World Yoga Festival 2021 - Official Programme

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29th July - 1st August 2021 Official Programme

@WorldYogaFest | #WorldYogaFest

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CONTENTS CONTENT PAGE Welcome 4 - 5 Masters & teacher bios

7 - 17

Family area 18 - 19 Class timetable 20 - 24 Entertainment 24 - 26 Important information 28 Festival site map 29 Article: ‘The Art of Communication’

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Article: ‘In Tune: A perspective of Music & Wellness’

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Article: ‘How You Relate to Karma Determines Your Life’

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WELCOME...

Dear friends,

“To the wise, the doing is more important than the done for it is the doing that opens our minds to the possible while the done limits us to what is already history.”

Our dreams and plans for the World Yoga Festival are unlimited. It is the enthusiasm of our past attendees that is our strength for the future. The attendees who, when the lockdown struck, said we have faith in you, we support what you do, we want to be back and so, roll over our tickets to 2021 and let us dance together once more. We will be there for you. We know that we can make it…together.

We accepted your trust with gratitude and kept the yogic connection alive throughout 2020 with online courses and sessions. We understand what makes your heart sing and throughout this beautifully choreographed dance from mother earth, without blaming anyone, we danced the part we needed to dance. Our inspiration came from the grace of Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati who has provided the light for our journey from the very beginning.

On this, the 5th anniversary of the festival, we happily welcome you back to step onto the dance floor once more on the bank of the beautiful River Thames. There are so many dances to learn. So much fun to be had. Let the past go and bring happiness to your fellow dancers with a smile. Without the support of our great teachers, staff and volunteers, the dance would be incomplete. Without you, the dance would be impossible. We are in this together as a World Yoga Festival family, so come and dance with us the dance of hope, love and gratitude.

Sonali & Ram Banerjee Festival Founders

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All proceeds from World Yoga Festival are donated to the ARSHA KULA FOUNDATION, UK Registered Charity No. 1171708. The objective of the charity is to advance the education of the public in general on the ancient knowledge of India (including the 8 limbs of Yoga, Ayurveda, Jyotisha, Vaastu, Veda, Vedanta, etc).

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MASTERS & TEACHERS

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Rupert Spira was deeply interested in the nature of

Meditations followed by Q&A sessions.

Satish Sharma is General Secretary of the National

‘Yoga and the Science of Dying to Live’: YogaAbhyasa (the practice of Yoga) speaks of transcending Mrityu (Death) of and attaining immortality, of becoming reconciled and at peace with the one experience we all share and yet so little is spoken about this in our Yoga family. As we emerge from “lockdown”, for many the most traumatic time in living memory, with all of us knowing someone who passed away recently, it may be the best time to reflect upon, to explore some practices and to re-acquaint ourselves with this inevitable transition, from the eyes of Yogis.

Uday Bhosale is a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher

Iyengar Yoga masterclass for all experience levels: Uday aims to bring clarity through clear, concise and precise instruction. Making every asana accessible to the beginner as well as challenging to the more advanced practitioner, he always starts with the basic fundamentals of each asana and bring instructions that allow each practitioner to connect to that at their own level. His aim is to bring a deeper understanding that allows the practitioner to explore their own responses to the practice and develop greater awareness.

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reality from an early age. At the age of seventeen he learnt to meditate, and began studying and practicing the teachings of the classical Advaita Vedanta tradition under the guidance of Dr. Francis Roles and Shantananda Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of the north of India, which he continued for the next twenty years.

During this time he immersed himself in the teachings of P.D.Ouspensky, Krishnamurti, Rumi, Ramana Maharshi, Nisargadatta and Robert Adams, until he met his teacher, Francis Lucille, in 1997. Francis introduced Rupert to the Direct Path teachings of Atmanada Krishnamenon; Jean Klein and the tantric tradition of Kashmir Shaivism; and, more importantly, directly indicated to him the true nature of experience.

Council of Hindu Temples UK, Chair of the British board of Hindu scholars. He is a frequent speaker in Parliament. As an accomplished YogaAcharya, he has taught in many countries as well as in many institutions including the British Army and NHS hospitals and he has been working with friends and seekers, particularly those struggling with depression, for many years.

trained at the mother institute in Pune under Guruji (B.K.S. Iyengar), Geeta Iyengar and Prashant Iyengar. He came to yoga from a background of martial arts but was drawn to yoga under the tutelage of these masters. He began my learning and teaching in Pune from 1999 and has taught a wide variety of classes. In 2015 he moved to the UK and has been conducting classes and workshops in the Reading area, London and all over Europe. He conducted the Iyengar Yoga National Conventions in Belgium, China, France and Ireland and in China for international yoga day celebrations.

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MASTERS & TEACHERS Kirsten Agar Ward took up Iyengar Yoga in the

Iyengar Yoga masterclass.

1980s after graduating in Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford. She is fortunate to have studied at RIMYI more than twenty times. She has taught Iyengar Yoga for 24 years and is one of the most senior Iyengar Yoga teachers in the UK, invited to teach all over the UK and overseas, including several visits to China. She was the lead teacher for the Swedish and Norwegian National Iyengar Yoga Convention in 2012 with Guruji’s blessing, and was a guest teacher at the Bermuda Yoga Festival in 2016.

Kirsten is based in Bath and co-founded the Bath Iyengar Yoga Centre in 2000 with her husband Richard.

Richard Agar Ward first became interested in Yoga

Iyengar Yoga masterclass.

at the age of 14 through reading a book on the subject but did not start attending Iyengar Yoga classes until the autumn of 1975, aged 19, while at the University of Oxford.

Richard is an approved IY(UK) trainer and mentor and has taught at all levels up to Senior. He is an Assessor and Moderator. He has taught extensively at home and abroad with many visits to China, the US, Mexico, Bermuda, Ireland, Italy and Sweden.

Dr Ramesh Pattni is a renowned world authority

on Yoga Psychology as explicated from Yogasūtra of Patañjali, the primary text of Classical Yoga. His research at the University of Oxford is focused on understanding the psychological dimension of the Yogasūtra and creating ways of applying this profound knowledge and wisdom in the modern context for mental well-being and spiritual unfoldment. He is also a long-time practitioner and teacher of Yoga and has conducted hundreds of talks, classes, seminars, workshops and retreats on Yoga and meditation.

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‘Mental Health: How can Vedanta help?’ The practical application of techniques of Vedanta and its relevance to issues at the moment and in the post-pandemic transition.

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Jeffrey Armstrong is a Vedic teacher, award-winning

Videos: ‘The Ultimate Language of Love, Bhakti Yoga, Parts 1 & 2’ Jeffrey weaves the Bhagavad Gita, the Mahabharata & Krishna’s life together to answer the question, why are we so helplessly attracted to beauty?

IBhakti secrets revealed by Sri Krishna, are explained in this profound heart opening class. Jeffrey explains the 9 flavors of ultimate love that you have the option to experience with the divine – not just the parental love as described in the Christian paradigm (father god).

Ram Banerjee is a Meditation and Vedanta teacher

‘From Duality to non-Duality’: Advaita as in Advaita Vedanta means ‘not-two’ meaning that there is no second thing, there is only one all-pervading pure consciousness called Brahman. How can this be? Surely, we exist in the world as separate objects interacting with one another. How can this dualistic experience of matter and consciousness ever be considered just one all-pervading thing?

author, and Ayurvedic Astrologer. Jeffrey founded VASA, the Vedic Academy of Sciences & Arts, as the vehicle to impart this knowledge in a dynamic, accessible and newly synthesized form. Though born a Westerner he has dedicated most of his adult life to learning about, practicing, and teaching Vedic wisdom. He is the Vice Chairman of the Vedic Friends Association and is active with the British Board of Dharmic Scholars.

from the Arsha Vidya tradition who, since 2010, has run a weekly meditation and Advaita Vedanta group and provides regular talks and guided meditations to yoga gatherings. ​ Under the influence of Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Ram started to study the Vedic teachings in depth. Recognising his ability to acquire and convey knowledge as well as achievements to date, Ram was honoured in July 2018 with the title of Arsha Vidya Yogashree by Swami Santatmananda, the resident head of teaching at the Swami Dayananda Ashram in Rishikesh, India.

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Through a series of 3 talks, Ram will unfold the nature of reality according to Advaita Vedanta explaining how our dualistic, visible and tangible experience that we call life, is unreal, while a single, invisible and intangible existence is the only true underlying reality.

Sumit Manav is a renowned Yoga Guru from India.

