Join us in January for a very special weekend retreat in idyllic Springbrook National Park with renowned international yoga educator and author, Mark Whitwell and friends.

Spend three days studying the ancient lost practices and principles of breath, body and mind, as taught by the grandfather of modern Yoga, Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, and TKV Desikachar whom were Mark's teachers for over 25 years. Explore the philosophy and practice of yoga as a natural and personal experience and dispel many modern day misconceptions that limit us from enjoying our true potential.

Over the weekend you will:

• Practice and understand essential and precise principles of body and breath, as brought forth from the Indian tradition by the "teacher of the teachers," Tirumalai Krishnamacharya

• Learn tools of personal practice to take with you for life

• Set a strong foundation for your new year. Gain insight, clarity and direction.

• Delve into the true essence of authentic and profound Yoga practice.

• Sit and study with a world renowned teacher of teachers and other Heart of Yoga teachers.

• Learn all about principles that empower your practice, ensuring it is safe, powerful, efficient, and fulfils the promises of Yoga.

• Have plenty of space and time to enjoy the simple ceremonies of rest, nature walks and swims, nourishing food, music, conversation and quiet time.

When: Friday 19th - Monday 22nd January 2024

Where: Theosophical Society, Springbrook National Park

Includes study, nourishing meals and private room accomodation.

Price: 2 night $700 | 3 night $900. (Payment plans available 6 x $150)

Reserve your spot here: https://otsu.io/16x

About Mark:
Mark Whitwell is interested in nurturing the Heart of Yoga in every person, and has spent a lifetime dedicated to studying and communicating the Great Tradition. He spent over twenty years visiting India with his teachers Krishnamacharya, the "teacher of the teachers" (who taught B.K.S. Iyengar, Pattbhi Jois, Indra Devi, and others), and his son, T.K.V. Desikachar. After first meeting these two great teachers in 1973, Mark realized the importance of their scholarship and committed his life to furthering the communication, in the process studying with many known and unknown masters, including both J and UG Krishnamurti. From his home country of Aotearoa / New Zealand, Mark has taught Yoga for many years throughout the world, adapting the principles of the Great Tradition to the needs of people from many cultures and countries with compassion and humour. He was the editor of and contributor to T.K.V. Desikachar’s classic, The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice, and is the author of Yoga of Heart and The Promise. He lives on Waiheke Island, New Zealand. 

Grounded Kids Spring Holiday Workshop

18th September (Monday) - 8:30am - 12pm (all ages)

Monday to Friday - 3:30pm - 4:15pm (5-7yo) / 4:30pm - 5:15pm (8-13yo)

Saturday: 9am-10am (all ages)

18th September (Monday)
8:30am - 12pm
Over 3.5 hours kids will explore

+ BJJ Self Defence Basics + BJJ Sport & Competition Basics + Mindfulness, Breath, Relaxation + Games & Values-based discussions + Light healthy morning tea inc

The camp is open to all Kids of all levels of experience. It's a great foundation for newbies and even kids that have yet to start and also a great opportunity for the higher belt kids to improve and spend some time developing technique, demonstrate leadership and make more connections with their tribe.

Prices

Monday morning 18th Sept Only $80

Monday morning 18th Sept + 6 classes 1st week: $199

Monday morning 18th Sept + 6 classes 2nd week: $199

Monday morning 18th Sept + 12 classes for 2 weeks $299

Book Here: https://otsu.io/zg

Balance your inner zen warrior in nature.

We invite you to join us in the breathtaking Springbrook mountains this July for our Winter Academy of Grounding Jiu Jitsu & Yoga Retreat. This is an opportunity to disconnect from distractions and dive deep into the natural power of Jiu JItsu and Yoga.

What to expect

Over two days and nights, we will connect, train, and chill out in the beautiful private nature space surroundings. You can expect Jiu Jitsu study, Sacred ceremony, moonlight rolls, sunrise yoga, fire talks, zen walks, restorative yoga, connect time, cold exposure, breath training, digital detoxing and nourishing vegetarian food. You can also opt to just curl up with a book by the fire all weekend if you prefer too.

