Welcome to Yoga with Mark

My name is Mark Allcock. I am a British Wheel of Yoga trained teacher and, since 2004, I have been a student of Diane Long. I hold regular classes in Corfe Mullen, Moreton and Poole, Dorset and provide private tuition to groups and individuals. More about Mark.

The Ethos of Yoga with Mark

"Is it possible to have a different attitude in which a new intelligence, not imposed by authority, but born from interest, attention and sensitivity, will emerge and in which body and mind, fused in one single action, are collaborating together?" Vanda Scaravelli in "Awakening the Spine"

The time we spend on the yoga mat is an opportunity to allow the natural intelligence of the body to show us better ways of moving and being. The understandings we gain from our practice remain with us when we roll up our mats and they infuse our everyday activities so improving their quality. We do this by:

letting go of ambition (to be proud of our postures is bad taste!)
stopping the pushing and pulling
releasing tension
putting aside ideas about what a pose is and how it 'should' be done
making friends with our bodies and treating them with respect
becoming aware of our habits and conditioning and understanding them so that we can leave them behind

My approach to yoga is that pioneered by the late Vanda Scaravelli. Vanda Scaravelli, a lifelong friend of Krishnamurti, learnt yoga from B.K.S. Iyengar. She also had lessons with Desikachar. After studying with these luminaries her body became her teacher.

"You have to learn how to listen to your body, going with it and not against it, avoiding all effort or strain and centering your attention on that very delicate point, the back of the waist (where the spine moves in two opposite directions). You will be amazed to discover that, if you are kind to your body, it will respond in an incredible way." Vanda Scaravelli in "Awakening the Spine"

Vanda's book "Awakening the Spine" was published when she was in her eighties and it quickly became a classic. At the time her way of working with gravity and the breath seemed revolutionary but it was probably more akin to the way the early yogis learnt about the body and discovered the postures. Vanda Scaravelli's student of 23 years and my teacher, Diane Long, continues the work. Links to articles about Vanda Scaravelli, Diane Long and this way of working.

Studying Yoga with Mark

Vanda wrote that "It is not so much the performance of the exercises that matters, but rather the way we are doing them." With it's attention to the body's response to gravity and the breath this way of working is best studied one-to-one or two and I specialise in providing private tuition in our home yoga space.

To provide wider access to this way of working, I also offer the option of studying in a small group at one of my weekly classes. The number of students in a class is restricted to ensure that each student can be given sufficient attention to experience the work and progress their practice.

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Beginners...

are welcome to come along to any of my classes.

In addition I run, from time to time, a 6 week introductory course specifically for beginners. This course provides a good foundation for an enjoyable, rewarding and safe yoga practice.

Next course will be: none currently planned.