Wild Idaho Yoga Festival:
Finding Balance in the Wild
Lowell, Idaho
September 20th - 22nd, 2024
If you are a nature lover who’s ready for a holistic approach to life and longing to trade the everyday hustle for tranquility in nature, then join us for a retreat where you will enjoy yoga and meditation outdoors, connect with a supportive community, and discover a renewed sense of balance and well-being.
Imagine…
…emerging from a deep sleep, completely restored by the gentle murmur of the Wild & Scenic Selway River through the night. You open up your tent and watch her emerald waters flow through the luscious, green pine forest. You get ready for the day and slowly meander along the riverbank down to the sandy Johnson Bar for morning meditation.
The sun begins to rise over the ridge behind you and you watch as the morning glow of sunshine illuminates the valley. You notice the rays warming the soft earth beneath your feet. Settling onto the beach, a calm washes over you as you take in the stunning view of the Bitterroot Mountains.
As you meditate, a sense of inner peace takes over. Your spirit is rejuvenated by nature’s serenity and you feel comfortable surrounded by like-minded friends. By the end of your meditation, you are fully refreshed, awake, and ready for a day filled with grounding yoga classes, wellness workshops, and delicious, nourishing meals.
On Your Retreat…
rejuvenating yoga sessions and holistic wellness workshops will help you gain a stronger connection with your body and mind, so you can bring more peace and balance into your every day life
by bonding with a community of kindred spirits, you’ll feel a true sense of belonging and support, inspiring and uplifting you on your path to wellness
as you enjoy nourishing, lovingly prepared meals, you’ll fuel your body with vitality and energy, so you can sustain a healthy, balanced lifestyle long after the festival ends
you will celebrate song, dance, and art to experience pure joy and connection, so you can bring a spirit of wholeness and creativity back into your daily routine
while camping in the breathtaking Idaho Bitterroot Rocky Mountains, you’ll immerse yourself in nature’s beauty, so you can reconnect with the earth and find your balance again
The Venue: Discover Tranquility at Johnson Bar Campground
Envision stepping into a world where the mighty ridges of the Idaho Bitterroot Rocky Mountains welcome you with a gentle embrace. At Johnson Bar Campground, nestled along the Wild & Scenic Selway River, you find yourself surrounded by nature's untouched beauty. Picture waking up to the serene sounds of the river flowing, birds singing their morning songs, and the crisp mountain air filling your lungs.
This retreat is more than just an escape; it's a transformative journey where the distractions of daily life fade away, leaving you with the simple, profound joy of being present in nature. Throughout your stay, every moment at Johnson Bar Campground reinforces your journey of balance, sustainability, and personal growth.
You are not just a participant; you are an integral part of a community that values holistic well-being and environmental stewardship. By the time you leave, you carry with you not only the memories of breathtaking landscapes and heartfelt connections but also a renewed sense of purpose and clarity. Johnson Bar is your gateway to a more balanced, harmonious, and fulfilling life.
The Cuisine: With Harmony Now
Eating mindfully is a catalyst for change that will benefit our overall well being, and our beautiful planet🌎
You are invited to be curious, relax, and experience meals that nurture and heal your body, mind, and spirit. Each serving is made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients and loving intentions you can feel.
My name is Harmony Now and my offering is wholesome, plant-based comfort food that is filling, delicious, and recreate-able! I happily share all I know about life-affirming food and empowering ways to incorporate whole, healthy food into any lifestyle with balance.
As a 4th year attendee of the Wild Idaho Yoga Festival, I am thrilled to see the fest growing with expanded offerings, and I am especially excited to share my passion of mindful eating with life-affirming food!
Leave the festival feeling great with some hacks on Eating with Harmony Now. +Join me for a hands on demonstration of a tasty nacho “cheeze” sauce that you can easily incorporate into your own yummy dips, nachos, enchiladas, and more at home.
Festivals and nature retreats are wonderful opportunities to gather and share experiences with others. It’s common for participants to realize a renewed sense of individual & collective purpose and connection within our community.
It's a beautiful evolution and I enjoy being witness!
Featuring Juices by Canyon Juice Co.
Meet Megan, founder of Canyon Juice Co.
Megan is dedicated to empowering others in taking action to transform their health, mind, body, and soul. Her passion for health and wellness began long ago, through the loss of close family due to cancer and the harsh treatments.
