Dec 18, 2023 | Sedona Yoga
The winter solstice is upon us, marking a return to the light and a natural evolution toward the sun. These days of darkness are seemingly mirrored in the world at large, as wars rage on, the news continues to peddle in fear, and the fabric of society seems to fray at the very seams. It can feel daunting at best — and impossible at worst — to find a sensation of grounding and calm. But in a world and a society that functions and thrives on this fear, joy and peace are an act of resistance. Coming together in collective consciousness is the beginning of a revolution, and choosing to live and love in the spirit of interconnectedness creates currency. That’s what SYF2024, “All Together Now” is all about. We can choose to live in love and interconnectedness. We can share our gifts and bring light to the world, even as it is shrouded in darkness.
It may be a return to the light, but this week’s winter solstice energetically ushers in the season of an inward journey. Just as animals in the wild burrow and tuck away for the colder months, so too our souls crave the sensation of hibernation by taking the time to focus within. As SYF Communications Director Lisette Cheresson and her co-author Andrea Rice write in their book, The Yoga Almanac, “The quietness of the winter season gives us pause to reflect on the roader spectrum of life. It is in contemplative inquiry that we can via life from its deepest depths to highest heights and begin to understand that difficulty and ease can coexist.”
To say — we cannot change the darkness of the world, but we can welcome the light as a counterbalance, and we can look to be it when we can.
Some yogis in the northern hemisphere consider the winter solstice to be a portal, in which our inner mystical sun is connected to our share sun as it reaches its lowest point on the horizon. It is thought that the sun has properties that may help to open and nourish the third eye; we have an opportunity to energetically connect to these healing properties as the sun dips on the winter solstice before beginning its ascent to the summer solstice once again.
With our third eye — our seat of intuition and self-knowing — energetically roused, it is fitting that the solstice comes toward the end of the Gregorian calendar year, a time in which many choose to set intentions or goals for the near future. How will YOU use this solstice to align to your greatest truth?
Explore it, and then share with your intentional community this March 14–17 at the Sedona Yoga Festival. Tickets available now!
Lead photo by Charles Ruscher.
Dec 6, 2023 | Sedona Yoga
If you’re looking for a gift for the conscious seeker in your life, look no further. We’ve put together a Giving Guide featuring our friends and partners — as well as some recommended nonprofits to consider for end-of-the-year donations. We believe that gifting can be an extension of the mindful ways you live your life, and we are committed to showcasing some of the most beautiful products and experiences that support those larger goals and beliefs.
Please note that this is just a teaser of all the extraordinary gifts we are highlighting this year. To receive your free Giving Guide in all its complete glory, please sign up for our newsletter here. You will receive your 2023 Holiday Giving Guide upon confirmation of your email address.
Please note: If you are already signed up for our email, stay tuned to your inbox for a direct link to download!
The Root Board is the perfect embodiment of form and function. It is made from eco-friendly and highly renewable Moso bamboo. Weighing 28 lbs, it is purposely heavy to provide a secure foundation to place your mat. Expect it to elevate your yoga-at-home sanctuary while providing the stability you need for challenging balance and inversion poses. The Root Board is meant for all uneven or soft surfaces, such as carpet, grass, sand, and dirt. It’s portable, so take it with you on your yogis-in-the-wild (outdoor) ventures.
Take $20 off with a coupon code you will find in the Giving Guide!
Kerala Ayurveda
Explore the power of Ayurveda by giving one (or all!) of these extraordinary products from our friends at Kerala Ayurveda. Guided by CEO Vaidya. Jayarajan Kodikannath — who will be presenting at SYF2024! — Kerala Ayurveda is committed to mindful care, preserving ancient traditions, and meeting modern standards for safety and effectiveness.
Nov 9, 2023 | Yoga Festival
Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine and well-being that originated in India thousands of years ago. It is often considered one of the world’s oldest healing systems. Ayurveda, which translates to “the science of life,” is built on the idea that our health and well-being are intricately connected to our physical, mental, and spiritual balance. Learning and understanding Ayurveda can be a transformative journey that complements not only a yoga practice but also general living. Lucky for us in the modern world, there are several companies that seek to make Ayurveda more accessible and easy to source. Kerala Ayurveda, which provides not only Ayurvedic products and therapies but also a robust Ayurvedic Academy for true seekers, is one such organization.
