Yoga festivals are awesome events for those seeking to add some variety to their yoga practice. They take place all around the world and are a great opportunity to practice yoga in sync with a large group of like-minded yoga practitioners. Festivals give yogis the opportunity to focus on different aspects of yoga; from specific workshops, to talks with renowned instructors.
One popular U.S. festival is the Wanderlust Festival. This festival features music, food, speakers, and of course yoga. It takes place in Copper, Colorado and travels to three other locations in the North America: Brattleboro, VT June 21-24, Colorado July 5-8, Lake Tahoe July 26-29 and Whistler, British Columbia August 23-26.
Unlike many music festivals I've been to where the waste generated is huge, Wanderlust uses very sustainable practices including waste reduction, recycling, composting, the utilization of renewable energy sources and carbon offsetting.
The closest place to DC to go on a yoga 'retreat' is the Yogaville ashram in Buckingham, VA. Yogaville offers internships for those interested in living on an ashram, workshops, training, mediation courses, and 600 acres of wooded landscape.
What do you think about yoga festivals? I would love to attend one! It seems like a healthy and inspiring way to spend a vacation.
Wanderlust features the participation of Off The Mat, a non-profit space created by yoginis Seane Corn, Hala Khouri and Suzanne Sterling to channel the power of yoga to inspire conscious, sustainable activism and ignite grassroots social change. OTM sponsors various programs including seva challenge, in which yogis raise funds and awareness to participate in ~ 3 weeks of service work; they recently visited Haiti and will go to India next year, shining light on and supporting people impacted by human trafficking. The core of OTM’s work focuses on each yogi’s “shadow”, our original and deepest wounds that manifest over and over in our lives unless and until deep psychological personal work is done to embrace the whole Self, including the wounds that can cause us to judge ourselves and/or others, to feel shame, to act in ways we know are not aligned with our highest selves. Powerful asana practice is definitely part of the medicine OTM serves up. As is revealed to the regular practitioner, participating in yoga –be it at a class, a festival, a workshop– brings about powerful and frequently unforeseen transformations in body, mind and spirit. OTM encourages this deep transformation and draws on yoga’s power for self-regulation to bring about greater ease accessing our highest Self and channeling all thoughts, words, deeds from that place. I have had very powerful experiences at yoga festivals/with OTM and with a full heart, encourage everyone to keep reaching for and beyond the edge. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Hey I’m heading to WanderLust Colorado and California this summer! Super psyched to play & practice with all the yogis. Will share in classes any fantastic new thingos I pick up in these amazing, huge candy stores.