Mark’s yoga class has been enjoyable since day one. It has been my journey to deepen my understanding of my own body and the purpose of having various to one certain pose. Usually one goes to a yoga studio, expecting to become better at asanas by doing a very active class. However, Mark stresses a lot on the progression of the practice. I find it beneficial after attending his class regularly. By practicing a few typical asanas repeatedly, my overall strength increased, especially the parts where I had to focus on every time. In his class, your body and muscles gradually become used to the correct alignment by going over the asanas frequently. It can be a little bit frustrating at the beginning, but the outcome is wonderful.
Mark commits himself in sharing the knowledge he gains to help students understand the asanas better and further implement it in their own practice. He has the qualities of a dedicated teacher. He’s aware of the different abilities of each student, giving separate instructions at different levels. You learn to exert your strength at your best within your ability, which is the best way to do yoga. So, this means that it is possible that during the class some instructions were not directed to me, but these turned out to be my favorite moments. I got to focus on my body and adjust different parts according to the instructions. It’s a perfect way to build awareness and patience. Ultimately, yoga comes down to deep introspection of the mind, and this begins with rewiring the connection between one’s body and mind.
If you happen to be drawn to the philosophical or spiritual side of yoga, you’ve found the right place! Mark also conducted a weekly meditation session before his regular yoga class. To me, it was a great transition from work to yoga and a perfect opportunity to meditate in a group to gather good energy for everybody in the room. If you get a chance to catch him after class, you will find that Mark offers more than just asanas but also his insight in the spiritual side of yoga. I’ve felt extremely fortunate to have attended his classes, because I got the best of both worlds!
Dani T.
Mark has been nothing but an inspiration to me. I came to his class because I wanted to refine my personal practice prior to venturing to my first 200 hour yoga training in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. He had an immediate intuition as to what I could do to strengthen my practice which in turn had me experiencing positive differences in less than a month. Mark inspires me as a teacher. He understands his students and deeply loves what he does. I am so very thankful to have met him as it has deepened my love for yoga and has given me a lifelong friend.
Lisa Olmstead 11/2016
Taichung, Taiwan
Before I went to Mark’s class, I thought that I wouldn’t continue with him because of my poor English. (Mark’s classes are conducted in English.) But Mark’s explanations are detailed and easy to understand also using gestures and demonstrations. Before I knew it, I had continued with him for one year.
Mark takes great care of each student, and remembers each person’s particular condition. When doing the poses, if a student needs a certain prop, (a yoga tool used to help student’s do poses,) he provides it before starting so the students is able to do the poses to avoid injuries.
After the class, he always answers the students’ questions and gives them ‘homework’ to help their practice.
Whether talking about Yoga or another topic, Mark expresses his friendliness, care and wisdom, so I always feel like I get a lot from attending the classes.
Because of work I had to move out of town, and it was difficult to leave Mark. But I hope that one day I can come back to learn from him again. (One time we went back to his class to surprise him!)
I’m really jealous of friends that live in Taichung who can go to such a nice class with such a caring teacher. So I really recommend that everybody go try his class.
Julin H.
Before starting class, Mark asks about our condition and if anybody has any injuries or pain. And during class, he takes care to address those issues and the needs of each person.
He doesn’t force students to do poses that they aren’t able to do, and is always watching to make sure they practice safely. He is patient and kind, and you can see that he truly wants to help his students.
For me, I had a lot of pain, so Mark worked with me patiently, giving me detailed explanations to my questions. He never acts as though he is bothered or feels tedious. His classes are always enjoyable and I feel like I’ve benefited each time.
Due to moving out of town, I’ve become unable to continue with Mark. But when I left, he wrote notes for me, outlining steps to improve my condition. I felt I was really lucky to have met Mark!
Evan C.
Mark’s yoga class changed my life–physical condition, lifestyle, physical potential, and I’m forever grateful to him for it. I came into yoga as one of those flexible people without a lot of strength. Part of what drew me to this class was, speaking before class, he explained that his yoga practice develops both flexibility and strength, and I was really looking for that strength. I ended up getting so much more.
