About Us
Dutch born Maarten Vermaase studied Hatha Yoga with the late Robert Van Heeckeren during the early 1970’s, and Tibetan Buddhist Meditation, Yoga and Healing Exercises with Lamas and Teachers from all four traditions, esp Kagyu, Nyingma and Gelug. He has taught in the Oxford area and London since 1979, at first extensively through Adult Education colleges. In 1999, at the suggestion of Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, he started the Mahasiddha Yoga Group. He worked for many years as a Diploma Course Tutor for the British Wheel of Yoga, and held workshops and retreats for groups nationwide. His Pranayama instructions, Tibetan Healing Exercises workshops and BWY Meditation Module were especially sought after.
The Covid pandemic of 2020 – 2021 put a stop to all in-person teaching of the Yoga, Pranayama and meditation courses that had previously been advertised on this website.
Since 2023, in-person tuition has resumed of advanced Pranayama Training (now a closed group) and advanced Meditation Module Four. These groups are not open to the general public, but the latter is open to interested individuals who are recommended by existing group members. Each group meets four times per year.
Maarten gratefully acknowledges the instructions and advice he received through the kindness of his Teachers. ‘All I have learnt and share with various groups I owe to my Teachers, all mistakes are mine and mine alone’
In the Buddhist tradition, the life-stories of the 84 Mahasiddhas (Great Accomplished Ones) show a wide spectrum of backgrounds and occupations: from beggars, craftspeople, farmers and musicians to scholars, ministers and kings. What they had in common, also with us, is that they juggled their responsibilities of work and family life with a strong commitment to practise Dharma/Yoga. By using their life-situation ‘as the Path’ they gained realisation. Reflecting on their stories can be an inspiration to us all.
Some personal notes and acknowledgements, by Maarten Vermaase, August 2025:
I have never considered myself a teacher – but am happy to share whatever I have learnt with genuine students or practitioners, when appropriate.
The Covid pandemic of 2020 – 2021 put a stop to all in-person teaching of the Yoga, Pranayama and meditation courses that had previously been advertised on this website.
Since 2023, in-person tuition has resumed of advanced Pranayama Training (now a closed group) and advanced Meditation Module Four. These groups are not open to the general public, but the latter is open to interested individuals who are recommended by existing group members. Each group meets four times per year.
My spiritual journey started in that exciting time around the late 1960s and early 1970, when Teachers (inc Tibetan Lamas) started to come to the West, where eager audiences were waiting.
Since then I have been fortunate to have met and studied with numerous Lamas.
These notes are not about my spiritual journey or (lack of) achievements, but a homage to those individuals who have helped and encouraged me to teach (share) Yoga, Pranayama and meditation.
The late Robert Van Heeckeren, who in 1973 took me under his wings; invited me to stay at his humble hut in the Dutch Achterhoek; taught me Yoga en Social Engagement (Yoga and Social Awareness); and sent me, perhaps prematurely, to teach my first Yoga lessons.
Since then, all my Yoga classes have been based on Robert’s work, including the Six Hour Sequence, taught at the Advanced Yoga sessions during the years preceding the Covid pandemic.
Special thanks go to Ven Chime Rinpoche, also for taking me under his wings in those heady early days; for his priceless instructions on Breathing Meditation; and his advice regarding the teaching of Tibetan Healing Exercises.
Sissel Fowler of the Oxford Yoga Group invited me to teach my first Yoga lessons in England, and paved the way to teaching at the various Community Education Centres so prevalent during the 1980s and 90s.
Frances Sturt, at the City Lit Institute in London, who had the courage to see the value of Tibetan Healing Exercises, and of proper Yoga Teacher Training.
Sandy Chubb (of the Prison Phoenix Trust) and Faye Beddowes (of The British Wheel of Yoga), who enabled me to train as a BWY Diploma Course Teacher. Faye also encouraged me to design and present the BWY Meditation Module, Level One, followed later by Level Two.
Between app 2004 and the Covid pandemic of 2020, over 25 Meditation Modules Level One and 10 Level Two were presented at numerous locations in the UK. This was always at the kind invitation by local organisers, too many to mention by name.
Level Three was introduced to advanced groups who had completed the Levels One and Two. They were organised at London, Taunton, Daventry and Oxford.
Level Four was composed during the Covid pandemic as a serialised course book, which is currently used as the basis for our group meetings at Oxford.
The Meditation Modules are based on the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of Mahamudra.
Of the many Tibetan Lamas I have worked with, the following have been especially helpful and encouraging with the presentation of the Meditation Modules:
The late Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, who kindly took note of, and ‘blessed’, the contents of Modules One and Two;
The late Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso, for his permission for our groups to use the Dohas (Songs of Realisation) he had introduced me to at his seminars;
The late Ven Ato Rinpoche, for simply being there with advice whenever I needed it;
The late Geshe Damcho, of Lam Rim Wales, for his kindness and wisdom, and detailed teaching of Shantideva’s Way of the Bodhisattva;
The non-Tibetan Lama Thabkhay, or Peter Barth, the author of a Mahamudra manual which he kindly allowed us to use.
Finally, my heartfelt thanks to all past and present course participants for ‘being interested’ and for bearing with me, despite my lack of knowledge and experience. No teaching/sharing can take place without students who are genuinely willing to learn.
