Mark Stevens
Mark’s yoga journey began at art school in 1986.
He practiced daily from the “Sivananda Book of Yoga” for two years, working through the whole syllabus in the book in an attempt to recover from injuries sustained while racing motorbikes.
He then started yoga classes at the Sivananda London which added Yoga philosophy, chanting, devotion and spiritual connection, the die was cast.
Mark has been practicing and studying yoga ever since.
He founded the Yoga Studio with his partner Marion in 2003 after returning from Sivananda teacher training in India. They built the studio by converting 19c stables with artistry and love, using reclaimed materials. It’s an ongoing project, the latest addition being a covered Puja Hall in the Orchard. (One of Mark‘s hobbies is building stuff!) The serenity and beauty of the studio, garden and orchard reflect the importance of sacred enviroments for spiritual practice that is honored here, you will find sanctuary and welcome in what they have created. Gradually the medium had shifted from painting and yoga to teaching yoga full time. Mark’s approach has always been to seek inspiring and knowledgeable teachers from different lineages and backgrounds and learn from them, rather than planting a flag. He sees yoga as one vast and divine body of knowledge to be lived, individualised and shared freely. Mark teaches a householder ie. you and me, compatible practice to a diverse range of students and teachers. He does his best to guide, educate and hold them in their practice, so that yoga has time to work its magic. He shares a practice which anyone can learn, rooted in Vinyasa Krama (The art form of yoga) learnt from his teacher Srivatsa Ramaswami, who in turn learnt it from the ‘Father of Modern Yoga” Sri T Krishnamacharya. The integration of Vinyasa Krama with Yogic Meditation, Devotional Chanting, Scriptural Study, Satsang and ethical lifestyle choices form the foundation of Mark’s teaching. A quick look at Mark’s bio below will give you some idea of his journey so far…… I met my present teacher Srivatsa Ramaswami (Krishnamacharya Lineage) in 2014, I continue to study Vinyasa Krama and Yogic Philosophy with him. BIO. 1986 - Started practicing and studying Yoga at art school. 1990’s - Swami Krishnadevananda & Swami Atmaran, Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, London. 1990’s - Barbara Harding. Iyengar Yoga. Cambridge University Yoga Club) 1990’s - Sasha Perriman. Iyengar institute. Cambridge. 1996/8 - MA Fine Art (Norwich School of Art, UK) 2003- Sivananda Teacher Training, Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram, Kerala India. 2003 - Yoga Studio Ely established. 2003/4 - Swami Kailasananda. Sivananda Intensives. France. 2005 - Swami Saradananda. Yogic Meditation Teacher Training. London. 2006/7 - Janeswari. Sivananda Asana. Bishops Storford. 2007 - Swami Govindananda. Advanced Sivananda Teacher Training. Uttarkashi, India. 2008/2011 - Swami Govindananda & Swami Nivedananda. Ashram Retreat Programmes. Yoga Studio Ely, UK. 2008/9 - Sandra Hieder, Jivamukti. Equlibrium Yoga, UK. 2009 - David Life & Sharon Gannon. Jivamukti Yoga Teacher Training. New York. 2009/15 RuthLauer Manenti. Jivamukti. USA, Switzerland, UK. 2014/15 - Srivatsa Ramaswami. Vinyasa Krama Teacher Training & Workshops. London. 2016 - David Life &Sharon Gannon. Jivamukti Intensive. Woodstock, USA. 2016 - A.G Mohan & Indra Mohan. Svastha Yoga, Birmingham UK. 2017 - Robert Moses. Nadis and Nervous System, Yoga Sudio Ely. 2017 - Swami Tatwarupananda. Bhagavad Gita Ashram Retreat, Yoga Studio Ely. 2018/20 - Gregor Maehle .Pranayama and Kundalini Yoga Meditation, London, Ely, Italy, Glastonbury. 2020 - Ongoing - Stephen Brandon. Emergence of Yoga, TK Sribashyam practice, Wells, UK. 2021 - Jennifer Campbell. Vinyasa Krama Asana. 2023 - Dr. Lubomír Ondračka, Yoga Yajnavalkya. Yogic Studies. 2024 - Reinhard Gammenthaler. Hatha Kundalini Yoga. UK. 2025 - Srivatsa Ramaswami. Vinyasa Krama Intensive & Yoga Rahasya, Mysuru India. 2026 - Stephen Brandon. Vinyasa Krama and Yoga Taravali. Wells, UK. 2026 - Eddie Stern. Yoga Sangraha and Patanjali Yoga Sutras. York, UK.