Later, she went back to school to become a certified integrative health coach, while going through her own cancer journey. "Food as medicine" unpasteurized, cold pressed juice played a vital role in her healing process...and there grew a dream.
Canyon Juice Co. journey is rooted in nourishing the body on a cellular level, using the power of plants to bring transformational, vibrant health to our bodies and to our community.
Not to mention, its yummy!
Your Journey Each Day
Friday
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1:00 - 3:00 p.m. PST Arrive and check-in to your campsite, setting yourself up for a weekend of holistc, relaxing adventure.
3:00 p.m. Opening Circle
Circle around our iconic flower mandala land art installation, set your intentions for your retreat, and get to know your fellow festival-goers.
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Begin the festival with classes to help you unwind and set the stage for a weekend of rejuvenation. Choose from our lineup of amazing workshops and experienced teachers:
Afternoon Sessions:
Breathe, Flow, & Thrive
with Christina Stalnaker
Emerge from this session feeling revitalized and ready to embrace the entire festival with a sense of vibrant joy! Use breathwork to calm your mind and energetic movement to cleanse your energy channels, promoting balance and clarity. This workshop will leave you feeling centered, balanced, and ready to experience the festival with a renewed sense of joy.
Embracing the Wild Crone
with Amy Sedgwick
Find your Balance in perimenopause naturally with yoga.
Learn how to balance peri-menopause and menopause symptoms with this transformative class, exploring the intricate changes that occur on a micro level and their impact on our overall well-being. Conclude with a rejuvenating yoga flow meditation that embodies the essence of embracing the natural aging process and embracing our roles as wise women and crones.
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In the evening, we will gather together again and connect as a community through our first shared meal- a Community Potluck- and then decide which journey you’d like to take to connect inwards:
Nurturing Your Inner Child
with Sharon Sedgwick
Embark on a transformative inner journey, beginning with breathwork to relax and expand your being. Create an inner sanctuary, connect with your inner child and mentor, and invite healing and emotional release.
Transition into somatic movement to express held tensions, and integrate the experience with gentle breathwork and practical tools for daily life.
Fireside Chat
with Chip Dorroh
Join Chip around the campfire for a spiritual discussion around the History of the Bhagavad Gita and Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga. Filling in the story before the battle- Why was there such a division and how does this epic tale help us to find peace with ourself? How do Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga guide us to peace through focus and meditation?
Saturday
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Start your morning with Meditation on the beach followed by a nourishing breakfast with Harmony Now.
Choose Your Morning Practice:
Fierce Femininity & Mindful Masculinity
with Chelsey Pratt-Banta
We all have feminine & masculine qualities, but it can be tricky to find the equilibrium of these energies within ourselves. This yoga convo & flow class gives you heightened awareness of goddess/warrior (female/male) imbalances in society and in yourself. Once we recognize them, we can implement the mindset & motions for adjusting ourself, bringing more harmony into our life. We become more powerful, more empathetic and more grounded when we aim to balance these two aspects of nature.
What is Obvious and What is not?
with Kimberly Butler
In this workshop, we will be looking at different parts of ourselves that may be out of balance, and we might not even notice. We’ll also move through a yoga flow focused on bringing that attention inward to help us find balance, physically, mentally and emotionally.
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After a wholesome lunch with Harmony Now, continue to nourish yourself with afternoon yoga to balance out your day. Restore with a gentle yoga class on the beach with Carly or challenge yourself with an arm balance class with Brittany. Then, enjoy some time off to explore the Selway River or kick back and relax at camp.
Gentle Yoga on the Beach
with Carly Decker
In this gentle yoga class, you can expect a slower-paced practice focusing on breath awareness, mindfulness and gentle movements. This class will help release tension and nurture relaxation. We’ll also explore our sense of physical balance while practicing in the sand.
Play with Crow
with Brittany Alley
Build strength and confidence in an Anusara Yoga class featuring crow walks and holding crow with integrity.
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Gather together for a fulfilling dinner with Harmony Now and spend the night celebrating community. Move your body with ecstatic dance and then continue to connect with friends while having fun around the warmth of the campfire.
Ecstatic Dance
with Sabina Hatch
Sabrina will guide you through an ecstatic dance workshop focused on moving the body with authentic connection to individuals' internal experience.
Open Mic Night
You’re invited to participate or just sit back and watch open mic night around the campfire. Share your music, spoken art, or continue dancing as we celebrate our blossoming community connections.
