2023 Bend Yoga Festival

The Festival is a multi-day immersion in yoga and adventure that could only happen in beautiful Bend, Oregon!

Join us for a yoga celebration that will elevate your practice, wellness, and wholeness, featuring asana intensives, workshops, wellness sessions, themedpractices, yin, vinyasa, meditation, partner yoga, mountain biking, paddle boarding, hiking, kirtan, DJ, and more.

This is an inclusive event: all bodies, all practices, all beings are welcomed and supported.

Photo of Sianna Sherman by Robert Sturman,

THURSDAY, JUNE 8

6:30am

FOREST BATHING ON THE DESCHUTES

RIVER TRAIL with Natalie Bowker

8:00am

UNDERSTANDING THE SACRUM: THE KEY TO THE SPINE with Ian LeMasters

8:30am

YOGA, HIKE AND BREW AT SMITH ROCK STATE

PARK with Wildland

Guiding Company

Join local guides Khyra and Cody for a guided yoga, hike and brew tour! The experience begins with a relaxing and grounding outdoor yoga class with views of Smith Rock. We will set off on our three and a half mile guided hike with beautiful river views, stopping along the way to learn about the history and culture of Central Oregon and Bend. The geological and rock climbing history of Smith Rock State Park will be highlighted on the tour. We will return to our starting point and end the hike by enjoying a cold and refreshing local beer. Join us for an unforgettable guided tour and insider’s experience of Bend culture!

MOUNTAIN BIKING TOUR + YOGA FOR ATHLETES WITH COG with Wild and Rebecca Bell

10:00am

CHANT YOUR HEART OPEN | A SINGING, MANTRA AND BHAKTI MASTERCLASS with Ananda Das

1:30pm

DESCHUTES RIVER OPEN PADDLE with Paddle Board Oregon

STABLE AND FREE: JOINT MOBILITY

PERSPECTIVES IN ASANA with Christina Sell

MASTERING THE ART OF YOGA

PHOTOGRAPHY with Robert Sturman

Discover the secrets of how to make powerful, poetic images celebrating the beauty of the humanity, using the expressive art of yoga as our foundation. Let acclaimed photographer and artist, Robert Sturman teach you the essentials as well as his special tips. No expensive camera required; all you need is the phone in your hand.

2:30pm

DESCHUTES RIVER OPEN PADDLE with Paddle Board Oregon

4:15pm

DESCHUTES RIVER OPEN PADDLE with Paddle Board Oregon

5:30pm

FOREST BATHING ON THE DESCHUTES

RIVER TRAIL + WILDCRAFTED TEA with Rooted Presence, Mindy Lockhart Forest bathing is inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, which translates to “forest bath” and just means to take in the atmosphere of the forest. It is a practice of spending time in forested areas for the purpose of enhancing health, wellness, and happiness. Part meditation and part nature connection, forest bathing can help you tame your mental chatter and embrace the sensations you feel in your body, helping you find yourself in the present moment. Your guide offers a guided sensory meditation and invitations to dive deep into sensory experience, activating the parasympathetic nervous system to relax and restore your body. The experience concludes with wildcrafted tea.

9:00pm

QIGONG AND STARGAZING MEDITATION with Rebecca Nickerson

9:30pm

STAR GAZING PADDLE ON THE DESCHUTES RIVER with Paddle Board Oregon

FRIDAY JUNE 9

6:30am

FOREST BATHING ON THE DESCHUTES RIVER TRAIL with Natalie Bowker

8:00am

YOGA, HIKE AND BREW AT SMITH ROCK STATE PARK with Wildland Guiding Company

8:30am

I’LL DO IT MY WAY – MAKING ASANA YOUR OWN with Annie Carpenter

As our practice evolves, we gain the confidence and inner intelligence to adjust the “classic” poses to suit who are and who we are becoming. In this workshop we will move through many of the most beloved and oft-practiced poses and try on subtle variations that may help us get deeper and truly embrace the essential reasons we practice each one. This is not mutiny! Rather we’ll embody an open-minded inquiry into the question, “Who am I?” An Exclusive 2-hour Masterclass with a giant in American yoga, Annie Carpenter.

MOUNTAIN BIKING TOUR + YOGA FOR ATHLETES with Cog Wild and Rebecca Bell

11:00am

PADA BANDHA: SETTING THE ANCHOR with Ian LeMasters

1:30pm

STABLE & FREE | JOINT MOBILITY PERSPECTIVES IN ASANA with Christina Sell

YOGA + WRITING with Shanan Kelley

ALCHEMY

OF YOGA | A RASA YOGA IMMERSION FOR TEACHERS with

Sherman and Ananda Das

Sianna

Transform your practice with the power of yoga in a whole new way! Alchemy is a transformational process to awaken creative energy and turn lead into spiritual gold. In this Rasa Yoga Immersion for students and teachers, Sianna will teach you practices for healing, empowerment, and lifelong inspiration. Learn how asana and pranayama work together with mantra, mudra and meditation. Be inspired by the philosophy of yoga and learn ways to activate themes into your practice and teaching. This Rasa Yoga Immersion is designed to inspire the artistry of your life. It includes deep practice, interactive learning, and fun ways to study and grow together. Rasa Yoga is a bhakti fusion of asana, mantra, mudra, myth, pranayama, meditation, functional anatomy, Tantric yoga philosophy, shadow work, and soul alchemy. CEUs available through Sianna Sherman for this session.

