and music lovers flock to the Californian experience mountains for Wanderlust. Yogis at Wanderlust celebrate their high-altitude location with I (Warrior I Pose).

Yoga for all ages at BaliSpirit Festival.

The Dutch Yoga Festival is a relaxed weekend event on the island of Terschelling.

Ever dreamed of om-ming your way around the world? With the trend towards international yoga festivals, a yoga-filled 2011 is more accessible than you might think. By Sue White

festival timeThe ashram Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh Yoga teacher Seane Corn at the Asia Yoga hosts the International urg.nl); b eynolds/ Conference in 2010. R Yoga Festival. courtesy hy; p onference ; Julianne C p oga Y ightca L inywater Photogra inywater sia T A urg (www.lottestekelen urg eill b eth ON S : left: left: p om om p T tekelen S iketan; iketan; otte otte N L estival; estival; F hy clockwise from to hy clockwise from to from clockwise hy p p irit irit Sp Burlesque perfomers Yard Dogs Road Kirtan artist and yoga teacher Show at Wanderlust in 2010. Govindas at Bhakti Fest. Photogra of Bali of Parmarth of courtesy www.romanskifilms.com; courtesy of Photogra

6 8 yogajournal.com.au January 2011 January 2011 Y ogajournal.com.au 6 9 experience www.australianyogaretreats.com.au The International Yoga Festival (iYF) 6 Day Retreat July 20 - 25 2011 has a spectacular location on the Eco Beach Wilderness Resort from $1790 banks of the Ganges, at the Broome WA acclaimed ashram Parmarth Niketan.

Australian Yoga Retreats

Ojeya Cruz Banks teaching West African dancing at BaliSpirit Festival in 2010.

Yoga surf weekends, treks & adventure retreats A passionate New Mexico. It’s hot and dry and everyone camps. It’s a Inspirational teachers, different traditions, one path audience at Bhakti Fest. festival so people dress in white, creating a sea of 2000 white yoga angels. The first couple of days it’s m Journey with yoga, discover Australia co . overwhelming, as the toxins and energy are released, but you s lm walk away elevated and transformed,” Wilson says. Yoga Surf Weekend Retreats Although many attend a yoga festival to work on Weekend Surf Coast Retreat April 2 - 3 & Nov 26 - 27 2011 anskifi m their Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog Bells Beach VIC from $390 ro . Pose), it’s not always the teaching that’s the only appeal. www

/ “The surroundings, teaching and the food in Bali were amazing, ds l but I also made a very good circle of friends—we’re all going back

eyno this year together. It’s that sense of community that will keep R Bhakti Fest me going back year after year,” says Cooksey. Mark Gibson Iyengar Yoga Retreat celebrates kirtan, ianne It’s no surprise that being surrounded by writhing 6 Days Eco Beach Wilderness Resort July 20 - 25 2011 yoga and meditation masses ranging from the spaced out to the immaculately over four days. Broome WA from $1790 ; 2 x Jul clad for days on end can eventually override our tendency to stick to the practice we know and love. For Brisbane iketan vinyasa teacher and studio owner anything from a day to a week of yogic overload. h N “I went to Bali really excited to study with [prana-flow

Keren Cooksey, signing up for her first international Contrary to popular belief, festivals aren’t only for the bendy art yoga teacher] Rea. That was fantastic, but one of my m y o g a f e s t i v a l w a s s o m e w h a t o f a n a c t o f f a i t h . or long-time practitioners. Beginners programs feature on most ar favourite teachers ended up being Canadian yogi, surfer and P Desert Stars Yoga Camel Trek of l. “I decided to attend last year’s BaliSpirit Festival, but I didn’t jam-packed schedules, as do a wide range of yoga styles. Part environmentalist, Eoin Finn. In his classes we moved our mats 10 Day Yoga Camel Trek Retreat August 15 - 25 2011 know what to expect,” Cooksey admits. of the joy is that no two festivals approach the experience the to the side, jumping back from Chaturanga [Four-

rtesy Flinders Ranges SA from $2170 festiva u “I travelled on my own to Ubud and when I got there, every same way—you could be camping on an island, bedding down Limbed Staff Pose] like we were on a surfboard. Anyone taking co : cafe and restaurant was filled with yogis from across the world. in a luxury hotel room or tucked up in an ashram dormitory, pirit it seriously soon broke down in giggles,” Cooksey recalls. S i top l a I sat down in a cafe for a chai and immediately made friends,” but regardless of the sleeping arrangements the intensity will m Given the plethora of options on offer, Wilson says her recipe B fro of she says. be similarly addictive. for a successful yoga festival goes beyond location, teachers and If there’s a trend sweeping the yoga world at the moment, Sydney-based Kundalini teacher and student, Kimilla musicians, to a sense of openness that gets to the heart of the practice. Grampians Space to Breath Retreat rtesy

u ockwise

festivals are it. It seems every country, or indeed city, worth Simranjeet Wilson also knows full well how compelling l “Festivals are for everyone, so I appreciate it when they have styles co c Yoga hike in rugged wonderland September 9 - 11 2011

