home | Yoga North Somerset

Group yoga classes with Mark Stanford in Clevedon, Weston-super mare, and Axbridge and individual tuition covering North Somerset and Bristol.

Beginners welcome

Yoga is an ancient spiritual tradition from India that has been practiced for thousands of years.

Through specific postures and movements, breath control and mental focus it strengthens and tones the body, increases flexibility, energy levels, calms the mind and promotes a sense of wellbeing.

TIMETABLE

2025

MONDAY
7.30pm - 8.30pm
WESTON-SUPER MARE
Mixed ability class incorporating various mobility drills and yoga postures (asanas) to develop strength and flexibility.
LOCATION: Clarence Road East, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 4BT.
PARKING: Free on street parking outside the venue.
COST: £8 pay as you go.
BOOKING: There is no booking system, if you have been before just turn up otherwise please enquire for details and availability.

TUESDAY
7pm - 8pm
CLEVEDON
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga modified Primary Series led class. This means the teacher gives verbal instruction and may demonstrate what poses to perform along with alignment cues. The class often commences with various mobility drills and stretches before a short form Ashtanga sequence with some posture omissions or substitutions to the full routine.
LOCATION: Greyfriars hall, The Church of the Immaculate Conception Marine Hill, Clevedon, North Somerset, BS21 7PP.
PARKING: Outside the hall is space for approx 6 vehicles, as well as free on street parking.
COST: £8 per class or a 10 class bundle is £70 to use as and when.
BOOKING: There is no booking system, just turn up, there’s plenty of space.

Also classes at the following local Health Clubs: the Club at Cadbury House in Yatton / Congresbury; and Nuffield Health in Weston-super mare. Both of which require club membership..

(page updated May 2025)

ABOUT MARK

I’ve been practising yoga for 25+ years and teaching for over 20. I have taught at health clubs, private venues, corporate classes, and individual tuition.

I love the minimalist simplicity of yoga, you just need yourself and a yoga mat (which isn't always necessary). Even a short 15 minute practice reaps benefits instantly as well as long term. You can do a practise to feel invigorated or to wind down prior to bed. You can focus on building strength and joint stability or increasing flexibility, or both at the same time, all whilst developing mindfulness.

I take pleasure from always learning whether it is from the huge body of yoga knowledge, ancient and modern, or other physical health and strength training systems such as gymnastics and callisthenics. Besides practicing the physical postures of yoga which includes breath work and mindfulness, I also do a separate daily pranayama (yogic breathing) and meditation.

Credentials

I am certified to teach Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga through the It's Yoga Teacher Training Course backed by Yoga Alliance obtained in 2002. It involved 200 hours of comprehensive training in asanas, pranayama, and practice teaching.

I have General Liability Insurance as a Yoga Instructor (Standard) - which covers teaching groups and individuals all the usual yoga disciplines i.e. Postures, Breath work, Relaxation techniques, Meditation & Mindfulness Techniques and Cleansing Practices.

A brief chronology of my Yoga and teaching journey

1998 Attended first Yoga class: a 10 week beginners course in Ashtanga Yoga with James Critchlow in Birmingham.

1999 onwards attended numerous Yoga workshops and classes starting with David Swenson, and also Richard Freeman, Danny Paradise, David Williams, John Scott, K. Pattabhi Jois, Beryl Bender Birch, Yogi Ashokananda, Diane Long (student of Vanda Scaravelli), and Katy Appleton.

2001 Vipassana 10 Day Silent Retreat, Victoria, Australia.

2001 Visit Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute, Mysore, India.

2001 Krishnamurti Foundation (week long study), Chennai, India.

2001 Sri Aurobindo ashram and visit Auroville (experimental township), Pondicherry, India.

2002 Stayed at the San Francisco Zen Centre for one month.

2002 Certified to teach by Yoga Alliance at It's Yoga (San Francisco, USA) with teacher Larry Schultz.

2002 Started teaching Yoga in Birmingham UK.

2007 - 2008 Studied Ayurvedic Nutrition and Lifestyle with the European Institute of Vedic Studies (EIVS Ltd).

