Mark Whitwell | Yoga Instructor, Trainer & Writer

“Over 10 years ago I encountered this incredible being, with his humor and gentle ways, scholarly and direct expertise and love of humanity, appreciation for the natural way of embodiment and breath. His wisdom changed my Asana and overall approach to life. Read his work if you can and if you are at all interested in Yoga, sit with him. It’s my joy to call Mark Whitwell a friend.” — Christine Marie Mason

There was something so powerful about meeting on your land as a community. 

THERE IS A RIGHT YOGA
FOR EVERY PERSON

-MARK WHITWELL

Mark Whitwell

ABOUT MARK WHITWELL

Mark Whitwell is interested in developing an authentic yoga practice for the individual, based on the teachings of T. Krishnamacharya and his son T.K.V. Desikachar, with whom he enjoyed a relationship for more than twenty years. Mark’s teachings clarify the profound passion and relevance of ancient wisdom to contemporary life. Mark has taught yoga for over three decades throughout the Americas, Asia, Europe, Australia, Fiji and Aotearoa-New Zealand, and is the editor and contributor to T.K.V. Desikachar’s book, The Heart of Yoga.

First ‘dropping out’ of New Zealand society and travelling to India in his teens, this was the beginning of a lifelong love affair that took him into the orbits of many of the great masters of our time, known and unknown, culminating in discovering the Yoga of Krishnamacharya and the wisdom of him and his son, along with their two good friends, J. And UG Krishnamurti. Mark Whitwell has dedicated his life to sharing the useful insights of these extraordinary, ordinary people.

BOOKS & ESSAYS

"I was so excited after reading "The Promise" that there is hope for me to exist in the world as I am, a nurturing, loving person, that has no desire to be aggressive, manipulative, and capitalistic to survive. I wish to thrive, in my own form and in my own being and hopefully help others learn to do the same."

-KARYN STENZ

PROGRAMS

Fiji Yoga Untraining on Taveuni Island

Apply

Retreat & Yoga UnTraining with Mark Whitwell & Friends

Sunday August 22nd – Sunday 12th September 2021

Not your average training, Mark’s annual gathering on Taveuni Island is for those who want to radically restructure their Yoga and life from the inside out, making sure it is no more and no less

Bali Teacher Training

Apply

Heart of Yoga Bali Teacher Training with Mark Whitwell

2021 Dates: 19–31st July

“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.”

Peace Project

Apply

The Heart of Yoga Peace Project Teacher Training

Sunday August 22nd – Sunday 12th September 2021

The Heart of Yoga Peace Project is dedicated to developing yoga communities in troubled areas throughout the world. We use yoga as a common, non-religious practice to cultivate awareness around the

  • UPCOMING
  • IN PERSON
  • ONLINE

ARTICLES

April 23, 2022 Mark Whitwell on How to Practice Yoga as a Pure Pleasure

Yoga is the Mother’s Milk of human culture — your direct embrace of nurturing source. God knows we need it in these difficult times for

Read
September 12, 2020 The Three Requirements of a Yoga Teacher: Mark Whitwell on Yoga Standards

My goal is to have an actual Yoga teacher in every city and every village in the world. We do not need more social patterning. We do not need more

Read

PODCASTS

A Return to love: A Conversation with Karen Williams

December 17, 2020

A Return to love: A Conversation with Karen Williams

December 17, 2020

A Return to love: A Conversation with Karen Williams

November 6, 2020

"During my journey the past 10 years I got lots of confusion, until I met Mark! I am super grateful and even more empowered to start teaching again. It's a gift to have such a great teacher and friend to share this journey with. What I love is that Mark teaches that the teacher is a friend and not an authority person. This is so special and makes the student feel super comfortable. It's a great relationship that every teacher should approach."

-KARYN STENZ

Your support will help fuel our cause.
Give peace a chance and support this work.

HEART OF YOGA
CHARITABLE TRUST

The Heart of Yoga Charitable Trust is our non-profit financed by real people who want to see change in the world happen. Your donation will help fuel our cause, providing yoga education to those in need. No donation is too big or too small. Contribute today and help others breathe the gift of yoga. Whether practiced in the first or third world, the principles of yoga enhance the quality of life in Everyone. It is our mission to bring yoga to those who need it the most. We use Yoga as a common, non-religious practice to cultivate awareness around the unifying principle of peace. Previously a US 501c3, we are now an Aotearoa-NZ based charity.