6th Annual Floyd Yoga Jam: Making Connections
-The following first appeared with a larger spread of photos in The Floyd Press on September 7, 2017. A slideshow of other photos can be viewed on the Floyd Press website.
There was an impressive turnout for the 6th annual Yoga Jam despite scattered showers and overcast weather Friday and Saturday. Parking lots and campsites were filled with cars from all over Virginia, 
neighboring states, up a down the east coast, from as far south as Florida and as far west as San Francisco and Oregon. By Sunday the sun shone bright and good vibes were heightened.
The theme of this year’s festival, held at the Burnette Farm over Labor Day Weekend, was “Connection.” Attendees were brought together through yoga, music, art, wellness workshops and community. Teachers and bands came from all over the country and regional talents were featured.
Among the over 80 Meditation, Yoga, Movement Arts and Wellness teachers, those from Floyd included Sarah McCarthy, Jagadisha, Jeff Tiebout, Kathryn Ashera Rose, Jennifer Turman Bayliss, Jessica Talley-Haynes. Tommy Bailey, Joe Klein, Jamie Reygle, Thais Abernathy, Katherine Chantal, Sandy Jahmi Burg, Leia Jones, Katie Wells and Dance Afire.
Some of the yoga classes that festival goers could choose from included Yoga of Love and the Power of Chant, Yoga for Dudes, Grit with a Side of Grace, Super Hero School, Embrace Your Yoga Geek, the Way of Happy Hips, Blossoming Heart, Southern Comfort Yoga and more. Meditation traditions included Nada Yoga, Passage Meditation, Vipasana, Sound Bath Meditation and more.
Of the more than three-dozen musical acts performing, Foyd musicians included The Bhakti Kulani Band, bigmama joy, Seph Custer, Richie Ursomarso and The Wildlife, Morgan Wade, Flirting with Chemicals, Little Shiver, The Wildmans and Music Road. 
National Heritage Award recipient, Wayne Henderson played a Friday evening set with musician Helen White. After their set, they spent some time chatting around the Turman family campfire (owners of the Burnette Farm) before heading out to prepare for a gig in Galax.
Conscious global music performer MC YOGI and a Yoga Jam returning favorite was Friday night’s headliner that featured a star shower light show. Elephant Revival was the closing headliner of Saturday’s festivities. On Sunday, several accomplished Floyd bands played the main stage, and Sean Johnson and The Wild Lotus Band, accompanied by an Arts Fire Show, closed the show.
A Labyrinth circle, a giant sandbox, nature walks, dance performances, a paddle board pool, a poetry jam, a glow dance party and the release of the lighted prayer lanterns to the heavens Sunday night were some of the highlights that made Yoga Jam 2017 memorable. – Colleen Redman
More photos: Yogis practiced poses on paddle boards in Mountain 2 Island Paddle Board pool. Mountain 2 Island is a Pulaski-based paddle board company that offers paddle board classes at Claytor Lake and Smith Mountain Lake. In between paddle board classes, kids were invited to paddle for free.
“This is their first Yoga Jam and my second. I recruited them,” said Michelle Ah, a member of On the Go Yoga Studio in Clarksville, Virginia. Pictured with Ah (right), enjoying refreshments after a yoga workout and decked out in YogaJam merchandise, are Dawn Ruiz from Nashville, TN, and Kara Stoltenberg from Clarksville.
Winter Hart of Floyd’s Apple Ridge Farm helped kids of all ages with creek studies. Crawdads and water critters were examined up close.
Yoga Jam Co-founder Shirleyann Burgess could often be seen on her golf cart overseeing festival logistics. Here, she takes a moment to pose Volunteer Staff Coordinator Jessica Talley-Haynes. Talley-Haynes, a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach with a counseling background, taught a class that incorporated guided imagery and music.
“Love is for everyone,” was the refrain to a song performed by Pennsylvania-based sacred mantra singer songwriter David Newman (left), aka Durga Das.
Adrianne Burke (Namaslay) from Embrace Yoga DC led participants in a yoga class on awakening the animal spirit within.
Acro Yoga classes were held in People’s Park.
The Boogie Down Dance Tent served as a comfortable lounge for enjoying regional beer and wine, having conversation, listening to music and dancing!
White Rabbit Smoothies was one of the newest food booths. Owners, Susan (far right) and Christian Saunders said they are looking for a small location in Floyd and plan to vend their cold and hot smoothies at festivals.
“Two strawberry shortcakes,” said one happy camper to a Roanoke’s Dojo Grille vendor.
See you next year!
