Yoga Teacher to the Stars
April 19, 2007
Shirtless and dressed in black yoga pants, Duncan Wong places his weight on his right foot, extends his left leg towards the ceiling, and outstretches both arms, easily balancing on one foot.
He effortlessly transitions into his next pose, a kneeling lunge with arms in a prayer position.
These classic yoga poses are all featured in his recently released workout DVDs based on his internationally recognized Yogic Arts system, which Wong, 39, has taught to celebrities including Madonna, Sting and Bjork.
“I never stop being star-struck,” admits Wong. “I just pretend not to be. I’ve been called the first yoga teacher to the rock stars and I love that.”
“I just love Duncan’s wild style of yoga,” comments Madonna.
Yogic Arts synthesizes science, spirit, and art and embraces three ancient and revered traditions: Korean Buddhist martial arts, Ashtanga yoga, and Thai and shiatsu massage therapy.
“Although these traditions may seem dissimilar on the surface, they share a common philosophical core. All three recognize the complex energy pathways in each of us,” said Wong.
Wong said martial artists and yogis use similar meditation techniques to unify mind, body, and community. The training and self-awareness that a martial artist practices is the same as that of the yogi. The combative elements of martial arts, which yoga embodies in its “warrior” poses, become active metaphors for resolving everyday inner battles.
“In Yogic Arts we strive to overcome our limitations and eliminate our inner adversaries—uncertainty, inconsistency, and unconsciousness,” said Wong. “As we practice on the mat, unifying and linking these ancient techniques into flowing forms, we achieve greater calmness, clarity, and confidence.”
Born in San Francisco, Wong was exposed to marital arts at an early age. His grandfather practiced Gung-Fu regularly and inspired Wong to learn.
Seeking discipline and independence, Wong decided to leave home at the age of 12. He traveled across North America, ran in motorcycle gangs and fought in the ring as an open tournament kickboxer.
By the age of 16, he returned home to San Francisco and encountered yoga for the first time.
“The combative lifestyle took a toll on my body and psyche. Yoga and a yogic style of being changed me, by allowing a more peaceful way to harness my seemingly unlimited yang energy,” said Wong. “My parents supported whatever kept me happy and out of trouble.”
In his twenties Wong remained dedicated to practicing yoga and martial arts, and Yogic Arts was born from his balancing of the two. He earned his black belt from sword mentor Kwahn Jang Nym, of the Korean Kuk Sool Won martial arts family line and decided to explore and study the disciplines of Shiatsu and Thai massage therapy upon learning that healing and killing points are the same.
He then studied yoga in New York City at the Jivamukti Yoga Center and the Patanjali Yoga Shala. He became certified in the Jivamukti method, and taught all over the globe.
Wong notices a difference in the way people perceive yoga.
“In the West, people are more self-serving, wanting to know how they can achieve enlightenment through yoga and what they can gain from it,” said Wong. “While in the East, the mentality is how can I serve my community with my enlightenment, what will I be able to do for others.”
In 2003, while visiting China, Wong fell in love with Tiffany Hua and decided to stay. The two opened up Namaste Yoga Shala, their own yoga and pilates garden studio in Shanghai, China, where Wong currently resides.
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