: y y >> h its yogic salt is starting to ride the festival wave. While some the yoga festival circuit can be, having recently arrived h for everyone. It’s time on the planet to merge,” she says. Grampians VIC from $390 are sticking with traditional conference models set in urban home from what she describes as a yogic fairytale. locations, recent years have also seen swags of yoga festivals “I spent last summer in going to festivals. Sue White is a Sydney-based freelance writer and a long-time otograp otograp Ph take over deserts, parks, islands and mountain ranges, for My highlight was summer solstice held on a mountain in Ph practitioner of .

7 0 yogajournal.com.au January 2011 January 2011 www.australianyogaretreats.com.au experience 2011 a year of yoga June 5th Annual Asia Yoga BaliSpirit Festival Conference 23-27 March 9-12 June Ubud, Indonesia Wan chai District, Hong Kong July Ubud may have always been the home of As it enters its fifth year, Asia-Pacific’s artists and creative types, but every answer to the busy yoga conferences Dutch Yoga Festival March it becomes yoga-fied. With seen commonly in the US is broadening Local yogis 1-3 July numerous outdoor venues making the its reach. Under the banner of "many get a taste of Terschelling, The Netherlands most of Ubud’s tropical environs, the yoga practices, one intention", over 4000 YogaFest in Brsibane. Arriving on the Dutch island of community is abuzz with the word that yogis will head to the Hong Kong Terschelling, it’s hard not to be relaxed— BaliSpirit may just have found the perfect Convention and Exhibition Centre for four 3HO Summer Solstice tickets to the Dutch Yoga Festival include festival recipe. Expect plenty of options days of everything from Ashtanga to The inauguration Sadhana Celebration all workshops, meals from Australian chef ceremony of the IYF. from local, regional and celebrity teachers . While the current yoga-focused 16-25 June Lauren Windsor, yogi teas and, of course, (prana-flow yoga teachers and recipe has worked for participants, Espanola, USA a bicycle. About 100km from Amsterdam, Twee Merrigan were two of the biggest organisers are broadening the event to This celebration in New Mexico packs it’s a 45-minute ferry ride across to the names in 2010), a relaxed schedule that have a wider wellbeing focus in 2011, a January March Kundalini , chanting and meditation 30km-long island, where wide beaches allows you to pick and choose classes move we’ll be watching with interest. into a transformative eight days, with up and sand dunes host numerous festival >> Conference: International depending on your mood and that devotees will be pleased to 2000 people attending. But don’t tents. English is the language of the San Francisco Yoga Festival (IYF) mandatory yoga festival diversity: the event has managed to lure Jivamukti expect any sleep-ins or luxury amenities. weekend, so opportunities abound for 13-17 January 1-7 March laughing yoga, water yoga and world- founders and David Life “You get up at 3am for a cold shower,” Aussies to meet their European San Francisco, USA Rishikesh, music evenings could easily be as much a to attend. says Wilson, who attended last year’s counterparts over drum journeys, shakti Every January, the Hyatt Regency bursts Thanks to its inspiring location on part of your festival memories as the Cost: TBC. 2010 pricing was $685 for festival. Highlights of the celebration dance, therapeutic flying (think AcroYoga with more than 100 classes from a the banks of the River Ganges and more traditional asana classes. the four-day pass ($515 for early birds). include a daily morning sadhana, with with a twist), and classes from Swiss, veritable who’s who of the Western-yoga host, the well-regarded ashram, Cost: From $580 for a five-day pass Website: www.asiayogaconference.com people like acclaimed kirtan artists Swedish and (mainly) Dutch teachers from world (vinyasa-expert Seane Corn, Parmarth Niketan, the ($450 for early birds). Snatam Kaur and Guru Singh leading all traditions. The beachside location is Ashtanga-heavyweight David Swenson and International Yoga Festival (IYF) Website: www.balispiritfestival.com Yogafest chanting. “It’s like an amazing concert integral to the experience, so get ready to OM-founder are the mere tip of exudes yogic authenticity before DATE TBC l) n

. every morning followed by back-to-back embrace sand in your mat (or tent, or the tree pose). The sheer scale means that you even attempt your first Sun Brisbane, Australia

