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 | Ky Ha, Technical Head Judge
Ky Ha was the International Yoga Champion representing the United States in 2007. Since then, he has used his experience as an athlete, a teacher, and a practitioner to coach multiple international champions: Almania Columbo (2016, 2018), Gloria Suen (2012, 2014), and Dev Kapil (2009). Ky is the director of Progressive Hatha Yoga (@progressivehathayoga).
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| Gloria Suen, Technical Head Judge As a World Champion (having won the title a month before her 36th birthday in 2012 and again in 2014), Gloria can judge performances and give athlete feedback with precision and subtlety. Judges and coaches will gain deeper insight into the technical aspects of performance, which will help to reduce scoring debates and appeals at events. Athletes will be excited to have access to her experience-based wisdom. Having been a founding member of the IYSF Technical Committee until 2018, Gloria can help IYSF to review and adjust the Posture Guidelines. Her expert posture knowledge and communication skills will build clarity and consistency in the PG so that athletes and coaches can confidently understand how to execute postures and avoid deductions. Gloria Suen won the International Yoga Championship just before her 36th birthday in 2012 and again in 2014. She is a founding member of the IYSF Technical Committee and an experienced teacher, judge, and trainer of judges. |
| Cynthia Wehr, Head Judge Cynthia Wehr has been practicing yoga for over 20 years and became a Bikram Yoga Teacher in Spring 2003. She earned the USA Yoga Gold Medal in 2005 and 2007 and the World Yoga Champion Gold Medal in 2007. This gave her the opportunity to travel the world to teach and demonstrate. She spent a lot her time teaching in Tokyo, Japan for Bikram Yoga Japan and in Bikram Yoga San Jose until June 2011. Cynthia now owns a yoga Studio in Mountain View, CA - Bomitra Yoga Mountain View. Since 2008, Cynthia has judged regional, US, and International Championships. She has worked with the board of the USA Yoga Federation and Rajashree Choudhury to introduce Yoga as a sport. She coaches competitors every year as well as being a part of bringing the Yoga community together by being involved in the social networks. The constant inspiration and change Cynthia has witnessed and experienced feeds her soul daily to keep teaching yoga forever. To bring yoga to children and children to yoga is the ultimate destination, the big step for truly creating a more peaceful, honest planet. By bringing yoga championships into the light, into everyone's home, we can make this destination possible. Contact Cynthia at: cynthia@bomitrayoga.com |
| Suzanne Smith Elliott, Coach and Athlete Ambassador Leader in physical fitness and education fields for over forty years. Suzanne has had success coaching all levels of students from the injured and rehabilitating to world champions. She has coached Yoga sportsters since the inception of Yoga Championships, coaching in the first USA held yoga championships and thereafter. She has served as a Judge and Coach every year attending all events. She hosted Regionals in central FL for five years in a row and assisted others who hosted. She has been on the USA Yoga Board and Coaching Committees, currently serving as Coaching representative at the USA Yoga National events. She has several certifications in fitness and yoga styles teaching private lessons to classes of 500. She has lead several Classic 84 and USA Yoga Compulsory classes to assist athletes in training.She was the first "senior" to complete the two week Jedi Fight Club! Born with hip dysplasia, she postponed bilateral Total Hip Replacement using Yoga therapy. She coaches on-line, in-home or at her Yoga school at H.O.T. Yoga on the Island, Merritt Island, FL. She can be reached via Facebook: HOT YOGA on the Island-Merritt Island FL or www.YogaOnTheIsland.com |
| Lynn Whitlow, Head Judge Emerita; IYSF Head Judge,Technical Committee Lynn Whitlow specializes in Bikram Yoga and Hot Pilates workshops, seminars, and master classes for students of all levels Lynn’s resume is extensive in the yoga world: she was certified to teach Bikram yoga in the 1990s, holds an Ashtanga Yoga Certification, and has traveled to India to study with the Iyengar family to deepen her knowledge and expertise — immersing herself in the culture and traditions that she continues to pass on to others. Lynn was among the first to be trained as a judge for the inaugural Bishnu Ghosh Hatha Yoga Competition. She has decades of experience organizing regional competitions throughout the U.S. and travels year-round to judge competitions and share her decades of experience with yoga communities around the planet. Lynn currently sits on the Technical Committee of the International Yoga Sports Federation, which oversees the continued evolution and development of the sport's rules and guidelines — used at competitions worldwide. |
