juri ko

  • Co-Owner & Yoga Director, VSSL Union

    Juri Ko is an experienced yoga educator, wellness entrepreneur, and community builder who brings over a decade of global teaching and leadership to VSSL Union. She is the founder and CEO of IGNITE Inc., a dynamic yoga and wellness brand based in Tokyo, Japan, with flagship studios in Harajuku and Shimokitazawa. Since launching IGNITE in 2019, Juri has led the studio to become a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga School (RYS), graduating over 100 certified instructors through six full teacher training programs.

    Prior to IGNITE, Juri helped shape the international identity of lululemon, first serving as a community ambassador in Honolulu from 2014–2024, then taking on a leadership role as Brand Manager and Community Connector in Japan, where she spearheaded the company’s entry into the Tokyo market through grassroots events and strategic wellness partnerships.

    Juri’s teaching is rooted in accessibility, empowerment, and connection. She has taught thousands of students through weekly classes, international workshops, and online offerings. At VSSL Union, she brings her signature balance of tradition and innovation to Hawai‘i’s first integrated yoga and Jiu Jitsu studio, cultivating a community centered around movement, mindfulness, and mutual growth.

    • RYT 500 – Registered Yoga Teacher (Yoga Alliance Certified | Since 2010)

    • ACSM Certified Personal Trainer (American College of Sports Medicine | Since 2013)

    • Certified over 100 yoga instructors through IGNITE’s Yoga Alliance RYT 200 and RYT 500 trainings.

    • Experienced in teaching Vinyasa, heated yoga, and mindful movement classes for all levels.

    • Served as lead instructor for large-scale yoga events in Japan with audiences of up to 1,000 people.

    • Frequently invited as a featured teacher and speaker at major national wellness events in Japan.

    • Recognized as a key figure driving the evolution of Japan’s yoga culture—both as a respected teacher and wellness business leader.