Twenty years of teaching yoga in Yarm
Hello, I'm Mark.
I came to yoga the way most people do — feeling a bit creaky, a bit stressed, and not entirely sure I'd be any good at it. That was over twenty years ago. I've been on the mat ever since, and teaching it here in Yarm for most of that time.
What I love about yoga isn't the fancy postures. It's watching someone walk into their first class slightly nervous, and walk out with a small smile. Then come back next week. Then bring their husband. Then still be coming five years later.
I keep my classes small on purpose. I want to know your name, your stiff shoulder, the back you tweaked gardening last weekend. That's how yoga actually helps people.
If you've been thinking about giving it a go, I'd love to meet you. The first class is always the hardest part — after that, you'll wonder what took you so long.
— Mark Bell
A few milestones along the way
First steps on the mat
Mark discovers yoga during a particularly hectic year of work and family life — and finds something he didn't know he'd been looking for.
Teacher training
Completes his first 200-hour teaching qualification with a respected UK school, with a focus on Hatha and Ashtanga lineages.
Yogameister begins
Starts teaching small classes in local Yarm halls. Word spreads quickly through the village and surrounding area.
Continued study
Further training in alignment, breathwork and teaching older adults. Begins offering one-to-one sessions.
Corporate yoga
Local Cleveland businesses start inviting Mark in to teach workplace yoga sessions for their teams.
A weekly home for many
Yogameister now runs classes every weekday, with a community of regulars from Yarm, Eaglescliffe, Stockton and beyond.
Come and meet Mark
The best way to know if a class is right for you is to come along. Pop in for a chat after a session or give Mark a ring.