World Yoga Festival 2023
This was our fifth visit to the World Yoga Festival (in Henley-on-Thames!) and like our previous visits, it did not disappoint! Our group which started with three of us has now grown to nine with our tents now making quite an encampment! Despite the fairly miserable weather on the Saturday, our tents and gazebo bedecked with bunting and fairy lights made a cozy home for the three nights.
Having spent last year on the stage demonstrating for Usha Devi (which was a real privilege) it was great to be a student again alongside my yoga buddies. Devki Desai had travelled from RIMYI, the mother institute in Pune, India, to teach us six sessions. 7am for the early risers and then also later in the afternoon. The classes were quite a mixture of traditional poses, more active work similar to the children’s classes in Pune (tadasana, malasana, halasana, paripoorna navasana, malasana, tadasana in quick succession to warm us up!) along with chanting of mantras and lots of work with the handy festival chairs. It’s not easy teaching such a varied group of students, some like us who are Iyengar yogis through and through and others who never been anywhere near a yoga belt! Devki made sure there was something for everyone and something new for those of us more experienced in this method. It was a pleasure to be in the presence of her warmth, sincerity, knowledge and grace.
Other highlights: Sheila Whittaker’s extraordinary gong baths - we were well wrapped up for them in stark contrast to the heat we experienced last year; but this is England! Ashtanga yoga with Stuart Gilchrist - humour, dancing (yes dancing!), singing (yes singing!) and sweating (LOTS of sweating) and joyful kirtan with Nikki Slade.
The main highlight though is always the fun, laughter and friendship of a weekend spent with your yoga buddies. Despite the wind and the rain, we kept smiling, kept the kettle boiling and thoroughly enjoyed our time together. Special mention to Phil who cooked us an amazing meal from his camper van, complete with table cloth, flowers and pina coladas (no rum!) - we were the envy of the camping area!
Tickets on sale for next year already. We’ve got ours - fancy coming too? 1st - 4th August 2024