‘Experience the amazing detox yoga flow to heal and cleanse your body.’ A series of postures, twists, forward and backward bends will help stimulate your internal organs gently using traditional Yoga practices. This class also includes Pranayama, Bandhas & Meditation.

Sumit’s journey began from a North Indian town in Uttar Pradesh, from where he then proceeded to the Himalayas – the home of pure Yoga. This is where he discovered Yoga as the path to human consciousness and overall well-being. Sumit began his Yoga practice at the age of 18 under the guidance of his Guru Shreeram Sharma Acharya in the Himalayas. During his four-years training, he interacted with the mystics and it was this experience that brought him closer to understanding the physiology and psychology of the human body.

‘Let your mind soar and your soul sing.’ Sumit will guide you through Yin yoga and Chakra meditation to heal and connect to the self.

Through the understanding of the current lifestyle trend across all age groups, he has created a fusion of ancient and modern Yoga practices to help cure many of today’s lifestyle ailments.

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Chakra Meditation: Yoga is essentially based on the seven-chakra system that lies along the spine, from the base to the crown of the head, and each of these chakra points is responsible for the organs and gland’s healthiness in its region. Of the seven chakras, one of the most important and fascinating is the Ajna Chakra or Third Eye.

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MASTERS & TEACHERS Ravi ‘the smiling Yogi’ was born in India into a

‘Hatha Yoga & Pranayama: Breathe, stretch, relax!’

Restore the connection with yourself through the classic practice of Hatha yoga with the use of pranayama breathwork, dynamic asanas and mantra. This authentic yoga class has a focus on connecting breath with movement to bring harmony to body and mind.

Mahesh is a yoga teacher trained in and by the

Meditation class.

Andy Curtis-Payne is a yoga teacher, therapist and

Sessions with Michael Hutchinson. ‘Energy, Axis, Synergy’ – postures, breathwork and chanting: When we think of Yoga, we think about bending the body into āsana-s and sitting upright for prānāyāma, chanting and meditation.

Our sessions will include all of these, however, the key to all of them is the breath. It’s the way we focus the inbreath, start the outbreath and, as Srī Desikachar put it, “sense and feel the movement of the breath within”. You will be led through Srī Desikachar’s many ways of moving with your breath, ways you may not have considered, ways which can improve both movement and stability in your spine. We want to help you move freely and joyfully and sit comfortably, peacefully and still.

Michael Hutchinson is a yoga teacher, teacher-

Sessions with Andy-Curtis-Payne. See above.

family of spiritual teachers and from a young age he grew up with a yoga practice as part of his daily life. In his early twenties he lived at several Ashram in Rishikesh, where he studied Hatha and Ashtanga Yoga. In 2017 he moved to London and quickly became one of the city’s most sought after traditional yoga teachers.In his classes, he combines movement, breath and sacred mantras in an accessible and playful way.

Bihar School of Yoga, Munger, India, with over 5 years of residential ashram training to date. He has been closely affiliated with the mission of his guru, Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati, since 2015. Drawing from the immense depth of the Bihar Yoga system, and having received training in hatha, raja, karma, bhakti, and jnana yoga, Mahesh has been striving to present yoga as the complete way of life that it is, whatever the focus in any particular workshop or course.

teacher-trainer. He is an enthusiastic advocate of the power of yoga to change lives. His teaching covers all aspects of yoga practice and philosophy and is suitable for all ages and abilities. He is a member and the current chair of The Society of Yoga.

trainer and researcher with decades of experience. He is a living example of the power of yoga to maintain good health and is committed to spreading the teachings of Sri TKV Desikachar and his father for the benefit of others, regardless of their current or previous background.

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Yoga Association®, having qualified under the wing and wisdom of Swami Ambikananda and has been teaching for 16 years.

With the experience and knowledge of the transformative benefits of Yoga, Luci teaches with a therapeutic approach, and appreciates that everybody’s physiology is different. Her classes are focussed, themed and mindful. Luci teaches both public and private classes from her own Yoga Studio, located in a rural farm setting, west of Reading. This is the 3rd time that Luci has been welcomed to teach at the World Yoga Festival!

Marc J Acquaviva is Director of Studies and founder of the AcquaViva School of Yoga. Marc has been passionate about yoga since his early childhood, and from 1991 he has been studying and practicing exclusively with people that have worked directly with Vanda Scaravelli, such as Diane Long and Sophy Hoare, as well as with the highly respected osteopaths and anatomists that have been called to further understanding of her work, such as Pete Blackaby and John Stirk.

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Luci Trendle is a senior teacher with The Traditional

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of Yogacharya Dr Ananda Bhavanani as well as a senior teacher from the Gitananda Yoga Paramparai of which he is currently the Acharya. In 1999 Kalavathi took the 6 months intensive residential Yoga Teacher Training course at Swami Gitandanda’s ashram, Ananda Ashram, ICYER, in Pondicherry, South India. A huge immersion and absorption into yoga by living it and learning it in the traditional way, the way of the Gurukula in the womb of the Guru. On completion of her training she was given the name Kalavathi Devi (because of her love of the arts) and the title Yogacharini, one who is qualified to teach yoga. Kalavathi has taught yoga classes without a break since her return from her initial training.

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Yogacharini Kalavathi Devi is a dedicated student

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1) Vibhaga Pranayama and the Pranava Aum. Practice breathing through all 18 parts of the lung, enabling you to learn how to chant the Pranava Aum. 2) Hasta Mudra and their role in Pranayama. Mudras are connections that we make with the body that leads to energy transference. Hasta Mudra work on the lungs and we can direct air into different areas of the lungs by making different shapes with our hands.

3) Gitananda Yoga Class. Enjoy a wholesome and grounding experience through the use of practices like Chatus Pada Asanas, Shashaha Asanas, Surya Namaskar, Samasthithi Asanas, Loma Viloma and the Marmananasthanam Kriya.

Luci is teaching on each full day of the festival. Her classes flow and always have a focus - usually an anatomical one. Within each class, after warming through the body, we will engage in a focused asana practice, a different one each day, where you will be invited to explore the range of movement, or limitation, of your body within the classes theme. Your awareness will be at the heart of your practice, as we connect the mind, the body and the breath.

‘A direct awakening of the spine through the breath.’

You will be guided through a deep exploration of how the breath can become the source of steady support and powerful movement in both practice and life. The outcome will a liberation and awakening of the thoracic spine, and freedom for neck head and shoulders ‘Relating to the world from deep within’. In this session Marc will begin by guiding you through some key pranayama/kriya practices which will then be taken into an un-rushed flow through some new standing postures.

This session will bring you to a place of relating to the earth from the deepest part of yourself, and the result will be grounded freedom for the lower back and a relaxed feeling of central strength.

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MASTERS & TEACHERS Sasha Norton is a yoga asana teacher with over

‘Power Vinyasa Flow’. Linking together yoga postures, breath and movement in a strong Vinyasa style, incorporating some challenging sequences. The class will have options for all levels and although the continuous flow can be demanding for beginners, it’s perfect if you’re looking for a stronger practice.

Varun Raj is a professional, classically trained Actor

‘Finding your True Voice’: Through our lives, we constantly go through different stages of performance.

We speak in many voices and wear many different masks, depending on the situation and scene. As children we quickly learn that the chameleon-like nature of playing ‘roles’ also means extending the body and the voice into new and different shapes. As we progress through life, we take on environmental stressors that negatively affect the body and mind, causing a disconnect with our true voice.

These sessions explore the roles we play, the disconnects which burden us and the joy of re-connection.

Sandra Barnes, co-founder of The Yoga Tree, has

Thursday: ‘The goddess within’. Explore your inner shakti, journey through your energy centers & go on a journey of delight. Moving with freedom, welcoming expression and feeling into the magic within. Enjoy a sound bath to leave you glowing, relaxed and re-energised all at once.

Suitable for everyone.

25 years of practice and over 15 years of teaching experience, strongly inspired by the Ashtanga system - having studied with many of the leading teachers in this system from around the world - but practicing and teaching Vinyasa Flow and Hatha styles too. She aims to honour her teachers by inspiring others in the same way she has been inspired, to pass on these amazing yoga practices.

with credits spanning international TV & Film and Theatre. He comes from a family of Yoga practitioners and has developed a series of classes, programmes and videos to suit all levels of yoga students. He specialises in Hatha Yoga, Breathwork and Functional Bodywork – drawing on many of the available traditional yoga practices, as well as key performance techniques in his classes and corporate workshops.

over 18 years experience teaching yoga. Starting her yoga journey in her early 20s in her home country, Argentina, and leaving not long after in search of the world’s mysteries. Sandra teaches a wide and varied clientele, and her fitness background brings an in depth knowledge of the workings of the body, enabling her to make asana variations available to all abilities, ages, bodies and backgrounds.