Sunday
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Start your morning with Meditation on the beach, then decide if you want to relax with a Sound Bath or boost your energy with an invigorating Kundalini class. After your class, refuel your body with a nourishing brunch with Harmony Now.
Everyday Mindfulness & Sound Bath
with Virginia Howerton
Equip yourself with practical mindfulness tools to navigate everyday stressors and anxious moments with newfound clarity. Learn practices you can easily integrate into your daily life to find moments of peace amidst the busy world.
As you settle into a space of stillness, Virginia will guide you on an even deeper journey weaving in the dreamy soundscape of crystal bowls and other instruments, allowing the vibrant vibrations to wash over you, further nourishing your nervous system and quieting your mind.
Dynamic Kundalini Intensive
with Sarah Winchell
A special experience of Kundalini Yoga that will revitalize the Self as a magnetic BEing, putting together life force/prana, nervous system, breath, and bodily vehicle in a synchronized rhythm that will in effect, regulate the nervous system, balance the glandular system, move the lymphatic system, and re-circulate the life force energy. This practice will hold you in a particular rhythm, in a particular posture with a particular gaze or focus or whatever meditative disposition as the Kundalini energy rises. End with a short, cleansing meditation of the 7 chakras.
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After a filling brunch with Harmony Now, we will meet one last time around the mandala for our Closing Circle.
11:30 a.m. Closing Circle
1:00 p.m. Cleanup & Checkout
Reasons to Retreat…
relax with calming meditations by the serene Selway River to discover a renewed sense of tranquility and mental clarity, leaving stress and anxiety behind to embrace a more peaceful mindset
engage in holistic wellness workshops to learn valuable self-care practices and tools to continue to grow and thrive in every aspect of your life
with mindful yoga and meditation in the stunning Idaho Bitterroot Rocky Mountains, you’ll gain tools to stay grounded and present, so you can reduce digital overwhelm and enhance your overall well-being
by practicing sustainable living, you’ll work on eco-friendly habits to align your lifestyle with your environmental values and make a positive impact
through shared experiences and community building, you’ll form lasting friendships, so you can feel supported and encouraged as you continue your journey of personal growth
Adults of all experience levels are welcome to join.
Lotus Bliss
Bodywork Tents
Treat yourself to a little extra self-care at our Lotus Bliss Bodywork tents.
Receive 60 minutes of Reiki Healing with one of our resident Reiki Masters or a relaxing massage to help further relax your body and mind.
Lotus Bliss tickets can be purchased as an add-on ticket at checkout.
What’s Included:
Meals:
Friday- Community Potluck (please bring a dish to share)
Saturday- Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Sunday- Brunch
Convenience Bar: Available all day Friday & Saturday with coffee, tea, and snacks
Morning Meditations
Camping at Johnson Bar Campground: Friday & Saturday night
Classes: Yoga Classes and Wellness Workshops
Community Celebration: Ecstatic Dance & Open Mic Night
What’s Not Included:
Camping Gear: Please bring your own tent, sleeping gear, and camping accessories for your campsite
Transportation: transportation to or from Johnson Bar Campground is not provided
Additional Activities: Any extra activities, bodywork, or exploration you would like to do before, during, or after the retreat not covered in the activities listed under “Your Journey Each Day” section.
Meet Your Guides
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Based on her own experience of finding peace and healing in nature, Christina fully believes that nature, time, and patience can heal all wounds. She is passionate about the environment and providing people with opportunities to get outside and reconnect with Mother Earth.
Through her yogic studies, she has completed over 1,000 hours of Yoga and Meditation Teacher Training + 15 years of personal practice, including: Meditation & Kriya (energy) with Master Yogis in Rishikesh, India, Restorative Yoga, Somatic Intuitive Healing, Mindfulness, & Yoga Psychology. She offers group and one:one classes online via Zoom and in person at the Dojo in Kamiah, Idaho.
She will be guiding morning meditations and a Breath, Energy, & Movement workshop on Friday afternoon.
Christina Stalnaker
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Carly received her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Certification in Tempe, Arizona in 2013. She has been practicing yoga since 2009. As a student of yoga, Carly soon learned that there is so much more to yoga than the physical practice. Yoga opened the door to physical, mental and spiritual unity. She leads a variety of yoga classes at Star Dance Academy in Grangeville, Idaho and at her home studio in Harpster, Idaho.
