The vibes couldnt have been better at Essentia Waters Soulshine Yoga and Music Festival Friday. The traveling festival brought together all things happy: music, yoga, sun, and dancing.

The afternoon festival at The Blue Hills Bank Pavilion featured a yoga class (with the occasional dance party between poses) on the water taught by renown yoga instructors Claudine and Honza Lafond. The class was set to live acoustic music by top-40 artist and yogi Michael Franti.

The idea for the festival came after Michael Franti and Spearhead (Frantis band) began inviting people to practice yoga during their sound checks before concerts. It started with just five or 10 people at each soundcheck, Franti explained, but when attendance grew to over a thousand, Franti decided to make it an official part of his tour this summer.

As a yogi myself, Im always interested in learning about peoples yoga experiences, so I got to the festival a little early to talk with Franti about why he practices. His yoga journey began 13 years ago, the day after the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. The class uplifted him during such a difficult time and now he practices every day, taking classes at local studios while on tour (O2 Yoga is his favorite Boston studio), and he runs his own yoga retreat center in Bali.

Yoga has extended my health, Franti said. But it has emotional benefits too. Its helped me be a better father, a better musician.

Aside from shivasana (everyones favorite pose, lets be honest), Franti likes inversions and headstands.

If Ive had a really busy day and I know I need to just get on stage and do it, Ill spend a few minutes doing some headstands right before, Franti said. It grounds me and gives me energy.

Franti wasnt the only star at the festival though, the Lafond couple had their fair share of yogi groupies, too. Understandably so, I mean look at this picture:

The couple is best known for their AcroYoga practice, an acrobatic form of yoga that involves flying people or literally taking them off their feet.

I guess were known for giving people an experience of what is possible, Claudine said. The meaning of flying is important because it gives a feeling of freedom, joy, and vulnerability. The other side of it is important, too, it gives a feeling of lacking of control, surrender, and trust.

Read more from the original source:
Michael Franti Talks Yoga at Soulshine Yoga & Music Festival