Qigong (pronounced chee-gong) is an ancient Chinese exercise and healing technique that involves meditation, controlled breathing and movement exercises.

Qigong has been called “Chinese Yoga”, just as Yoga has been referred to as “Indian Qigong”. Qigong can be considered as a combination of a number of Yoga (the science of self-realization) and Ayuerveda (the science of self-healing) practices. Both Yoga and Qigong are excellent for focused stretching, strengthening, and health maintenance. Qigong is the foundation of both Tai Chi and Kung Fu as well as being considered both part of and precursor to Traditional Chinese Medicine.

This class combines the key principles of Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Kung Fu with Vinyasa Yoga to create an energizing Yoga flow practice that will improve both physical and mental well-being. Challenging Yoga poses, breathing, guided relaxation and meditation – this class has it all!

This class is taught by UK-based Rach Cox, who has a decade-long experience in both Yoga and martial arts. She is coming all the way from Oxfordshire to teach at the festival.

This is a mixed-ability class. Suitable for both beginners and experienced Yogis.

Om & Bass draws upon the discipline of traditional yoga and combines it effortlessly with modern music. It rejuvenates your energy centres (or chakras), starting gently with ambient music and moving through various genres building up to an energetic “Drum & Bass” climax. It’s OM… and BASS.

Less common in yoga and dance workshops, Om and Bass features an incredibly good teacher, Rach. Rach is both qualified in yoga and dance, with a background in freestyle and hip-hop dance. Om & Bass encourages the participants to “feel” their way through the experience without feeling exposed or intimidated.

Are you afraid to balance? Has arm balancing been challenging for you?

In this class, you will be carefully guided into a variety of basic to advanced arm-balances and inversions, with modifications and full variations of each pose. It is an excellent opportunity for you to advance your practice and receive focused assistance with difficult postures.

This workshop is best suited for those with a regular yoga practice, of all levels. A willingness to try something new and exhilarating is a must! We will discuss:

1. how to fall safely to overcome fear building the pose before even taking flight alignment tips to manage and correct balance.
2. Challenge yourself to push through perceived limitations and discover a place of playfulness and non-judgmental self-awareness

What does the 5000-year-old tradition of Yoga have to with veganism? Isn’t Yoga only about doing postures on a mat?

Attend this talk by vegan Yoga teacher, Beth, to know the answers to the above questions and discover the roots of veganism in Yoga.

According to reports, approximately 2 billion practice Yoga worldwide. Wouldn’t it be great if we can create 2 billion vegans? Please bring your Yoga lover non-vegan friends so that they can realize how the path of spirituality involves a vegan way of living. Beth would be happy to answer all of their questions too!

Hatha yoga is the oldest branch of yoga. The Sanskrit word haṭha literally means “force” and thus alludes to a system of physical techniques. The Hatha Yoga Pradīpikā is a classic fifteenth-century Sanskrit manual on hatha yoga, written by Svāmi Svātmārāma, is among the most influential surviving texts on hatha yoga.

This Yoga class, taught by the versatile Yoga teacher, Kasia, will demonstrate breathing techniques (Pranayama), asana (core Yoga postures) practice and meditation. A special focus will be on postures that help relax the body (and mind) as well as postures that help release stress.

As you travel from one posture to the other, you will be connecting your breath with movement to bring harmony to body and mind. Breathe, stretch, relax… Suitable for all- beginners and intermediate.

Vinyasa Flow style of yoga is characterized by stringing postures together so that you move from one to another, seamlessly, using breath. In vinyasa yoga, each movement is synchronized to a breath. The breath is given primacy, acting as an anchor as you move from one pose to the next.

The variable nature of Vinyasa Yoga helps to develop a more balanced body as well as prevent repetitive motion injuries that can happen if you are always doing the same thing every day. This class, taught by the talented vegan Yoga teacher, Sandra, will focus on developing flexibility in your lower body – hips, hamstrings and inner thighs.

The concepts of Yin and Yang originate from China in the ancient Taoists texts. Yin is a feminine, passive, cooling energy. On the other hand,  Yang is the masculine, dynamic, warming energy.

It is believed that Yin and Yang complement and balance each other. This class, run by Sandra Tiidt, aims to combine the static nature of Yin Yoga and dynamic Vinyasa flow (bringing out the Yang) to provide you with both physical and spiritual practice. Join this journey of finding union between the opposites. Together we will tap into the female and the male consciousness, that resides in each of us, find the space within us where our inner warrior meets our inner goddess, energise with the firey energy of Shiva and cool down with the energy of Shakti.

The carefully selected postures in the class will warm the body, stretch and strengthen the muscles, lengthen the connective tissue (fascia) and encourage a balanced chi (energy) flow. The session will improve your energy and fitness while promoting relaxation and healing. What a wonderful combination!

Tai Chi is a Chinese Internal Martial Art originally developed in 13th-Century China, but is perhaps more commonly practised around the world today as a health-promoting exercise, combining slow and gentle movements with synchronised breathing.

Tai Chi has been shown to reduce anxiety, stress, lower back pain, joint pain, headaches, sleeping disorders and arthritis, among many other benefits. Tai Chi can also increase mobility, flexibility, balance and mental quietude. In addition, Tai Chi has been shown to improve aerobic capacity, increased energy levels and build muscle strength.

This instructor of this class no less than a hero! Keith, a war veteran, who served in Afghanistan, made a drastic shift in his lifestyle as he embraced Taichi and veganism. He says “After years of heartbreak from the loss of comrades in Afghanistan, the anger of several failed relationships, the pain of an abused body and the anxiety of not knowing what to do with my life, I found a tool that offered me a path to greater self-mastery – Tai Chi. Tai Chi’s graceful, fluid movements offer you time and space to do, not think; to move and act without hesitation. Tai Chi focuses the mind, exercises the body and can even help you manage reactions to strong emotions.”

Core power yoga is that it is a multi-disciplinary style of yoga and draws heavily from Ashtanga Yoga. This style combines different styles and disciplines which all ultimately aim to give those who practice it more flexibility, increased strength through training, and aerobic activity.

Please don’t get scared. It is challenging but the teacher, Rach Cox, will it make it so fun that you will love it. Beginners are encouraged to join as the teacher will simplify the hard postures and give alternatives so that you can build strength in your core – abs and arms!

Attend this inspiring talk given by Keith, army veteran, vegan and Tai chi teacher, to explore the power of compassion.

Between 2004 and 2012 Keith served in the UK’s elite Parachute Regiment and served in Afghanistan. The “Paras” are a highly trained, highly motivated and highly aggressive combat infantry unit that form the spearhead of the UK’s Armed Forces. They are shock troops and are excellent at what they do – defeating the enemy. In this talk, Keith will share how his experiences fighting in Afghanistan became the catalyst for peace and a vegan lifestyle

You can read more about his journey on his website: https://www.daoofawakening.com/