Born in the rural mountains of Kwangju, Korea to parents Kun Ho and his lovely young wife Kwang Hae. The 2nd of 3 boys, Simon had an idyllic childhood surrounded by pets and adventures to the nearby mountains and rivers. Childhood takes a drastic change in a move of the family to America to suburban Philadelphia in 1978. Raised to assimilate with other American children, Simon grew up playing sports that changed with the seasons; football, baseball, and basketball. His wanderlust for travel takes hold during college, flying west to UCLA. A new world of Asian influence took hold, as well as many California adventures. In the World Arts and Cultures Department at UCLA he meets Shiva Rea, who changes his life forever. He studies Ashtanga Yoga with her and soon begins Yoga studies at YogaWorks in Santa Monica. Under the guidance of founder Maty Ezraty, he continues to study Ashtanga and begins practicing Iyengar Yoga. In 1998, Simon moves back to Philadelphia in order to support the family business, ” The Natural Shoe Store “.
He begins teaching in the Philadelphia area and helps to introduce the hybrid West coast style known as Vinyasa to urban Philadelphia. After a fruitful period of teaching and studying with senior Iyengar teacher Joan White, Simon relocates to New York City in 2002 to be a part of the blossoming Yoga scene. He becomes co-creator of “Body Enlightening”, the signature therapy at the newly launched Exhale Spa. Teaching alongside a roster of NYC’s top yoga teacher’s from many traditions, he is featured in the New York Times, W Magazine, and Yoga Journal. He begins to assist Shiva Rea nationally and begins a close mentorship that continues today. Simon also begins to travel nationally to present his own workshops.
From 2002 to present, Simon tours the U.S. extensively, is a frequent guest of many Teacher’s Training programs, and becomes one of the few facilitators of Shiva’s Prana Flow Teachers’s Training Program. He studies with Yoga legend Dharma MIttra and is tagged by Yoga Journal as one of the most ” influential and gifted… next generation of Yoga teachers under 40 “.
In 2007 Simon begins teaching internationally, starting in Barcelona and Paris. In 2009 he completes a world tour with teaching engagements in Hong Kong, Singapore, Bali, Thailand, Paris and Iceland. He becomes brand ambassador for Manduka, Be Present, and Yoga Today. Simon is featured in American Express Black Ink Magazine in their ” Extraordinary Things To Do ” issue.
In 2011, Simon completes his first extensive European tour, teaches at the Hanuman and Wanderlust festivals, studies with Ashtanga teacher Richard Freeman and returns to native Korea. He teaches at the first Korea Yoga Conference and the response is heartfelt and the completion of a very long cycle. In 2012, he will return to Korea offer his first full 200 hr training. Also planned for 2012: a second European tour; festivals in Barcelona and Austria, as well as retreats to Costa Rica, Kos, Crete, Austria, The French Alps, and Turkey.
Dubbed ” The Flying Nomad ” by his teacher Shiva, Simon is a global adventurer known for instilling a sense of freedom and fearlessness with his students. He would especially like to thank amongst myriads of helpful souls: his mother Mrs Park for her incredible example of selfless, devotional, endless work; brother Chris for the same; Shiva for her revolutionary spirit and boundless support; Twee Merrigan for her soul connections; Duncan Wong for his bravado; Dhyana for keeping it real in Philly; Jon and Amy Dobrin of for keeping a shirt on my back, and Julia for showing me how to truly fly. Simon is still based in Philadelphia and loves teaching at his home studio Dhyana Yoga.