In 2023, she received her Kids Yoga Teacher certification and has been spreading the joy of yoga at local Farmer’s Markets and kid’s summer yoga camps. She hopes to instill the value of yoga and mindfulness to her two young children and many others who are open to receive.
Carly Decker
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Chelsey is a yoga teacher, massage therapist and nutritionist, in Grangeville, ID. She pursues a life of deep connection with Self, with others, and with nature. Her biggest cup filler is holding space and giving inspiration for others to do the same.
Her business, Soulbelly Bodywork, is a place providing holistic resources, products and services for your health concerns.
When not working with students/clients, she enjoys rafting, camping, making great coffee and the perfect playlist.
Her Boston Terrier, Lolo, and a book, are almost always within reach.
Chelsey Pratt-Banta
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Amy is a highly experienced Licensed Massage Therapist with 15 years of expertise. In addition, she is a 320 Hour Restorative Yoga Teacher and a Certified Fertility Awareness Mentor.
Amy's specialization lies in empowering women and offers personalized guidance to educate women in tracking their unique hormone rhythms, optimize conception, actively avoid pregnancy and take control of their overall health and wellness.
Amy's passion for her work shines through her dedication to helping women achieve their goals and improve their well-being in all phases of life.
Amy Sedgwick
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Brittany finished her Anusara yoga teacher training in the spring of 2020 at Kula in Moscow, ID. Since then, she has been teaching at yoga studios and outdoor venues in the Lewiston area.
When she’s not teaching, she is a weekend warrior with her husband and their two dogs! They love exploring the outdoors with mountain biking, rafting, and backpacking.
Brittany Alley
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Chip received his 200-hour Yoga Teacher certification with the last cohort to train at Tantra Power Yoga in McCall, Idaho. Chip has continued his studies in yogic philosophy and the Vedas through following the ancient texts and scriptures. Chip lives in Riggins, Idaho and spends his time as a backcountry guide, yoga teacher, Reiki Master, and woodworker.
Chip Dorroh
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Virginia Howerton, founder of Ropana, is a Holistic Practitioner & Mindset Coach dedicated to guiding individuals to optimal wellness. With a decade of experience as a computed tomography & radiation simulation technologist, specializing in trauma and oncology patients, she brings a unique perspective to her holistic approach.
Virginia specializes in helping clients address challenges, emotions, and traumas, with a focus on anxiety to unlock their greatest potential. She believes in nurturing self-trust and self-love to better serve others.
Through personalized mind + body programs, wellness events, and retreats, Virginia supports her clients on their journey to emotional balance and preventing burnout. She also offers the Ropana Mindfulness Collection, curated products to inspire recentering in daily life.
Virginia Howerton
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Sarah received her 500 HR Yoga Teacher Certification in Joshua Tree, California in the original 26&2 posture with competence in the field of Yoga philosophy, anatomy/bio-mechanics, Asana-technique & therapeutic benefits thereof, Pranayama, & Space Holding. Her continued practice that started in 2016, allowed self-discovery of the true essence of Yoga, beyond the physical level, as a union with Absolute Self on a higher level of consciousness, bringing inner light/inner silence back from within, & reconnecting with inner world through loving presence.
The gift of Yoga and the nurturing teachings on space holding through mobility exploration connecting with inner strength & silent mind, allowed Sarah to transfer the same teachings that encompass elements of alignment-based flow with mindful calm breaths, and more emphasis on a high level of awareness, consciousness, and presence called LOVE!
Self-Love, Inner Light & Awareness, Inner Silence are all ONE and the same. As one learns to create space in their bodily vehicle, & use the silence in that space to become the observer of their own thoughts, this practice restores the Inner Power from within, navigating each day w/ conscious appreciation, and ultimately the gifting of self-healing and bliss.
Sarah Winchell
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Sharon specializes in guiding individuals through transformative inner experiences using a variety of modalities. With a deep understanding of the power of breathwork, somatic release techniques, and inner child work, she creates a safe and nurturing space for her clients to explore their inner landscape and facilitate profound healing.
In her sessions, Sharon combines elements of The Journey technique, breathwork, and somatic release practices to help individuals access and release held emotions and tensions, emerging into a freer more expanded potential. She also incorporates guided meditations, visualization, and creative expression to support her clients in connecting with their inner wisdom and fostering a deeper sense of self-awareness and inner peace.