Why Learn Ayurveda
As a yoga professional, you most likely were introduced to Ayurveda as part of your basic teacher training. There you may have learned that Ayurveda and yoga are often referred to as sister sciences, as they both originate from the same ancient Vedic texts and share a common philosophical foundation. Ayurveda offers guidance on how to maintain physical health and balance the body’s doshas, while yoga provides a path for mental and spiritual well-being through postures, breathing techniques, and meditation.
Learning the fundamental principles of Ayurveda, such as the three doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha), the importance of a balanced diet and lifestyle, and the significance of mental and emotional well-being empowers you to make informed choices about your health. It teaches you how to prevent illness as well as naturally reverse imbalances that result in disease and discomfort. And not only will you learn to help yourself, but you can also use that Ayurvedic knowledge to help your yoga students embrace a healthier and more harmonious approach to life.
What Does Ayurveda Teach
Ayurveda encompasses a wide array of teachings that address various aspects of holistic health. Some basics are below:
Doshas: Ayurveda identifies three primary doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—which represent the fundamental energies governing the body. Understanding and balancing these doshas is essential for maintaining overall health.
Diet and Nutrition: Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of personalized nutrition based on one’s constitution (prakriti) and current imbalances (vikriti). It offers dietary guidelines to support optimal digestion, nutrient absorption, and overall well-being.
Lifestyle Practices: Ayurveda advocates for a balanced daily routine (Dinacharya) that aligns with natural rhythms. This includes activities such as waking up early, practicing self-care, and establishing regular sleep patterns.
Herbs and Formulations: Ayurveda utilizes a vast array of herbs and herbal formulations to address specific health concerns and imbalances.
Yoga and Exercise: Specific Yoga postures, meditations, and breath work unique to the individual’s constitution to enhance flexibility, strength, and overall vitality.
Detoxification (Panchakarma) and Self Care: Ayurveda employs purification therapies, collectively known as Panchakarma, to eliminate toxins (ama) from the body. (These therapies are selected and administered under the guidance of an Ayurvedic professional to ensure the best outcome and experience as we all are unique beings.)
How Do I Learn More About Ayurveda?
Ready to dive into the world of Ayurveda? Join Vaidya. Jayarajan Kodikannath, “Dr. J”, from Kerala Ayurveda at the 2024 Sedona Yoga Festival. In his immersive workshop, he’ll cover the basic fundamentals of Ayurveda including the doshas, Ayurvedic diet essentials, and daily routines to harmonize your natural rhythms. You’ll discover insights on tailoring yoga practices to individual constitutions and gain knowledge about commonly used Ayurvedic spices, herbs, and formulations to support imbalance.
This workshop offers a holistic journey into Ayurveda, providing practical tools to align your well-being with the wisdom of this ancient healing system. Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding and embrace the transformative power of Ayurveda and Yoga!
Ready to dive in? Reserve your spot at the Sedona Yoga Festival today! Tickets on sale now.
Nov 1, 2023 | Sedona Yoga
November is upon us, and it’s that time of year to take stock and begin dreaming about next year’s adventures. As you embark on a new cosmic journey in 2024, take time to embrace intentional travels that resonate with the rhythm of your soul. Imagine: a palm-fringed beach in tropical gardens surrounded by 189 acres of pristine rainforest, flowing together alongside fellow yogis, in a location and with hosts strongly dedicated to doing real good in the world. It’s not too good to be true! Soul Community Planet (SCP) is on a mission to connect you with authentic, sustainable, mindful adventure — and they’re bringing their magic to the Elemental Connections Retreat in January 2024, at SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge in Costa Rica.