Jyoti Jo Manuel is the founder of Special Yoga.

For the last 25 years she has implemented and shared sustainable therapeutic yoga programmes and trainings for children with special and additional needs globally. Jyoti is a spiritual leader, setting the standard for a positive, heart-led and compassionate approach towards teaching yoga to children and young people.

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Friday: ‘Yoga nidra ~ Journey of love’. Be guided on a journey into the deep hearts realm. Welcome awareness to flow and move through the body with love.

Nesting and resting, with a sound bath to leave you drifting dreamily into the night. Suitable for everyone.

Jyoti will be teaching in the Children’s Area.

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Lucy Crisfield asks burning questions about the

‘Sanskrit & Yoga Sūtra immersion’. What is it that makes Sanskrit a sacred language? What is its visceral connection to yoga? Explore the life force of the language through the vowel sounds and then delve into the sounds of Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras and discover what they truly mean.

Angela Hope-Murray has been in practice for

Optimising your immune system with Ayurveda Part 1 and Part 2.

Yoga Sūtras. Having studied Sanskrit for the past 10 years, and have taken her to the feet of Masters of the language: Satyanānda Shastri, Dr Stephen Thompson and Peter Harrison, who have all broken her down again and again as she tried to analyse the Yoga Sūtras and fit them into a box. Patiently they have tired her questioning mind so that she could feel the vast capacities held within the Sanskrit language.

over 40yrs and is an Ayurvedic Practitioner and Marmapuncturist Msc, Nutritionist MA., Osteopath BSc. She has written 3 books Healing with Ayurveda, Ayurveda For Dummies and An Outline of Musculoskeletal Medicine and Ayurveda. Angela gives lectures worldwide on Ayurveda in daily life.

Joe Hoare runs the Bristol Laughter Club, which is

over 18 years old and is the longest-running series of laughter yoga workshops outside India. Sessions are dynamic, energising and life-enhancing. His own life changed when he ‘woke up’ about 25 years ago. He is the co-author (with the Barefoot Doctor) of ‘Awakening the Laughing Buddha within’ and ‘Laughter yoga & happiness: 7 insights from 15 years of laughter yoga’.

Daniel Simpson is the author of The Truth of Yoga,

a comprehensive guide to yoga history and philosophy.

He teaches courses at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, on yoga teacher trainings and online. His approach is engaging and clear, combining scholarly knowledge with humour and insight. He aims to make traditional wisdom more accessible to modern practitioners.

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Laughter Yoga with Joe: An active, dynamic, approach to connection & wellbeing, based on movement, stretching, breathing and laughter yoga exercises.

‘A Brief History of Yoga’. This session will offer context to yoga’s evolution, while helping to frame modern questions about what is and isn’t yoga. Daniel will draw on his recent book, ‘The Truth of Yoga,’ which shows how traditional wisdom and scholarly knowledge can be mutually enriching.

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MASTERS & TEACHERS Julia Chilcott-Coombes is the Founder and

Consider our mindset, share dosha specific asana practice, connect with the breath, develop pratyahara through our concentration and meditation practice to accomplish a sense of integration and harmony. During this session you will notice an uplift in your energy levels which will help to pacify Kapha and enliven the nadis (subtle energy). Great way to kick start the metabolism.

Self-enquiry using mudras, chakra vibration chants and mindfulness techniques will be actively practiced in closing the session. So, you leave the session integrated, energised and connected! Suitable for all levels.

Andrea Carrani has been a Spiritual Teacher for

‘Soul Consciousness Meditation for Inner Awakening’.

Andrea’s teachings are simple and easy to understand, for both beginners and more experienced seekers.

Director of YogaVeda UK, is a Fully Qualified Accredited Ayurveda Consultant, Yoga Trainer, Children’s Yoga Teacher; also as a trained Mindfulness and Meditation teacher Julia has pioneered Mindfulness and Yoga having a place on the curriculum for all school children. Julia has worked with Southampton University on developing wellbeing strategies for Trainee Teachers and is currently the Wellbeing Lead at the Secondary school and 6th Form where she works full time.

30 years. He shares a powerful technique of Soul Consciousness Meditation which he has developed over many years from his own personal experience, helping people to achieve their own Inner Awakening.

Andrea’s programmes and Satsangs with live music fill your heart with joy, bringing a deep inner peace into your daily life.

Kiran Ratna began her studies in dance at an early

‘Introduction to Bharatanatyam Dance’ workshop.

Helena Turner began the practice of yoga in 1998

‘Embodying the Elements with Yoga & Yantra’.

Helena will be teaching a creative yoga class that connects us to the elements and incorporates practices for each Tattva. Using the principles of geometry you will be guided through the construction of a five elements Yantra, with a combination of asana, mantra and contemplation for each element as we create it.

age in India and started learning Bharatanatyam in the UK from Chitraleka Bolar, with further advanced training in India from her guru’s guru Ullal Mohan Kumar.

Kiran has directed, choreographed and performed many innovative works that have won her Company much acclaim. Over the last 4 decades, Kiran has done much in her teaching, workshops and performances to introduce British audience to the flowing grace and exquisite precision of Bharatanatyam. Through the training programs Kiran has produced excellent performing and teaching Bharatanatyam dancers of the next generation.

going on to train with Yoga Alliance and later completed a Satyananda (Bihar) Teacher Training course in 2010. Influenced by Buddhist and tantric teachings, she is currently undertaking an 18 month study group of the ’precepts’, with a local Zen Meditation group. In her spare time she paints Mandalas and Yantras. She also enjoys chanting and Kirtan and brings many of these aspects into her classes.

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Kimberley Soni is an avid cook, and an Ayurveda

Kimberley will be leading cooking demonstrations that reflect Ayurvedic principles to food and its preparation.

Sophia Barnes is a nature loving mama. Alongside

‘Cacao ceremony with elemental alchemy dance journey’ with Sofia & Sandra Barnes. Journey through body, being & beyond. Joining together in circle to drink ceremonial grade Cacao within a plant medicine concoction inviting our hearts to blossom, as we explore our bodies range of movement & elemental wisdom’s through freedom of movement. Ceremonies are a way to gather & honour life & the part we play within it’s rich tapestry. Culminating with a sound bath, allowing our energy to settle & return home. Suitable for all.

Omar Aziz is a multi-Instrumentalist-sound

Gong sound journey: Omar and Melanie offer a live musical transmission where participants are enveloped in multi-harmonic vibrations as the resonance of the Gongs and other instruments travel into the very fabric of our cells.

obsessionist, combinjng these two passions in her food.

She believes in using food as a medicine, and sourcing local seasonal produce to enable nature to be a guide in terms of health and well-being. Kimberley has travelled to India to learn from the most authentic Ayurvedic teachers that she could find, and has trained as a chef in the UK.

her own mother Sandra, they love creating and hosting workshops, ceremonies & retreats across the UK and internationally. Their sharings go by the name Love All Ways Yoga ~ they weave together embodied movement, guided meditations, soothing sound baths and beyond, with the aim to bring you home to your inner beloved. Sofia enjoys specialising in yoga being used as women’s wellness therapy & the style she offers is rhythmic, nurturing, spiraling motion.

practitioner specialising in Gongs, Handpan, Flutes, Djembe and other world instruments to provide a powerful and diverse Sound Bath experience. He has spent time with many great teachers along the way including Sheila Whittaker, Don Conreaux and Robert Horwell, to name just a few.

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Omar will also be leading the musical entertainment on Sunday evening in the Space tent with Acoustiquatic.

For the last year, Melanie Swire has been working alongside Omar as his apprentice in sound alchemy, bringing with her, her love of the Didgeridoo.

Mary Niker is a highly experienced and committed

international yoga teacher based in the Thames Valley.

She has over 20 years experience studying the Iyengar method of yoga with regular visits to India, including studying with the Iyengar family and B.K.S. Iyengar himself. Through this and her teaching in the U.K, and abroad, she has established herself as a vibrant, enthusiastic and inspiring teacher to the many yoga students she has taught.

Family Iyengar Yoga Class (yoga is for everyone) all family members are welcome to this simple but informative class. In this class we will learn how to open the body while sitting and standing and learn about using a chair as a prop (chairs will be available) and also the use of a belt or a strap. Please bring a strap or a belt with you if possible.

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MASTERS & TEACHERS Ellen Clinch has been practicing yoga daily since

Ellen will be teaching in the Children’s Area.

becoming a primary school teacher, over 20 years ago.