Our accommodation

The retreat is located in peaceful and lush and surrounded by the waterfalls of Springbrook National Park.

Less than an hour’s drive from the Gold Coast.

This retreat is perfect for lovers of Jiu Jitsu or Yoga or both as well as partners of practitioners. The cost includes private accommodation, all training and meals (payment plans available). We have single and limited double rooms available. (Be quick if you want a double.)

Don’t miss out on this incredible moment to connect with the grounded tribe, inspire your practice, and recharge for winter.

Cost:

Includes private accomodation, all training and meals. (Payment plans available)

2 nights in private room (Friday & Saturday)

EARLY BIRD $350 per person (paid before June 7)
STANDARD $420 per person (after June 7)

1 night in private room (Saturday)

EARLY BIRD $175 per person (paid before June 7)
STANDARD $200 per person (after June 7)

Day Pass (Sunday) (includes Lunch only)

EARLY BIRD $65 per person (paid before June 7)
STANDARD $80 per person (after June 7)

Overcome Sponsorship

We want to make sure that everyone who could benefit from the retreat has the opportunity to do so. That's why we've kept the cost of the retreat without profit. However, we know that not everyone is in a position to pay the full amount.

If you're someone who can afford to give a little extra, we would be so grateful if you would consider purchasing an overcome voucher for $50/$100/$200/$420. This voucher would go towards sponsoring members who may not have been able to attend otherwise and would really benefit from this time with us on the mountain.

Book your place here: https://otsu.io/sq

Spend the weekend with the world acclaimed Physiotherapist, Scientist & Yoga Master Simon Borg-Olivier 

Simon Borg-Olivier MSc BAppSc(Physiotherapy) APAM c-IAYT is an unmatched wealth of knowledge which comes from merging modern medical science with ancient eastern wisdom and practice. He is a highly respected Yoga Master, Exercise-based physiotherapist, a university lecturer and research scientist. For more than 50 years he has gained a deep understanding of Applied Medical Science and taught and studied posture, movement, breathing and mental control from the great masters in Tibet, India, Japan and China.

Athletic Longevity | Masterclass

Saturday May 6th 2:30 – 5:30pm

Learn how to strengthen, stabilise, mobilise your body for the sports and life you love. Spend the afternoon pulling apart and putting back together those troublesome areas like the knees, lower back, shoulders and the neck with a world acclaimed Master Yoga teacher, scientist and physiotherapist.

Learn & practice how to: Reduce injuries | Prepare your body intelligently | Reduce the need for surgery or downtime | Train your joints and muscles through the full range of motion | Develop a mobile and pain-free body | Live pain free | + much more.

“Surgery is not the only solution to your knee problem. You can use simple posture and movement to strengthen and stabilise your knees to improve knee function and reduce chronic pain.”

Simon Borg-Olivier

The Science of Breath | Masterclass

Sunday May 7th  9:00 – 12:00pm

In the modern world of sport, fitness and yoga there are many misconceptions when it comes to the topic of breathing. Learn the safest and most skilful ways to utilise your breath for athletic performance, mental effectiveness and whole system health and wellbeing from an acclaimed Master Yoga teacher, scientist and physiotherapist who has been practicing, studying and teach Breath for 50 years.

Learn and practice how to: Breathe for athletic performance & recover | Breathe to recover | Optimise your immune system | Enhance energy levels | Use breath for Strength training | Increase blood flow | Increase mobility of the spine | Learn about self-induced hyperbaric oxygen therapy | Learn about self-induced Intermittent hypoxic training | and much more.