4:00pm

PADDLE STRONG ON THE DESCHUTES

RIVER with Paddle Board Oregon

4:30pm

FOREST BATHING ON THE DESCHUTES

RIVER TRAIL with Natalie Bowker

5:30pm

FOREST BATHING ON THE DESCHUTES

RIVER TRAIL + WILDCRAFTED TEA with Rooted Presence, Mindy Lockhart

8:30pm

SUNSET PADDLE ON THE DESCHUTES RIVER with Paddle Board Oregon

8:45pm

GLOW WITH THE FLOW, A SOUND OFF™

DJ EXPERIENCE with Sianna Sherman and DJ Giancarlo

Grab your glow sticks and black light paint! It’s time to Glow with the Flow! We’ll meet at Troy Field in downtown Bend—a historic spot of green space locals have fought hard to protect and preserve from development. With the use of high-quality Sound Off™ Headphones, you’ll have DJ Giancarlo’s sweet sounds along with Sianna’s voice to guide you fed directly to you – no ambient sounds to distract you from your body, breath and movement. Doors Open at 8:30pm. Please bike, walk or rideshare if at all possible. If you must drive to Troy Field, leave early to ensure ample time to find parking and arrive at the event unrushed and open-hearted! This is an expertly taught alllevels vinyasa practice. No experience with vinyasa is required, although it will be helpful.

Remember: YOU belong here. All bodies, all beings, all paths are encouraged to join in!

A RARE TRIP TO THE PNW

for Acclaimed Photographer

ROBERT STURMAN

Learn His Photography Tips or Schedule a Yoga

The festival is honored to host acclaimed artist, photographer and TEDTalk presenter, Robert Sturman. A dedicated yoga practitioner, Robert has increasingly focused on capturing the timeless grace and embodied mindfulness of āsana in his work. Whether set in the streets of Manhattan or the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, his work reminds us that there is beauty everywhere.

His portfolios include work in the Africa Yoga Project, the Prison Yoga Project, and the Veterans’ Yoga Project, as well as a wide-ranging repertoire from yogis perched on rocks at the edge of the Pacific Ocean to African orphans practicing in Kenya. In the Prison Yoga Project, Robert photographed death row inmates practicing yoga at San Quentin Prison.

Some of his honors include being the Official Artist of the 47th Grammy Awards, the FIFA World Cup Artist Representing America, numerous magazine covers, and serving as the Official Artist of the 2008 United States Olympics. He’s also been the subject of two separate New York Times articles celebrating his photographs of yoga from around the world. During the festival, there are three ways to meet and be inspired by this truly oneof-a-kind artist:

SATURDAY, JUNE 10

6:30am

SUNRISE STRETCH + PLANT-SPIRIT MEDITATION WITH BLUE LOTUS with Ashley Lorenzo

8:00am

LIFT EACH OTHER UP | OPENING CEREMONY WITH YOGA + COMMUNITY RITUAL with Sianna Sherman, Kavita MacMillan, and Ananda Das

MOUNTAIN BIKING TOUR with Cog Wild (Add-on ticket req’d)

10:30am

IT’S PLAYTIME! ALL LEVELS ACROYOGA with Deven Sisler and Susan Holland Towey

LOVE YOUR HAMSTRINGS TO FREE YOUR SPINE with Annie Carpenter

NAVIGATE TRANSITIONS with Ease with Yvonne Kingsley

A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE | INVERSIONS WORKSHOP with Rebecca Bell FOREST BATHING ON THE DESCHUTES RIVER TRAIL WITH WILDCRAFTED TEA FULL with Mindy Lockhart

Photo Shoot

• Book your own yoga photo shoot, advanced asana not required. Contact Robert to begin the collaboration at robert@robertsturmanstudio.com

• Thursday workshop, Mastering the Art of Yoga Photography at Hanai.

• Friday evening dharma talk with catered reception by A Broken Angel, “Seeing Humanity Through a Photographer’s Lens” at Hanai.

All of these are Community Events of the festival, available to the public with single-session ticket, no festival pass required. Special tickets available at bendyogafestival.com/festival-pass

THE GUT-BRAIN CONNECTION & YOGA with Dr. Emily Wolbers

1:00pm

CONSCIOUS DANCE, A DJ EXPERIENCE with Petit Davina, and Antonio Gatto

OPTIMIZE YOUR HORMONAL HEALTH with Marie Agnew

WHO YOU ARE HELPS THE WORLD | THE YOGA OF THE BHAGAVAD GITA with Libby Cox

THE UPPER PRANA PONDS: YIN YOGA FOR THE HEART & LUNGS with Kali Basman and Kavita MacMillan

