A Journey of Self-Discovery Through Yoga
As a Scaravelli-inspired yoga teacher, my journey has been one of self-discovery, growth, and a deep connection to the transformative power of yoga. With over 25 years of practice and teaching experience, I have come to understand that yoga is not just a physical practice but a path to knowing ourselves as awareness – a journey of self-inquiry.
Erling McCracken’s Story
I first began exploring yoga and meditation in 1996, and since then, it has become an integral part of my life. In 1998, I completed my first 200-hour yoga teacher training with the Sunra School of Yoga, based on the Sivananda tradition. As my practice evolved, I found myself drawn to the Scaravelli approach after suffering a prolapsed disc in 2001. This experience led me to study with many renowned Scaravelli teachers, including Angela Farmer, Diane Long, Sophy Hoare, Pete Blackaby, Marc Acquaviva, Sandra Sabatini, and Gary Carter.
In 2002, my wife and I established a yoga centre in our home on the Isle of Wight, initially named Yogi Generation and later renamed the Isle of Yoga. Since then, we have been hosting retreats, workshops, classes, and residential courses, sharing the gift of yoga with others.
Yoga teaching is my passion. It is the thread that has weaved so much of my life together. Yoga connects us and keeps us together. My understanding of this is the teaching I’ll share with you.
Erling McCracken’s Yoga Philosophy
As a Scaravelli-inspired yoga teacher, Erling McCracken’s philosophy is deeply influenced by the principles of this approach – a profound trust in the body’s innate wisdom, a surrender to the natural pull of gravity, and a patient, introspective listening to the subtle whispers of the breath. For nearly 25 years, he has immersed himself in this ever-unfolding journey of embodied self-discovery.
In his classes, rather than imposing external forms, Erling McCracken encourages a spirit of playful, curious exploration. Students engage in functional movements that echo the natural rhythms of daily life, not striving for aesthetic ideals but instead asking “why?”—why this pose, why now, how does it feel in this present moment? When they encounter discomfort, they see it as an opportunity to pause, listen more deeply, and question whether their movements are in harmony with their body maps.
Students awaken an exquisite inner sensitivity by attuning to sensation and the subtle currents of the breath. They discover how to move with rather than against the force of gravity, finding ease and spaciousness where there was once resistance and restriction. In this process, the nervous system begins to unwind, and asanas emerge not through willpower but through a kind of grace, a return to their natural state.
Erling McCracken’s role as a teacher is to hold space for this intimate inner journey, offering guidance and support as each student navigates their own unique terrain. More than just physical exercise, this approach to yoga is a pathway to greater self-knowing, a gradual peeling away of layers to reveal the essential truth of who we are. As students learn to inhabit their bodies with more presence and compassion, the fruits of their practice ripple out into all aspects of their lives.
Qualifications and Experience
My practice and teaching started with Sivananda yoga in 1996. I rolled up on a Yoga holiday with Barbara Gordan, one of the founders of Sivananda in London in the late 1960s. ” Erling McCracken, my friend, come up in front of me and listen”, were her first instructions. Barbara was a great teacher and set me on my course.
Vanda Scaravelli’s profound approach has shaped my yoga for many years now. I would encourage you to think of yoga as an exploration without a goal of perfection.
- 2018-2019: Studied with Pete Blackaby on The Humanist Yoga course.
- 2018: Accredited IYN 500-hour yoga teacher.
- 2015: Graduated with a 200-hour Dip. 2 Scaravelli-inspired yoga teacher training qualification from the IYN-accredited Acquaviva School of Yoga.
- 2011-2013: Attended Silent Meditation retreats with Mooji (3 x 8-day retreats).
- 2007-present: Studied with leading Scaravelli teachers, including Angela Farmer, Diane Long, Sophy Hoare, Pete Blackaby, Marc Acquaviva, Sandra Sabatini, and Gary Carter.
- 1999-2002: Studied with Clive Sheridan at yoga retreats in England, Nepal, and India.
- 1998: Graduated with a 200-hour RYT Yoga Alliance qualification with Sunra School of Yoga teacher training, based on the Sivananda tradition.
At 60 years old, I have never felt better in my entire life – a testament to the power of this transformative practice. Join me on this journey.
My Personal Experience with Hip Replacement
I recently underwent a total hip replacement for my left hip. In the years leading up to the surgery and after the operation, I managed my condition by adapting my practice, but most importantly, I kept practising. I am confident that my recovery has been greatly assisted by my consistent yoga practice, which has helped me maintain flexibility, strength, and a positive mindset throughout the process.