The Studio
Over the years, we have lovingly created this space as our home and a sanctuary for yoga. It is a place of peace and inspiration, designed to support and deepen your practice in a welcoming environment. Here, you are encouraged to move, breathe, and grow at your own pace, surrounded by a community of like-minded yogis. We want you to feel safe, happy, and at ease, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in your practice, find balance, and connect with others on this shared journey.
We cultivate our garden organically, growing much of our own fruit and vegetables in harmony with the seasons. Our orchard and pond areas are carefully maintained as a haven for wildlife and native plants, fostering a natural balance that supports biodiversity.
Respect for the environment is important to Yogis. The principle of Ahimsa (causing the least amount of harm in thought, word and deed) is the first Yama (Yogic moral principles), guiding us to tread lightly on the earth. Through mindful living and sustainable practices, we honor this commitment, creating a space where nature and yoga come together in harmony.
The Practice
VINYASA KRAMA YOGA
Vinyasa Krama is not a new type of yoga, but a householder practice passed down from the grandfather on modern yoga T. Krishnamacharya and taught to me by his student Srivatsa Ramaswami.
Classes consist of a unique and beautifully structured system of classical yoga.
Class Talks - To deepen your knowledge of yoga.
Asana/Vinyasa - Slow conscious breath orientated movement and postures which are calming, energizing and grounding in equal measure.
Sun Salutations - To honor the giver of life.
Pranayama and Kriya - For purification, and connection to the life force.
Meditation - Cultivating an insightful and calm mind.
Savasana - Integration through deep relaxation.
Classes always open and close in a similar way, but the filling rotates between standing, forward bending, back bending and twisting sequences closing with pranayama and meditation or chanting.
This allows a very wide range of postures to be covered as the sessions integrate into one practice over several days or sessions. This allows you to go slower and deeper, no rushing, no pressure.
Vinyasa Krama is not a style or a school of yoga, it is an art form which we learn, and then adapt to suit our own needs.
It takes a while to learn and remember the Foundation Sequences, but it is really enjoyable process... and so empowering when you have a practice which continually evolves according to aptitude, health and stage of life.
Vinyasa Krama practice sheets and class recordings are available to help you learn the sequences.
SOUL SPACE
Pranayama & Yogic Meditation
PRANAYAMA
These sessions are not about advanced or complicated pranayama and meditation techniques, but road tested methods that develop your practice, reduce stress and improve the quality of your life.
In yoga the greatest benefit comes from simple practices done well, with understanding and consistently.
Each session starts with a short talk on pranayama/meditation.
Then a simple Hasta Vinyasa or Supine Asana Sequences designed to prepare the breathing apparatus for pranayama and the body for sitting.
(It’s ok to use a chair if you are uncomfortable sitting on the floor)
We will explore pranayama techniques which manage stress, regulate the nervous system, promote lung, heart, organ and brain health while preparing the mind for meditation.
YOGIC MEDITATION
We are not attempting to empty the mind or achieve some transcendental state of consciousness, but rather protect and support the mind by connecting to the divine, in whatever form that manifests for us.
We use traditional mantra techniques whilst using a mala (meditation beads) to cultivate a peaceful devotional mental space, where we stop for a while, look inside and connect to our true nature… beyond the relentless chatter of the mind.
Meditation is possibly the greatest gift you can give yourself in this life.
We also explore supporting techniques such as - Group Mantra Chanting, So-Ham (spinal breathing),
Tratak (candle gazing) and Litik Japa (mantra writing).