 Son Hui Yi was born in Seoul, Korea and immigrated to the United States, becoming a citizen in 1980. Son Hui has proven that a good idea, hard work and dedication makes success possible for anyone. Not only did she learn the English language, she learned everything she could about her new country. By 1983, she had founded and successfully headed two businesses. Son Hui's determination also extended into her leisure activities. In her martial arts practice, Son Hui earned a Second Degree Black Belt in Karate. Through Karate, she developed the Art of Stretching, a systematic and highly effective method of increasing flexibility and strength. This led her to the yogic path; a path that would change her life.
Son Hui set out to learn all she could about this 5,000 year old practice, a quest that would take her to the other side of the world. She wanted to perfect her practice by studying with a world-renowned guru. Son Hui obtained admission to the Mysore Mandala School of Yoga, and in January 2005,  she went to India for three months. At the end of the first month, due to her diligence and ability, she was invited to enter the teaching program. By the end of her stay in India, she not only received three certificates of completion from various schools and disciplines, she had earned her coveted teaching certificate.
Yi Yoga began as a belief held by founder Son Hui Yi that the practice of Ashtanga Yoga is able to significantly improve people's lives in a variety of ways. Since she established Yi Yoga, she has embodied this belief, bringing the innumerable benefits of yoga to her students. Her quest for knowledge and her desire to help people continues to propel Son Hui to new levels of achievement and understanding of this ancient practice. Son Hui has now completed thousands of hours teaching yoga to hundreds of people of all ages and in all types of physical conditions. Her students range from youthful athletes to the elderly. She has worked with students who have a variety of physical disabilities including: multiple sclerosis, scoliosis, thyroid, back and knee problems and ALS. Through this experience she has seen improvements in all who continued the practice. Son Hui is excellent in providing her students with hands-on adjustments. In hands-on adjustment, Son Hui positions and supports the student, allowing the student to feel how the pose is supposed to feel. The student is then better able to achieve the pose on his or her own, realizing the optimum benefit from practice.
Never satisfied to rest on her Laurels, Son Hui goes back to Mysore, India every year to study with the masters. She has had the honor and pleasure to study with K. Pattabhi Jois. She learned Paanchajanya Yoga from its originator, Vinay Kumar. Son Hui is currently the only certified teacher of Paanchajanya Yoga in the United States. She undertook a private study with Dr. H. R. Narasimhan, a physiotherapist and assistant professor and principal of the College of Physiotherapy in Mysore, India. From Dr. Narasimhan, she received a wealth of information about the therapeutic benefits of yoga in the treatment for a variety of diseases.
Now considered a yoga master, Son Hui is qualified to teach people wishing to become yoga instructors. She offers a customized curriculum which is developed to the needs of the individual instructor. Instructors will learn the sequences of both Ashtanga and Paanchajanya yoga, as well as therapeutic yoga, Yin yoga, Hatha yoga and Pranayama. One very important component of the curriculum is hands-on adjustment. The ability to provide proper hands-on adjustment is crucial to effective yoga instruction. Graduates of Yi Yoga School of Ashtanga Yoga will be confident yoga teachers who will go on to help countless students enjoy the benefits of yoga practice.
 Son Hui is an inspiration and a guiding light to her students. She leads by example, practicing with a diligence. Several of her students are poised to become yoga instructors in their own right. Son Hui was also invited and went to give instruction to 30 yoga teachers in Bologna, Italy in August 2007. Son hui has not only achieved her goal of becoming a yoga master, she continues to move forward on her quest on the pathway of life called yoga.
Credentials
and Awards
During the course
of her studies in India, Son Hui has received intensive training not just
in the practice of yoga, but also in many related subjects including:
Pranayama (breathing techniques), Sanskrit, successful and appropriate
adjustments to students’ posture and Ayurvedic
therapeutic massage. She completed additional classes in the theory
and philosophy of yoga. With regard to the therapeutic importance
of yoga, Son Hui gained valuable knowledge in gross anatomy and yogic
management of various diseases. This component includes indication
and contraindication for specific asanas (poses).
Son Hui currently offers classes in:
Ashtanga Yoga, Paanchajanya yoga, Hatha yoga, Yin yoga, Therapeutic yoga and Pranayama.
Son Hui would like to acknowledge her teachers, and through them, all of the yoga teachers who have passed down this remarkable way of life.
Son Hui's Accreditations and Teaching Experience:
Heartland Gymnastics
Teaching the Art of Stretching
Awards
2003 – Tang
Soo Do Federation National Competition held in Pittsburgh, PA 1
st Place in Division in Breaking
2004 – Earned
2nd Degree Black Belt in Karate
2004 – Tang
Soo Do Federation International Competition held in Orlando, FL
1
st Place in Division, Gold Medal in Form
2005– Tang
Soo Do Federation National Competition held in Pittsburgh, PA 2
nd Place
in Division in Breaking |
