Yoga, Dance & Martial Arts at Sim Yoga

Posted by jean on 30 Jul 09

Sim Yoga & Health, located at Taman Segar Perdana, Cheras, started last year under the partnership of Jestine Yap and Kian Yap. The centre offers a wide range classes from yoga to martial arts and dance, including interesting variations of yoga such as Lift Yoga, Family Yoga, Kids Yoga and Man Yoga. Jestine Yap, a creative entrepreneur with a sunny personality, shares some insights on her yoga centre and her future plans for Sim Yoga.

Sim-yoga-2 Jestine Yap (right) relaxes in her lounge at Sim Yoga. Behind her is the kitchen showroom for her part-time interior design business.

How did you get involved in yoga?

Jestine: I was initially an interior designer for several companies such as Kitchen Cabinet Co. and Design & Built. But after working for several years, I decided to pursue something which was less hectic and could give me more flexible hours.

One day, I attended a yoga class and decided that was what I wanted to do – teach yoga. And because I had always been quite flexible and have a dancing background of 4 years, I found yoga quite easy to pick up.

How did you train yourself to become a yoga instructor?

Jestine: I took up Teacher’s Training Courses (TTCs). Even now, I still regularly attend training. I gained my teaching skills when I was attached to Dance Yoga as an instructor. Back then, I was very fortunate to be given 80 classes a month to teach. Although starting off my salary was quite low then, I learned a lot.

Is it important for an experienced instructor to still attend training? Where do you train nowadays?

Jestine: It is very important for a yoga instructor to constantly upgrade herself/himself as there are always new trends and techniques coming up. When I am teaching, it is not considered self-practise because I am concentrating on guiding the class and not on myself. So having time for self-practise is very important.

Currently, I am a member of YSynergy Asssociation, an association that is set up to foster quality yoga instructors through training. They invite international instructors to hold their training courses and workshops, which I frequently attend.

Did your health benefit in any way from yoga?

Jestine: Yes. Back then, even though I occasionally jogged, my body was often lethargic. And my body tended to put on weight easily due to the lack of exercise. When I started to practise yoga, the first thing I noticed was that all my pre-menstrual symptoms disappeared within a month.

My energy levels improved. Also, due to the exercise and breathing techniques, my body automatically needed less food, and so it helped me to maintain a slim figure.

Sim-yoga-1

Students warming up in the spacious Sim Yoga studio

You have some varieties of yoga offered at Sim Yoga which are quite uncommon in other centres in KL for example Lift Yoga, Family Yoga and Man Yoga. Can you explain what these are?

Jestine: Lift yoga incorporates the usage of 2 pound weights into yoga. This is especially suitable for women after 35 years old, who have given birth and are quite weak. It can help build better posture, denser bone structure, increase metabolism and increase strength of arms and overall body. Actually Lift Yoga is popular in Western countries but is still relatively uncommon here.

Family yoga is a family-bonding form of yoga. At least one parent and their child must be present to practise family yoga. This can really help parents to bond with their children, especially with the kind of hectic schedules that parents follow nowadays. It will help parents understand their children better.

We also have a special class for children called Kids Yoga. But Family Yoga and Kids Yoga are only held during school holidays for now as this is usually the time that parents and their children have the time for such activities.

Man Yoga is a yoga workshop specifically for men. This class is held to encourage more men to try out yoga, particularly those who are interested but feel uncomfortable attending yoga with ladies. The class is also conducted by a man instructor.

Where do obtain your certification to conduct these classes such as Family Yoga and Kids yoga?

Jestine: We are certified through Ysynergy.

Other than yoga, you offer a range of martial arts and dance classes too?

Jestine: Yes. My partner, Kian Yap, is a martial arts instructor and enthusiast. So we decided to bring in classes such as Capoiera, a rhythmic, dancing form of martial arts, and Kids Wushu.

What are the classes you currently hold and how many instructors do you have?

Jestine: We have about 10 free-lance instructors. Our usual yoga classes are mainly Hatha and there are several levels. More of our uncommon classes are such as mentioned earlier. Other than yoga, we also offer Pilates, Taerobic, Belly Dance, Kid’s Ballet, Kid’s Latin and Reggae Dance.

What are your corporate packages like?

Jestine: We cater to companies who want to encourage their employees to de-stress and lead a healthier lifestyle. Our packages varies from client to client and depends on how many people are involved, the location and how many classes are to be held. We can offer a variety of classes depending on what they like, for example we could conduct a mixture of yoga and dance classes.

The Chempaka School is one of our clients. They have a Sports Club and we hold yoga classes for their teachers twice a week at their schools in Damansara and Cheras.

What is your advice for budding instructors to become successful such as yourself?

Jestine: Lots of patience. And never give up. Never give up on building knowledge and on the practise.

Before we end, what are some of your future plans for Sim Yoga?

Jestine: Moving forward, we’d like to hold health cooking classes to encourage and to teach people to eat healthier and more natural food. Recently, we visited an organic farm to gain a little insight on this.

