in the traditional knowledge and yogic practices such as Pranayama, Kriyas, Bandhas, Meditation, History and Philosophy of Yoga, Yoga Sanskrit and the Yoga Sutras, as well as Human Anatomy and Exercise Physiology of Hatha Yoga. In 2005, Josephine completed her Yin Yoga Teacher Training Course with Bernie Clark from Canada.

Apart from Yoga and meditation, Josephine is also a certified Reiki Level II Healer. She continues to train and study with Reiki Master Linda Van Doornewaard, as well as Reiki Master, Karuna Reiki Master, Myotheraphist and Flower Remedy Specialist Michael Barthaud.  

Josephine has practiced under various experienced teachers and instructors, including Master Malik Dhamendra, Master Vyankatash Reddy, Matthew Sweeney, David Muehsam, Rachel Hull, Simon Borg-Olivier, Duncan Wong, Chad Herst, Bernie Clark, Michael Hamilton, Lorraine Arronson, Florian Palzinsky, Robert Lucas, Yamaraja, Shahrul Noentil and so on. In Oct 2006 she studied Yoga Synergy's Applied Physiology & Practical Anatomy workshop with Simon Borg-Olivier of Australia. In the same year, she studied Tibetan Heart Yoga with the Yoga Studies Institute. She also took part in the 2006 Yoga In Asia Yoga Conference held in Guangzhou, China, learning from other gurus including Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji, Sri H.V. Prasad, Swami Kriyatma Saraswati, Swami Omteertha Saraswati, Swami Kali Ray, Michel Bersnard and Marlene Miller.

Although Josephine started with a Hatha Yoga background, she practices a variety of other styles of yoga including Ashtanga, Vinyasa Flow, Power, Sivananda Hatha, Yin and Iyengar. As a result, her style of teaching stems from her own experience and teachings, creating a fusion of these various styles.  

Previously, Josephine taught briefly in Singapore before basing herself in Shanghai, China. She was a resident teacher at Ashtanga Shanghai, the only yoga studio in Shanghai dedicated to the eight limbs of yoga. Apart from teaching, she also managed the shala by assisting in administrative duties and overall logistics co-ordination. She also assisted guest teachers during special Teacher Training workshops.

At that same time, Josephine was teaching simultaneously at several yoga studios in Shanghai. She was teaching at Karma Yoga Studio in Shanghai where she taught classes in both English and Mandarin in the form of Ashtanga, Hatha Yoga, Power, Vinyasa Flow and Yin Yoga. She collaborated with Robert Lucas, an experienced Ashtanga Yoga Teacher from Canada in choreographing a yoga demonstration for the studio's New Year Celebrations in January 2006.

In addition, she also taught at other yoga studios including Yoga Shala Shanghai, Easy Yoga and Breeze Yoga Centre. Aside from teaching public classes, she is also experienced in private tutoring for both new and seasoned yoga practitioners.  

In December 2006, Josephine founded Shantih Shala in Hua Hin, Thailand. Since then she actively continues to develop the Yoga and spiritual community through Yoga workshops, Meditation classes, Healing Circles, Reiki and various holistic events in both Hua Hin and Bangkok.

Josephine has also been invited to work as a Visiting Consultant on Yoga at Chivasom, a renowned international health and wellness resort based in Hua Hin. She is also the resident Yoga Instructor at Putahracsa, a famous local boutique hotel. In November 2007, Josephine conducted the 'Mission Possible' Event, a 50-person group session for Swedish Bank Santander at The Hyatt Regency Hotel Hua Hin. Her next step is to further her studies with an intensive Yoga Teacher Training Course (Yoga Alliance registered) with renowned Australia Yoga institute, Yogarts in July 2008.

She firmly believes in the mantra of "the student is the teacher, and the teacher is the student" which rewards her journey both as a teacher and practitioner. More importantly, she reminds everyone to relax and HAVE FUN while yoga-ing!