CONTACT INFO

Chris Marcks, 200 RYT

Certified Yoga Instructor

Call or Text: 715-304-8637

chrisjmarcks@gmail.com

Facebook: @chrisjmarcks

Instagram: @chrisjmarcks

About me...

Learn more about what I have to offer! Visit The Institute for Yoga Sports Science to read my bio online and connect via social media. You can also watch my intro video on YouTube below:

Also...

Shameless plug for my other passion, crafting and visual arts! Visit my site, www.customcreationsbychris.com to learn more if you'd like!

Expanding my offerings in the Valley

In May 2024 I added Crunch Fitness in Appleton to my list of locations where I teach! I began with a long-term sub role for a Foundations (beginners) yoga class. I also began subbing for other yoga class formats and general group fitness as well, a new experience for me!

Being back in a gym setting has been wonderful for me. I am a gym rat at heart, spending my first 10 years+ of my fitness journey primarily lifting weights on the floor (not in group fitness classes). I LOVED to lift! I designed my own workouts and lifted with consistency, seeing decent results. Unfortunately I wasn't very informed on proper lifting form and technique, and developed atrocious forward neck and shoulder posture throughout my 20's. Add years of playing rugby in my early 20's and I was in pain on top of looking slouchy.

Then I "discovered" yoga. I began practicing at a heated power vinyasa studio by my house. I FELL IN LOVE! I gravitated toward the challenge of flowing between postures, the crazy balancing opportunities that had every muscle in my body engaged, and the PAUSE it offered my busy mind. As soon as life allowed, I sought my first 200 hour yoga teacher training, studying under the instructor that introduced me to yoga. I have since completed a second 200 hour course, with a focus on how to help athletes through yoga.

Through my 30's I "undid" what I did to my body in my 20's, improving my overall posture and creating better movement patterns. As I write this, now my mid 40's, I feel I personally have found the winning combination of targeted strength training and yoga. I achieve better results in less time, though full disclosure, I also attribute that to better nutrition. Anchored with this insight for myself, I am excited that I get to serve others through general group fitness by combining my background in strength training and yoga, plus an abundance of wellness knowledge obtained through self-study and deep dives galore.

Ultimately we need strength AND flexibility for optimal mobility. A blend of lifting weights and yoga is a winning combination that I encourage everyone of all ages to explore 🙌

Now teaching in New London also!

My Facebook introduction: My name is Chris Marcks and I am thrilled to get to help grow yoga in the greater New London area!

My yoga journey began in 2009 when I discovered Power Vinyasa (Flow) Yoga. I was hooked! The mental focus yoga provided gave me a “pause button” for my busy monkey mind. And the stretching and strengthening, combined with breathwork were huge for me as well. I was told by my first midwife that I was the best first time mama when it came to my breathing during labor! I went on to have 2 more amazing pregnancies and natural births, my last serving as a surrogate, or gestational carrier, for my now goddaughter :)

As a physical challenge-seeker and weight lifter, I loved everything about the style and sought out yoga teacher training once life allowed. I wanted to offer the style of yoga I fell in love with in my rural community. I began teaching in Shawano where my family resided for 10 years prior to moving to Shiocton 2 years ago. After a year or so hiatus from teaching to remodel our current home, I have since begun teaching regularly in Appleton, subbing in Seymour, and offering pop up classes at my home. I aim to help yoga be as unintimidating and FUN as possible in my teaching. I feel honored to partner with Mindy to provide regular opportunities to build a yoga community close to my new-ish home! I look forward to meeting you as early as this Sunday, March 10th at 4pm at Mindful Movements Yoga Studio!

Mindful Movements Yoga Studio

213 W North Water Street

New London, WI

(920) 915-2146

Find them on Facebook

Coming to Shiocton this summer!

My Faith, My Yoga - 5/20/23

I was asked by a fellow Christian yogi to share my perspective on how my yoga practice impacts my faith. Some followers of Jesus have concerns that practicing yoga is in direct conflict with that which Christians are called to do. I disagree. Before I explain, I’ll point out that yoga is much more than physical postures and breath work, though most teachers in the states predominantly focus on these 2 (out of 8) aspects of yoga in their instruction, myself included. There are areas of yoga that I do not incorporate into my practice, though I recognize their value and simply choose to focus my energies on the other areas that resonate with me. Here is my point of view:

God is inside me. I choose to do things that honor my relationship with Him, to strengthen my connection to the wisdom He imparts within me. The mind-body connection built through yoga allows me to focus on who God made me to be, what I am capable of achieving, first physically then mentally, and finally spiritually. Yoga offers an endless combination of poses to move my body and experience how God made me to move. The intricate tapestry of the human body does not find its way through such movements during the daily hustle. It takes intentionality to restore and preserve mobility in most cases, mine included.