We will also start holding yearly yoga retreats for our students. Next year, we hope to have a trekking retreat to Kota Kinabalu.

For more information, you may contact them through the following details:

Contact person: Jestine Yap
Tel: 016-217 7761 / 016-263 1307
Address: Lot 2-25, Jln SP2, Taman Segar Perdana, Cheras, 43200, Selangor.

Archived in the category: Yoga Centres

27 comments for “Yoga, Dance & Martial Arts at Sim Yoga”

1
Jivan:

is this yoga centre unisex or only for female?


February 14th, 2010 at 9:07 pm
2
May Yen:

Hi,

I’m interested with the pilate class.

May I know the class timetable and the school fee charged for this class.

Thank you.


July 14th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
3

may i noe d school fees charges? n timetables, thx!


August 24th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
4
kat:

i’m interest on dancing cls,ur studio got wat type of dancing?can u e-mail d time table & may i knw d fees charges?got trying class?


September 4th, 2010 at 8:58 pm
5
jessica:

hi i’m interested with your dancing and martial arts class. could you e-mail me the timetable as well as the charges.
Thank you.


September 8th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
6
Abby:

Hi,
Im interested in your yoga and capoeira classes. Pls send me the charges and time table as well. Is there any trial classes?
Thank you.

Regards.


October 5th, 2010 at 11:35 pm
7
Anne Marie:

Hi, I would like to enquire your fees for yoga, pilates as well as kids yoga/ dance classes


October 15th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
8
peisaan:

hi, i am interested with the pilates class. may i know the time table and charges? is there trial class as well?
thanks..


October 17th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
9
kimmy khew:

hi, i’m interested in your yoga class however is there classes for beginners? do you have a certain time table for your yoga classes or is it on every day? how is the charges like?
thanks


November 10th, 2010 at 10:26 pm
10
linda yap:

hi,
i have 3 years++ experience in yoga and i love it very much…i had been stop for 2 years due to gave birth..currently i wish to continue with yoga and appreciate it you could drop me the yoga time table in order for me to spare my time for pratice…thanks…


March 16th, 2011 at 11:17 am
11
Pui Kuan:

Do yo offer prenatal yoga? May I know how’s the schedule and fee like?


June 14th, 2011 at 9:53 am
12
WAI YEE:

HI,I AM INTERESTED IN YOUR YOGA CLASS AND DANCING CLASS.CAN YOU PLEASE EMAIL ME THE TIME TABLE? THANK YOU.


August 9th, 2011 at 7:22 pm
13
May San:

Hi, i thought of joining either yoga/dancing class, can u pls e-mail me the schedule & the fee as well. I’m a beginner. Thx.


October 18th, 2011 at 4:41 pm
14
Claudia:

Hi,
Im interested in your belly and reggae classes. Pls send me the charges and time table. Is there any trial classes?
Thank you.
Regards.


November 9th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
15
Lectumy:

Hi,I’m interested in your yoga classes and dancing classes. Can you please email me the course schedule and the fees? Is there any trial classes available?

Thank you.

Regards,
:)


November 9th, 2011 at 11:12 pm
16
Shu Wen:

I am Interesting, may i know the fees ?


November 10th, 2011 at 12:53 am
17
Irene:

Hi there,
I’m interested in your hatha yoga class. Can you email the details of the class schedule and fee? Tq


December 22nd, 2011 at 1:02 am
18
Hailey:

Hi, i’m interested in yoga classes…can you email me the details and schedule of the course?


January 25th, 2012 at 10:46 pm
19
Yi:

Hi, I am interested in your yoga and dancing class.
Please email me your course schedule and fee.
Your promp reply is highly appreciated =)


March 24th, 2012 at 11:55 pm
20
Jessica:

Hi, im interested in ur yoga. Kindly send me ur time table and ur charges. Thanks!


April 2nd, 2012 at 3:52 pm
21
Huiying:

Hi,I m interest in ur class..can I hav the class schedule n the fees charge also?thx…


October 23rd, 2012 at 5:09 pm
22
stacey:

Can i hav ur class timetable and fees


January 9th, 2013 at 2:08 am
23
sharon:

may i have your timetable and fees pls? kindly email to my gmail. thanks


March 13th, 2013 at 12:39 pm
24
sc wong:

i would like to let my daughter 4 years old to join yoga classes and dancing classes. Can you please email me the course schedule and the fees?


August 1st, 2014 at 9:21 am
25
Hidi Ong:

Hi,

I’m interested in Hatha yoga and belly dance. Can I have your timetable and how much is your fee for both? Other than this, I’d like to know class duration . Thanks


October 19th, 2014 at 4:26 am
26
kong:

Hi, can I have dancing class time table and fees for my ddaughter, 5yrs old. I would like to have hatta yoga class details for myself as well. Thanks


April 15th, 2015 at 6:08 am
27
Joyce:

Hi, can I have your latest yoga timetable? Please send to my email. Thanks!


June 28th, 2015 at 2:51 pm

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