After becoming a mum, she took a leap of faith and decided to combine her two passions - yoga and working with children - by training to become a children’s yoga teacher. In 2019 she became qualified in Teen and Special Needs Yoga.

In 2020 Ellen furthered her yoga knowledge by training with Universal Yoga. She now teaches one-to-one yoga in the autistic unit of a Newbury secondary school, and organises adult classes locally.

Katie Arscott is a qualified Children’s Yoga Teacher,

Katie will be teaching in the Children’s Area.

Claire-Marie Tamplin is a Teen Yoga and

Cultivating A Community Of Connection And Kindness’.

As a secondary school teacher for over a decade, Claire believes an awareness of mental health is imperative in order to teach and empower the ‘whole’ human being.

Join Claire for a beautifully nurturing session to help young people learn about how we can use our breath and bodies through the movement of yoga, to overcome worries and anxieties. Learning how to relax, regulate emotions and build resilience within a community of kindness. Claire-Marie will be teaching in the Children’s Area.

Teen Yoga Teacher and Adult (Sivananda) Yoga Teacher. Katie has continued to study and gain further qualifications in Yoga Therapy for PTSD, Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga, Awareness of Mental Health, Yoga for Cancer, Mental Health Awareness for Sport & Physical Activity and the Warriors at Ease program (training specially to deliver techniques and trauma informed protocol, supporting the health, resilience and connection of the entire military community, both serving personnel and veterans).

Mindfulness Specialist with a wish to ‘cultivate a kind, compassionate, non- judgemental and secure culture that allows Teen essence to flourish. Authenticity, truth, empowerment and peace for all young people.’ Claire is Author of Mindful Moments on Express FM and has been recently nominated for ‘An Inspirational Women of Portsmouth 2021’ award, for her services in Education and Exercise.

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World Yoga Festival 2021 - Official Programme

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Claire Hutchins has been practising yoga from the

Claire will be teaching in the Children’s Area.

Elk Burland has been a keen musician since the

Rhythm Jam Workshops: Join us in a joyous, rhythmic romp, playing hand drums and percussion in an awesome rhythm jam! No prior knowledge or experience is necessary as we will briefly instruct you on how to hold and play the instruments, and empower you to channel your inner musician. Experience the buzz of creative collaboration in this relaxed, fun and invigorating session. There are few guarantees in this life, but we feel confident that you will leave happier than when you arrived. Instruments are provided.

Sarah Salmon runs ‘Brilliant Beings’, founded in

‘Mindful Monkeys’: Playful activities to help us focus our attention in the present moment through our bodies, breath and the environment around us. Sarah will be teaching in the Children’s Area.

Peter Green is a seasoned handpan maker and

Peter Pan Handpans will be running live interactive workshops for all ages! No previous experience necessary.

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age of 16. She is a qualified Mini Me Yoga Ambassador sharing the benefits of doing kids yoga and mindfulness. She is a trained Cosmic Kids Yoga Teacher and completed the 27 hour Rainbow Kids Yoga training at pineapple studios in London. She is also a Story Massage Practitioner and uses this technique in her classes. She now runs weekly yoga classes at Addington Special Needs school in Reading. Combining music & yoga, she set up Chillax Kids in 2016.

eighties, when he began playing the saxophone in groups and as a street musician. Since then, he has worked on all manner of projects and currently spends much of his time working as a sound engineer and producer. He also has a passion for personal development and the positive psychology movement, he trained as a councillor in 2007. Elk now runs Drum Happy where these two worlds meet and the therapeutic benefits of music are made accessible to all.

2013. Since then Sarah has been enjoying offering lighthearted mindfulness sessions for wellbeing to children, their parents, carers and teachers in a variety of settings. Over time these wonderful children have taught Sarah that what they essentially need is to feel grounded and safe in this physical existence, and sessions have come to intuitively incorporate a mixture of elements including yoga, breath and sense awareness, relaxation techniques, creativity and self expression through craft, art and photography.

player, a lifetime seasoned didgeridoo player and percussion performer.

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ical - a truly mag le to family area e op th pe in g us un yo Join ildren and . ch r ga fo yo ity h ’ throug opportun t ‘Our World learn abou offer be able to this year to s and d le en ril te th n, re re We’ ns for child io ss tive se ea cr ga d special yo talented an led by our weekend e th ut families all ho rs. Throug from yoga teache rtunities to hear talks po pport op su st be ll be e’ n ther how we ca on i autiful ot be Jy er d off Claire an s. We also n and teen . ps ho ks or our childre w mindfulness e are glitter! Ther must have pop e so w , se ng ur ni Of co each mor es on duty ! up ed Glitter Fairi kl ar by to get sp ate inform, educ inspire and ’s to It t . ai es w ili t m n’ ur fa We ca t you and yo ren to the and enchan oduce child tr in to rly ! ga yo of never too ea world wonderful

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All classes and workshop are open to all ages!

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World Yoga Festival 2021 - Official Programme

Creative Kids W illow Sculpture Workshops Children and pa rents create wi llow fishing rod lanterns th at light up at nig ht. We are also hoping to make a larger sto rytelling den throughout the weekend.

Creative Kids Sh adow Puppets Children are inspir ed by an authenti c Cambodian Puppet Show and are shown how the puppets are operated. Enjoy a story circle using instant theatre techniqu es, then children go on to create basic shad ow puppets and scenery.

They later rehearse and perform their work to parents and festiv al audiences. It is quite a spectacle to see and the stories the children create are most en tertaining!

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11am Family Yoga with Jyoti Manuel 12pm Drum Happy workshop 1pm onwards - Creative Kids workshops

Sunday 9am Family Yoga with Katie 10am Mindfulness with Sarah 10am Children’s Yoga with Claire H 11am Drum Happy workshop Midday - All About Bats!

1pm onwards - Creative Kids art workshops

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10am Anxiety in Children Workshop with Jyoti Manuel

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Drum Happy Workshop Join us for a joyous and invigorating drum session, playing drums and percussion in an awesome rhythm jam. No prior knowledge or experience necessary.

‘Anxiety in Child ren’ Jyoti will give an interactive and experiential wor kshop around th importance of e co regulation w ith tools to support the pandemic of an xiety to bring emotio nal and mental health resilience and re gulation.

‘Cultivating A Community Of Connection & Ki Join Claire for ndness’ a beautifully nu rturing session young people lea to help rn about how we can use our brea and bodies thro th ugh the moveme nt of yoga, to overcome worri es and anxietie s. Learning how relax, regulate to emotions and bu ild resilience wi thin a community of kindness.

Family Area terms and conditions Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult for the Willow Workshops.

Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult for the Shadow Workshops.

Wristbands will be provided for parents to write mobile contact numbers if children are left to participate.

Maximum workshop time is 2 hours - parents must drop off and collect within these times.

Workshop Space is limited to 48 sq ft. It is advised that families sign up to workshops at the Family Area at the start of each day to avoid disappointment.

We cannot accept responsibility for children participating without parental supervision.

We cannot accept responsibility for belongings (although we usually have a lost property box at end of day).

We cannot accompany children to the toilets so please bear this in and when leaving children over 8.

No food or drink is to be consumed in the workshop space.

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Thursday 29th July 2021 Time

Space Tent

17.00 – 17.30

Air Tent

Fire Tent

Water Tent

Gates Open to All Ticket Holders

17.30 – 18.00 18.00 – 18.30

18 : 30

18 : 30

18 : 30

18 : 30

18.30 – 19.00

Sandra Barnes The Goddess within

19.00 - 19.30 19.30 – 20.00 20.00 – 20.30 20.30 – 21.00 21.00 – 21.30 21.30 – 22.00

Other Activities

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20 : 00

Welcome Ceremony

20 : 00

Satish Sharma Yoga - the Ultimate Union 20 : 00

20 : 00

Followed by

Andrea Carrani with

Atmasphere

17:00 - 18:00 (Chai Tent)

Meet the festival team

World Yoga Festival 2021 - Official Programme

21:00 - 22:00 (Air Tent)

Laura Gubbins Candlelit poetry & music

Key:

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Asana (postures) and Pranayama Yoga Philosophy

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Friday 30th July 2021 Time 7.00 – 7.30 7.30 – 8.00 8.00 – 8.30 8.30 – 9.00 9.00 – 9.30 9.30 – 10.00 10.00 – 10.30 10.30 – 11.00 11.00 – 11.30 11.30 – 12.00 12.00 – 12.30 12.30 – 13.00 13.00 – 13.30 13.30 - 14.00 14.00 – 14.30 14.30 – 15.00 15.00 – 15.30 15.30 – 16.00 16.00 – 16.30 16.30 – 17.00 17.00 – 17.30 17.30 – 18.00 18.00 – 18.30 18.30 – 19.00 19.00 - 19.30 19.30 – 20.00 20.00 – 20.30 20.30 – 21.00 21.00 – 21.30 21.30 – 22.00

