Join us in a return to the beautiful beachside surroundings of Yandara Retreat, Baja California, Mexico

“Recognize that unlearning is the highest form of learning.” — Rumi

Join Mark Whitwell, Rosalind Atkinson and supporting teachers and community for ten days at the ocean fringes of the great continent of the Americas. You are invited to join a great meeting of yogis from the North and the South, converging in the Heart of the Americas – Mexico.

If you are interested to learn more, you can schedule a conversation to ask questions, using the link below:

Teacher ‘Untraining’ or Retreat

Receive authentic Yoga in the direct lineage of T. Krishnamacharya, the “grandfather of modern yoga” and his son T.K.V. Desikachar. Mark Whitwell met these venerable teachers in 1973 in Chennai, and enjoyed a wonderful relationship with them until Desikachar’s passing in 2018, and beyond, even.

So many of the principles that make Yoga authentic, powerful and safe have been lost. It has too often been reduced to a workout or a hobby of stretching for limited demographics.

The principles we share are:

• Yoga should adapt to meet you where you are

• Spontanaeity: no two retreats are ever the same. The mood is alive, vital, humorous, and responsive to the needs of those present.

• Work, but no struggle — Yoga is where we forget about the habits of struggle of modern day life

• All bodies, ages, cultures and religions are welcomed. Yoga is not religion. We respect all backgrounds

• The breath is the central feature and purpose of asana!

• Beyond just asana, your Yoga includes pranayama (conscious breathing), and the later meditative ‘limbs’ of practice, which come as gifts

• Yogic relationship — how to allow our practice to spill over into daily life

• Teachings include Vedic chanting, Tantric mantra, Nyasa (‘placing’ mantra in the body), mudra, history of yoga, and philosophy (but engaged and relevant to our lives… not dry and abstract).

• The Socratic method: teachings are a dialogue between equals, a conversation, not a hierarchical lecture

• Intelligent sequencing or Vinyasa Krama – learn how to structure a practice in the way that builds safely to a peak

• Alignment from the inside: using interoception (your own body intelligence) to find the adjustments that are right for you

• Trauma informed: no gross adjustments, go at your own pace, no overstimulating ‘breathwork,’ sensitivity to what we carry

Is it for me?

• Are you a Yoga teacher wanting to reconnect with the subtle and breath-centric roots of Yoga, and Tantra, more than just the physical postures?

• Or a diligent practitioner, wanting to step into teaching an authentic lineage?

• Perhaps you took a workshop or class with Mark in the past and would like to go deeper;

• Or you may be a serious devotee/practitioner from diverse lineages, who wants a whole-body practice to support their spiritual life;

• Are you looking for a Yoga that can adapt to you and meet you where you are now, rather than struggling to change…

• Are you looking for a reset, some time to reconnect with deeper Truth, with yourself, with the ocean and the land…

• Did you read ‘The Heart of Yoga’ and wish to connect deeper with the teachings from T. Krishnamacharya and T.K.V. Desikachar

• Do you feel the need to balance very ‘yang’ society and life with the essential ‘yin’ qualities, which may be neglected

• Or perhaps you came last year and would love to return and be in community in the nurturing surrounds of Yandara.

Accreditation / Certification

These 10 days together can be combined with online teacher training materials to receive 200hr certification. Either through Yoga Alliance, and through our own longer more rigorous certification programme, or both.

200 hr certification comprised of the following:

• these ten days in person, with printed manual

• in-depth recorded online teacher training materials

• a structured 2 months online following the retreat with weekly classes

• support while practicing teaching

• Yoga Alliance certification upon completion

Costs

This event is all-inclusive: costs include:

• all classes and instruction,

• teaching materials,

• one-on-one time with teachers,

• chosen accommodation,

• all the facilities at Yandara, like the beautiful pool and beachfront pavilion

• delicious vegetarian meals (with optional local fish, eggs and dairy), drinks, and fruits

• certification and online component, if you want to continue with that afterwards.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Images below

1. Glamping Cabana with ensuite bathroom – to yourself: $3,750

2. Glamping Cabana with ensuite bathroom – a couple, sharing (queen bed): $3,250 each*

3. Glamping cabana without bathroom – to yourself: $3,100

4. Glamping cabana without bathroom, two people sharing a king bed or twin beds: $2,750 each

5. White canvas glamping tent to yourself: $2,900

6. White canvas glamping tent shared with two people sharing a double bed: $2,550 each*

7. Mini hobbit hut: $2,650

8. Standard deluxe tent (single bed): $2,200

All prices are per person, in USD

* these options are not designed for twin sharing but could be shared by a couple or close friends

NB: Limited scholarships available to those from countries with a weak dollar against the US who have intention to teach; please email studio@heartofyoga.com to apply.

10% discount available for supporting members of the Heart of Yoga Online Studio since at least 2025, and those returning from 2025.

What is not included?

• additional massage or healing sessions with Yandara-recommended practitioners that can be booked on site

• transfers to and from the airport (Yandara contracts an affordable shuttle service that we will help you arrange though)

• visas if needed, flights, and medical insurance

Schedule

Check in begins at 3pm. For arrivals before 3pm, your accommodation may still be being prepared. You are welcome to relax by the pool, explore the campus and beach, enjoy complimentary refreshments, and meet people.

After dinner, we will gather around 7pm

Retreat Full Schedule TBC

Last day: Breakfast, morning practice, pack up rooms, check out of room by 10am, closing session.
If your shuttle is leaving later, you are welcome to relax by the pool until at least 1pm (and possibly later).

Getting There

Yandara Retreat Centre is located on the Pacific Coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico, in between the popular artist town of Todos Santos (20 minutes to the north) and Cabo San Lucas (45 minutes south). Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) is a convenient 1-hour journey on a dedicated toll road.

Booking a flight

Unless you are making your own way from another airport, please ensure that you book your flight into San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos International (SJD). Ideally, try to book your arrival time between 11am and 5pm so that you can shuttle with your group and take advantage of Yandara’s special $40 rate (shuttles outside these hours are $60-$100).

Departure flights: ideally you can schedule them to take off between 1pm and 5pm.

The Heart of Yoga Foundation

Our mission is sharing authentic Yoga from the Indian traditions with the world – effective, powerful, and adaptable to all belief systems. We are a registered 501(c)3 non-profit, and all income from this retreat after costs goes towards our programmes making Yoga accessible around the world: YES (yoga education in schools), Yoga Access Project, and the Yoga Peace Project.

By coming on this training or retreat, you are supporting these programmes and helping nurture authentic Yoga in the world. Thank you.