Lisette Cheresson, Author at Sedona Yoga Festival • Page 13 of 14

Why SYF Is Different This Year — And Why You Can’t Miss June’s Event

Feb 15, 2022 | Programming Spotlights, SYF2022

Why SYF Is Different This Year — And Why You Can’t Miss June’s Event

The world isn’t the same as it was the last time we were able to come together in mindful community, and the programming team at SYF, led by Director Reggie Hubbard, is determined for this year’s conference experience to mirror that. “We’re ??seeking to diversify programming not just in terms of the presenter,” says Reggie, “but also in creating opportunities for cross pollination and formalizing that. Rather than simply giving presenters and practitioners an opportunity to come together and be consumers of a product, be co-creators as we emerge from whatever we’ve been through to wherever we’re going.”

This looks and feels different than your typical yoga festival with all familiar faces in the lineup. The theme for SYF 2022 is Give It Up For Grace, and Reggie says that weaving in the idea of grace is integral to what he’s aiming to create. That looks like “giving space to collaborate and connect,” he says. “It looks like giving space to get your CEUs, of course, but also giving you the space to lay outside in the sun, to dance.” This, he says, more embodies the totality of the practice of yoga. It’s not just about running from one class to the next and checking off boxes of experience. It’s about creating a feeling of expansiveness, a space for healing.

How 2022 Will Be Different — And Different From Other Yoga Festivals

One way that this is built into the SYF experience this year is in the place itself. Because the event is being held entirely outdoors in the majesty of Posse Grounds Park, there will be more time between class sessions to relax and integrate. With 360 red rock vistas and the openness of blue skies overhead, the container itself is a player in the experience of SYF this year. “Holding space in wide open space — in these times that have been so congested and constricted — there’s an opportunity for spaciousness; an opportunity to acknowledge the grief we’ve been through,” says Reggie. “This is the space for people to come together in a way that serves our collective regeneration.”

Another way that this healing will be made possible is by the diversity of the presenters — in all senses of the word. Not only is SYF working to prioritize underrepresented voices in the yoga event space, “part of it is bringing people who have never been to Sedona to Sedona and having that mash up with the locals,” says Reggie. “I’m imagining what a meditator from Brooklyn who works in prisons can share and create with a person from Utah who does mindful yoga in prisons,” he says.

One of SYF’s signature offerings is the Yoga for PTSD Training. While the festival will continue this unique signature offering, it will be slightly different this year — a trauma-informed training led by people of color. “Viewing trauma from a more holistic sense, as it pertains to all of us and rendered by people coming through the lens of compassion and service is super powerful,” says Reggie. It’s another way that grace is taking center stage at SYF, as well as the recognition of shifts that have occurred in the wake of 2020. Details are still being finalized, so stay tuned for more information coming soon!

Why This is Important Now

The time to embrace the changes that we’ve collectively experienced is now. “If we haven’t noticed,” says Reggie, “the ways in which we’ve done things in the past are no longer working. The only reason we think they work is because we’re addicted to them. As systems fade away, it’s incumbent upon people to create new norms.”

As leaders in the mindfulness community, SYF is stepping up to do just that. It’s not just about holding space — but about fostering creativity. In the creative flow, we learn not only other ways of doing, but of being. “The playbook is finding community, finding our latent connectivity — and then using community and connectivity to foster creativity.”

Come co-create with us this June, and be a part of the paradigm shift. Tickets on sale now!

A Rumination on Darkness and Light for the Solstice

Dec 9, 2021 | Sedona Yoga

A Rumination on Darkness and Light for the Winter Solstice

As the end of the calendar year approaches we on the SYF Team find ourselves contemplative, in preparation for the long inward journey of winter. As the light begins to fade in the Northern Hemisphere and days reach their shortest and nights their longest, we can’t help but lovingly explore these moments of darkness for what they can reveal both personally and collectively.