Other Activities

Air Tent

Space Tent 7 : 30

Kirsten Agar Ward Iyengar Yoga 1 9 : 00

10 : 00

Rupert Spira

Meditation with Q&A

13 : 30 14 : 00

Kirsten Agar ward Iyengar Yoga 2

7 : 30

15 : 30

Andrea Carrani

Meditation for inner awakening

10 : 00

Sanskrit and Yoga Sutra

9 : 00

9 : 00

Daniel Simpson

13 : 30

Sumit Manav

Duality to non-Duality - Part 1 15 : 00

15 : 00

15 : 30

15 : 30

Satish Sharma

16 : 00

Luci Trendle Yoga Session 1

Ravi Dixit

Yoga - the Ultimate Union

17 : 30

19 : 00

Sasha Norton

Ram Banerjee

15 : 30

Joe Hoare

11 : 30

13 : 30

14 : 00

Laughter Yoga 1

11 : 00

13 : 00

13 : 30

18 : 00

Mahesh

12.00

A Brief History of Yoga

Gong bath

9 : 30

Kalavathi Devi

12 : 00

Omar Aziz

9 : 00

Gitananada Yoga

11 : 30

16 : 00

Julia Chilcott-Coombes

10.30

Optimised Immune System 1

Joy of re-connection 1

7 : 30

Lucy Crisfield

Angela Hope Murray

Varun Raj

Water Tent

7 : 30

Andy Curtis & Michael Hutchinson - KYM Yoga 1

12 : 00 12 :30

Jeffrey Armstrong 9 Limbs of Bhakti Yoga (video)

Fire Tent

17 : 00

17 : 00

17 : 30

17 : 30

Ramesh Patni

Marc Acquaviva

Mental Health & Vedanta 1 19 : 00

19 : 00

20 : 00

Jesse Bannister, Joe Harris, Key: Kenny Higgins, Sanju Sahai in Concert

Advaita Vedanta (Non-Dual Teaching)

Nada Yoga (Yoga of Sound)

Sound Therapy

Asana (postures) and Pranayama (Breath control)

Meditation

Yoga Philosophy

Ayurveda (knowledge of life and longevity)

Other

22 : 00

16:00 - 17:30 (Chai Tent)

Kimberley Soni Ayurvedic Cooking 1

21:00 (Air Tent)

Sandra Barnes

Yoga Nidra - Journey of Love

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Saturday 31st July 2021 Time 7.00 – 7.30 7.30 – 8.00 8.00 – 8.30 8.30 – 9.00 9.00 – 9.30 9.30 – 10.00 10.00 – 10.30 10.30 – 11.00 11.00 – 11.30 11.30 – 12.00 12.00 – 12.30 12.30 – 13.00 13.00 – 13.30 13.30 - 14.00 14.00 – 14.30 14.30 – 15.00 15.00 – 15.30 15.30 – 16.00 16.00 – 16.30 16.30 – 17.00 17.00 – 17.30 17.30 – 18.00 18.00 – 18.30 18.30 – 19.00 19.00 - 19.30 19.30 – 20.00 20.00 – 20.30 20.30 – 21.00 21.00 – 21.30 21.30 – 22.00

Other Activities

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Air Tent

Space Tent

7 : 30

7 : 30

7 : 30

Andy Curtis & Michael Hutchinson - KYM Yoga 2

Uday Bhosale Iyengar Yoga 3 9 : 00

Andrea Carrani

Meditation for inner awakening 9 : 00

9 : 00

10 : 00

Lucy Crisfield

Sanskrit and Yoga Sutra

10 : 00

Jesse Bannister Raga: The Yoga of Sound

Rupert Spira

Meditation with Q&A 12 : 00

Fire Tent

10.30

Kalavathi Devi

Gitananada Yoga

11 : 30

12 : 00

12.00

Kiran Ratna Selvaratnam

Intro to Bharatanatyam Dance

Kirtan

15 : 30

Varun Raj

Joy of re-connection 2

15 : 00

15 : 30

Satish Sharma

16 : 00

Luci Trendle

Omar Aziz

Yoga - the Ultimate Union

Yoga Session 2

Gong bath

17 : 00

17 : 30

Joe Hoare

18 : 00

Laughter Yoga 2 19 : 00

20 : 00

Ram Banerjee

Duality to non-Duality - Part 2

15 : 30

16 : 00

Bharatanatyam Dance by Vibha Selvaratnam + Radhika Das with Friends

13 : 30

14 : 00

14 : 00

Key:

7 : 30

Julia Chilcott-Coombes 9 : 00 9 : 30

Sumit Manav 11 : 00 11 : 30

Ravi Dixit 13 : 00

13 : 30

Nikki Slade

Water Tent

17 : 30

Ramesh Patni

Mental Health & Vedanta 2 19 : 00

13 : 30

Mahesh 15 : 00 15 : 30

Helena Turner Yoga & Yantra 17 : 00

17 : 30

Mary Niker

Family Iyengar Yoga Class 19 : 00

Advaita Vedanta (Non-Dual Teaching)

Nada Yoga (Yoga of Sound)

Sound Therapy

Asana (postures) and Pranayama (Breath control)

Meditation

Yoga Philosophy

Ayurveda (knowledge of life and longevity)

Other

22 : 00

10:00 - 11:00 (Chai Tent)

Trish Tucker-May Gut health

World Yoga Festival 2021 - Official Programme

14:00 - 15:30 (Chai Tent)

Kimberley Soni Ayurvedic Cooking 1

21:00 (Air Tent)

Sophia Barnes Alchemy Dance & Cacau

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Sunday 1st August 2021 Time 7.00 – 7.30 7.30 – 8.00 8.00 – 8.30 8.30 – 9.00 9.00 – 9.30 9.30 – 10.00 10.00 – 10.30 10.30 – 11.00 11.00 – 11.30 11.30 – 12.00 12.00 – 12.30 12.30 – 13.00 13.00 – 13.30 13.30 - 14.00 14.00 – 14.30 14.30 – 15.00 15.00 – 15.30 15.30 – 16.00 16.00 – 16.30 16.30 – 17.00 17.00 – 17.30 17.30 – 18.00 18.00 – 18.30 18.30 – 19.00 19.00 - 19.30 19.30 – 20.00 20.00 – 20.30 20.30 – 21.00

Other Activities

Air Tent

Space Tent 7 : 30

Uday Bhosale Iyengar Yoga 4 9 : 00

10 : 00

Rupert Spira

Meditation with Q&A

Andy Curtis & Michael Hutchinson - KYM Yoga 3

Meditation for inner awakening 9 : 00

Lucy Crisfield

10 : 00

Sanskrit and Yoga Sutra

Optimised Immune System 2

Kalavathi Devi

10.30

Gitananada Yoga

11 : 30

12 : 00

Sandra Barnes

13 : 30 14 : 00

13 : 30

9 Limbs of Bhakti Yoga (Video)

15 : 30

Andrea Carrani

Angela Hope Murray

12 : 00 12 :30

Iyengar Yoga 5

7 : 30

9 : 00

Jeffrey Armstrong

Richard Agar ward

Fire Tent

7 : 30

12.00

Ram Banerjee

Duality to non-Duality - Part 3 15 : 00

15 : 30

17 : 30

16 : 00

Luci Trendle

Yoga Session 3

7 : 30

Sasha Norton 9 : 00 9 : 30

Marc Acquaviva 11 : 00 11 : 30

Jyoti Manuel 13 : 00

13 : 30

14 : 00

Varun Raj Joy of re-connection 3

Water Tent

Ramesh Patni

Mental Health & Vedanta 3 17 : 00

13 : 30

Mary Niker

Family Iyengar Yoga Class 15 : 00

15 : 30

Helena Turner Yoga & Yantra 17 : 00

17 : 30

18 : 30

Closing Ceremony followed by

Acoustiquatic

Key:

Advaita Vedanta (Non-Dual Teaching)

Nada Yoga (Yoga of Sound)

Sound Therapy

Asana (postures) and Pranayama (Breath control)

Meditation

Yoga Philosophy

Ayurveda (knowledge of life and longevity)

Other

21 : 00

14:00 - 15:30 (Chai Tent)

Kimberley Soni Ayurvedic Cooking 3

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ENTERTAINMENT

Radhika Das, in 2007, began reflecting

on a world that he felt was in the most part frustrated in its search for happiness and deeper truth. ​ The solution, he discovered, was the practice of Bhakti Yoga, the path of love and devotion. He decided to dedicate more time to absorb himself in the ancient practice of Kirtan and discovered the beauty of mantra. ​ Radhika is devoted to helping people, whether it be from an existing yoga or spiritual background or to those with limited or no exposure to the practices.