Evolve Yoga and Wellness rg

u workshops with teachers from around the yoga kit) at this relaxed European event. for visitors like Sydney hatha-yoga teacher Salutation. Each year, western Festival Given that Australia lacks its own enb

l world,” says Wilson. Cost: From $270 for a three-day pass, Mitch Gibson, tranquillity may not be the teachers like Ayurvedic author 27 March bumper-sized yoga event, Brisbane’s Cost: From $750 for an eight-day pass including meals, drinks, rental bike and a prevailing emotion. “It’s borderline David Frawley and Kundalini Melbourne, Australia one-day Yogafest in June at The Old ($641 for early birds). Includes free If you’re not up for heading overseas, a Museum grounds holds the current honour spot for your tent (rental tents and overwhelming–all those big names in the devotee join Indian ottesteke

.l camping (BYO tent). airbeds additional if required). world in the one place for the swamis leading teachings that go March daytrip to Melbourne could be just of being our largest yoga festival. With

www Website: www.3ho.org Website: www.yogafestival.info >> one weekend,” says Gibson. well beyond asana; the trick. With classes and workshops ( more than 1000 people dipping into last rg Fitting it all in here is impossible: workshops, mantra walks and the from diverse traditions, and therapies u year’s event, 2011 will see more than 30

enb Beachside meditation Kundalini sadhana starts at 4.30am, devotional evening aarti are all such as massage rounding out the l classes and events. Founder Jonathan at the Dutch Yoga classes run all day, and the Saturday part of this very Indian yoga wellness experience, the heritage teke Murphy balances a schedule of less-known

S Festival. Night Ignites event offers four hours of experience. With an authentic Abbotsford Convent is set to burst with locals with well-known regulars like Lotte hip-shaking world beats with Shiva Rea, yogic vibe, the mood is distinctly yogis as part of this inaugural event. With ; Ashtanga teacher Graeme Northfield, est kirtan-wallah Dave Stringer and DJ spiritual, in large part due to the classes from Byron Yoga Centre founder F INSPYA Yoga founder Lance Schuler from iketan Dragonfly. Expect allocated spaces for dozens of yogis who travel here to John Ogilvie, Iyengar-trained Judy Krupp oga Byron Bay, Adam Bornstein of Radiant Y h N of mats, plenty of retail therapy and lots of do seva (selfless service) for the from Sydney’s The Yoga Room and Light Yoga and Byron Yoga Centre’s John art teacher/student interaction from the 500-odd festival participants from delicious from Melbourne m Ogilvie. With music in the garden, indoor ar rtesy P (mainly) American crowd. Full-on? Sure. more than 30 countries. If you’re Satyananda teacher Kimberley Roberts, u and outdoor stalls and an annual blessing of co

: But it’s also irresistible. “I can’t wait to go nervous about your first trip to Evolve looks set to offer a yogic feast at of good weather (so far), Murphy says top rtesy m to another one,” says Gibson. India, IYF could offer the cure. an unbeatable price while chipping away u running Yogafest is a joy. “You can also see co fro

at Australia’s current dearth of home- : the joy it brings to other people,” he says. y Cost: From $500 for the two-day Cost: TBC. 2010 prices were from y h h conference, with plenty of pre- and post- $600 for seven days. grown yoga events. Cost: $48 for a day pass ($40 for conference options. Website: Cost: $28 for one day ($20 for early birds). early birds). otograp Website: www.evolveyogafestival.com.au otograp Ph Website: www.yjevents.com/sf/ www.internationalyogafestival.com Ph Website: www.yogafest.com.au

7 2 yogajournal.com.au January 2011 January 2011 Y ogajournal.com.au 7 3 experience

