Look no further, the 4th annual Victoria Yoga Conference takes place on February 5 to February 7, 2016 at the Victoria Conference Centre and will host the yoga community for a weekend of inspiration, motivation and deep learning about the practice of yoga.
The Victoria Yoga Conference includes yoga classes and workshops, meditation workshops, teacher talk shops and a business series designed to assist studio owners and teachers on how to market themselves and truly make a business of their passion.
The Capital Region of Victoria is now home to more than 50 yoga studios and has supported the conference dedicated to the practice of yoga.
Teachers and presenters from the Victoria Yoga Conference, when asked about their favorite part of the event, almost unanimously agreed on the element of community. “The VYC is the feeling of a tribe coming together to raise the vibration on the planet,” says Glynnis Osher, who has been a part of the conference since 2013. “It gives me great hope for humanity.”
A regular conference goer and local yoga teacher Lori Lucas is looking forward to returning to the VYC. “I love that the conference is so diverse,” says Lucas, “but I especially love the heartfelt community aspect, and feeling of connection it brings. It is almost palpable to everyone who goes, regardless of whether you are a presenter or an attendee.”
Since many teachers come from afar, the conference is an opportunity for professional growth and connection. Vancouver-based yoga teacher Nicole Marcia, who specializes in trauma-sensitive yoga, appreciates the opportunity to connect with other teachers and practitioners. “Yoga teachers generally work in isolation,” says Marcia, “the VYC is an opportunity for us to gather as a community not just to learn and teach but also to have the experience of being supported in what we are doing with our lives and our work.”
The conference kicks off on the night of Friday February 5 with the Illumination Event, a series of presenters sharing their ideas and stories to inspire the audience. Saturday begins at 8 a.m., with event options ranging from Yoga for Recovery, to When Tinder Meets Yoga, to a plant-based nutrition workshop. Each two-hour time slot gives attendees the option of selecting a class or workshop. Meanwhile, the VYC Marketplace will be open all day, featuring locally made products, a Lululemon lounge, a photo booth, and an interactive art installation.
On Saturday evening, actor and producer Emelia Symington Fedy will be cracking people up with her solo piece Through the Gaze of a Navel. Starting at 8 p.m. and open to the public, Fedy will lead the audience through a comedic and participatory yoga class.
Similar to Saturday’s schedule, Sunday will begin with a series of classes and workshops every two hours, starting at 8 a.m. The line-up includes An Intro to Acro Yoga, Vitamin Yin – Yin, Massage & Yoga Nidra, Deepening Intuition, and many more. The Marketplace will be open another full day, including more community classes and live music.
The conference takes place February 5-7, 2016 at the Victoria Conference Centre. For more information, visit www.victoriayogaconference.com.
