DAVID GARRIGUES
Ashtanga Yoga: The Basics, Beautifully Done
3-days workshop in Athens
Join certified Ashtanga teacher, David Garrigues, for a unique weekend designed especially for those who want a safe, intelligent, and inspiring approach to the power and joy of Ashtanga Yoga. Whether you’re a veteran or completely new to the practice this workshop will help you build a solid foundation — in a clear, accessible, and flexible way. Too often, students either think Ashtanga isn’t for them, or if they do take up the practice, they focus on complex poses too soon and get stuck in rigid sequences — all without ever truly learning the basics. In this workshop, you’ll experience the brilliant structure of Ashtanga and discover how it can serve you and your unique needs and preferences.
May 7th
FRIDAY EVENING
Crouch & Spring: Foundational Dynamism
Life is constant change, and a common response is hesitation and doubt - protecting ourselves, playing it safe, not even noticing we’ve stopped taking risks. This shows up in practice: transitioning doubtfully, arriving at poses tentatively, accepting mediocre outcomes without realizing you’re squandering the chance to build real strength.
This workshop introduces crouch and spring mentality - the decisive, committed quality that builds both physical power and confidence. We’ll work with foundational transitions and poses, learning to set up, commit, and spring instead of hesitating our way through.
**What we’ll practice:**
- Transitioning into Chaturanga Dandasana in a way that builds strength
- Sun Salutation transitions, especially into Upward Dog, using decisive setup and spring
- Moving into standing poses (Warrior sequences) to develop leg and core strength
- Basic forward bends with commitment, not collapse
- Basic hip openers: the half-lotus progression through Tree Pose and Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana
- Jump-back transitions that create power instead of grinding
You’ll learn to take risks in controlled conditions, to act decisively instead of doubtfully, and to practice in a way that actually builds capacity.
May 8th
SATURDAY MORNING
Mysore Practice
Traditional Mysore-style class with one-to-one guidance in the Ashtanga system - but taught through David’s principle-based approach.
You’ll learn the set sequence while developing the intelligence to modify, use props, and apply crouch-and-spring dynamism to your transitions. The focus is on building strength and skill through smart repetition, not forcing yourself into positions your body isn’t ready for.
Each student works at their own pace. David circulates, offering hands-on adjustments, verbal cues, and specific technical guidance tailored to where you are in the practice - whether you’re learning your first sun salutation or refining advanced postures.
This is Ashtanga without the rigidity. You follow the system, but you learn to practice intelligently.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
Backbend Essentials: Primary Roots, Second Series Wings
NO EXPERIENCE WITH SECOND SERIES REQUIRED.
Backbends demand that you meet intensity without collapsing or bracing. Most people approach them either by forcing or by holding back - both are forms of doubt that prevent real development.
This workshop teaches you to backbend with precision and commitment, using Primary and Second Series poses to build universal principles you can apply to any backbend.
**What we’ll practice:**
- Purvottanasana and the transition from Upward Dog
- Urdhva Dhanurasana (Wheel/Upward Bow)
- Dropping back from standing with commitment, not collapse
- Shalabasana (Locust), Bhekasana (Frog), Dhanurasana (Bow)
- Ustrasana (Camel)
- Kapotasana (Pigeon Pose)
The focus: activating legs, glutes, and core; opening the chest without collapsing into the lower back; positioning your spine with precision and power. You’ll learn to meet challenge decisively, building strength and flexibility without fear or force.
May 9th
SUNDAY MORNING
Mysore Practice
Traditional Mysore-style class with one-to-one guidance in the Ashtanga system - but taught through David’s principle-based approach.
You’ll learn the set sequence while developing the intelligence to modify, use props, and apply crouch-and-spring dynamism to your transitions. The focus is on building strength and skill through smart repetition, not forcing yourself into positions your body isn’t ready for.
Each student works at their own pace. David circulates, offering hands-on adjustments, verbal cues, and specific technical guidance tailored to where you are in the practice - whether you’re learning your first sun salutation or refining advanced postures.