Though we are grateful to have been able to gather in community at SYF2022 (photo above, credit to Ty Dobbs), the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic — and the seeming chasm it created in our social systems — are still real. While it’s safe to say that every generation can lay claim, in some capacity, to a tragedy or sorrow that begets collective mourning, it’s arguably been a century since the world has undergone this extent of disruption. We need not foray into heated political discussion to acknowledge the pain and loss that has been endured around the world.

And yet in these darker days is an opportunity to cultivate light, to not run from the sadnesses of the world, but to allow our practice to inform how we approach it. To live in the grace of our yoga is to hold on to joy and honor the collective transformation of community. It is also a practice in the beauty of letting go.

“Grace is the intersection of that moment when you get out of your head and into your heart,” says SYF Programming Lead Reggie Hubbard. Allowing the heart to lead, to infuse purpose with care and consideration is to recognize oneness, and to take action to ensure that when darkness sets in, all people have a pathway to light. “The only way to fix the mess we’re in,” says Reggie, “is if we do it together. We need to listen more than we talk, and take action toward collective healing.”

A Time of Service

These contemplative weeks leading to the winter solstice are prime for taking stock and exploring, and tenderly beginning to make plans with what we’ll do as the light returns. In some cultures, the weeks around the winter solstice were traditionally a time of service. According to History.com:

“Yalda night” is an Iranian festival celebrating the longest and darkest night of the year. The celebration springs out of ancient Zoroastrian traditions and customs intended to protect people from evil spirits during the long night.

On Shab-e Yalda, (which translates to “Night of Birth”), Iranians all over the world celebrate the triumph of the sun god Mithra over darkness. According to tradition, people gather together to protect each other from evil, burn fires to light their way through the darkness, and perform charitable acts.

Creating the Light

To be of service is to live in grace — and to live graciously. It’s no secret that our society is polarized and discordant, and that our disagreements often seem louder and more sure than the ties that bind us. Yoga, like winter, is about the long inward journey; but it’s also about creating the change and the light we want to see. This means disagreeing compassionately, and finding empathy for one another even when we vehemently oppose certain beliefs or ideas.

This also means creating the conditions so that all people feel seen, heard, and welcome. At the end of the day (or the end of the year, as the case may be), we’re all in this together, interconnected and interdependent. When a neighbor is hurting, the neighborhood suffers. Our community, both our yoga community and our global community, is like this. The solstice is a good time to ruminate on what you can do to bring light to those around you. How can you use your practice to inform the creation of a more just, compassionate, and kind world for all?

Non-Attachment as the Light

There’s also solstice musings in traditional yogic philosophy. In Sutra 1.36–1.37, Patanjali explores the idea of nonattachment, and how detaching from the world into the cave of the heart helps us on the path of light, toward true connection and deep, unwavering joy. When we come to meditation with the desire and striving to release ourselves from the pain (and pleasures!) of the world, we cultivate that ability to step into the light of our truest nature. To say—we all experience the darkness of ignorance, avidya. Life, and spiritual pursuit, is a long journey to transcend this darkness, and to work toward that understanding.

This is pertinent to keep in mind as we wade through these dark weeks leading up to the solstice in the Northern Hemisphere — and as we work toward collective healing of the experiential darknesses of the past year.

May you all find light in your personal journeys, as well as inspiration to be the light in your community. Happy winter solstice!

SYF2023 tickets are now on sale! Be sure to sign up for our newsletter at the end of this page to get presenter updates and other goodies.

Making Plans as a Practice of Presence

Dec 3, 2021 | Sedona Yoga

Why Making Plans is a Practice of Presence — and Can Bring Meaning to the Now

If you’ve exprienced or survived trauma or loss, you may be familiar with the feeling that the future feels daunting. The lessons of our yoga practice teach us that cultivating a sense of presence and appreciation for the here and now can help us to feel grounded and content, and may even help to combat symptoms of depression. And yet when we cannot think about the future, we often experience an acute sense of longing, an inability to find that feleing of grounding or content. In his 2018 groundbreaking book, Lost Connections—Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression—and the Unexpected Solutions, researcher and writer Johann Hari posits that a lost connection to the future may be one major reason we experience depression or anxiety; when our connection to the idea of the future has been severed, we struggle to find meaning in the present.