1:30pm

GROW YOUR LOTUS with Rebecca Bell

3:30pm

AWAKEN CREATIVE FLOW with Alexandra Lyon

FROM EARTH TO SKY | CREATING A RELATIONSHIP TO THE 5 GREAT ELEMENTS with Liz Skarvelis

FINDING INNER PEACE | AN INTRODUCTION TO THE DAŚAŚĀNTAYAḤ OR THE TEN ŚĀNTI (PEACE) MANTRAS with Claudette Evans

PHOENIX RISING, A SOUND OFF™ EXPERIENCE with Vince Brown

GET GROUNDED: MULA BANDHA with Kali Basman

5:30pm

A “SUMMER” YOGA HAPPY HOUR ON THE DESCHUTES with Petit Davina, Antonio Gatto DHARMA TALK: SEEING HUMANITY THROUGH A PHOTOGRAPHER’S LENS + RECEPTION WITH THE ARTIST sponsored by Chattra, with Robert Sturman

FOREST BATHING ON THE DESCHUTES RIVER TRAIL WITH WILDCRAFTED TEA with Mindy Lockhart

9:30pm

STAR GAZING PADDLE ON THE DESCHUTES RIVER with Lori Skiles

(Add-on ticket req’d)

SUNDAY, JUNE 11

6:30am

LOCKS, KEYS & THE FOUR IMMEASURABLES | WHERE THE YOGA SUTRAS AND BUDDHISM INTERSECT with Becky Nickerson

8:00am

HIP-FLEXOR HEAVEN with Annie Carpenter

Join Annie for a last day of the festival deep dive and deep release for your psoas. This over-used and sensitive muscle tends to be imbalanced, weak and/or tight. We’ll do a quieting and calming mix of poses and gentle movements to build awareness, balance and create a deep and sweet release for both body and soul.

LIGHT UP THE TEMPLE: RASA YOGA

GĀYATRĪ FLOW with Ananda Das, and Sianna Sherman

THIRD EYE CHAKRA FLOW | INTUITION

FLOW with Ashley Lorenzo

SUBTLE ENERGETICS & ANATOMY OF THE SHOULDER GIRDLE with Kali Basman

Explore the most mobile (and therefore most vulnerable and injury prone) region of the body—

the subtle energetics of these versatile joints, using yoga therapy to remedy joint instability, reverse well established patterns of tension, and distribute harmonious Qi flow through the heart, chest, arms, wrists and fingers.

10:30am

FOREST BATHING ON THE DESCHUTES RIVER TRAIL WITH WILDCRAFTED TEA with Mindy Lockhart

THE PRACTICE OF GĀYATRĪ | A BLESSING OF CLARITY AND DEVOTION with Claudette Evans

THE GUT-BRAIN CONNECTION & YOGA with Dr. Emily Wolbers

RESTORATIVE PARTNER YOGA with Deven Sisler, and Susan Holland Towey WHO YOU ARE HELPS THE WORLD | THE YOGA OF THE BHAGAVAD GITA with Libby Cox

THE POWER OF BREATH with Yvonne Kingsley

1:30pm

THE COURAGEOUS HEART with Ananda Das

2:30pm

RIVER PLUNGE

Let’s cap the closing experience with a plunge in the Deschutes River! You can make this a quiet and mindful release of all you’re letting go of—the apana—or you can make this joyous and exuberant, a cleansing celebration. Check in with yourself at the end of the festival, and decide what approach will best serve you.

Photos courtesy of Annie Carpenter

Thank you to our Sponsors

We appreciate your kind and generous support.

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

EXHIBITORS

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Performance & Sustainability

I m m e r s e y o u r s e l f i n a s a n c t u a r y o f e c of r i e n d l y n o n - t o x i c m a t s p r o p s a n d p r o d u c t s m e t i c u l o u s l y c r a f t e d f r o m t h e f i n e s t m a t e r i a l s O u r y o g a m a t c o m p a n y i s f u e l e d b y a n u n w a v e r i n g l o v e f o r a d v e n t u r e p e o p l e a n d o u r p l a n e t E v e r y p u r c h a s e y o u m a k e h o l d s t h e p o w e r t o c r e a t e a s u s t a i n a b l e i m p a c t w h e t h e r i t ' s p l a n t i n g t r e e s r e s t o r i n g c o r a l r e e f s o r r e m o v i n g p l a s t i c f r o m o u r o c e a n s W e a r e m o r e th a n j u s t a b r a n d w e a r e t h e e m b o d i m e n t o f v a l u e s s h a r e d b y t h e v i b r a n t c o m m u n i t y o f d e d i c a t e d y o g i s w h o c h o o s e o u r m a t s E x p e r i e n c e t h e d i f f e r e n c e f i r s t h a n d a n d w i t n e s s t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i v e j o u r n e y t h a t a w a i t s y o u o n o u r m a t s D o n t m i s s o u t o n t h i s e x t r a o r d i n a r y o p p o r t u n i t y t o e n h a n c e y o u r p r a c t i c e w h i l e m a k i n g a p o s i t i v e i m p a c t o n t h e w o r l d J o i n u s o n t h i s i n c r e d i b l e p a t h o f m i n d f u l e x p l o r a t i o n t o d a y