#84 – Keen on Yoga Podcast with Yan Ong

Yan Ong tested at the top 2% of worlds IQ at the age of 16. Joining
the Mensa Society, sparked an interest to discover the purpose of
intellect. She sought out to gain knowledge through university
degrees in science graduating with honours in Biotechnology from
the world's 5th ranked university. In attempt to balance both left
and right brain function took a second university course in the
arts.  Although she found solving problems and creating ideas
fun, there was still something that corporate life was not
fulfilling. 6 years of working in business and I was over it, there
had to be more to life.  She hit the road for 2 years of
backpacking on her own from South America, Africa and ending up in
Bali.

She discovered Ashtanga yoga in 2001 with a book and a class for
4 years.  In 2008 everything fell into place and the
Ashtanga Yoga became her life. In 2010 she found her teacher,
Paramagruru Sharath Jois and moved to Mysore.  Living in
Mysore for 4 years Yan practicing under his guidance and
privately studied sacred texts constituting the Upanishads and
Yoga Sutras with renowned philosophy expert Professor Najarajao
Rao.


Yan and Mysore


In 2012 she was authorised by Paramaguru Sharath Jois to teach
Ashtanga Yoga and was fortunate to have the opportunity to travel
and teach across the globe in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei,
Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines & more. I’m blessed
to be Malaysia’s first Level 2 qualified Ashtanga Yoga teacher.


In the 20 years since she found Ashtanga Yoga, she has learned to
heal her own spinal, ankle and wrist injuries, manage stress and
hypothyroidism within the practice.  Thus having a more
thoughtful, accepting and compassionate approach towards asana
and its ability to be therapeutic.  


In conjunction with having dealt with both physical and health
struggles during her journey, 10 years study of yoga philosophy
scripture which the practice is built upon, has given her
understanding of the practice from a deeper yet wider
perspective.


Yan is also largely influenced by non-denominational spiritual
teacher Eckhart Tolle. She has time with him on retreat and
completed his 6-month advanced School of Awakening course. 


She teaches with her husband Manuel and now plans to spend time
between their native countries, Malaysia and Portugal. 


You can find her at @yanyoga or on her website
https://www.yanong.me/