What To Expect at a Yoga Festival

When people talk about yoga festivals, several things come immediately to mind. Images of hippies in flowing skirts sitting in a circle the grass and meditating might be one of them. These kinds of stereotypes may scare you away from the idea of attending a yoga festival, or make you sign up, but the truth is that yoga festivals are not what you expect.

You Don’t Have to Be a Yogi

Whether you are a diehard yoga addict or a casual fan, yoga festivals welcome all types and everything in between. You don’t have to be thin, enormously fit, or be able to wrap your legs around your ears. You just need to be curious, open minded, and interested in yoga and what it can do for your life.

They do have yoga classes throughout the festivals, but the instructors are well trained and will modify poses for the less flexible. The key thing to remember is that no one is there to judge you. Everyone is there to learn, connect, and share an important part of their lives. If you go in with that expectation, you’ll have an enjoyable time.

Spirituality Isn’t a Prerequisite

Some people use yoga as a way to connect to a higher power or express their religious beliefs. However, other people just believe it’s a comfortable and effective form of movement and exercise. Either way of thinking is fine; you don’t have to believe to go to a festival and anyone who is, is missing the point.

It Isn’t About Your Clothes

People seem to think that they must dress a certain way at a yoga festival, whether it is to express their themselves to their group or to show off their outfit. But yoga isn’t a fashion show and the festivals are no different. Dress in comfortable clothes you can move in. There are usually a lot of yoga classes you can attend, and you need to be able to stretch and move and that’s it.

Community Building

One stereotype about yoga festivals is absolutely right. It is about community. It is about connecting with people who are like you, who enjoy something that you enjoy in beautiful surroundings. For people who are in the business, it is also about networking and meeting others in their field who are doing new and exciting things with their brands. The whole experience is not about judging or excluding, it is about building a community on whatever level, and in whatever way you want to connect without judgement.

Going to a yoga festival is a chance to explore yoga in lovely surroundings with a group of like-minded people. Other than that, it can be whatever you want it to be. You can take several classes and tire yourself out or just wander around watching people do aerial yoga. Whichever experience you want, it’s entirely up to you, just leave your fears and judgements behind and enjoy.