His aim is to help you to feel more fulfilled through mantra meditation and a holistic way of living; deeply connecting the mind, body and soul. Radhika Das also helps to run ‘Kirtan London’, a project which aims to make sacred mantra music accessible and relevant to a wider audience, including schools, mental health institutions and outdoor events.

Radhika is joined by: Ananda Monet (Kartals), Keli Kanana (Kartals), Michael G (Acoustic Guitar), Jai Nitai (Bass Guitar), Radha London Isvara (Violin), Kavi Chandra (Mridanga), Kalindi (BVox 4 & Bansuri), Ekadasi (Kartals), Tadas (Saxophone).

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World Yoga Festival 2021 - Official Programme

Vibha Selvaratnam trained in

Bharatanatyam from a very early age from her mother Kiran Ratna. Her outstanding talent has propelled her onto the international dance scene. She is regularly invited to perform at the NADA Nrityotsava at the VRC Academy of Music & Dance in India as well as performing throughout the UK. She has been highly praised for the choreographic innovation shown in her works such as Nayika and experimental collaborations with The Fusion Project.

Vibha has co-choreographed and performed in many productions with India Dance Wales, most recently taking the lead role in the dance drama “Shakuntala”. She heads India Dance South West (a branch of India Dance Wales est. in 1993) and continues to choreograph and perform regularly and is involved with collaborations to explore her art form further.

Jesse Bannister leads a concert of Indian rāga music on saxophone and tabla; evolving into an ambient musical mood alongside Guitar and Bass. Jesse’s music invites you to a mystical abode thru the ancient Indian musical form of rāga, ambient world beats and improvisation.

From a mixed-race background of Indian and white British heritage, Jesse is a worldrenowned Indian classical saxophonist and sought-after composer.

‘Rāga: The Yoga of Sound’: An interactive workshop to connect you to the spaciousness of Vedic Sound, using sound yoga exercises and raga knowledge. The exercises will allow you to use your bodies and voices to tune up to your inner voice and open the door to a place of peace and wellness. Jesse will also demonstrate how any instrument can play ragas and will lead the group through sound meditations using his live voice and saxophone and retuned piano recordings. You can listen, sing or both.

Having fallen into a traditional style ‘disciple and master’ relationship with her Kashmiri Sufi guide ten years ago, Laura started a journey deep into mystical experience.

Studying the great mystics’ texts from various traditions over those years, revealed that the mystics’ voices of the heart transcend the separation of specific religious paths. Now, without interpretation or commentary, Laura’s devotional recitals bring alive the vision that the mystics speak of, deeply relevant in contemporary times.

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Laura Gubbins weaves deep clarity with humorous metaphor, reciting mystical poetry from 13th Century Persian Sufi Rumi and 14th Century Kashmiri Yogini Lalla, accompanied by Tom Parry playing the guitar and the duduk. The mystics’ timeless poetry describes the soul’s journey towards the deepest mysteries, and the struggles and ecstasy experienced along the way.

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field of chanting, core voice and sound work in the UK. Nikki has inspired thousands of individuals to chant and has led chanting workshops for many corporations including M&C Saatchi, Deutcshe Bank and Cisco. She has also taken her cutting edge approach to working with the voice into Wandsworth men’s prison and she is the resident voice facilitator at the Priory hospital in North London where she has impacted the recovery of hundreds of addicts over the past 13 years.

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Atmasphere is the project of Renu

Gidoomal, a versatile Holistic Singer and Entertainer and vocalist who is known for her soulful singing and vibrant ability to perform in various musical genres and languages. Atmasphere is all about transmuting an atmosphere into an inspiring Soul connected energy.

Performing with Renu Gidoomal are superbly talented, highly respected musicians: Atul Cantilal on Keyboards; Hemant Bhatt on Octopad and Side Rhythm; Mehboob Nadeem on Sitar; Mitel Purohit on Tabla, Rikhil Raithatha on Flute; and Pakhawaj, Cajon and Robin Christian on Bansuri.

Andrea Carrani will be joined by Atmasphere to lead an immersive meditation. Andrea is a spiritual teacher who uses the potency of live music to create a transformative energy to express yourself fully through the power of dance, chanting and mantra, to create an atmosphere where the inner dimension of presence can be felt through the magic of live music. Very healing and fun.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Acoustiquatic are a live fusion of ethnic

instruments, blended together with the electro sounds of the keyboard to take you on a soundful and soulful journey. Immerse yourself!

Led by Omar Aziz, multi-Instrumentalistsound practitioner specialising in Gongs, Handpan, Flutes, Djembe and other world instruments. Omar has spent time with many great teachers along the way including Sheila Whittaker, Don Conreaux and Robert Horwell, to name just a few.

Sanju Sahal (also known as Vishnu Sahal) will be joining Jesse Bannister, who is currently one of the finest and most sought after Tabla players of his generation. He belongs to the Benares Gharana (lineage) and being the 6th generation of Tabla players.

Being a child prodigy, and the son of the legendary Pandit Sharda Sahai Ji, he gave his first Tabla solo performance at a major festival in Benares at the tender age of 9.

He gained his Bachelor of Music at the age of 13 and Master of Music at 18 years of age.

A phenomenal and outstanding Tabla player, he is well known for mesmerising and captivating his audience with his power, virtuosity and complete spontaneity.

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World Yoga Festival 2021 - Official Programme

Robin Christian is an internationally-

acclaimed music composer and flutists. with exceptional music talent.

A derived passion from India at the early age of 15 years where he began to play the North Indian bamboo flute with a strong influence and practice with the flute maestro pt. Ronu Majumdar.

Today he continues to share, enjoy and humbly contribute to the music world and plays in the North Indian tradition. He plays and directs almost every form of music, which ranges from folk, devotional, soul, classical in both eastern and western fields.

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USEFUL INFORMATION Medical & Welfare Please find a steward for help or visit the First Aid Point.

Swimming Swimming in the river is not permitted due to dangerous currents.

Stewards For assistance, please ask anyone in an orange World Yoga Festival T-shirt.

Dogs/Pets With the exception of assistance dogs, animals are not permitted onto the festival site.

Food & Drink Food/drink is provided by different food outlets in the main area and Chai Tent. All food is 100% vegetarian, with vegan and gluten-free options also available. Please inform the servers if you have any food allergies. World Yoga Festival does not sell alcohol anywhere on-site. Please remember to keep hydrated throughout the day.

Recycling Please re-use your water bottle wherever possible and recycle responsibly.

Mobile Phone Charging Subject to availability, limited mobile phone charging may be available from the Box Office for a fee.

Toilets & Showers Toilets are situated in all arena and camping areas. Shower facilities are situated in the Camping area.

Valuables Please look after your valuables. The festival cannot take any responsibility for lost/stolen items.

Cash Subject to limited availability, cash may be available to withdraw from the Box Office for a fee.

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World Yoga Festival 2021 - Official Programme

Lost Property Please visit the Box Office for lost property.

Train Times The nearest train station is Henley-onThames, and the last train for London leaves at 23.11 on Friday, 23.58 on Saturday and 22.00 on Sunday. Please visit the Information Tent for more details.

Local Taxi Numbers Henley Taxis: 01491 574222 Chiltern Taxis: 01491 578899 County Cars: 01491 579696 Shuttle Service A minivan shuttle service will operate at the following peak times between Henleyon-Thames train station and the festival site for a donation of £2 per journey.

Please visit the Box Office for more details.

Thursday: 5pm - 9pm Friday: 8am - 10am and 7pm - 9pm Saturday: 8am - 10am and 7pm - 9pm Sunday: 8am - 10am and 7pm - 9pm Leaving The Site Please leave no trace when vacating the campsite and ensure you take all rubbish with you.

