Back to All Events

A Weekend with Marque Garaux


  • The Shala of Pittsburgh Ashtanga Yoga 6101 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, PA, 15206 United States (map)

A WEEKEND with Marque Garaux
June 7-9, 2024

This ASANA INTENSIVE weekend package includes 4 workshops and 2 classes (Mysore or led). The weekend intensive will divide the series up into its base elements. We will anatomically break down forward folds and backbends, hip opening, twists, and of course the lift up and jump back. This weekend is perfect for all Ashtanga students and even practitioners of other vinyasa based practices. Notebooks or phones for recording are encouraged.

Friday, June 7, 2024
6pm-8pm - Lift Up!  
Saturday, June 8, 2024
8:30am-10:30am - Mysore Class
1pm-3pm - The Spine: A User’s Guide to Flexion and Extension
3:30pm-5:30pm - The Hips: Unlocking Leg Behind the Head
Sunday, June 9, 2024
8:30am-10:30am - Mysore Class noon-2pm - Simplifying the Twists

Marque Garaux, a US Marine Veteran, long time rock climber and overall outdoor enthusiast, discovered Ashtanga Yoga while seeking different ways to alleviate his lower back pain. After noticing an almost immediate physical change, Marque then slowly began to see other positive changes happening in his life as well. In the fall of 2014 Marque decided to follow in the footsteps of the teachers that he most respected and applied for study at the K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute (KPJAYI). Marque received the blessing as an Authorized Level 2 teacher from Sharath on December 12th, 2017, during his morning practice.  Marque is the owner of Great Lakes Ashtanga Yoga which is located on eight wooded acres in Geneva, Ohio. He spends about 6 months there per year offering a full Mysore program, private lessons, and workshops. The other half of the year is dedicated to his travels where he reconnects with his students around Europe and with his teacher in India. Find out more at http://www.greatlakesashtangayoga.com/ or @yogamarque or @greatlakesashtangayoga

Friday, June 7, 2024

6pm-8pm - Lift Up!

The key to effortless looking strength is to understand the foundational rules of gravity and balance. A lifetime of climbing has taught Marque that gravity is always at work on our physical bodies. It never rests. To create the illusion of weightlessness, we must work harder and smarter. During this 2-hour workshop Marque will explain how to target specific muscle groups that are key to building a solid foundation that we can balance on and move through space.

Saturday, June 8, 2024

8:30am-10:30am        Mysore Class 

1PM-3PM       The Spine: A User's Guide to Flexion and Extension

The way you move today, greatly affects the way you will move tomorrow. The average individual on any given day will move their spine into flexion far more than they will move it into extension. Our daily activities and gravity are moving us forward at such a highly repetitive rate that the soft tissues connected to the spine will inevitably weaken over time, at some point the spine will lose its natural S curve, and we will be left with a chronic pain that makes us want to move less and less. This is all avoidable if you learn to balance your flexion and extension on your mat and carry that into your daily life.

3:30pm-5:30pm        The Hips: Unlocking Leg Behind the Head

In this workshop, we will take a deep look at the hips and the spine.  Studying the proper alignment and engagement required to do these postures safely. Everyone will learn techniques to self-assist, regardless of their current level of mobility.  We will also have a chance to learn and practice how to safely assist others. The workshop will include Marque’s 15-minute, nightly hip sequence. Students will receive a video link to continue this sequence as they navigate the journey to unlock their hips.

Sunday, June 9, 2024

8:30am-10:30am        Mysore Class 

12pm-2pm        Simplifying the Twists

When talking to other yogis, we rarely come across the students who say that twisting postures are among their favorites. And because of this, these postures are not given their fair share of time in the spotlight. This workshop intends to make twists simple and fun while emphasizing their importance for the health of the thoracic spine.

EARLY BIRD FULL WORKSHOP $230 (MEMBERS $195)

May 10, 2024 - Full Workshop price is $275
Individual Sessions $40-$60

Cancellation Policy: Written notification of cancellation of any portion of the workshop series (full weekend or individual workshops) must be sent to info@theshalapittsburgh.com no less than 72 hours prior to the start date/time of the workshop to receive a refund. Workshop is non-transferable.