The Greater Good Science Center in Berkley, CA, backs up this idea that planning for the future can have a similar effect to our psychological wellbeing as does mindfulness practices. “Prospecting,” as sociologists call it, is different from anxiously anticipating the future—it’s a way of dreaming up possibilities. “Besides helping us make decisions and reach our goals,” writes Summer Allen in a 2019 article for Greater Good Magazine, “there is evidence that prospection may improve psychological health more generally.”

Dreaming up possibilities in turn fosters a sense of optimism. When we view the future as bleak, without anything to look forward to, it’s much more difficult to relish the present moment. My parents used to have a saying in their marriage: Always “wreak H.A.V.O.C.” — “Have A Vacation On Calendar.” It was meaningful for them to always have something to look forward to, particularly when things got difficult. Rather than an obsolete goal or desire, making plans for their immediate future allowed them to get through challenges, motivated by a tangible reward.

One of the most difficult things about the Covid-19 pandemic has been not only the canceled vacations and plans, but the feeling that future plans themselves are obsolete. Luckily for all of us, vaccines, antibodies, and the hard-won knowledge of the pandemic has allowed for us to again look toward the future with optimism. As such, one of the best things you can do to celebrate is to get that vacation on the calendar.

What better way to do so than to return to mindful community presence at Sedona Yoga Festival? While May may feel like a long way off, creating the space to imagine the possibilities—and carving out the time for something meaningful to your future self—could be just the thing to help you navigate those winter blues.

Learn more by signing up for our newsletter at the end of this page!

6 Local Organizations to Consider During the Holiday Season

Nov 30, 2021 | Sedona Yoga

6 Local Organizations to Consider this Holiday Season

Yoga asks us not only to grow and evolve toward our best selves, but also how we may be of service to others. As we move into the holiday season, the sacred practice of seva (selfless service) may look not only like time spent, but donations made. We believe in giving back to the local landscape where we are lucky enough to host our event. Here’s our roundup of spots to consider as you spread the love this giving season.

Verde Valley Sanctuary

The Sanctuary offers a safe haven for victims of family violence and sexual assault, providing shelter, community outreach, legal advocacy and education and prevention. Their Confidential Outreach Center provides confidential assistance to victims of crime who may not need emergency shelter, offering personalized case management, counseling, safety planning, and day and evening support groups. This season, the Verde Valley Sanctuary Board of Directors presents a $50,000 holiday gift match opportunity. For every dollar you give, the Board doubles your impact. Learn more and make a donation here.

Sedona Arts Center

Longtime participants will know that SYF showcases more than the practic and power of yoga. Art, and the eternal apperciation of beauty is an integral part of our mission and goal. Our 2022 festival theme, Give It Up For Grace, encourages us to seek and support the creation of art and beatuy. Sedona Arts Center is a nonprofit educational institution dedicated to nurturing creative discovery, learning and sharing through arts education and artistic development. They offer free and low-cost events, classes, workshops, and exhibitions, showcasing local talent. They also offer virtual classes and workshops, as well as an online gallery. Learn more and donate here.

Apache-Stronghold

Apache-Stronghold is a nonprofit community organization dedicated to battling ongoing and continued colonization, the defense of holy sites and freedom of religion, and the building of stronger community through neighborhood programs and civic engagement. Their work is a spiritual journey of healing to confront the deception of the birth of America. Working from San Carlos, Arizona, Apache-Stronghold connects Apaches and other Native and non-Native allies from all over the world. Their work has been particularly poignant at Chi’chil Bi?dagoteel (also known as Oak Flat), a sacred site for our Apache people and many other Native Americans; the most recent hearing on the future of this sacred site was in October, 2021. Watch a film about their work, and then make a donation here.

