YEG Festival City: 30th International Street Performer's Festival

It’s finally the heart of summer—the heat is on and YEG Festival City is out in full force. Downtown, all the signs are obvious—mini donut and lemonade stands marking the sidewalks, live music carrying through the streets, and foot traffic enough to rival that of cars. Oliver Square is no exception with the International Street Performer’s Festival celebrating its 30^th year of lightening up our city’s core. Featuring returning favourites and brand-new performers, this year’s Street Performer’s Festival runs the gamut from dancers and musicians, to comedic characters and magicians, all here to make you smile, laugh, or just be plain ol’ amazed.

This year, over 40 professional performers take to the Square from July 4-13^th, with special acts for the kids (like Kids’ World, featuring Cap’n Arr, so your little ones can learn how to act like pirates), and big kids (like Late Night Madness, featuring outrageous cabaret characters). Or perhaps you’d like to take to the stage yourself? Try out the Be Your Own Busker workshops, and learn to juggle, stilt walk, or break dance!

Be sure to check out the big tent—where performer Phileas Flash is hard at play throughout the week creating a balloon sculpture to celebrate the festival’s 30^th year. And if nothing else puts a smile on your face, feel good about all the fun, as this festival’s got its karma straight—StreetFest presents Comedy Cares, an award-winning outreach that serves up laughter as medicine to hospitals and care facilities in the Edmonton area.

For more information, a full list of performers, and schedules, check out www.edmontonstreetfest.com.  And be sure to let us know your favourite shows!

All photos courtesy of the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival. Used with permission.

Astral Harvest: Yogis in the Field

 

Four Yogalifers, Five Workshops, A Million Smiles!

This year marks the 7th annual gathering of beautiful souls for Astral Harvest: Mythic Roots // Binary Skies, July 3-6th in Driftpile, Alberta.  A homegrown festival with the roots of the crew hailing from Edmonton, this is a quick-growing shaker with something for everyone.  With daytime workshops as a central focus for Astral, it's no surprise that four of our own will be sharing their skills with the festival-goers.  Graham Parsons, Jessica Saulnier, Jennie Musani and Caitlin Varrin are rolling in with five different offerings over the weekend.  They couldn't be more excited to be a part of this magic.

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Graham shares:

"My favourite part of astral is sharing chai with a best friend you weren't acquainted with till that afternoon, as you leave the chill dome at 3am and both smile at the part of the sky that never really got dark, & know that you still have several more days of warm friends, mindful yoga, inspiring art & immersive bass.  Welcome to Now"

Join Graham Friday, July 4th // 10am // Sacred Vibration Vinyasa AND 4pm // Laughter Yoga

Jennie shares:

"To me, Astral Harvest means freedom. I'm most excited to just be. <3"

Join Jennie Sunday, July 6th // 12pm // Yin Harmony

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www.astralharvest.com gives you all the background info a festival-er could need, and here's a snippet from their blog to illuminate the vibe of this gathering:

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Astral Harvest Music is not your ordinary music festival - it is a feast for your senses!

We bring in international and local DJs and acoustic acts, powered by the ever-impressive PK Sound. Our 4 unique stages and incredible lineup brings world wide recognition. But Astral Harvest goes beyond the music scene with an emphasis on daytime activities. Astral Harvard conferences are sure to inspire new thoughts and ideas. Learn a new skill or practice at a workshop, cool yourself in the river at the beach or take in one of the many live art shows or interactive performances throughout the weekend. Our atmosphere is part of the magic - a playground and children's activities will keep your Little Harvesters engaged and entertained!

Nestled in the beautiful boreal wilderness of Northern Alberta, admission includes 3 nights and 4 days of camping, free water and firewood, and access to hot, coin-operated showers. Take a stroll through our funky and renowned marketplace and support local artists, merchants and bountiful food vendors.

Come celebrate music, art, knowledge, community and the human experience - Home is where the Harvest is.

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A little more from our other two yogis in the field:

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Jessica shares:

"Astral Harvest to me is yet another opportunity to experience oneness with all, while providing the freedom to express individuality through music, dance, movement, fashion, art, and performance. If one word could describe the spirit and beauty of the festival grounds, the amazing stages, the friendships made, the love and light shared between fellow humans, the informative workshops, yummy yoga, epic dance sessions, and hilarious camping adventures, well my friends, that word would be MAGIC." Join Jessica on Friday, July 4th // 1pm // Gaia Flow

Caitlin shares:

"Astral Harvest is community: home, heart and harmony. It's reunions and connections, so many smiles and jokes, family. My favourite people, land, music, art and movement. Harvesters are truly and deservedly spoiled :)" Join Caitlin on Thursday, July 3rd // 1:30 // Simple Pleasures~Hatha Flow"

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Big thanks to Luke GS Art & Photography for the beautiful photos!

Big Love For Prairie Yogi

photos by Jenn Crebas Photography

Ahhh, sunshine, music, friends, and yoga. What more could you want out of life?!  Last week, the elusive Edmonton sun beamed out its welcoming warmth and rays— a wonderful way to greet Prairie Yogi as they stopped over in our city. After reading and loving the online magazine and community they’ve created, we finally had the pleasure of meeting Rachelle and Monique (a.k.a. Prairie Yogi) in-person at Louise McKinney Riverfront Park.

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Together, we saluted the beaming sun as Noah Krol of Peg City Yoga guided us through an open-air karma practice, the river and pyramids our drishti. Post-savasana popsicles from our friends at Lululemon made the whole afternoon feel a treat as we sat in the grass to chat.