Our bodies are temples, meant to be cared for and treated with the upmost respect. Practicing yoga offers me the ability to draw within my temple and visit with God. When I honor my body, I honor God.

The yoga community of like-minded humans, all showing up to practice self love, is one that has nurtured my soul over the years. Love thy neighbor as thyself. How can you love others if you don’t first practice self love? I practice yoga as part of loving myself, which then allows me to love others more wholeheartedly.

There is no competition or comparison in yoga, no ego. There is always room for growth, yet an unyielding message of acceptance for all things in their current state is woven throughout. This aligns with Jesus’s teachings as I understand them.

My personal experience with yoga has a provided a deeper appreciation for Jesus’s message of love. God knows my heart, He knows my intentions. He knows I seek to be more like Jesus, to serve others as Jesus served mankind. Practicing yoga, and leading others in the practice of yoga, is an offering I make unto Him. I have faith that He will guide me where He wants me to go, so long as I continue to follow him.

Yoga helps me to see the beauty all around, be more mindful, more patient, and more resilient. Yoga helps me be the Christian that Jesus calls me to be.

Yoga Retreat, Costa Rica - March 2023

Getting back to where I began teaching yoga, in Shawano!

Text sent to Shawano Yoga Text group with more information :)

New beginnings...

So what have I been up to since August 2021? Well... what started out with listing our Shawano home to move towards Minneapolis, turned into an extended hiatus to relocate our family to my husband's old stomping grounds in Shiocton, Wisconsin!

We ended up purchasing a home built in 1967 only a few houses down from Grandma. It was a whirlwind of remodeling, with myself acting as the construction manager, designer and painter. I also attained a second 200 hour Yoga Teacher Certification through The Institute for Yoga Sports Science during this time. Remodeling settled down, our boys were established in their new school district, and this girl was finally ready to get acquainted with a yoga studio in the Valley, and soon after, teaching again!

Having operated as a lone yoga ranger for a bit, exclusively managing my teaching schedule ever since COVID, I was beyond thrilled to plug into the yoga scene in Appleton. It had always been a goal of mine to teach at a heated yoga studio, which is the environment in which I fell in love with yoga. 95 Yoga House provided me with not only the studio space I craved, but the community I desired since moving away from my yoga community in Shawano. I was thrilled to be added to their teaching team, first offering Noon Vinyasa on Mondays as of mid-January 2023, then getting to add a Noon Vinyasa on Fridays as of April 2023. You can sign up for my classes via the MindBody app or on their 95 Yoga House's website.

Additionally, I teach pop-up classes and substitute at Lake Park Swim & Fitness in Menasha, and just joined the (short!) sub list for 3:16 Yoga in Seymour.

Samples of Pop-up classes I have taught at Lake Park Swim & Fitness

Travels to Europe: Cliffs of Moher, Ireland & Stonehenge, England - November 2022

To all my Shawano-area yoga friends:

August 30, 2021

Thank you for all your support over the 3+ years I've been teaching here! My family is soon, and my focus must be on preparing for our move. Please know you will always have a special place in my heart for being part of my yoga teaching roots! I am beyond grateful for all you have given me. I wish you well on your yoga journey, both on and off your mat. And I hope our paths cross again!

Namaste, Chris

From hot and mostly sunny Alabama...

...to not so hot and less sunny Iceland!

And back to warm and sunny northern Wisconsin!