Mark’s an extremely friendly and knowledgeable teacher. He gives the class both a fun and professional yoga regimen that helped me establish a great physical foundation. Mark explains every pose and how the muscles should be working. Working on these poses helped me build up the strength I was sorely needing and increased my flexibility as well.
Because Mark teaches poses that build up strength and flexibility, I’m now seeing the combined benefits from that. I can pull off all kinds of physically challenging moves that I never thought I could do–even if we didn’t learn them in class, the foundation that Mark’s class gave me access to other physical activities and exercises. In my daily life, my posture is so much better, I’ve learned poses in his class that I can do when I need to relax, and yoga is now part of my daily routine–and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Mark’s class taught me the benefits of yoga, showed them to me as I started experiencing them myself, and got me to love yoga. I highly, highly recommend Mark’s class and Mark has my highest recommendation as a teacher. It’s been such a privilege to be Mark’s student. Thank you so much!
Emily I
Mark’s classes have changed my perspective on health as not only a physical state of being but mental and spiritual as well. Mark has so much insight to share about the mind/body connection and spiritual balance. No two classes are the same, Mark is constantly introducing new poses and ideas into the classes, making each one dynamic and exciting. I thoroughly enjoy each class and learn something new every time. Mark is a fantastic instructor and takes it upon himself to see that his students grow with each lesson. Practicing Iyengar yoga under Mark has far exceeded my expectations.
Colleen C
“You are only as young as your spine is”. For anyone seeking to relieve back pain, increase ease of movement, and/or have much improved hip and hamstring flexibility, taking classes taught by Mark Lampman is highly recommended. Mark focuses on every joint and muscle group that is prone to chronic tightness, and gets that extra amount of extension and flexibility out of each area through persistent attention to exact technique and proper posture with every movement. He is especially attentive to improving the suppleness of the spine, and spine extensions and twists are often incorporated into the movements. I have often felt, following his class, that I have grown a full centimeter taller (only claiming to feel this, not to actually grow a centimeter!).
Mark is an incredibly encouraging, enthusiastic and caring yoga teacher. I felt welcome and at ease from the first moment I walked into his class. Mark creates such a warm and friendly environment where his positive energy and light fills the room and is transmitted to his students. His classes are intimate, he really takes the time to get to know all of his students and caters to all levels and needs. Both his knowledge and dedication to Iyengar yoga is amazing. During class, he uses a range of props to provide support so that you can move into poses safely and with the correct alignment. His classes are challenging but warm and fun too.
Mark’s passion for yoga is inspiring. I always leave his classes feeling like I have worked hard (even muscles that I didn’t know I had) as well as motivated to practice at home. I feel like poses that I thought were impossible are achievable and goals that seemed so far seem reachable.
Mark is extremely generous with his time and knowledge. I know that he truly believes yoga to be life changing and just wants to share it with others. I am always excited to share my progress whilst comfortable to express my difficulties and fears. I feel privileged to have experienced Mark’s teaching and guidance as part of my yoga journey.
Claire C.
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I chose to join Mark’s yoga classes at Central Yoga Taichung after attending a one off class and discovering that the friendly and welcoming atmosphere inspired me to go regularly. By attending yoga classes held by such an approachable and inclusive instructor, I felt comfortable and witnessed my yoga practice and knowledge of asanas develop quickly. Mark’s classes combine a relaxed environment with professional instruction that pays a lot of attention to each individual. There is a strong focus on achieving correct alignment and an importance placed on safety and awareness of your body while stretching. Each class offers something new while still providing continuity and progression from each week to the next. In addition to an in-depth explanation of each pose, there is always some valuable take-home advice and tips to use outside the studio.
Overall, my experience of practising yoga under the instruction of Mark has been very motivational and educational and I have moved forward in an exciting new direction.
Jonny B.