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And as if the daytime yoga wasn’t enough bliss, we stepped into Latitude 53—an art gallery repurposed as practice space—for the official PY YEG Launch Party, the tone set with soft incense and some sweet, funky musical stylings from Robhindra Muse-ic. Our heart-opening practice was guided with the warm hands of Edmonton’s own, with gracious adjustments from Myrah Penaloza and Teresa Byer, as Andrew Misle led us through a strong back body sequence.

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We loved practicing alongside familiar faces, and some we haven’t seen before—it was incredible to share space and so much good-hearted energy with all kinds of YEG yogis! Edmonton’s yogis are truly rockin’ their practices—and this whole day of yoga immersion with the community served as such a sweet reminder of all the good vibes floating across our city, within and without our studio walls.

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We hope you felt the love too, Prairie Yogi—please come back and hang anytime!

Prairie Yogi toured Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta to promote their upcoming Prairie Love festival which takes place in Winnipeg this September. Check it out!

Stay Connected!  Join our Facebook Group.

Wheat Kings and Prairie Things

“Big skies, big hearts”—that’s how Rachelle and Monique, known together for their work with Prairie Yogi, describe our wide community of practitioners and the great expanse of land—of grain and grit—upon which we move. Prairie Yogi is an online magazine devoted to building connections across the prairies, uniting yogis from Edmonton all the way to Winnipeg.  

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Often it may feel that we’re isolated here, far north and far away from an engaged, curious community of yogis—that’s why Rachelle and Monique wanted to create an open, online forum for prairie practitioners to share their experiences, their studios, and their love for the wide expanses we call home. The idea is that we can foster a family, we can cultivate a kind of Canadian kula—and feel connected, whether linked with words on their website, or when we travel between places.

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This month, Prairie Yogi is traveling from their home base of Winnipeg to officially launch their project westward—and they’ll be stopping by Edmonton next week, on June 11th. We feel so honoured that they’ve hand-picked two of our very own instructors to lead through their launch—Yogalifer and Studio Director Lindsey Park will be guiding an outdoor practice during the day at Louise McKinney Park.  And in the evening, our own Myrah Penaloza, alongside Andrew Misle and Teresa Byer, will be helping teach a 75-minute class at Latitude 53—an event that involves not just yoga, but also wine, food trucks, and beats by guest DJ Robindra. (You had us at yoga!)

We chatted with Prairie Yogi to get to know these lovely ladies a little better before their big YEG debut. Here’s what they had to say.

1) Tell us about Prairie Yogi—who are you, and what do you do?

R: Prairie Yogi was created first as a print Magazine to educate + inspire yogis across the Prairies, and it has evolved into such a beautiful community over the last 2.5 years. We believe story-telling, community, and experiences and these beliefs are expressed through our digital media property prairieyogi.com and our signature style of events. I am the founder of Prairie Yogi, the editor of the website, and the one who spearheads our events and marketing strategies.

M: Prairie Yogi began as a print magazine two and a half years ago. Now it's grown into something much larger and something very special. It's an inclusive community of passionate yogis (of all levels!). We host inspiring yoga events, workshops and this September we'll be hosting Prairie Love - the prairie's first yoga and wellness festival. I created the Prairie Yogi website and have my hands in all things creative: design, photography, video- creativity makes me bust with joy!

2) What do you love about the prairies?

R: I love the four seasons, life in the extremes and its effect on our people. We're friendly and can handle pretty much anything mother nature throws our way. I'm a gypsy at heart, I never thought I'd end up here. It took me years of travel across four continents and living on a tropical island to realize just how special the prairies are and be ready to call Winnipeg the place I choose to spend life.

M: My favourite thing about the prairies is the people. The prairies will always mean home, family and community to me. Regardless of the weather (we really do endure the extremes!) prairie people always seem to embrace the temperatures with resilience and make the most of the beautiful seasons we have.

3) Have you visited Edmonton before? If so, what stands out—do you have any Edmonton stories? What did you love?

R: My first love was from Edmonton. I spent some time in the summer there with him wildly (and naively) in love, the way you can only be when you're young. My memories of the city are fond and so special. The one that sicks out in my mind is seeing the Northern Lights for the first time during a backyard sleep out.  I also am a big kid and love the water park at West Edmonton Mall :)

M: The last time I was in Edmonton I think I must have been 7 years old. So as you can imagine - West Ed water park better watch out! But in all seriousness, people often say that Edmonton is Winnipeg's sister city and I'm really looking forward to experiencing the city and community. I've noticed how vibrant the yoga community is in Edmonton and I really am looking forward to connecting and making new friendships.

4) What can we expect from your events during the #YEG launch on June 11th?

R: Community, fun, and inspiration all around. We like to laugh and play and we encourage participants to bring an element of fun and lightness into their practice and community. We always have a few surprises and goodies up our sleeves as well for participants. We're had such amazing feedback from our events in Winnipeg, and we cannot wait to spread the love out West!

M: Fun, smiles, treats, and a great sense of community. My favourite thing about Prairie Yogi events is the way people really feel the love, open arms and open hearts.

5) What makes someone a prairie yogi?

R: I think it means different things to everyone. We always ask that question to our prairie yogis of the month and the answers always vary. For me it means being resilient, celebrating where you’re from, and being connected. Connection allows you to let life flow, good and bad, like it does in the big skies of vast horizon of the prairies.

M: I think being a Prairie Yogi means that a) you embrace some aspect of yoga in your life and b) you've found a home in the prairies - whether you were born here, live here, or live elsewhere.

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We’d love for you to join us on June 11th as we give Prairie Yogi an open-armed, open-hearted, warm warm welcome to our city. We know we’ll be there!  Daytime event is free and drop-in, tickets for the evening event are available here.

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