Marcus Veda
Marcus came to yoga for the physical fix but soon found the magic went deeper.
With a degree in philosophy he spent his 20s mostly exploring the good life as one half of the Loose Cannons DJs, remixing, recording and touring the world, living the high/low-life.
Off-stage, he first came to the mat through martial arts- combining the self-discipline and control of ninjutsu with the freedom and flow of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The yoga came as a way to recover from lingering injuries picked up along the way. But the need to properly heal the body coincided with a sneaking desire for change in the mind.
Maxing-out every studio intro-offer in London, and trying any style of yoga available, he finally landed on dynamic vinyasa and more specifically, the Ashtanga-inspired Rocket system, which satisfied his undying urge to fly.
Going on to teacher trainings with The Yoga People, David Swenson, David Kyle, and Jason Crandell, he also studied in Yin Yoga too, complementing the daily yang of London city-life with a deepening appreciation of meditation, stillness of mind and yoga beyond the asanas that originally drew him in.
In 2015 he co-founded the Dead Yogis Society, a karma yoga movement to wipe the gloss off the lips of #instayoga and return to the breath, sweat and rawness of the practice.
He has also co-written two books with Hannah Whittingham: on yogic philosophy, “Greed, Sex, Intention- Living like a yogi in the 21st Century” and postures in the age of social media, “How To Win at Yoga.” As well as running their own teacher trainings through The Good Life Yoga School in London.
He gives heartfelt gratitude and respect to all his teachers in London past and present, not forgetting The Yoga People- Jamie and Dulce- for introducing him to the Rocket, and Larry Schultz up there for inventing it. Last but not least, salutes to baby boy Phoenix who has thrown-down some real life-lessons into the mix.
The Rocket is an attitude not a sequence and Marcus’ teaching embraces its joyful rebel spirit while respecting the discipline it instills. The physical challenge is ever-present, but it’s the breath-focused moving meditation of the “4-Beat Vinyasa” that is the real core of the practice.
The DJing still plays an integral role, with specially mixed soundtracks laying down the rhythm and specifically attuned tempo of every class: synchronous breath, bass and movement. He also understands what it is like to not feel flexible enough for yoga. He has been there (and still wakes up there most mornings) so hopes to inspire people that that is a reason to get onto your mat, not keep you off it.
