Joo Teoh is a teacher of hatha vinyasa yoga, qigong and meditation. Joo started teaching in 2007 in China's first dedicated yoga studio, Yoga Yard Beijing. In the UK, he has taught at The Life Centre, Yoga On The Lane, and Triyoga. Joo's main teachers are Cameron Tukapua, Max Strom, Matthew Raymond Cohen, Mimi Kuo-Deemer, Robyn Wexler and Judith Hanson Lasater. Joo's classes emphasise breath, alignment and intention. He integrates movements and postures from the yogic tradition with energetic qigong practices, which aim to strengthen the body and calm the mind. Joo is particularly known for teaching in a way that is accessible and welcoming to all levels of experience, age and physical ability.
His first book “Qigong in Yoga Teaching and Practice” was published by Singing Dragon in 2021.
Joo's Yoga & Qigong classes are online at Movement For Modern Life, the "Netflix of Yoga" - an online treasure-trove of movement practices with some of the best teachers in the world.
Joo is also a Five Element acupuncturist, practising the tradition as taught by the late Prof JR Worsley. Joo was trained at the London Institute of Five Element Acupuncture (LIFEA) by Master Five Element acupuncturist, fertility expert and author Gerad Kite.
Joo runs private retreats at his home in Normandy, France.
Joo TEOH est professeur du yoga « hatha vinyasa », du Qigong et de la méditation. Il a commencé à enseigner en 2007 au premier studio de yoga de la Chine, Yoga Yard à Beijing. Il a donné ses cours dans les studios les plus respectés de Londres et continue à mener des ateliers à l’étranger. Les cours de Joo sont connus pour être accessibles et accueillants à tous, peu importe niveau d’expérience, âge ou capacité physique. Ses cours sont aussi disponible en ligne sur Movement For Modern Life (en anglais). Joo continue d’etudier avec ses professeurs Max Strom, Matthew Cohen, Judith Hanson Lasater, Cameron Tukapua et Mimi Kuo-Deemer.
Joo est aussi acuponcteur de l’école « Cinq Éléments », formé au ‘London Institute of Five Element Acupuncture’ par Gerad Kite – maître acuponcteur, auteur et spécialiste en fertilité.
My story and my teachers
In 1985, my mum introduced me to “The Jane Fonda Workout”. We often did the workout together, and sometimes when mum was at work, I would put the video on and do it myself. I was barely 10 years old, I had no idea what these moves and exercises were. All I knew was that I felt amazing afterwards. Yes, it was an aerobics exercise video, but I did not realise back then that Jane Fonda was one of the early students of Yoga in the USA. She studied with Indian teachers who brought Yoga to the US in the 1970s, and incorporated many of these yoga postures into her aerobics workout. So, imagine my surprise when, at my first “adult” yoga class, I found my body already knew many postures.
Yoga was always my preferred form of physical exercise. I practised at home with DVDs, I found studios in New York, London and Shanghai where I became a big fan of hot yoga, until my body said “Stop, please.” Then one day in 2006, I stepped into a yoga class in Yoga Yard Beijing taught by Mimi Kuo, and everything changed. The practice took on a different meaning, a new depth. It resonated at a spiritual and emotional level, not just the physical. I attended class religiously with Mimi three times a week. Nine months later, I completed my first teacher training course with Matthew Cohen, who also taught me qigong. I started assisting Mimi and several other teachers, and started teaching in 2007. Yoga Yard Beijing invited some excellent teachers to China, and as a result, I went on to train with Max Strom, Judith Hanson Lasater, Donna Farhi, Sarah Powers, Sherry Brourman and Cameron Tukapua.
More about my teachers.
Cameron Tukapua is still my mentor and teacher. She introduced me to the five elements and spiritual medicine. She guided me back to the beauty and power of a tradition from which I was born but which I rejected in my youth in favour of western science. She is an excellent acupuncturist, author of three books, and the founder of an Acupuncture College in Christchurch; New Zealand.
Mimi Kuo-Deemer is one of the most dedicated students of yoga and qigong I have ever met. Her dedication is inspiring and humbling and I will always be her student for as long as she continues to share her wisdom. She is the world’s leading qigong teacher, author of two books, a dear mentor and friend.
Matthew Cohen has spent his life practising and teaching martial arts. He blends qigong and yoga and was my first qigong teacher. He lives and breathes these sacred arts and is still a source of inspiration to my qigong practice today.
Max Strom was owner and teacher at one of the best studios in LA, Exhale. He is the founder of the Inner Axis system of yoga, and Breathe To Heal. He is the author of two books and a frequent speaker at TEDx events.
Judith Hanson Lasater was a student of BKS Iyengar. She founded the Yoga Journal magazine. She started teaching yoga in 1971 and still teaches all over the world today. She has authored 11 books. I studied Restorative Yoga with Judith. Thanks to Judith, I have experienced the power of true rest.
Donna Farhi is known as the “teacher of teachers”. Many teachers taught me how to “do” yoga, Donna taught me how to teach it. My confidence and integrity as a yoga teacher today is largely due to what I learned from Donna. She has been teaching since 1982 and is one of the most sought-after teachers in the world today.
Gerad Kite is the founder of the London Institute of Five Element Acupuncture, and now the Yellow Path school of acupuncture. He was a student of JR Worsley, and is a Master Acupuncturist. I was very fortunate to have been personally taught by Gerad.