Flow-states | Masterclass *

Sunday May 7th  1:30 – 4:30pm

The flow state is something we are beginning to hear a lot about in modern psychology and the elite athlete's world. But what is it really all about? What happens to the brain and body are in the flow? How do you get there?  What is the link between movement, breath and meditative states? What is the link between ancient eastern wisdom and practice and modern western science? And perhaps most importantly how can we utilise these mind states to master and enjoy life.

(Pre-requisite: Athletic Longevity or The science of Breath Workshop)

This weekend or individual sessions are suitable for:

Martial Artists, Yoga Teachers & Practitioners, Jiu Jitsu Fighters, Professional Athletes looking to achieve superior performance, Physiotherapists, Sports Coaches, Breath Coaches, Fitness Professionals, Dancers, Qigong Practitioners, and anyone who interested in in deepening their ability to use posture, movement and breathing to create positive effects on their fitness, longevity and mental and physical wellbeing.

Price:

Full Masterclass (3 part program) $190
Grounded Members $180

Individual Session $80
Grounded Members $70
(Athletic Longevity & The Science of Breath only available as an individual class)

Pair $140
Grounded Members $130
(Athletic Longevity +Flow states or Breath + Flow-States only*)

Sign up here : https://otsu.io/o4

Introducing our new 8 week Acro Yoga fundamentals course for Kids. This 8 week course is aimed to help kids develop a cool bag of tricks including strength, balance, confidence, posture, communication and trust.

This course contains Yoga basics like breathing, posture, focus, relaxation and mindfulness.

Date: April 20th

Age: 8 - 13yrs

Level: All levels

Day & Time: Thursdays 4-5pm

Cost: Included in Grounded Kids weekly membership or $240 (one off payment)

In a world full of commodified "yoga" and the proliferation of brands and styles, how do we make sure we keep the heart in Yoga? How do we practice and teach in ways that respect and recognise each individual as the unique expression of life that they are? What are the practical tools that can help us feel our own intrinsic joy, freedom, and authority, and share this?

Investigate these questions together with a collective holding decades of experience of practice and of helping people find the right yoga for them. In the exquisite surroundings of Ubud, Bali, we will explore how Yoga is not just a physical workout, a collection of information, or a "spiritual" workout towards a future, better version of ourselves—rather, it is each person's direct participation in the nurturing force of reality, as it is appearing as you and everything else.

This training is not in any particular "style" of Yoga: it is the essential principles of body and breath, quite precise, as brought forth from the Indian tradition by the "teacher of the teachers," Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, and made uniquely relevant to us as modern people. You will therefore be able to apply these principles to any style or level of Yoga you wish to practice or teach, to make all Yoga individualized, effective, enjoyable, and safe. All bodies and backgrounds are welcome. We could call it “Advanced Yoga for Perfect Beginners.” Everyone’s practice will look different because we are all different.

You can expect to receive yoga instruction that grounds your practice in interoception, feeling the body from the inside out, yoga as whole-body prayer to Life, yoga as spiritual practice, yoga as profound internal reverie. Not yoga as exercise.

If you have questions and would like to converse with a real human who will actually be there, send a message on whatsapp to Rosalind at +64 27 715 9538.

Ubud, Bali December 2022

Live in Teacher Training with Mark Whitwell

7 nights, 7 days (6 full days, 2 half days)

In a world full of commodified "yoga" and the proliferation of brands and styles, how do we make sure we keep the heart in Yoga? How do we practice and teach in ways that respect and recognise each individual as the unique expression of life that they are? What are the practical tools that can help us feel our own intrinsic joy, freedom, and authority, and share this? Investigate these questions together with a collective holding decades of experience of practice and of helping people find the right yoga for them.

This training is not in any particular "style" of Yoga: it is the essential principles of body and breath, quite precise, as brought forth from the Indian tradition by the "teacher of the teachers," Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, and made uniquely relevant to us as modern people. You will therefore be able to apply these principles to any style or level of Yoga you wish to practice or teach, to make all Yoga individualized, effective, enjoyable, and safe. All bodies and backgrounds are welcome.