This incredible and remote retreat combines adventure and relaxation with a convenient all-inclusive model. Reachable by boat through mangrove wetlands, you’ll find yourself tucked away on the edge of the Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula, known as the most biologically intense place on earth. Reserve your space in this exclusive retreat today to experience daily yoga, meditation, guided ocean and jungle excursions, and much more — surrounded by the pristine beauty of remote beaches, waterfalls, botanical gardens, and protected rainforest.
The retreat will be led by yogi and smile-maker extraordinaire, Andrew Sealy. Andrew has spent his illustrious career prioritizing the planet and true, holistic wellbeing and joy. “I love having the opportunity to lead Yoga and Nature Reconnection Retreats in the heart of the jungle, and there is no place that compares to the absolutely lush paradise of SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge,” he says. “From seeing whales breach the water while practicing Yoga at the Seaside Yoga Shala, to enjoying the fresh scents of blossoming flowers while meditating, to awakening to the sight of a sloth enjoying the sunrise; leading retreats at SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge is an absolutely incredible experience that I highly recommend to anyone looking to deepen their relationship with Nature and Self.”
What Is Soul Community Planet?
Soul Community Planet (SCP) Hotels was born out of a vision to help make the world a better place by serving those who value personal wellness, social good, and the environment. At SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge this vision comes to life throughout every intentionally designed detail, from the sustainable upscale villas and bungalows to the wealth of outdoor activities at this once-in-a-lifetime Costa Rican destination. Retreats are designed to explore and journey through the environmental elements. Each element — Earth, Water, Fire, and Air — is connected to a specific Yoga and Meditation routine and specific activity to emphasize connection with the natural world while deepening the Awareness and Sensitivity of Soul, Community, and Planet. The beautiful natural setting of our retreats and the intentional practice of connecting to the elements around us can provide a more grounded and present mindset for both instructors and retreat attendees.
SCP practices what they preach, too, through the impacts of the Every Stay Does Good® program. Through this program, every time you choose to stay at an SCP Hotel you provide well-being resources to adolescents, light the home of a family in need, plant a tree in an unnaturally deforested area, and more!
Learn More About SCP — and Enter a Retreat Giveaway! — at SYF
Stop by the SCP booth at Sedona Yoga Festival for a mindful moment to relax in their lounge, explore apothecary products from their partnership with Anima Mundi, and enter a retreat giveaway! The SCP team will have all the details on their January Elemental Connections Retreat with Andrew Sealy at SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge in Costa Rica, as well as an upcoming May retreat at SCP Mendocino Inn and Farm with SYF presenter Peter Sterios.
We hope you’ll accept the invitation to participate in this consciousness-raising conference March 14–17, 2024! Tickets available now.
Oct 25, 2023 | Sedona Yoga Retreat
The Root Board® is a bamboo platform designed for yogis practicing on uneven surfaces, like carpet or outdoors. Co-founded by Kathy McCarthy and husband Brian McCarthy, The Root Board was created to be a simple solution for yoga in all places, and a game-changer in your practice and path to well-being.
Origins
It was during the Covid-19 quarantine that Kathy and Brian, like countless others during that challenging period, found themselves jolted out of their daily routines, and yet armed with newfound time and a heightened sense of motivation to introspect and chart the course of their lives. With the yoga studios closed it was a particularly trying period for Kathy, who struggled with the feeling that her yoga practice was slipping away. The distractions of being at home, coupled with the instability of practicing on a carpeted surface, had disrupted the familiar physical and mental release she had come to depend on.
Yoga is a discipline that hinges on calming the mind, honing focus, mastering one’s breath, and striving for peak poses. What Kathy soon came to realize was that practicing asana on carpet was a source of frustration, causing joint soreness and depriving her of the inner peace and radiant energy that the physical practice of yoga imparts.
In a concerted effort to enhance her yoga space, Kathy and Brian embarked on a mission to find tranquility in their compact living space, adorned with wall-to-wall carpet. Through diligent experimentation, Brian ingeniously conceived and crafted a bamboo yoga platform that wonderfully replicated the tactile experience of a professional studio. The impact on Kathy’s practice was immediate and profound, providing the stability she desperately needed to delve deeper, find serenity, and attain her full potential. Introducing: The Root Board®. It’s a simple complement to your at-home practice space that brings a sensation of grounding and stability no matter where you set up. It, quite simply, works!