This is Ashtanga without the rigidity. You follow the system, but you learn to practice intelligently.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Arm Balances & Inversions
Arm balances and inversions are perfect risk-training opportunities. You can go up into headstand hesitating and doubtful, muscling through fear, accepting shaky outcomes. Or you can learn to work in steps - setting up, committing, springing - training yourself to keep risking even when you want to stay safe.
Decisive action is one of the best ways to build strength - physical, mental, and willpower. When you approach these poses doubtfully, you squander the chance to develop real capacity.
This workshop applies crouch and spring principles to advanced shapes, teaching you to enter and hold arm balances and inversions with steadiness and confidence.
**What we’ll practice:**
- Headstand: coming up confidently and holding with strength
- Bujapindasana (Arm Pressure Pose)
- Bakasana (Crow Pose)
- Pincha Mayurasana (Forearm Balance)
- Advanced jump-through and jump-back variations
You’ll learn to practice without fear, to build strength through intelligent repetition, and to develop the confidence that comes from meeting
Risk skillfully.
Since 1991, David has maintained an enthusiastic and disciplined daily personal practice dedicated to the study of Āsana and Prāṇāyāma within the Ashtanga Yoga tradition. His deep commitment to both practice and teaching continues to inspire a diverse, soulful, and serious global community of students.
David was first introduced to yoga at the age of sixteen, when a friend taught him the classical sequence of Sūrya Namaskāra (Sun Salutations). He sustained a self-directed practice for more than a decade before meeting Marie Svoboda, Seattle’s “Grand Dame of Yoga,” in 1991. Studying with her ignited a lifelong devotion to yoga and led David into an intensive and focused path of learning. During this period, he also studied extensively with senior BKS Iyengar teacher Aadil Palkhivala, attending weekly classes as well as numerous intensives and teacher trainings.
In 1993, David met Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, beginning a long and formative relationship that took him to Mysore, India more than twelve times over sixteen years. In 1996, Pattabhi Jois granted David a teaching certificate, placing him among a small group of Ashtanga teachers worldwide to receive authorization directly from him. Upon returning to Seattle, David opened the city’s first Ashtanga Yoga studio.
Now based in Philadelphia, David is an internationally recognized yoga teacher, the creator of the Āsana Kitchen video instruction series—one of the leading online yoga education resources—and the author of several respected books on yoga practice, philosophy, and teaching. He continues to travel widely throughout the US, Europe, and India, offering workshops, retreats, and in-depth studies.
David’s mission is to help students flourish within the living, contemporary lineage of Ashtanga Yoga, supporting physical, psychological, and spiritual growth through dedicated and thoughtful practice.
REGISTRATION & PAYMENT
The spots for this workshop are limited. It can be attended in full or in drop in classes. Workshop full price is 330€. Drop in price is 55€.
For your registration please fill in the form below and proceed with the payment through the online payment provided or via bank transfer.
Please read T&Cs below. For anything you might need you may email Avra Yoga at info@avrayoga.gr.
Fulll Workshop
330€
Drop In class
55€
T&Cs:
/ Your spot will be reserved upon payment.
/ Payments can be done by credit or debit card through the link above, cash, or bank transfer (please email us to receive bank accounts).
/ Upon or before payment please fill in the registration form as well.
/ If you want to attend more than one drop in classes and in the case you pay online please repeat the payment as per the classes you chose.
/ If you pay via bank transfer please send us proof of payment and which package or course you are enrolling to at info@avrayoga.gr (if you pay for one or more Drop Ins please indicate in your email which specific classes you want to participate to).
/ If you wish to cancel your participation the following cancelation policy applies:
For cancellations up until 31/1, full refund of the amount to the original payment method.
For cancellations up until 20/2, 40% refund to the original payment method.
For cancellations after 10/3, no refund is offered.
/ The organizer and hosts have no involvement or responsibility on expenses made for transportation/traveling to Athens or expenses on accommodation, thus refund on those will not be applied under any of the mentioned circumstances.
/ You may ask us to provide you useful information for your accomodation, however we don't offer accomodation services.
/ The organizer and hosts reserve the right to cancel the event for serious reason (including - but not limited - pandemic, epidemic, illness). In that case full refund of the cost of the workshop will be applied to the original payment method.
