World Peace Yoga Conference

Photos courtesy of Anna Ferguson

On October 23-25, 2009 the yoga community will gather to celebrate world peace, veganism and ecological living at the World Peace Yoga Conference in Loveland, OH. The presenters list is a virtual who’s who of yoga from Ashtanga’s Doug Swenson (see here for info on a local Ashtanga workshop) to Jivamukti’s David Life and Sharon Gannon (authors of an excellent book on the subject) to “slow burn” yogi Jonny Kest. Daily practices will include Sadhana, meditation and kirtan in addition to the yoga intensives.

David Life and Sharon Gannon of Jivamukti Yoga will lead several sessions, one of which is titled “Yogi as a cultural hero.” This workshop will involve both a discussion and asanas focusing on opening up to a more spiritual approach to yoga. Gannon and Life emphasize the principle of “ahimsa” and feel that vegetarianism is important for yogis. Sharon Gannon says of the World Peace Conference :

"The most important yoga conference ever to be held in the world! Why? Because this conference will focus on practical yoga methods to bring peace to a world where violence, exploitation and destruction has become a way of life. We can be the change we wish to see in the world—not by means of anger and blame but through a yoga practice which is not viewed in terms of my practice or my enlightenment, but a hip/current yoga practice which recognizes the connection between personal and global imbalances—all of which stem from—the exploitation/degradation of animals and nature. Through yoga, we can dismantle this present culture and begin to build a new way of life—where peace, love and harmony among all beings forms the foundation. We don’t have time to wait for enlightenment in isolated caves or yoga bubbles—now is the time to become spiritually activated so that we can see what we have known in our hearts all along—that what we do to the world we ultimately do to ourselves.”      

If your interest is in slowing down your time on the mat , focusing on deeper breathing and being in touch with your mind, then Jonny Kest’s “Slow burn” workshop may be just the ticket. Kest will also be leading a workshop entitled “Peace Flow” which is described as a way to “explore your full range of motion and emotion, enabling compassion to swell within.”

For Ashtanga practitioners, Doug Swenson will be leading an intro to primary series with a bit of “chi vinyasa” and additional asanas added to spice up your practice. There will also be some pranayama and hands on assisting by one of the biggest names in Ashtanga yoga. He will be leading several intensives approaching Ashtanga from different angles.

The World Peace Yoga Conference is an excellent opportunity to learn from some of yoga’s premiere instructors and to broaden your awareness of world peace and veganism. For information regarding the vegan aspects of the conference please see Louisville Vegan Examiner Carrie Klaus’s article on the subject.

The World Peace Yoga and World Peace Jubilee were created by Anna Ferguson and Mark Stroud as a way to encourage peace, veganism and yoga practice. The conference runs from Oct. 23-25, 2009 with registration closing on Oct. 16, 2009. It is possible to register for all days, single days and to decide upon whether you want to register for food, lodging and the program, or program alone.