Yoga has always been taught in private, one-on-one meetings between the teacher and the student. This is the traditional way.

A private one-on-one lesson, whether in person or via zoom, enables you to work together to make sure your practice is right for you in every way. Think of it as similar to a music lesson, rather than going to a music concert (studio class).

A series of lessons (4 is a good number) is recommended, but one can be beneficial as well.

What to expect:

A private lesson usually includes a good portion of time getting to know you, your yoga background (if any), body needs, health and cultural needs etc, and getting a sense of what your goals and concerns are.

Then you will work together to do a practice tailored to your life, body, energy and needs. After the lesson you will receive a written out version of this, if you wish, so it can be practiced.

Then it is suggested to practice this for a week or two and then in the next lesson or class, reflect on how it is feeling and make adjustments accordingly.

Discussion may include asana, pranayama, chanting if appropriate, mantra, bandha, diet, sexuality, and integration with existing cultural practices. If you’d rather not discuss any of these, that is fine.

You can expect to gain your own personal practice that is comfortable and familiar, like slipping into a favourite pair of jeans. Many people go on to do their personal practice daily for months or years, and then come back for another lesson when something changes, or just to say hello.

Who IS A PRIVATE LESSON FOR?

Private lessons are good for:

• those completely new to yoga (4+ sessions recommended to construct and learn your own personal practice.)

• burned out yoga teachers fed up with the industry or looking for ‘the missing thing’, who want to rekindle their pure love of yoga

• those with specific health needs (for example, need an assistant for moving the limbs, need a practice that can be done in bed, rehabilitation etc.)

• those with an aversion to group classes or a need for total privacy

• anyone with specific burning questions about integrating their philosophy and their actual practice, who want the freedom to discuss this in detail

• Pregnant women or those recovering from giving birth who need a tailored practice

• Small groups who want a private session tailored to their needs

• Anyone wanting to discuss an aspect of practice they’d rather not raise in a group

• Those wounded, confused or disturbed by excess meditation or spiritual seeking of any kind

If you would rather come to a group class first, you can come to one as a member of the Online Studio.

You may like to go through the Online Immersion before booking a private session, and experiment with the practices in there first... up to you.

Book a Private Lesson (or series):

Cost: US$150 for approx 1.5 hours
Series of four lessons: US$400 (payable in advance) – craft a personalised practice and receive this written out
If you are in a country which doesn’t convert favourably to US dollars, be in touch for an equivalent.

email heartofyoga@yahoo.com

Experiences of private lessons.

“Over the last several months I have been taking one-on-one lessons with Mark and it has changed my life greatly, awakening the feeling of the profound beauty of the ordinariness of Life, of prior connectedness, of being in intimate relationship with life and my fellow human beings. I feel the inherent Unity that we all inherently are and participate in, as nature and as one human family. As Mark teaches and shares this to me, as my friend and teacher, I am now not the owner of this feeling and it is mine to own and control. On the contrary, everybody Is and feels this! The beauty of an open Heart and a receiving, and strengthening breath is a gift that EVERY human being is born with. A gift from the cosmos and a gift of Life itself.

To be guided by a friend, and loved in the midst of letting go of old patterns of presumed separateness is the offering of Yoga.  

It is an ordinary and loving relationship, humorous and happy, intimacy like you experience it with your good friends, your mum, your beloved pets, or in nature.

We all know what happiness and reasonless joy with life feels like, and to acknowledge that as the prior condition and substance of Life, to yoke, praise and affirm that every morning with a simple practice is the offering and whole-bodily surrender in your recognition of this truth, acknowledging that reality Is Love, is beauty and is happiness and that you are that in every moment and in and as every relationship.”

— Sonnja Faller, Germany

“I reached out to Mark for some help with my teaching and practice. I could not shake the feeling of being threatened by other yoga teachers and like I was a fraud when I was teaching, despite having endless certificates. We did a few sessions and I was able to learn a great deal more precision with the breath than I ever experienced in literal thousands of hours of trainings. Where was this information! It shouldn’t be so hard to find. I thought I had been practicing ujjayi breath, but I had been neglecting the inhalation, the feminine aspect. This made perfect sense to me. I have been sharing what i learned with my students and almost all are loving the simplicity and power, feeling things they never felt before. That sense that “something is missing” was not just self-doubt… something really was missing. I no longer feel like I have to think up interesting new sequence flows and music to keep my students interested. They are engaged simply by their own process of deepening intimacy with their body and breath. I feel confident in what I am sharing and know that it is really helping people. This has been extremely helpful and I will reach out again. Thank you.”

— Marie, Australia