Amitabha Stupa & Peace Park

Amitabha Stupa & Peace Park is an outdoor venue for prayer, meditation, and the experience of peace, and has hosted some of SYF’s most memorable experiences. Welcome and open to people of all faiths, in addition to the Amitabha Stupa, you’ll also find another Buddhist stupa, a Native American medicine wheel, and a beautiful mahogany statue of Shakyamuni Buddha along with walking trails and numerous quiet spots for meditation and quiet contemplation. The Park is supported by visitor donations — learn more about this sacred place and make a donation here.

Free Soul

Long a friend of SYF, Free Soul is an educational nonprofit that shares skills and educational materials that help people be their own best spiritual teachers. With special programs for veterans and survivors of PTSD, Free Soul helps seekers connect with their inner wisdom with programs, tours, and vision quests in the Sedona area. Founder Pete A. Sanders, Jr. offers virtual retreats and programming to fit many budgets, and has been a proven starting point for many to being deep personal healing. Donate directly through their website here.

Sedona Recycles

Since 1989, Sedona Recycles has been providing a place for community members to drop off hard-to-recycle items like Styrofoam, batteries, packing materials, printer ink cartridges, and egg cartons. They also offer custom tours, lesson plans, classes, and presentations for schools and other educational facilities, by sending a Sedona Recycles rep straight from the source. This helps to ensure that the work they do is not only affecting the immediate present, but creating an impact for years to come. Their A-Z Reuse & Disposal Guide provides useful information for all, even outside of the Sedona area. Help keep Sedona green by making a year-end donation here.

* Please note: This is not a sponsored piece, and SYF does not, as of publication, have formal relationships with any of the listed organizations. We just truly believe in supporting local nonprofits and sharing the SYF love!

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Give It Up for Grace

Nov 15, 2021 | Sedona Yoga

Give It Up For Grace!

Sedona Yoga Festival is back. We couldn’t be more excited to gather with you, and to welcome our community back to Sedona for our 2022 event. While our themes typically revolve around personal transformation and spiritual evolution, this year we’re encouraging the contemplation of outward motion. We’re Giving It Up for Grace for the 2022 festival — throwing our hands up exploring what it means to return to joy, to celebrate safe and intentional community, and to cultivate grace and gratitude.

We don’t know about you, but we’re ready to throw our hands up and dance. We’re ready to lift our voices, both individually and collectively, and tune into the small beauties and bounties of the world that make life inspirational and magical. This may feel like the synchronicities of bodies moving together in asana flow — in the fresh air of the great outdoors — or the resonance of a whole-hearted Om. It may feel like the transcendence of breath filling our bodies with power, or the softness of sinking into an expressive kirtan. It may be the enthusiasm we feel after a particularly inspirational talk, or the motivation of education after a particularly resonant course.

Because yoga, at its core, is truly about seeking, encouraging, and creating light in the darkness. It’s about prioritizing the bliss that is one’s birthright — both for yourself, and all living beings.

Having said that, we’d be remiss not to acknowledge that the past couple of years have been tough. In her seminal book, “When Things Fall Apart,” American Tibetan Buddhist scholar Pema Chödrön writes:

Things falling apart is a kind of testing and also a kind of healing. We think the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don’t really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again. It’s just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy.

It’s apt advice to keep in mind as we return from the past two years: years of great upheaval, transition, and healing. Some would say that 2020 and 2021 have prepared us for an awakening, that the disruptions we’ve experienced — as a global, national, and yoga community — have primed us for a greater understanding of our humanity, and have paved the way for a healing that will transcend even the parameters of that upheaval. In these cataclysms we’ve experienced loss, but we’ve simultaneously created room, as Chödrön would say, for that joy that we’re seeking as we come together in celebration of community and practice.

In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali instructs surrender in the fifth of the niyamas, Isvarapranidhana. The idea is to give it up to the divine, to release the need to hold on and control, even in the midst of what seems impossible to let go. As we prepare to intentinoally and safely gather, we’re leaning into not just the “practice” of yoga, but what it means to live in our yoga: to softly lay down the burdens in favor of wonder and delight. We’re leaning into what it means to be in grace, and to live grace with those around us — even those with whom we may disagree.

Whatever it is that helps you Give It Up for Grace, we want to find it with you this May.

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