86 PHOTO: JYLIANA/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
february/march 2019yogajournal.com.auBALI SPIRIT FESTIVAL
Bali, Indonesia
Since 2008 the Bali Spirit Festival
has been gathering together world-
renowned musicians, yogis and dancers
from all over the world. The entire
vision of festival founders is to awaken
and nourish festival goers, as well as
bring positivity to the community and
the world. It also helps that the world-
famous seven-day yoga festival takes
place on the island of Eat, Pray, Love.
The Bali Spirit Festival brings in
big names for yoga, music, healing,
seminars and martial arts, as well as
featuring local Indonesian presenters.
There are day and night activities,
drawing in over 5,000 people each
year. Everyone comes to celebrate life,
culture and diversity, which can be
seen throughout the entire festival, as it
offers different styles of yoga, dance and
healing techniques all at one fantastic
venue.THE GROOVE YOGA
FESTIVAL
Sydenham, Ontario, Canada
This festival never disappoints, drawing
in some big international teachers like
Doug Swenson, Twee Merrigan and Ron
Reid. It also travels around the globe,
taking place in a different part of it each
year. In 2019 The Groove Yoga Festival
will fi nd itself along the shorelines of
Sydenham Lake in the quiet Canadiantown of Sydenham. The festival not only
features yoga, but also fantastic music
and great talks. You can even get a
relaxing massage!
These festivals focus on community
and family, bringing yogis together to
move, dance and play in an intimate
setting. The 2019 festival runs from
June 14th to 16th and features Ron Reid,
Marla Meenakshi Joy, sound healer and
musician Darren Austin Hall, singer
Craig Cardiff and Groove Yoga Festival
founders Roland Jensch and Liz Huntly.BHAKTI FEST
Joshua Tree, California, USA
Since 2009 this festival has celebrated
spirituality through kirtan, meditation
and yoga. The six-day festival is held
every year in September at the idyllic
Joshua Tree. This yoga festival is a
great chance to practice yoga with
some of the country’s best teachers,
listen to great speakers and hear music
performed by fabulous musicians. In
fact, a few names on their roster include
Sri Dharma Mittra, Mark Whitwell,
Krishna Das, Sianna Sherman and
Deepak Chopra.
This non-profi t festival embraces both
ancient and modern practices. Practice
yoga, chant and attend seminars
while being surrounded by a stunning
desert backdrop, ending each night
by camping under the stars. It truly is
a community joined together for the
same purpose, complete with yogahalls, workshops, a chai tea lounge and
a mantra dome. There are even safe
and sacred spaces that are completely
separated from the opposite sex.BARCELONA YOGA
CONFERENCE
Barcelona, Spain
For eight years the Barcelona Yoga
Conference has been attracting yogis
from all over Spain as well as the rest
of Europe. July 2019 will be the
festival’s ninth year, featuring
world-renowned yoga teachers and
musical artists to celebrate all things
yoga. The 8-day festival boasts 60
internationally recognised teachers
and artists, and classes in 20 different
yoga styles. Plus, there are free
activities running all day, every day!
The conference is run by a family
and focuses on harmony. It’s held
at Escola del Sagrat Cor – the Sacred
Heart school and monastery – in the
Sarrià neighbourhood of Barcelona
and is accessible by public
transportation. You don’t have to
worry about bringing food with you,
as there are 45 different stands selling
everything from freshly made juice to
vegetarian pizza. There are also stands
selling clothing, handmade yoga mat
bags and other yoga accessories. It’s
one of Europe’s largest yoga conference
and is a great reason to book a ticket to
Barcelona.INTERNATIONAL YOGA FESTIVAL Rishikesh, India BALI SPIRIT FESTIVAL Bali, Indonesia
BARCELONA, Spain