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I am eternally grateful for Mark’s yoga coaching. For several years, I’ve had some issues with my back. The problem was not very serious, but it was fairly persistent despite some visits to doctors and chiropractors. Thinking yoga might help, I signed up for some classes. However, some poses seemed to trigger pain and I wasn’t sure if I was doing more harm than good. When I went to a couple of Mark’s classes, he noticed this right away and found ways to modify those poses for me. Even then I was sometimes sore after a class, feeling like I had strained by back but not sure which poses I should have avoided. Mark suggested we have some one-on-one sessions. Starting with a few doctor-recommended exercises and some simple stretches, we gradually added on more challenging poses known to be helpful with lower back issues. Mark has a tremendous depth of knowledge about yoga and its effects on the body. Over the course of a year, we met every couple of months. We recorded some sessions so that I could use the recordings to practice on my own at home. With consistent practice, my progress was noticeable, both in terms of having less back pain and in terms of flexibility, strength, and posture. I’ve left Taiwan, but I still have the recordings and still practice on my own, and I have had far less trouble with my back. The cost was extremely reasonable, especially considering the preparation, personalized attention, and long term benefits. Thanks, Mark!
-Amy L.
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Mark’s classes have transformed my view and practice of yoga for the better. He has the amazing ability to balance a class for all learners. He takes the time to get to know all of his students and challenges them to explore their limits. Every class leaves your body stronger, and the mind emotionally recharged. His classes are both rewarding and successful because he strives to use different techniques by adapting to the needs of his students. He gives thorough and logical explanations that help to refine flexibility, focus, and breath. Yoga with Mark is comfortable, insightful, and addicting. He will give you higher expectations for all other classes.
~Jade S.
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I’ve been going to Mark’s yoga for 2 years now. I’ve tried different gyms and yoga studios before, but it’s his classes that at last made me think I’m getting it. I trust Mark, as his directions are very professional, and he clearly knows how each asana influencers our muscles, joints, and body. He is very careful that we won’t get hurt, and helps us customize the asana’s to help us heal the parts of our body that need healing, so do tell him where and where you hurt on a daily basis or doing a certain pose. Even though I also have membership to a big gym, I still choose to do my yoga with Mark, and now I can use what I’ve learnt from him when I do the asanas by myself. Also, I’ve never thought I can do a headstand, but I can now!
Agnes C.
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I have been a student in Mark’s Yoga class for close to two years and the experience has been great. I had been to yoga classes at different times in the past. However each time, after five or six weeks, I wasn’t motivated to continue. In Mark’s class I can see my progress in class, am able to see the progression from one exercise to the next and can feel the improvement when I am active outside of class. This is all helped by Mark’s various explanations and attention to detail during each session. Last year I was in a motorcycle accident and had significant muscle damage done to my right ankle and calf. Since returning to regular daily life Mark’s class has been an essential part of my rehab process. I’m grateful for Mark’s help and would recommend him to anybody.
~ Wily Bloye
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I have attended numerous yoga classes over the years and rarely felt confident in my abilities as a yoga student. Frustration, stagnancy and confusion were terms that accurately described my association with yoga after a lesson. As a result, I abandoned yoga for an extended period of time until I decided to give it another try. On the advice of a friend, I attended one of Mark’s classes and like magic the uncertainty and yoga frustration that I had once experienced disappeared. Since becoming a dedicated student of Mark’s, I have gained more confidence and skill as a yoga student. I am able to better identify my limits, strengths, and abilities and with each class, progress with Mark’s encouragement and guidance. I have never walked away from Mark’s class with an injury and this is due to the fact that Mark is an honest and patient teacher who extends his knowledge about the body and applies it to each individual in class. Mark gets to know his students and recommends the appropriate adaptations and extensions for each yoga pose taught. Mark has inspired me to return to yoga week after week and discover new horizons within the yoga realm. I highly recommend giving Mark a visit. His classes are truly one of a kind.
Laura M.
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