Sharon Sedgwick
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Sabrina was born and raised in Kamiah, Idaho!
An artistic welder, she is co-founder of H&H Lodgnings and Events, a local wedding venue and Airbnb.
She is returning to school for creative writing at the University of Idaho.
Trained in both Vipassana Meditation and as a Facilitator through Hawaii’s Dragon Academy, she has benefited greatly in her life from spiritual practices, personal development, and community.
Sabrina Hatch
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With over 12 years dedicated to studying and practicing various holistic modalities, and 7 years of teaching yoga, Kimberly has amassed a wealth of tools and techniques to improve physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Her passion lies in inspiring others to live fulfilling lives they can be proud of, and she is excited to share this knowledge and experience through Dayjah Vu Holistic Health, her company.
Kimberly Butler
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Esther has a passion for anything bodywork related. She believes our bodies, minds and souls integrate beautifully together as one. Her approach to massage is based on muscle testing for alignment, stretching, structural muscular balancing, and all over soft, yet deep relaxation.
She has practiced yoga for 20 years and feels blessed to be able to be a part of this team and to provide therapeutic healing through the mind and body connection with massage therapy.
Esther Warnock
Frequently Asked Questions
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This year we are offering one all-inclusive ticket that covers camping Friday-Sunday, classes and workshops throughout the retreat, and all of your meals. We’ve found that guests get the best experience when fully immersing in the festival for the entire weekend.
You can reserve your ticket through our checkout page: Click Here
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Friday
On Friday night we will be hosting a Community Potluck. Please bring a dish to share, as well as your own plates & utensils to use throughout the weekend.
Saturday
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner are provided and included with your ticket.
Sunday
Brunch is included with your ticket.
Water, Beverages, & Snacks
Johnson Bar is a dry campsite, but there are drinking water taps. Please bring your own water bottle to fill.
Coffee, tea, and snack station will be available throughout Saturday & Sunday for your enjoyment.
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Pets are not allowed at the Wild Idaho Yoga Festival. While your pet may be well trained, we also acknowledge that not everyone in attendance may be comfortable around pets and animals; they also can be distracting while trying to relax and have a more inner experience. Thank you for your understanding.
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One of the things that makes the Wild Idaho Yoga Festival unique and special is that it is truly “Off the Grid.”
Johnson Bar is a dry campsite with no electrical hookups. For those of you camping in an RV, we respectfully request that you minimize the amount of time using a generator and please do not leave them running over night in order to maintain a peaceful environment for those around you.
There are drinking water taps at the campground, so please bring your water bottle and a container to fill up.
There is also no cell phone coverage in the area. We do have the capability to call out in case an emergency arises.
We invite you to take the opportunity to unplug, enjoy being off the grid, and use this time to decompress and relax in the natural environment.
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You will have to arrive at the campsite via personal vehicle as there is no local public transportation or Taxi service (Uber, etc) available.
Johnson Bar campground is located along Selway Road, approximately 4 miles southeast from intersection with Highway 12 (approx 21.6 miles east of Kooskia, ID). Campground is on the right side of the road. We will have signs at Selway Road directing you to the group site.
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/KNLf22Y9D7Q1RVEA8
Elevation: 1551 feet
Coordinates: 46.10361,-115.55917
Plus code:4C3R+C8 Lowell, Kooskia, ID
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Not at all! Our yoga classes will be suitable to all levels of experience.
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It is your responsibility to read and understand our cancellation policy.
Cancellation Policy: Our venue holds a limited capacity, and many of our events sell out. For this reason, we request that you inform us of your cancellation at least 30 days before our event, by August 20th. This will allow us to offer your spot to another attendee on our waitlist. You may email us at idahoyogafest@gmail.com to cancel.
Cancellations made before midnight Pacific Daylight Time on August 20th, will receive a 90% refund; the remaining 10% will be applied to processing fees. Any cancellations after the deadline will not be refunded.
In the case of event cancellation due to adverse weather or circumstances beyond the organizers control, 90% will be refunded back to attendees. This event is planned to happen rain or shine as we will be providing an inclement weather shelter for all events.
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Please direct all questions to your festival hosts: Carly & Christina at idahoyogafest@gmail.com or use the “Contact Us” form below.
*This event is operated under a Special Use Permit with the Nez Perce Clearwater National Forests. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.*