2008 Studied Ayurvedic Massage, also with (EIVS Ltd).

2013 Sivananda Yoga Centre, Neyyar Dam, Kerala, India.

CONTACT

Feel free to get in touch

REVIEWS

I joined Mark's ashtanga class about 7 years ago and think he is an exceptional teacher. I loved it from the start. Over the years I've increased the number of classes I attend to five a week. I wish I'd done that from the beginning because the benefits have been huge. I am a tense person in both mind and body. Mark's classes allow me to feel energised as well as at peace. I also enjoy socialising with a lovely, varied bunch of people who encourage each other's achievements. Pretty amazing, really. I look forward to every class, however tired I am. Last week I ran to the postbox just for the fun of it. Something I haven't done since I was 30. I carried heavy tables for an event without batting an eye, when the men of my age were struggling two to a table. I was in the shower the other day, and was surprised to find my shoulders were solid muscle. I thought 'Where on earth did that come from? I haven't done anything.' Then I realised it was all from Yoga. Mark encourages me to try new things just when I need it. I'm attempting postures I haven't done since I was 6 years old. A handstand for the first time at nearly 60! You must be joking! Wow it all feels good. After Mark's classes, I feel as though someone has pulled my limbs and spine into position so that I'm an inch taller. Mark guides us with a calm voice, clear instructions and good authority. For me, the whole hour is like a meditation. He speaks when necessary and leaves space for our own concentration and breathing. He responds if we want to improve and varies the classes so we are challenged. We have very different abilities, but we all achieve something, even someone as inflexible as me. A friend moved away last year and told me she would never find a teacher as good as Mark, it was her great regret to leave. I would feel the same. I talk of the benefits of Mark's yoga classes to everyone I meet and now my husband has retired, he accompanies me and we both 'spout on' about it! Thanks for changing our lives Mark.

Julia

Congesbury

Just to say that I thought your class' were brilliant and did me a lot of good. I can feel myself stiffening up because its just not the same without the class.

Susan

I started Yoga classes 2 years ago having not understood any Yoga practices. From my initial class with Mark I was made to feel very welcome and soon discovered I could do postures I hadn't done since my youth! After 6 months Mark suggested I might want to attend the more advanced class so to train twice weekly. I took up his advice and can honestly say it has improved my overall fitness, stamina and posture. Mark listens to any concerns pupils may have during his class and will always give the right answer.

Rob

Clevedon

Having retired in 2010, I was keen to play competitive golf again as this had always been my main sport. Although I managed to reduce my playing handicap to 11, I experienced neck pain and stiffness in my shoulders which restricted the leverage (power) I was able to deploy. My osteopath recommended that I took up yoga to try to re-gain flexibility – and stipulated that it should be physically demanding. Mark Stanford's yoga sessions are certainly that! I joined Mark's yoga class in August, 2010 and found it to be a truly transformational experience. He enjoys the complete commitment of all his students – this is founded on his totally professional approach. The programme of activities is varied and his instructions are both clear and supportive. The net result is that all of us are constantly encouraged to improve. I now enjoy pain-free golf and my playing handicap has been reduced to 7. Moreover, the general (slight) aches and pains to which I had resigned myself on the basis of simply growing old have virtually disappeared. I now realise that these were a product of my sedentary lifestyle – not my advancing years! I can honestly assert that yoga with Mark Stanford is the only physically demanding activity I have ever undertaken which makes me feel better the following day. I have just decided to join another of his weekly sessions. Bring it on!

Alex

Weston-super-Mare

PHOTOS

Teaching a class in Clevedon (2011)

With Shanti the cat at Sivananda Ashram, Kerala, India (2013).

Jet lagged with Krishna at Sivananda Ashram, Kerala, India.

Mark - Neyyar Dam, Kerala, India (2013).

The Motorcycle Boy, Auroville, India (2001)

Group yoga classes with Mark Stanford in Clevedon, Weston-super mare, and Axbridge and individual tuition covering North Somerset and Bristol.Beginners welcome

Yoga is an ancient spiritual tradition from India that has been practiced for thousands of years.Through specific postures and movements, breath control and mental focus it strengthens and tones the body, increases flexibility, energy levels, calms the mind and promotes a sense of wellbeing.