We have been really lucky over the years to be invited to several different festivals, to set up booths for our gear, and meet and mingle with all the beautiful people strolling through. Whether you’re there for business, like us, or there for a few days of yoga, connection and good company, there are some tricks to getting the most out of your experience. The cost of festivals can add up, especially if you’re travelling to get there. It’s easy to feel the need to get the most bang for your buck, but sometimes taking a step back to recharge, instead of heading to your fourth class of the day, will offer you the most fulfilling experience.
There’s a lot of action happening at festivals. With all the excitement and buzz around you, it’s easy to get lost in the atmosphere, so take some time to reflect on why it is you’re there. Whether it’s to kickstart a practice, spend a weekend with friends (new and old), or part of an annual summer tradition, there’s a reason you travelled to this special place. Meditation is a great way to get your head straight when you’re feeling overwhelmed by the festival experience. Start your day with some deep breathing to bring yourself back to the present moment. You can recite a mantra to yourself, or use a mala to count your breaths. If you’re not sure how to meditate, you’re in the right place to ask for some advice. You can even check out the class schedule to see if there are any meditation classes happening – chances are there will be!
Lucky for us, lots of festival packages include meals that are catered by local restaurants and companies. If there’s just one meal a day provided in a group setting, make sure you take some time to nosh on the delicious local eats. For the rest of the time, come prepared! Before you leave home or your hotel, fill your back with snacks and packed lunches (use reusable containers!) and lots of water. With so much going on around you, you don’t want to forget to eat, especially after hitting some classes or nature hikes. Allow yourself time from your busy schedule to sit down and enjoy a meal. If you’re not able to bring your own food, festival food vendors will have tons of healthy, local food options that will give your body the energy it needs!
Don’t forget to make a stop (or three) at the hydration station. Festivals usually take place in the summer when we are already needing to step up our water game, then add on all the hustlin’ and bustlin’ of the festival, and you need some serious hydration. Carry around a water bottle with you, as festivals will have water stations to fill up at. You can also check out the food vendors and opt for lemon or cucumber infused water for some freshness, a smoothie or green juice to quench your thirst and hunger, or coconut water for overall body wellness. Make sure to keep your water intake up even after you’ve gone home for the night, and in the morning as well.
What an amazing opportunity you have to check out different teachers, styles and even non-yoga activities (like nature walks and concerts). Festivals are the perfect place to try out something new, something you wouldn’t normally go for on any old day. Grab a friend or make a new one and head over for a Power Vinyasa class or go ziplining through the forest. There’s no shortage of options at festivals, so try something you’ve been afraid of, even if you’re not sure you’ll like. And hey, if it turns out you’d rather stick to what you know, then you can go back to your old thing. At least you can say you gave it a shot.
Festivals attract a vast array of people, all with beautiful souls and different stories to share. Whether you travel in a group or are a solo-flyer looking to make some new friends, festivals full of yogis have to be the most welcoming places. Don’t be shy, but even if you are, be prepared to be invited by strangers to new events and classes. New lifelong friendships and love affairs always blossom out of these magical weekends, so be open to new experiences and connections. One of our favourite parts of festivals is getting to chat with all the folks who stop by our booth, so always pop by to sayhello if you see the Inner Fire flag waving! Stay tuned to our blog and social media channels for updates on the festivals we’ll be hitting this year!
