Welcome to Sun Tao Studio

“What is the meaning of life?”

This question began to take root in my heart on an autumn day in 1996. Why? Because for several years, I had struggled with severe spine and back pain, and no matter what I tried, nothing brought lasting relief. One gloomy day, I wandered into my favorite bookstore and came across a book titled Fasting and Meditation. On the back page was a brief biography and photo of the monk who had written it. I was at my wit’s end—physically and emotionally—so I made a bold decision: I left everything behind and began my journey of inner exploration. I sought out the monk in the deep mountains of South Korea, and he accepted me as his student. For one hundred days, I woke at 3 a.m. each morning to meditate with him—diving deep into healing, energy work, yoga, meditation, and breathwork. Slowly, my body began to heal. And for the first time in a long time, I felt hope. That experience laid a strong foundation for my life and set me on the path of yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong.

As I began to feel the natural flow of energy through my body, I started to see life through a new lens. From 1997 to 2007, I deepened my practice through brain respiration and lifestyle training at Dahn World, which helped me cultivate a clearer sense of direction and depth in life. In 2000, I moved to the United States and continued guiding others while broadening my understanding of the world. Then in 2010, I met Sri Dharma Mittra, known as “the teacher of yoga teachers,” in Manhattan. His perspective helped me rediscover the essence of traditional yoga. Through his Life of a Yogi training course, master classes, and various workshops, I gained deeper insights into the roots and meaning of yoga.

In 2011, I returned to Korea to explore how posture—especially upright posture—affects our lives. This journey led me to meet many passionate people working in this field, marking yet another turning point in my life. Still, I continued to reflect on life’s deeper questions: Can we truly achieve lasting health? And is there a way for all people—regardless of belief or background—to come together and move beyond the conflicts and suffering we face? These questions stayed with me for years, quietly but persistently.

Then, in the winter of 2016, a moment of serendipity led me to the teachings of Chun Gong, a Master who shares clear and practical answers to life’s questions through the Principles of Nature. As I absorbed his teachings, the tangled questions I had carried for so long began to unravel. Everything started to fall into place. The path toward a fulfilling life had finally revealed itself.

Today, I live in Wanaque, New Jersey. Many of the people I meet are facing serious health issues or feeling overwhelmed by the stress of daily life. Together, we explore the root causes of these challenges, discover practical solutions, and support each other through the journey of self-discovery. I’ve come to understand that anyone—with sincerity and consistent effort—can restore their health and thrive in every aspect of life.

 David “Tao” Halpin began Martial Arts in 1985, while pursuing his quest for the truth about health, life and well-being. In 1997, searching how to recover from an injury he came across a Yoga center in Maryland, where he practiced and began to study about Yoga and Tai Chi. He recovered fully quite quickly and from there he became a Yoga and Tai Chi Instructor. He received Yoga certifications through various teacher training’s. Tao has a unique quality to make Yoga accessible to anyone and to bring the benefits of health and vitality to all. He has worked with a wide variety of people with varying levels of physical abilities and health conditions. His methods are innovative, enjoyable and highly effective and have become the mainstay for many clients who practice diligently as they continue to enrich their life. Since arriving in New Jersey in 1997, Tao has been invited to area gyms, schools and community centers to teach Yoga and Tai Chi to everyone from Kindergarten to seniors. He has also given Tai Chi demonstrations and lectures about natural wellness throughout the community. He is currently offering Life Wisdom Workshop throughout the area to further support the growth of our community.