NOTES:

Due to lots of travel plans and other obligations (including continuing ed for yoga!), I will be teaching minimally during the week and primarily on a pop-up basis. Sign up for text notifications and be the first to learn about those opportunities as they arise!
All Saturday Yoga: Classes will be held under the amphitheater unless it is reserved by another organization. The back-up location is by the fountain on the walkway. Rain back-up will be Cornerstone if available. Sign up for notifications (see top of website page) to be texted in the event of class moving or needing to be cancelled. All classes are offered on a donation basis.
Check back prior to 8/28 for class info as an instructor has not yet been confirmed!
Contact Chris if you'd like to arrange a personal/small group session at your home or another location! $40 for a 1 hour session for up to 3 people, $50 for 4 or more (in Shawano area)

NOTES:

Due to lots of travel plans and other obligations (including continuing ed for yoga!), I will be teaching minimally during the week and primarily on a pop-up basis. Sign up for text notifications be the first to learn about those opportunities as they arise!
All Saturday Yoga: Classes will be held under the amphitheater unless it is reserved by another organization. The back-up location is by the fountain on the walkway. Rain back-up will be Cornerstone if available. Sign up for notifications (see top of website page) to be texted in the event of class moving or needing to be cancelled. All classes are offered on a donation basis.
Shawano Fest is on 7/10. Please visit shawanodowntown.com for more information about classes offered on this day!
An instructor is not yet confirmed (as of 6/30) for 7/17. Please revisit this site as the date gets closer for details!

It ain't vacay without some namaste!

NOTES:

Tuesday Bodybuilding Yoga: Class has been moved to Franklin Park! No weights required. Pay in advance for the month at first class ($30 for 4 classes) or drop-in rate of $10/class
Saturday Bodybuilding Yoga: This will be a body weight only style of workout similar to "Power Yoga" - no weights required. This will be a 45 min class with minimal cooldown due to relaxed flow class to follow. Suggested donation: $5
Saturday All Level Yoga: I am coordinating area instructors to provide this throughout the summer/early fall during the Farmer's Market. All classes are offered on a donation basis. Other instructors will be noted on my calendar as well :)
All Saturday Yoga: Classes will be held under the amphitheater unless it is reserved by another organization. The back-up location is by the fountain on the walkway. Rain back-up will be Cornerstone if available. Sign up for notifications (see top of website page) to be texted in the event of class moving or needing to be cancelled.
Deck Yoga: Requires RSVP Text (715) 304-8637. Kids are welcome to come hang out, play in the yard, or watch TV. Suggested donation $5-10.

It's time for outdoor yoga at Franklin Park!

Coming soon - yoga at Franklin Park EVERY Saturday morning! Join me for a 45 min workout-style of class, Bodybuilding Yoga, at 9:30am and stay for a relaxing, all levels flow at 10:30am after that. And as the weather warms further, the times may move up! Watch for the June schedule with info. And plan to shop the Farmer's Market while you're there!

Family yoga is coming soon as well! Sign up for notifications (see above) to get info texted about that. Here I am with Cameron, one of the kiddos that came to the Shawano Area Early Childhood Partnership event held on 5/18 at Franklin Park. It's never too early to build a practice of mindful movements!

*Photo shared with permission of Cameron's parents :)

NOTES:

A little lighter this month to be more flexible to schedule outdoor classes as weather permits! We had our first class of the year at Franklin Park and I am SO excited to teach there again! I'll also be hosting classes on my deck. Sign up for text notifications to learn about outdoor opportunities and other "pop-up" classes.

Want to have a happy hour yoga class? I'd like to schedule a Friday or Saturday evening if anyone is interested! LMK when is good for you and your friends and I will schedule around you!

NOTES:

I'm hoping for warm weather soon! Sign up for text notifications (see above) to learn about "Pop Up" Yoga Class opportunities! I'll be adding at least 1 Sunday and 1 Saturday class this month as well and will send a notification once those are scheduled. LMK if you have a specific date that you'd to do class! I take requests :)

NOTES:

3/7 Flow into Your Faith: Flow to contemporary Christian music to get in the groove with God! A beautiful way to round out the weekend, this class will bring joy to all that come.

3/13 REST & RENEW Yoga: It's my half birthday! Not that anyone cares, but I like a reason to celebrate :) Plan to join me at Stubborn Brothers Brewery to have a super chill start to your Saturday! See event graphic for more info!

This is your year to focus on MINDFULNESS :)

New schedule!

2/24 Intro to Yoga Workshop: Learn the basics and get a feel as to what to expect in an actual class. A mat is recommended, but not necessary. Bring an old towel to put on the floor if you do not have a mat. Cost: $5

2/27 Yoga Night Out: Enjoy a relaxing, all levels flow then stay for a beverage of your choice afterwards. Cost: $20 and includes your beverage.

Treat yourself to a Yoga Night Out!

Enjoy a relaxing flow, then stay for a tasty beverage, or more. This is a great way to kick off a girls evening together or date night :)

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