Mark

Mark Nicholls is a dedicated meditation instructor, Buddhist teacher, and well-being mentor, with years of experience in both practising and teaching a wide range of meditation traditions.
Rooted in Vajrayana Buddhism — in which he has taken lay ordination and maintains daily practice — Mark’s teachings are enriched by his personal journey and his extensive travels through Central Asia, the Asia-Pacific, and the Far East.

Blending traditional wisdom with modern understanding, Mark creates an inclusive and welcoming space for people of all backgrounds, supporting personal transformation, mental clarity, and holistic well-being.

He works with individuals through private one-to-one sessions, regular group classes and surgeries, and also offers chaplaincy and retreat services for those seeking deeper spiritual care and support

Mark’s experience spans mainstream Buddhism, esoteric (Chinese) Buddhism,  Zen Buddhism, Tantric practices, and Taoist meditation techniques.
His aim is to create a supportive and nurturing space where students can cultivate mindfulness, compassion, and inner peace — helping them navigate life’s challenges with greater balance, resilience, and clarity.

Mainstream Buddhist Meditation Styles

Mark’s focus includes Mindfulness Meditation, a core practice of breath awareness, complemented by techniques such as Body Scan, Walking Meditation, and Eating Meditation. These methods encourage mindfulness in daily life, helping to reduce stress and deepen present-moment awareness. In addition, Mark teaches Insight Meditation, which emphasises seeing the impermanence of all things, guiding individuals toward liberation through understanding the transient nature of existence. Mark also incorporates Loving-Kindness Meditation (Metta) encouraging students to develop compassion for themselves and others through reciting phrases of goodwill, fostering emotional healing and a compassionate approach to life.

Esoteric Buddhist Meditation Styles (Vajrayana)

Mark draws upon Vajrayana practices of Chinese esoteric Buddhsim, including Visualisation Yoga, where students embody qualities of well-being through visualization, fostering spiritual transformation and clarity.

He also teaches Inner Heat Meditation, a breathwork and visualization practice that generates internal warmth, promoting inner transformation. Alongside these, Mark explores the four classes of Tantra, providing students with structured, advanced paths to spiritual growth.

Chan Meditation Styles

Mark’s repertoire includes Silent Illumination (Mozhao Chan), a Chinese Chan (Zen) practice that encourages formless meditation, where thoughts naturally arise and dissolve, helping practitioners recognize the inherent clarity of the mind. He also guides students through Koan Meditation, where critical questions are used to break through conceptual thinking, leading to sudden enlightenment and a deeper connection to intuitive wisdom.

Zen Meditation (Zazen)

As a practitioner of Chan (Zen) Buddhism, Mark guides Zazen, focusing on breath and posture to quiet the mind. His sessions include just sitting as well as Simple Koan Considerations, where students explore paradoxical questions to transcend logical thought and attain deeper insight.

Mark also introduces practices that focus on giving and receiving, guiding Practitioners to visualize taking in the suffering of others and sending out compassion, cultivating empathy and reducing self-centeredness.

Taoist Meditation Styles

Expanding beyond Buddhist traditions, Mark incorporates some Taoist Style Meditation, particularly focusing on moving Chi practices. These techniques harness and circulate Qi (life force energy) to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being, contributing to inner balance and longevity.

A Holistic Approach to Meditation

Mark’s teaching approach is holistic and tailored to the unique needs of each student, blending mental clarity, emotional healing*, and spiritual* growth. Whether through private sessions, group workshops, or retreats, Mark offers a transformative journey using a variety of meditation techniques. His personal experience of overcoming trauma shapes his compassionate teaching style, helping others to unlock their potential while nurturing mindfulness and compassion in daily life.

Through his work, Mark continues to build an interconnected, compassionate community, guiding practitioners toward inner peace and well-being. 

*Please note that any references to "healing" in Mark's teachings relate solely to personal spiritual healing, which may or may not occur through participation in meditative practices. This healing is of a personal, introspective nature and does not at all replace professional clinical or medical advice or treatment. Mark’s teachings focus on self-reflection, meditation, and well-being practices that support "spiritual and emotional growth".