"The only reason we choose to do yoga is for the pleasure — the literal pleasure — of our systems relaxing and filling with energy. It is not some struggle to enjoy a future result." — Mark Whitwell

In a world full of commodified "yoga" and the proliferation of brands and styles, how do we make sure we keep the heart in Yoga? How do we practice and teach in ways that respect and recognise each individual as the unique expression of life that they are? How do we stay close to what we know is true and valuable, in a hostile world?

Yoga is each person's direct participation in the nurturing force of reality, as it is appearing as you and everything else.

This training is for teachers and graduates of past trainings with Mark Whitwell / the Heart of Yoga.

Attendees are invited to use this event to initiate 300hr YA certification, combined with a 6-month online programme afterwards.

If you have questions, send a message on whatsapp to Rosalind at +64 21 412 747.

Syllabus: 

• Go deeper in applying Krishnamacharya’s breath principles to the full portfolio of possible asana;

• Be confident teaching varied pranayama such as nadi shodana, sitali, chandra bhedana, ujjayi, and kriya such as kapala bhati;

• Go deeper into the principles of Vinyasa Krama, appropriate sequencing, and the logic of pose-counterpose;

• Practice and teach nyasa, integration of sound into asana;

• Chant and examine Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras: feel confident in this lineage’s understanding of the Sūtras;

• Examine how we would adapt Yoga to a variety of bodily challenges and specific situations;

• Feel confident in Subtle Body Anatomy: the vayus, the chakras, the nadis and the origin of these concepts;

• Study electives of your choice including: - adapting Yoga to the menstrual cycle - incorporating devotional music into your practice and teaching (and learn simple instruments like śruti box) - more indepth Vedic chanting - Yoga for aging and death support - teaching Yoga to teenagers and younger kids - teaching students with special needs

• Understand the relationship of different religious traditions to Yoga, and how to adapt Yoga to their needs;

• Yogic sexuality without the ‘neo-tantra’ cringe;

• Go deeper into how breath and bandha are engaged to create correct alignment naturally, including the anatomy of the diaphagm and vagus nerve;

• Deeply relax and feel the intrinsic beauty of our own nature, as nature. We teach Yoga as we have expereinced it, not as we ‘know’ about it.

Costs

Option One: This Training Only

$1700 Earlybird – $1900 after the 1st September

• $500 deposit upon registration confirms your place.

• All amounts in US dollars

• Full payment due by four weeks before the starting day (end of September 2025).

• Scholarships available for Balinese students, please apply.

• 15% discount available for online studio supporting members (from at least 2024)

What this covers:

• Full tuition, mostly with Mark, with assistant teachers Rosalind Atkinson and others

• Sattvic daily lunch together

• One-on-one discussion and personal practice help with Mark, mentors, or assistant teachers as required

• Option for ongoing teacher mentoring online via access to the online weekly “teacher’s gatherings” for one year following on;

• Printed copy of teaching manual;

• Initiation of the heart of yoga certification process if you wish for it (this requires further teaching experience and ongoing relationship);

• Can be used towards 300hr YA certification at a later date, if the option below is not taken.

What is not included:

• Accommodation - there are plenty of great accommodation options in walking distance in the Penustanan area.

• Breakfast and evening meal (we just have lunch together)

• Airport transfers

• Ongoing study for 300hr (see option below instead)

Option 2: 300 hour certification with Yoga Alliance

$2800

• Open to those who have done 200hr certification with the Heart of Yoga already

• Everything above, plus:

• 6 month ongoing study online

ONLINE PROGRAMME

From 6th November (post-training) until 1st May (total 6 months)

This continuation of in-depth study towards 300hr certification requires/includes the following:

• Attendance at the weekly “teacher’s gathering” with Mark in the Online Studio

• Two monthly workshops live on zoom just for programme attendees – one with Mark, one technical one with Rosalind;

• Weekly one-hour “key yoga concepts and texts” class that can be attended live or listened to as audio recording;

• Recorded materials on breath and subtle anatomy; plus recorded electives to choose from: on Mantra, Yantra, Wisdom Goddesses, Sruti Box and Chanting/Singing, Basic Sanskrit, Basic Ayurveda, Death and Dying, Stick Figure Sequencing, Adapting Yoga for Astangis, Yoga for Exhausted People, and Yoga for Christians

• Private chat group with support & space for questions

• One private zoom lesson with Mark during the time

• Private sessions with assistant teachers if needed based on need, interests and electives

• Practicuum teaching via the ‘student teacher class’ and attendance at others’ class to offer feedback;

Feel free to write to us with questions or registration enquiries:

Is it the right training for me?

This gathering is for those who:

• have already done a teacher ‘untraining,’ indepth workshop or retreat with Mark;

• existing teachers or those moving into teaching in whatever form;

• repeat attendees;

• online studio members;

• those needing 300hr certification

Those who really need highly strict schedules and predictability may struggle. The mood is fluid and responsive to the needs of the group. Exact lunch time and evening finishing time will vary according to the flow of the day.

This (un)training is in traditional tantric hathayoga made uniquely relevant and accessible in modern life. It is not about information gathering. Yoga is in your entire embodiment or it is nowhere. We explore subtle anatomy as the movement of energy in the body, not body part anatomy from a western medical perspective. You won’t learn names of muscles, bones or detailed labels on the body from the outside (if you have a personal interest in this, that’s totally fine). We will be considering how to share the precise practices that enable others to feel their own intrinsic intelligence, not trying to approximate that intelligence with mental knowledge.

Discussion will include relationships, sexuality and anything else in your life you wish to bring yogic understanding to. You can speak as much or as little as you like and be assured of being listened to with respect. This is a conversation, a two-way flow of information, not a broadcast or a lecture. It is not any kind of neo-tantric workshop or space. You will get the most out of it the more reading, questioning and exploration you bring with you. You are a co-creator of this course, not a consumer of it. It does not exist outside of your presence.