The Challenges of Practicing Yoga on an Uneven Surface
Stability is paramount in yoga, both in a physical and mental sense. The foundation you practice on plays an integral role in achieving this equilibrium. When you step onto your yoga mat, you rightfully expect a stable and reliable surface to support your practice. Unfortunately, yogis practicing on carpet at home find themselves falling short of this expectation. This instability can manifest as wobbling during standing balances or discomfort during seated positions, disrupting the flow of your practice and eroding your confidence. This struggle can be mentally taxing and physically draining, detracting from the serenity that yoga aims to deliver.
Practicing on carpet often invites gripping, which contradicts the principles of creating space and releasing tension. It also places undue stress on wrists and ankles, potentially leading to soreness and injuries, especially in poses that require bearing weight on your hands, knees, or elbows, such as plank, tabletop, or camel pose.
The soft carpeting robs practitioners of the subtle sensations necessary for challenging poses, like inversions. For instance, when inverted, the feedback your hand receives is pivotal for maintaining balance, but this feedback is absent when your hand rests on a soft surface, significantly increasing the difficulty of the pose and inviting wrist injuries.
The Root Board®: A Simple Solution
The Root Board® is a simple yet elegantly designed solution to these challenges. It consists of two bamboo pieces linked together with a jigsaw pattern, complete with ergonomic handholds that make it portable and easy to store.
Kathy and Brian chose MOSO Bamboo for several compelling reasons. Unlike wood or plastic, bamboo has a minimal environmental impact, aligning with the core values of the yoga community. It is eco-friendly and sustainable, as bamboo is a rapidly growing grass that requires fewer resources to cultivate. Bamboo also aids in protecting against soil degradation and erosion, and absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than trees. Furthermore, bamboo is biodegradable and emits fewer carbon emissions during production compared to plastic.
They also selected bamboo for its tactile qualities. It strikes a balance between being pliable enough to feel comfortable under your head, knees, or hands and rigid enough to provide a secure, stable surface for balancing poses. The porous nature of bamboo makes it relatively lightweight compared to materials like oak.
But Don’t Take It From Us — Here’s What Folks Are Saying!
Perfect for practicing on carpet!
“I was on this site looking for the heaviest mat possible to prevent sliding and buckling on my carpet when I discovered The Root Board. It’s exactly what I needed. This platform provides a solid surface for my mat, and now it feels like I’m back to practicing on hardwood. It’s sturdy, well-made, and conveniently slides under my sofa when I’m done!” – Sandra P
The best invention for Yogi’s to date!!!
“The best invention for Yogi’s ever!!! It’s easy to put together, portable, and a wrist lifesaver!!! It’s like having a studio on the go! I highly, repeat HIGHLY recommend this board for any and all Yogi’s needing a sturdy base to practice on. Two puzzle pieces that hook together, and it’s the size of a normal yoga mat. That’s as simple and safe as it sounds!!!” – LauraLeigh W
Find The Root Board® at the Sedona Yoga Festival This March!
We couldn’t be more excited to be partnering with The Root Board® for the 11th Sedona Yoga Festival, happening March 14–17, 2024 (get your ticket here!) Don’t miss your chance to learn more about The Root Board®, meet Kathy and Brian, try a Root Board® for yourself, learn about wholesale or social partnership opportunities, and be entered to win a Root Board® and Root Bag Tote® (Valued at $284 Whether you are an online instructor, creator, partner, or a passionate yogi, you won’t want to miss the chance to connect with The Root Board® at their booth.
Yoga possesses the incredible power to transform individuals into kinder, calmer beings, and The Root Board® mission is to empower the yoga community so that, together, we can contribute to making the world a better place.
SPECIAL OFFER! SYF attendees will get $20 off using a code found on The Root Board® website. Visit this link to learn more.
