Loose Leaf Notes

-The following first appeared in The Floyd Press on September 9, 2021. For a full photo gallery of the event, see HERE.

Smiles and sunshine prevailed as crowds returned to Floyd Yoga Jam for a joyful blend of yoga practices, dancing, socializing and rejuvenating.

The 10th annual festival theme of BLOOM set the stage for a flourishing of celebration on the beautiful Turman family land along Greasy Creek in Willis, September 2 – 5.

“We gather to create a garden that nourishes your curiosity and creates experiences that enrich your lives and those with whom you connect to,” the festival program read, encouraging yoga jammers to take in the positive messages of the festival’s talented musicians, poets and speakers and open their creative expression through the art, play, plant walks, fire circles, meditation and more.

Katherine Chantal of Life Ceremonies and other ceremonialist drummers led the festival’s opening ceremony on Thursday evening by calling in the four directions for the blessings that each one brings.

“It was a challenge to be together in the midst of the pandemic, and here we are in the warmth of the South. What are your challenges? How will you merge with them? How will you bloom in the South?” Chantal asked. Gladiola bulbs for planting and honoring Mother Earth were passed out to attendees.

Turnout was good and jammers were ready to pick up where they left off, after the cancellation of the 2020 festival due to Covid19. Virginia Department of Health workers were on hand with free Covid test kits and information.

Yoga Jam is a multi-generational and eco-friendly family affair with something for everyone. The Mad Hatter hat making station was a favorite activity for kids.

Gypsy Geoff, a popular clown/magician, drew a large crowd each evening of the festival. One of his “feats of equilibrium” was to throw and balance a ball on a mouth stick while juggling several objects. “I don’t work at Sea World,” he jokingly announced.

Throughout the long Labor Day weekend, open-air tents in BlissLand were filled with practicing yogis following the guidance of more than 70 teachers.

Free style dancers moving to the music of 40 performing bands spread out on the Jamland main field and the Boogie Down Dance Hall tent.

Dancers swayed and twirled colored scarves to the ethereal, planet reverent, songs of Holy River, whose set was kicked off with the reading of an original poem by musician Erica Joy.

“The time is now for he and she / The time is now for they and we / The time is now for us to be / Taking a stand for all to see…” Joy read.

Joe Troop, a multi-instrumentalist singer songwriter and founder of the Grammy-nominated band Che Apalache, performed a masterful set Saturday night that featured original songs with an old-time folk sound, as well as songs that reflected Troop’s activism. Some songs that were sung in Spanish were inspired by his time spent visiting a migrant shelter in Mexico. “Is there room for the love beneath the sun after all is said and done?” Troop’s song The Dreamer asks.

Troop, who is originally from Winston Salem, NC, gave a shout out to the Yoga Jam stage that featured an “awesome” 3-dimensional art installation designed by The Color Project, a group that produces public artworks by Blacksburg artist Darcy Meeker with a focus on engaging empathy and interactive environments through color and light.

Cameron Stallings, a Color Project co-owner, said that Meeker has made art throughout the pandemic and hasn’t let her challenges with muscular dystrophy stop her from following her artistic passions.  The “Jewel in the Lotus” stage design reflected the BLOOM theme and was a collaboration between The Color Project, Yoga Jam co/founder director Shirleyann Burgess and James Cunningham of Rock Show Lighting.

Mohammed Baoum, a first-time Yoga Jammer, practices yoga at the In Balance Yoga studio in Blacksburg. Originally from Saudi Arabia, Baoum came to the United States in 2017 to study Industrial Engineering at Virginia Tech.

“I like the energy,” he said about Yoga Jam, after dancing in the main field to the reggae songs of The Ambassador. He commented about how uplifting the song lyrics were. “I meet all good people. My experience in the U.S. is that the people are very nice.”

Newlyweds and first time Yoga Jammers Zach and Christina Pittman camped with family members along Greasy Creek in the Enchanted Forest. The both loved the festival. “I like the place, the property, and that everyone feels so comfortable,” said Zach. “The drumming circle was cool.

“I loved the belly dancing class,” said Christina. The couple also enjoyed dancing, shopping, wood walks, taco dinners, a meditative sound bath experience and building rock cairn sculptures in the creek.  “We’ll be back,” Christina said. _______Colleen Redman

Note: See story and photos from Yoga Jam 2018 HERE. and 2019 HERE. 

PHOTOS 1. The opening ceremony was led by Katherine Chantal and began with the rising beats of Machi drums from Chile. 2. Juniper Healy prepares participants for the Opening Ceremony with burning sage.  3. About 120 jammers participated in the opening ceremony. 4. Smiles were abundant and umbrellas were only for shading the sun. 5. 5. 6. The Boogie Down Dance Hall, which features a stage and roster of performers, is a great place to meet friends and share meals from the Food Court. 7. Yoga studio yogis from Yoga Loft in Conover, NC, strike a pose. 8. Giant bubbles were a hit with kids. 9. Gypsy Geoff, a juggler, clown and magician, always draws a large crowd for his performances. 10. Nicole LaFon’s Yoga class was accompanied by Bhakti Kulani, a kirtan band that sings the Divine names of love from many traditions in call and response style.  11. Dancers waved flags and scarves while dancing to the music of Holy River, an earth folk/chant duo from Richmond. 12. Pictured center is Mara Robbins, Poet and Water Protector activist who had a book signing for her book Seeing Red in the Merchandise Tent on Sunday. 13. A Holy River (formerly Lobo Marino) musician plays a mason jar. 14.  Joe Troop (right) playing on the main stage drew attention to the art installation designed by Darcy Meeker and The Color Project.  15. Yogis stretch. 16. Returning Yoga Teacher from Richmond, J Miles (left) led a thoughtful panel discussion on The Intersection of Mindfulness and Social Justice in Chill Land. 16.  The Ambassador’s upbeat Friday evening set on the main stage featured original reggae and was accompanied by aerial performances by members of Imagine Circus. 17. Bands, like Floyd’s Music Road Co, played on the Boogie Down Dance Hall Stage throughout the weekend. 18. First time Yoga Jammers and newlyweds Zach and Christina Pittman dance to Music Road Co. 19. Creek hangout.  / Our World Tuesday