The inaugural World Yoga Festival was held at Beale Park in Reading at the end of July. I was delighted to be part of the event, offering reflexology, back neck and shoulder massage, craniosacral bodywork and healing. The energy of the festival was calm, relaxed and inspiring. The sun shone between the clouds and it was a pleasure to invite people into my tent and see them leave feeling brighter, lighter and less troubled with pain, aches or pains.
WHY A YOGA FESTIVAL?
Yoga practice originated in India about 5,000 years ago and is now popular throughout the world. Yoga can be the path to total health and fitness of the mind and body but only when approached in a holistic manner.
The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali define yoga as “the stilling of the changing states of the mind”. The eight astanga (limbs) of yoga are as follows:
Yama – Moral or ethical code
Niyama – Self purification and sturdy
Asana – Postures
Pranayama – Breath Control
Pratyahara – Withdrawing of the mind from the senses
Dharana – Concentration
Dhyana – Deep Meditation
Samadhi – Union with the object of meditation
Asana and Pranayama are regularly practiced leaving the majority of the other faces of Yoga unexplored.This festival has been created to explore all aspects of Yoga in a fun and enjoyable way. The festival gathers together a revered collection of Yoga masters from all disciplines in a tranquil and serene setting embedded in nature.
See you next year!