Hundreds of people turn up for classes at Wanderlust. October

Power to the Peaceful Annual Yoga Festival Festival, DATE TBC Milan San Francisco, USA 14-16 October Sure, San Francisco is somewhat of a Milan, Italy year-round urban hippie haven, but things With 5000 Italians just get better at the annual Power To The bowing down every Peaceful Festival (PTTP), where 5000 year in Milan, Italy’s Anti-gravity Yoga at yogis bow down together to start their largest yoga festival Milan’s Annual Yoga day with a two-hour group practice. Of is on a growth spurt Festival. course, there are 45,000 others at gearing up for its Michael Franti’s brainchild—a merging of fifth year. Teaching music, arts, activism and yoga that has alongside the Italians will be teachers from Switzerland and Belgium, but don’t discount the possibility of an Aussie or two >> Wanderlust the kirtan stars who joined 3500 yogis in taken over Golden Gate Park every year DATE TBC proving that not only can yogic chanting since 1999 to raise funds and awareness showing up—Australian teacher Lance Schuler was welcomed Lake Tahoe, USA be better than a rock concert, it can go for health, education, youth and with open arms recently. If October feels a bit late for you, you As if the high of attending a yoga festival for longer. Held at Joshua Tree, on 182 environmental causes. If you want an can head to one of the other yoga festivals in Italy that the isn’t enough, Wanderlust now offers the hectares in the middle of the Californian instant group of friends, why not Milan organisers also look after. Head to Rome in June, or try chance to take a class with Shiva Rea at desert, Bhakti Fest 2010 boasted 80 volunteer—like most of the major festivals out the newest addition to Italy Yoga Festival circuit, a 2700 metres. Located in Squaw Valley, hours of continuous chanting from folks listed here, working at PTTP is a great mountain-based event being held a stone’s throw from the part of the Lake Tahoe region of northern like Krishna Das, Jai Uttal and Wah! Those way to get behind-the-scenes access Swiss border in the spa town of Merano in May. California (and popular with skiers in dragging themselves away from the music while helping a great cause. Cost: A tiny $7 gets you access to all events in a given year. winter), Wanderlust boasts “location, will find plenty of actual asana classes on Cost: $5 donation for entry to the Website: www.yogafestival.it location, location” when its hedonistic offer, but this is one yoga event where the festival, $10 for afterparty. mix of yoga and music takes over the melody is king. If you’re ready to let kirtan Website: www.powertothepeaceful.org Sierra Nevada for a long weekend every lead you on its merry way this is the one December summer. While generous dashings of rock- to hit in 2011. Yoga Journal Colorado star yogis make teaching appearances, Cost: TBC. Expect to pay around $300 Conference m New Year Celebration and Retreat co .

18-25 September s 31 December there’s an equal focus on music; Moby, for four days (early-bird rates will save Estes Park, USA lm Mangrove Mountain, Australia Brazilian Girls and Yard Dogs Road Show you almost 50 per cent). Going strong for 16 years come 2011, the Every year, Satyananda Yoga’s Mangrove Mountain ashram (on all played Wanderlust in 2010. While the Website: www.bhaktifest.com anskifi Colorado conference is a biggy on the US m the central coast of NSW) draws a few hundred people to its great outdoors plays a key role in the ro . tranquil bush setting for a blissfully yogic New Year’s Eve mountain vibe, on this occasion you won’t conference calendar. While most of the www Radna Swami event is held inside, creative scheduling / alternative, where gentle yoga classes, dining under the trees need to camp: instead, festival organisers ds performing at l sees visitors don their fleeces and head and a morning dose of seva (aka: cleaning, weeding, tidying up) suggest renting a hotel room or a spot in Bhakti Fest. into the crisp Rocky Mountain air to make eyno are all part of the package. The trick may be in selecting who one of the many private homes dotted R yogic spirals out of pine cones, hang out you tell: aside from being alcohol free, this celebration

around Squaw Valley. an ianne with local elk and try out yoga slacklining l involves hours of mantra chanting, an aspect of practice which Cost: TBC. 2010 pricing was $450 for Mi ; Jul l, y not all of your non-yoga friends may be into. For Sydney yogi four days. under the trees. While the 2011 faculty h Kirralie Dillon, the difference is just part of the attraction. Website: www.wanderlustfestival.com has yet to be named, the conference estiva regularly manages to pull in a cast of F “It’s so different to what you expect of New Year’s Eve, otograp oga

Ph which tends to be very external and stimulating, making it high-profile teachers—everyone from l Y a Shiva Rea and founder Baron u difficult to reflect on what’s going on inside,” Dillon says. “For

September nn A me, it was a magical experience. There are simple joys such as Baptiste through to masters such as BKS inywater of

Iyengar "play" Estes Park, so stay tuned. : T homemade chai and sweet treats, and people come and go

Bhakti Fest top rtesy

m from the sadhana hall, where chanting is continuous for hours 7-12 September Cost: TBC. Expect to pay around $450 u co fro

Joshua Tree, USA for the two-day main conference, with : before the arrival of midnight.” y y h h Never thought you could rock out to the plenty of pre- and post-conference Cost: $65 overnight (includes accommodation, dinner, lyrics “Govinda Jaya Jaya, Gopala Jaya options. breakfast and morning yoga), $25 evening event only. otograp Website: www.yjevents.com/ep/ otograp Website: www.satyananda.net D Ph Jaya”? Donna De Lory was just one of Ph

74 yogajournal.com.au January 2011 January 2011 Y ogajournal.com.au 7 5