This morning we entered the grounds and immediately felt settled
in the space, as if we had always lived here. I noticed the wind dancing with
the sand in the same area where we let loose the night before to the conscious
beats of Mental Physix. The morning breeze mirrored the uninhibited movement of
last night’s yogis, as if nature had been inspired by their abandon.
We spent our morning in the dining hall kitchen where staff,
presenters, and artists enjoy food generously donated by health conscious,
natural, and vegetarian companies. We were given a tour by head chef, Dan
Foster, who graciously let us take a peak at where the magic happens. Rows and
rows of all the products I drool over when perusing the aisles of Whole Foods,
stocked the pantries and refrigerators of the kitchen. Organic India Ghee, KIND Healthy Snack's Granola, Upton Naturals, Yum Butter, Eden Foods, Blue Green Organics Agave, Lundberg pasta and rice cakes, and Big Tree Farms were among the donated
products that lined the shelves making me feel like I was in a yogini’s Candy
Land. Dan uses these products to make nourishing fare such as Coconut Curry and
Chana Masala. Dan’s vision of his
culinary contributions are for the sole purpose of using food to heal and
revitalize.
The treat of the morning was the Vega Breakfast Bar. I was given
a walk through of the simple preparation it takes to start your day off with a
delicious smoothie containing 15 grams of plant-based protein and three
servings of greens. Look on the Bhakti Fest Facebook page to see my videos of
the kitchen tour and adventures at the Vega breakfast bar.
First on the yoga list was Sara Ivanhoe in Yoga Hall 1; a cool
and calm indoor sanctuary. Sara has a wonderful way of letting us explore our
own yoga in a supportive environment. “You’re part of the real tradition,
embodying and creating the yoga now,” she explains. With this freedom to
explore asana using self-discovery, it becomes an informative practice leading
us to dissolve into Brahman.
One of the highlights of my day was when Billy Hoveke,
proficiently adept at massage and healing touch, gave me a sample of the
massages he offers to staff, presenters and artists. Knowing I needed a
heart-opener to counteract the weight of the computer I’ve been carrying
around, he decided to give me a mash-up of Thai massage and acro-yoga. Saul David Raye, Larisa Stow, and many others have gone to Billy in order to keep
their bodies open and available before or after performing. Feeling completely
rejuvenated, I now understand how necessary it is to make body work a priority
at festivals. Be sure to check out the Healing Sanctuary, and let yourself
surrender into the hands of other masters of intuitive touch, available for
appointments all day.
I can tell the community is tightening as I can barely walk ten
feet without being greeted by a hug or a familiar smile, affirming we have
become a neighborhood of love and understanding. This is sensed energetically,
but also by the stunning visuals and experiences I take in throughout the day,
including community painting and lounging with friends -from six to 65 years
old- on comfy pillows by My Zen Home in the breathwork hall. The owners of My
Zen Home, a husband and wife team, humored me as I explored asanas on their
lounge pillows ranging from sukhasana to trikonasana.
A magical vibrational change occurred in class with Bhava Ram and Laura Plumb as evening set in. They took our group on an inward journey toward
Shakti, the energy of the heart, with kriya, mantra, song, and community. Bhava
Ram first found yoga from a place of life-threatening necessity. When he walked into his first yoga class he
had a broken back and stage four cancer. Now he is healthy, thriving and an
inspiration to yogis across the country and world. His story is worth reading
to regain perspective, inspiration, and gratitude. Continuing my “attitude of
gratitude” theme for the weekend, I am grateful for my health, this community
of yogis, and to have discovered yoga and bhakti practice early in my life. To
learn more about Bhava Ram’s story you can read his book, Warrior Pose, which
is sure to give you a new understanding of what it means to be saved by yoga.
Packing up after Bhava Ram and Laura Plumb’s class I was able to
catch the beginning of the video screening with Ram Dass, and take these gems:
“Appreciate the moment and go fully into it; the past and the future are also
found in this present moment; view thoughts as a witness; chant ‘I am loving
awareness’ until you’re in the next plane of consciousness”.
My whole day was graced with the soundtrack of headlining kirtan
artists on the Main Stage. I was able to take in the admiral presence of Saul David Raye, the understated power of Wah! (who my dear friend Zoë Kors calls
“The High Priestess of Bhav”), and of course, Jai Uttal, transporting us on a
vibrational train with a one way ticket to ebullience. His mid-song anecdotes
are human, honest, and relatable; as a modern day yogini this is something I
value and appreciate. You can take part in this bliss tomorrow night even if
you’re not in Joshua Tree this weekend. Tune in for the live-streaming of the All Star Jam tonight, Sunday May 18 at 9:30pm pst.
Tonight, “Om Namah Shivaya” reverberated through the trees and we
truly became part of the fabric of this festival. Last night we celebrated as
friends, tonight we dance as family.
You are divine! Thank you, Olivia.
ReplyDelete