Yogis, instructors, healers, and well-being specialists from Bali to Bangor descended upon Co Louth this weekend for Ireland’s first-ever global yoga event: The Celtic Woodland Yoga Festival. Inspired by the wisdom teachings of the East and the Celtic traditions of Ireland, the competition had a formidable undertaking: to enhance the balance of humans and the planet at a massive. Nestled amongst 350 acres of the ancient wooded area, the competition is held at the historical Townley Hall. Just a stone’s throw from Newgrange and the river Boyne, Townley Hall is close. Fionn Mac Cumhaill stuck the salmon of understanding when the Celtic goddess Bovinda gave start to Aengus – the god of affection and poetic proposal.
It proved an idyllic place for an inspirational and joyous weekend of yoga exercise, folklore, dance, poetry, and music. The Georgian elegance of the residence, a diversity of teachings and presenters, and the infectious enthusiasm of the attendees made the festival’s environment an aspect of splendor. With yoga becoming one of the world’s biggest-developing business industries, instead of a nonsecular exercise, the pageant held a genuine commitment to authenticity, connection, and openness. The welcoming, inclusive, network environment introduced Irish people from north and south and pageant goers from everywhere, including Europe, Thailand, Bali, Japan, and Mexico. The competition validated that yoga is much greater than pretzel poses, lycra pants, and mystic chants.
Meditation in the rain
One attendee, Lexy from Manchester, defined it as an inspiring enjoyment: “I sense so happy I came and so stimulated and nourished by the complete event – it’s changed my attitude.”
The competition became an embodied and immersive educational revel with a complete spectrum of yoga training, lectures on Irish forests, memories from Celtic myths, memories of India, meditation classes, dance classes and rub-down treatments, and lots of craic.
In true Irish style, even the rain didn’t dampen the spirit without doors on foot meditation classes continuing regardless; the festival provided richness for the eyes, the palate, and the soul. The food, cooked by The Vegan Queen, overjoyed diners with vegan versions of seafood chowder, crab cakes, Mexican tacos, and different wholesome takes on world cuisine. After dinner, music and dance activities store matter-energy.
The four-day event supplied something for everyone– beginners and pro practitioners explored new teachings and practices, expanding their bodily and mental limits. Flying in from Portugal, Randall O’Leary mixed vinyasa with a reggae DJ for a hilarious and barely wild elegance, with college students stretching their hamstrings and their smiles.
Belfast-born Emma Warmington supplied brilliant breath-led practices while Kanta Barrios from Little Bird studio in Dublin, the festival associate, changed into sensational with touching and deep techniques, leaving students with a grounded sense of nonviolent contentment.
Another fantastic spotlight changed from festival founder and Dublin-born Cathy Pearson, whose “dozing meditation” turned into observed by the ethereal sounds of the Celtic harp. Additional accompaniment to the song changed into furnished through folks that couldn’t stay awake – adding a rhythm of comfortable snores.
Despite the many paths and types of yoga provided, one factor was clear from all the presenters: locating one’s right of entry to the practice is key. Throughout the weekend, contributors have been gently guided and reminded that despite the busy and excessive-forced lives we frequently lead in those contemporary times – to be here, proper now, in this very second, is greater than sufficient.
The festival was not only for the benefit of people who attended but additionally for the health of the land of Ireland and past, as a hundred and fifty very welltree saplings, donated via the competition, have been taken domestically to be planted by individuals, which introduced to the depth and significance of the occasion.