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FESTIVAL MAP

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CC PPking CC PPking

Camppvans

Ennance

Ticket Office

FFe Tent AA Tent FFd Stalls

Camping

Glamping

Lake

Watt Tent

Healls Stalls

Space Tent Family Area Chai Tent

Map drawn by Priya Banerjee Programme design by www.cr-marketing.com Photographs copyright Andrew Prod

Stalls

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If one looks at the human being and our closest relative among the monkeys, we find that there is only one gene difference. There are differences in bone and body structure but not too many. Where the differences are huge is in the voice box of the monkey and human being. I think the evolution of the voice box really led to the evolution of the human species so that they could rise to be the dominant species on earth in spite of limited physical abilities. With the development of the voice – the spoken word and later the written word, ideas could be communicated, past experiences could be shared, new concepts could be developed. These ideas and experiences could be passed on from generation to generation leading to a shared history and culture. With new ideas and concepts the brain also developed. New ways of thinking, long term memory and racial memory developed. All these happened because humans learnt to speak. Team building developed. Communities developed. Some of these traits we share with other animals as well. Hunting predators are great at team work though it is restricted to a given situation. So too migratory birds show amazing team work in the way they handle the challenges of the flight. But, their skills are largely restricted to the situation. When it comes to human beings because they can communicate with each other, humans have developed team work over a range of situations. So, all this evolution to a great extent owes its evolution to the development of the voice box and the development of speech and communications.

Communication is the key practically in every situation whether it is knowledge sharing, work, relationships, parenting, romance or in development work or political leadership.

Even resolving conflict situations, whether a spat between people or a war between nations, it is a breakdown of communication and an attempt at resetting the dialogue.

Communication is too broad a topic to be covered in one article or even a few articles but we can certainly look at some fundamental principles. These have not been discovered by me but by several teachers and masters, some are being presented here.

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Principle 1 - Intention = Expression = Understanding The intention always belongs to the speaker who wants to convey the intention that is in the mind. That has to be equal to the expression resulting in the listener’s understanding. If we pay attention to this principle, we will not have to say, ‘Sorry, I did not mean that’. Why? Because you are going to ensure that you are expressing what you intend. Sure, there can be some entropy in thinking. By the time the thought comes to your lips and expression, there can be some loss. Once you are aware of that, you are more careful in the way you will express. So, Intention has to be equal to expression. Similarly I listen in such a manner that I understand what the other person is speaking. So, listening involves my total attention. I have to be there with the speaker and not let my own thoughts, my own ideas, my own concepts disturb or distort what I am hearing. A lot of frameworks with self awareness have been developed such that my intention is equal to expression. Likewise, a lot of listening techniques have been developed so that I can listen well without distorting what I am hearing. But, all these techniques have this underlying principle that what I intend to say is deliberately, consciously expressed. And when I listen, I am totally present so that there is no distortion. To listen, I keep my wishing, willing and wanting aside. For instance if you want to compliment someone, be clear and honest – ‘You look beautiful in this dress.’ Don’t say – ‘You are looking hot.’ It is vague. Don’t let vagueness come into your expression. Similarly, when you listen, listen to what is being said without interpreting and asking a thousand questions. ‘Does it mean he is interested in me?” It is possible he is interested but understand what is happening and accordingly respond.

Principle 2 - Try to understand the other person before you make yourself understood.

This principle is more of an attitude which reflects in behaviour. This is a very

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important principle that Stephen Covey highlights across his book. Why is this principle important? If both of you make yourself understood that means you both are trying to seek understanding from the other person. None of you are listening! Not much understanding will be developed. If you try to understand the other person, the other person at least feels understood, validated. Chances are very good that the other person also will try to understand you. If there is understanding on both sides there are enough grounds to move forward in the relationship whether personal or professional. If this principle is not there will be a lot of talking at cross purposes without really understanding each other. However if one person can step back and listen to the other, then there is some ground for understanding and moving forward. With the newfound understanding half the job of communication is done. One can move forward to what is mutually acceptable and mutually agreeable. Or one can say,’ You have a better point’, I can agree with you on that.’ Or the other person may say the same.

Listening is very important. Most of us are poor listeners. We are bursting with what we have to say. Of course, this can lead to a funny situation where both are waiting for the other to talk. But that is rare. Anyone can initiate and ask the other person for his or her view point. Effective Communication leads to a greater connection and working together.

One of the biggest complaints I hear all over the world is ‘No one understands me.’!

This is because we have consciously or subconsciously decided that understanding another person is agreeing with him/her.

And hence, Principle 3 - Understanding is not equal to agreement.

It is only after we choose to understand that we can choose to agree or disagree with the person. Once this is clear we are free to understand others in personal or professional relationships. We are free to listen and understand anyone and everyone

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Principle 4 - Say what you do and do what you say.

Communication with integrity is not as easy as it seems. Whatever you are agreeing to, say it out, commit. Then make sure you do it. Let it not be like the election manifestos where you promise the moon and not deliver. Some of the tools that are used for effective functioning in corporate sector like ISO 9000 etc are based on this principle. One declares a commitment, the guiding questions for which are – what is being agreed to, who the stakeholders are, what are you going to do for them, what is the process going to be and then definitely does it.

If one is living by this principle, then it means your word is as good as a legal agreement.

Today people make legal agreements and look for loopholes. If your word is even more important, you will not look for loopholes or escape clauses. You say what you do and do what you say. This makes you a person of integrity, a person who can be trusted, someone whose word is taken seriously even by the enemies.

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in the world. We are free to understand our own emotions, desires, biases we may have. We can be free enough to understand the enemy as well, if one has an enemy.

Or else we can be caught off guard. There are techniques such as active listening where one listens without judgment and questioning and has empathetic responses to people. These techniques have developed from this fundamental principle that understanding is not equal to agreement.

When you understand another person you validate that person’s thinking, emotions without necessarily agreeing. This validation in the form of understanding is important for everyone. We can do this only if we are clear in our minds. If we internalize this principle, we are not threatened, anxious or insecure about what the other person is saying. It is likely that the other person is asking for understanding first not necessarily agreement. And I can happily give that understanding. I am not compelled to agree!

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by Swami Brahmavidananda

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Principle 5 - Communicating with ahimsa or pleasant and non violent communication.

The Veda says – Satyam bruyaat. Hitam bruyaat. Priyam bruyaaat. Satyam bruyaat Say what is true and held to be true, Hitam bruyaat - Say what is beneficial. If someone behaves like an idiot, it may not be necessary to tell everyone about it. Priyam bruyaat – Say things in a pleasant manner. Everyone including a child understands ‘speaking the truth’. Children sometimes can be embarrassingly and uncomfortably honest. There are plenty of truths that we know about people and situations and these don’t harm anyone nor benefit anyone. Suppose I know a secret about my neighbour’s past which can be embarrassing for him, if known in public. Is there any point in tom-tomming it everywhere, as it is not harming anybody nor doing good to anybody? The most difficult principle is the next one. If one has to speak an unpleasant truth speak it in a nice and pleasant manner. I don’t have to tell someone, ‘You bug me’ or ‘You always make me angry’. Instead, I can say that ‘I get upset when something like this is done’. So, you speak the truth which is less aggressive, more assertive, in a manner that is not hurtful to the other person. This way of speaking is not easy but with practice one can learn how to do it. Speaking like this does not mean that one is not confrontative when necessary. We often think that confrontation must be hard but it can be soft and pleasant as in the above example. The person is more likely to hear and understand what you are saying. The Veda also adds, That which is not satyam, not hitam and not priyam must be avoided. This means that that which is not true, that which is not helpful and that which cannot be stated in a pleasant manner – please don’t say it. Very often we feel an internal pressure to say a lot of things. Hold your silence. Does it guarantee success? Of course not! We live and learn.

Further talks available at: www.youtube.com/user/aarshavidya

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‘In Tune’: A perspective of Music & Wellness

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by Jesse Bannister Sitting and singing in my garden under a temple of trees in 2020, the outer world had gone silent and nature was free to sing, I had sensed the pure sound of Indian rāga and I felt moved to follow this mystical sound to its depths and find my own inner wisdom, strength and love through the creation of music from its universal source. 18 months on and I realised this with my album, ‘In Tune,’ recorded on a 19th century Steinway grand piano, where the notes talked to each other with beauty and harmony once I had retuned it to the healing tones of Indian music, called ‘shrutis’.

creative imagination acts as a messenger to the higher realms.

We can find sacred freedom in the unfolding of a musical creation.

With the scientific Vedic concepts of rāga (melody), sargam (notes) shruti (tuning) and nād (sound) we can merge into natures calling and find the rasa (emotion) of these sounds. This conscious way of making music can aid our wellness. We can sing or play a rāga that brings joy (hasya), or purifies a negative thought pattern through bravery (vira) or simply brings us back to peace (shanti).

rāga can be used as a way of tethering the thoughts and disciplining the physical voice or hand on an instrument. The notes show the way and note combinations create harmonious geometric designs. These designs can then be enhanced with special decorations that beautify the main notes of a rāga. In a way we are creating a hierarchy of notes in a specific time frame, and when we accept the rāga form, the rāga plays us and we can then truly feel the sound vibration of the elements around us, inwardly and outwardly.

