Sharon Jung is a seasoned yogi hailing from LA, USA and we are extremely grateful to her for taking out time to share her yoga journey with us. Sharon is also a portrait photographer besides being a yogi. Her photography also speaks volumes of her passion to capture a moment of reality into life-like pictures. We had a little chit-chat with Sharon about how yoga has had a massive impact on her life.
How did you start your yoga journey Sharon?
“I started practicing yoga in 2015 when I was living in Seoul, Korea. I joined an at-home yoga group for expats living in Seoul. I fell in love with it immediately.
The small, friendly setting really felt like home. I had so many friends who had completed teacher training and encouraged me in my practice. Later in the year,
I decided to take teacher training myself. I’ve now been practicing for around 4 years and teaching for three.”
Did you ever have an inspirational figure in your life like a teacher/mentor that had a great impact on you as an individual?
“That’s a really hard question. I had many teachers that mentored me throughout my journey. Elizabeth was one of the first teachers in Seoul that challenged me and made me feel empowered in my practice. Ray was another mentor for me in Seoul. As I moved back to the US (to Los Angeles), I improved my practice and teaching in a more technical way. The teachers that really helped me grow both as a practitioner and as teacher are Shahada and Paul at the studio where I now teach.”
Tell us about your yoga methodology and if you have preference for a certain genre?
“I have always loved the Vinyasa Flow style of practice. It combines fluid and deliberate movement, further working on our understanding of balancing equal and opposite forces. It’s challenging, but also peaceful.”
Yoga is a life-changing experience for so many people. How has yoga helped you overcome any obstacles in your daily life?
“Just before the time I started teacher training, I was going through a hard time in my life. I was dealing with a broken engagement and teacher training really helped me find my center as the world around me felt very uncertain and shaken up. In general, yoga has helped me calm my mind, taught me how to detach from earthly things/emotions, and helped me understand how to live love-first rather than fear-first.”
I have always come across people telling me different emotions they experience on their mats. What is your mind set when you step onto the mat?
Just breathe. Just be.
When did you understand you wanted to be a yoga teacher?
The way I began my yoga journey was unique. I was part of an at-home yoga group for expats while I was living in Seoul. The setting was intimate and so welcoming. I wanted to be part of that. I was hosting in my home a lot, and I wanted to share my love of everything I was learning and feeling even more. I began teacher training and it changed my life.
Is there a phrase that Sharon lives by or is there a particular quote or mantra that’s your compass?
I end every class with “May all beings everywhere be happy and free and may our thoughts, words, and actions contribute to the happiness and freedom of others.”
Please visit Sharon’s instagram for more inspiration on her work
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