People practice yoga for many reasons: exercise, relaxation, spirituality.
Or, sometimes it’s just a good chance to channel your inner “Frozen” character.
The Northwest Yoga Conference this week in Lynnwood features two free community classes that cater to a younger crowd, including Sunday’s “Frozen” theme session, with yoga poses related to the movie. After the class, kids will have a chance to meet Elsa and Anna and take photos.
While your kids are busy — there’s also a football themed yoga class for youngsters — there will be dozens of adult yoga classes to try out free.
The conference, which started in 2012, is a way for the local yoga community to come together and learn new skills, said founder Melissa Phillips-Hagedorn.
Phillips-Hagedorn, who was born and raised in Marysville, found herself at a stressful point in her life and simply wanted to spend an entire weekend practicing yoga. She found plenty of retreats to exotic locations, but nothing local. So, she started something herself.
“It was a very emotional experience for me to put so much of my heart and soul into something and see it come into existence,” Phillips-Hagedorn said. “I had never put so much effort into creating something in my life.”
The course offers a variety of instructors, the majority from the Northwest.
This year, Phillips-Hagedorn is excited to have speaker Richard Miller, who does scientific research into the benefits of yoga.
The conference is more than just classes. There will be a marketplace, focusing on local and small businesses, and interactive displays for people to try. Curious about aerial yoga? Give it a try. Phillips-Hagedorn said it’s a good chance for customers to give products a try without making a big financial commitment.
Roy Holman, who teaches yoga in Everett, will be one of the teachers at the event and will also be attending classes on his own.
“It’s exciting to meet so many new people,” he said, “and it’s always fun to step out of the little bubble we teach in.”
His slow yoga class is for all levels. He said by slowing down, one can really discover the deeper benefits of yoga.
“There’s not enough gentle, body friendly yoga out there,” he said.
His class will allow people to slow down and connect to their breath and their deeper self.
“People are usually very centered, relaxed and even blissed after a class like this,” he said. “It’s usually less is more.”
Northwest Yoga Conference
The conference is March 5 through 8 at the Lynnwood Convention Center, 3711 196th St. SW, Lynnwood. Take a look at the full schedule of classes at nwyogaconference.com/schedule. Single workshops are $25, or you can buy passes for one day up to three days, from $149 to $399. Get details at nwyogaconference.com/registration.
Three free community classes are at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Two classes are for children, one with a “Frozen” theme and another with a football theme. There is a free class for adults at the same time. Pre-registration is encouraged.
Free events
Live Music
- Friday: 2-4 p.m., Jessie Siren, singer/guitar
- Saturday: 2-3 p.m.: Kym Detwiler, crystal singing bowls
- Saturday: 3-4 p.m., Gordon Assadi, violin
- Sunday, 2-3 p.m.: Peter Ali , Native flute
Yoga Classes
Sunday: 2:30-3:30pm, two classes for kids and one class for teens and adults. Pre-registration is highly recommended.
Talks
- Friday: 2:30-3:30pm, The Art of Music in Yoga – A Discussion on the Use of Music in Yoga Class with DJ Hyfi
- Sunday: 11:15-11:30pm, Yoga in the Wild: Adventure Awaits on Outdoor Yoga Retreats with Christopher Hagedorn (Get In The Wild); 2:30-3:30pm: The Future of Yoga with Yoga Alliance
Marketplace
Hours: Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
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