Mark Whitwell. And why you should meet him.
I went to Sydney for the first time this weekend! I went for the Sydney Yoga Conference, where Mark Whitwell was teaching. I read his book, Yoga of Heart, quite some time ago, and really liked what he had to say, as regular readers will already know.
I liked what he said, but wasn’t entirely sure I ‘got’ it. I do now. I had to meet him to get it. That’s why you should meet him too. His teaching is so simple and yet so confronting.
One of the first things he said was,
‘Stop meditating. Please.’
There was a wave of shock through the room. I was expecting him to say this, and I felt, well, challenged. He went on to explain that he doesn’t mean the meditative state is bad, in fact it’s very useful, but rather that you can’t DO meditation just as you can’t do sleep. You can merely set the conditions for it to happen.
According to Mark, you create these conditions by practicing asana as your main spiritual priority. Now before you get too excited, don’t think he means just any asana. Nope, he means the kind that serves the breath, and gives rise to bandha, and then a meditative state, in one seamless process.
How? Easy, really. Well-developed ujjayi on both inhale and exhale, with pauses between the breaths, and moving with your breath. It sounds simple on paper. It is. But it’s much better when done experientially. I have been feeling incredibly…spacious, lush, open. Different. And I thought I KNEW how to breathe!
Probably what I like most about Mark – apart from the fact that he spent about 40 minutes with me and didn’t charge me (what yoga star would do that?) – was that he rips down all dogma, of all persuasions. He is the ultimate no-gurus-here guy. He reckons that the first four Yoga Sutras are useful. The rest are dogma! Whew, that’s a lot to swallow, especially if, like me, you are very fond of turning to the Yoga Sutra in times of trouble.
And, when someone asked him the purpose of using bandha so much during the practice, he said,
‘Nothing. It’s just what the body does when it’s in Love.’
Or when someone else asked what a mantra meant, he asked if she liked the sounds. She said yes, and he responded,
‘So what’s the question?’
Asana-wise, it was pure KYM, or viniyoga, or whatever you want to call it. Classic poses, no frills. All emphasis on the breath!
I loved it! Loved it! Find a workshop near you. Go to it. It will change everything.
I love it when we get to meet a new teacher who challenges our beliefs and reinforces our passion for yoga. It is the BEST! I think we all need that spark reignited from time to time.
I just met with a budokon yogi and I was super skeptical about that “type” of yoga. Instantly I could see the positive energy radiating from this individual. His “mother”, as he would say, is hatha. And then he did this super slow, super aware, super smooth hatha flow… I was so inspired by the way the body can move! It was the spark I needed.
AWESOME!!! He sounds authentic and no BS. How refreshing!
What a wonderful opportunity to learn! Thanks for sharing your ‘take away’ gems of wisdom.
I am jealous (in a nice way)… I am so going to do do a full workshop with Mark even if I have to buy a ticket to the US and brave the scary LA immigration thing!
But truly, in the email exchanges I’ve had with him, he comes across as truly, truly gracious – the real deal. His book and DVD are beyond words. Really interested to hear his take on the Sutras, too.
You are so fortunate to have spent that time with him.
can’t wait to experience him at the end of this month!
Nadine, what you’ve written about your contact with Mark, both through his writing and his presence, captures the essence of what I’ve received from him too.
You encapsulate the principles of Yoga practice beautifully. Yes! They change everything! The way I practice and teach was turned inside out by what I got from Mark, like a sweater I’d been wearing the wrong way around!
Your post inspired mine:http://heartofbirth.wordpress.com/2009/05/13/its-just-what-the-body-does-when-its-in-love/ where I link back to yours. On opposite ends of the world (I live in Canada), we meet in Yoga. Feels good!
Nadine, I enjoyed reading your blog today, which just happens to be after I spent two days at the Midwest Yoga Conference with Mark. Asana begins and ends with the breath. I loved the simplicity of the practice. He certainly challenged many of my “beliefs” but I liked what he said about being – not working towards something in the practice. His loving words bring grace into my practice. Yoga is good. Blessings!
totally KYM! love it!
hey, nadine, I finally blogged about Mark!
peace, thankachi…
(that’s “younger sister” in Tamil!)
When I first read your title I thought is said “Mark Whitwell. And why you should NOT meet him.” LOL
Interesting stuff…seems kind of reminiscent of Krishnamurti…though, Krishnamurti would say stop doing yoga, as well…I’ll have to learn more about Whitwell…
I have been very moved by Marks teaching , on all levels.Without being moved learning is a chore.But with Mark, I know, it is here and now, no question.
looking forward to attending his first workshop in nagoya, japan in september 2009! first time in nagoya and maybe japan?