For many hours I immersed myself in this pure sound and conceived of an introspective collection of piano pieces that shift through diverse colours and textures, from Indian rāga to the sound worlds of Erik Satie and Arvo Pärt, to instill a tuning of mind, heart and body.

The beauty of rāga for the listener is that one can be transported to a mystical or natural realm. The advantage of rāga knowledge for the musician or yogi is that the system is very scientific and thorough, and it can serve as a guide for wellness for all of us.

One needs to first master the notes, sargam, sa, re, ga ma, pa, dha, ni ‘sa. Then one masters the various combinations of ascending and descending phrases, which define the angs, limbs of a rāga. Then an intrepid rāga musician can relate the ragas to a collection of creative experiences of vibration, nature, humanity and spiritual experience.

In the hands of a master a rāga can evoke the most divine of beings and feelings. Initially and for now

Bringing all of these gifts and practices together in an organic way I am moving forward, with many others, into a world where music is a supportive aid in our wellness. I began a 4-year research PhD at York University with leading composers, research doctors and music psychologists to uncover the benefits of creating and listening to music based on rāga tunings. Already through listener’s responses, the effect and benefits to people’s wellness has been profound, and I continue to uncover more and give to the listener in the form of sound meditations.

My tradition and practice is rooted in the idea that spiritual means natural. My sacred higher self is connected to my earthly self through breath, yoga, prayer, healing, music and movement practices.

My musical practice is embedded in the aural tradition of Indian Music, where the soul can be brought closer to universal sound. The 34

World Yoga Festival 2021 - Official Programme

Ram Banerjee, the festival co-founder, is an experienced Advaita Vedanta teacher. He is running his popular introductory online course in Advaita Vedanta as an immersive weekend.

Vedanta for Beginners - open to all: Friday 3 Sept 2021 8pm – 9.30pm Saturday 4 Sept 4pm – 5.30pm & 8pm-9.30pm Sunday 5 Sept 4pm- 5.30 pm & 8pm-9.30pm Ram specialises in introducing beginners to the Vedas Online Zoom sessions

£36 for the course

ADVAITA VEDANTA CLASSES WITH RAM BANERJEE

Email: contact@yogafestival.world to register

Other weekly classes starting in September 2021:

Bhagavad Gita for Beginners: Every Thursday 8pm – 9.30pm starting 14 Sept Mandukya Upanishad: Every Sunday 10am – 11.30am starting 19 Sept Classes cost

£6 per class.

All classes are recorded and the class video, audio and notes are distributed to all attendees.

There is also an active WhatsApp group for participants.

Classes held throughout the week, including: Hatha Yoga • Youth Yoga for Teens • Meditation Classes The Traditional Yoga Association Workshops • Gong Baths

The Luci Trendle Yoga Studio: Amners Farm, Amners Farm Road, Burghfield, RG30 3UE Close to A4 & M4 • Set in a peaceful, tranquil farm setting More details & timetable visit: www.luci trendleyoga.co.uk

Call Luci to book:

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How You Relate to Karma Determines Your Life

This article is an excerpt from Swamini B ‘s weekly podcast – ‘Vedanta – the river of wisdom’.

The way we relate to our life situations is the way we relate to karma. Karma is a Sanskrit word that means an action by a human being which is subject to certain laws of Bhagavan.

Karma produces karma phala, the result of actions which are visible and invisible. The invisible reslts are in the form of punya and papa. Punya is the results of our right actions and paapa, the results of our wrong, harmful actions. Punya is converted to sukha, experiences of happiness and pleasure while Paapa is converted to dukha, experiences of sadness. The Vedas reveal that the human body is the result of our karma and we have the choice to do, not do or do karma differently. We can change our karma.

Everyday new karma in the form of favourable and unfavourable situations unfold. We are called upon to respond on a moment-to-moment basis to situations. Our relationship with karma follows the trajectory of four ways of relating to our life situations. These are: 1.Situations happen to me. When we talk about the events in our life, we see ourselves at the receiving end.

They’re doing it to me, it’s happening to me - the break up, the neglect from parents, the bullying by seniors in school, the politics at work, the barrage of media news - things happen to me. There are some terrible situations where one is a victim of circumstances. I am not talking about 36

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that here but referring to the victim mentality. To the extent that we see things happen to me, we cannot help but feel, overwhelmed, being swamped, being unable to cope.

When things happen to me it implies that these things are in opposition to me and it is me standing against the entire overbearing situation.

2. Situations can happen by me. This change in perspective is based on responsibility which revolves around – How am I going to be with this?

We recognise that there is always a choice. The other you are dealing with, your partner, your ex partner, your child or your work. You see the experience and choose to respond to it from a place of freedom and agency. One no longer sees oneself at the receiving end but as responsible for and a creator of one’s experience.

Although what you do is less than what you cannot that might be enough for the change you want to contribute to. Rather than focus on situations that are ‘happening to me’, we start to focus on our abilities and powers. Situations can happen by me. It is less overwhelming as it is built around sense of agency.

Despite all that has happened in your life, a new moment in time does not carry the baggage of the past. It is fresh, complete and fully available.

The movement from ‘to me’ to ‘by me’ is a shift to taking responsibility and a necessary step of growth.

But the thing with the appetite for responsibility and achievement is that when you try to shape experiences by yourself and things don’t go your way you start to blame yourself.

Responsibility can slip into over responsibility. One can start blaming oneself for anything in the name of self improvement.

3. Situations can happen through me. As one becomes more aware of the things one cannot change and develops the courage to change the things one can, one starts to open one’s eyes to what else is going on in the world. One opens up to the possibility of laws and principles that shape situations. One opens up to the complex matrix of karma that criss crosses in a complex network across all our lives.

Maybe situations are not about what happened to me or what happens by me.

Maybe life is about what can happen through me?

Maybe situations are not as personal and as targeted as I had earlier imagined.

Maybe the symphony of Bhagavan is going on and I have been asked to play a small part.

Maybe I am just an instrument like a flute.

Rabindranath Tagore, one of the great poets of India wrote a poem called ‘The little flute’ where he refers to the reed being carried by thou i.e.

Bhagavan through hills and dales and how you Bhagavan breathe through it melodies that are eternally new.

Being an instrument is what Bhagavan

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I remember talking to a Vedanta student in Brazil who was an experienced surfer. Initially when one gets on the surfing board you are at the mercy of the waves. You are at the mercy of balance and at the receiving end of the wind. You fall several times. You complain about things not being right – the board is heavy, you are heavy and so on.

You complain about the weather, the waves, the wind everything because things are happening to you. And then some of the experienced surfers teach you to balance yourself. You start to take responsibility and apply the lessons and in a few weeks or months you are a master of surfing.

You become so good that you don’t remember the principles any more.

You have learnt to dance with the situation of the waves, the wind and the weather. Experienced surfers speak of how surfing happens through them, not to them nor by them. This is also what people refer to when they speak of the zone or when a flow of ideas occur through you. You have allowed yourself to be an instrument as you surrender to the moment. In that surrender you see what needs to be done and you do. When people function like this we can bring forth amazing gifts to the world. Everyone has some talents and abilities that are unique to them which are much needed for the world. But we are too obsessed with ourselves and our judgments that we set ourselves up worrying about what will happen to me if this does not work out? And

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by Swamini Brahmaprajnananda Saraswati

Krshna suggested to Arjuna – nimitta matram bhava.

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we are back in the cycle of being at the mercy of thoughts happening to us. Through the disposition of Karma Yoga one can be an instrument of change in the world.

I suggest that you pause and look at any aspect of your life where you feel that things are happening to you, some aspects where things are happening by you and things that are happening through you. If any aspect requires changing you will get your answers immediately.

With continued exposure to Vedanta, our relationship to situations change.

4. Situations happen in me; I as Consciousness illumine all situations and am unaffected. This is how a wise person relates. All that is here is me, consciousness. The body and mind are but forms that don’t have an independent reality of their own. Situations that occur with the body and mind happen in me. I, consciousness light up the play of karma and hence the twists and turns in the person’s life.

Just as the light is unaffected whether it shines on sewage or whether it shines on a fragrant garden of flowers so too I am in and through all situations of this life. Nothing is opposed to me. This is not a behavioural response born of dissociation but of knowledge of the ultimate reality as oneself. I accommodate and illumine everything.

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See you next year!

Provisional 2022 dates: 4th - 7th August 2022

www.yogafestival.world