By Jessica Isaacs and Jessica Lyons
Unwind and open your mind at Beech Mountain Resort’s inaugural Alivenfest yoga festival this weekend, Aug. 12-14. Purchase a pass for all three days or pick and choose which events you want to attend.
Alivenfest comes to the resort following an increase in the popularity of its growing yoga program.
“We started offering yoga classes three years ago. It is very popular and in high demand,” said Talia Freeman, director of marketing at BMR. “Next year, we may need to open an additional class. People love it!
“The resort will be a host for this because we see the importance of a healthy lifestyle and we wanted to create an event that had a focus on wellness,” Freeman said. “We liked the concept of Alivenfest and thought it would work well here.”
Cara Pittman, Banner Elk native and yoga instructor at BMR, will lead the inaugural festival.
“I grew up in the area and began studying yoga at ASU. At first, I was attracted to the physical benefits of yoga, then I fell in love with the way yoga began affecting me mentally. Everything in my body began to change and my mind was much clearer,” said Pittman. “In 2014, I moved to Colorado to start a mindfulness center that was focused on teaching people how to control their own stress levels. It was there that I developed a passion for bringing these teachings back to my roots; back to the place that I love.
“So, Talia and I started talking and we created this weekend for people to learn all types of skills that will lower stress and enhance their lives. I truly believe that, as we make ourselves better and follow our hearts and find the passions that live within us, we will make the world better.”
Alivenfest will feature Pittman and other yoga instructors, including Gretchen Giffin, Jenna Thompson and Lisa Pardy. Guest speakers will include Derek Van Atta, meditation and yoga teacher, founder of Sarvaa Super Food and author of Your Abundance Now; Gretchen Giffin, certified life coach and spiritual advisor; Craig Holliday, professional counselor and spiritual advisor, author of Fully Human, Fully Divine, Awakening to Our Innate Beauty Through Embracing Our Humanity.
“I think the event is a unique opportunity for people to learn yoga, or to enhance their own practice. Alivenfest is a weekend to inspire people to come “alive” to the greatness that lives within them,” Pittman said. “We have an incredible meditation teacher from Colorado coming up to teach, and a blend of local teachers who are all passionate about their teachings.”
One-, two- or three-day passes are available for purchase for $70, $120 and $197, respectively.
Single class tickets can also be purchased for $20 in cash between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the group sales office at the resort.
If you plan to attend, don’t forget to bring a yoga mat, a water bottle, a journal, snacks and a jacket.
For more information, visit alivenfest.com.
Alivenfest Schedule:
FRIDAY
Registration drop in: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Drop in between 11-3 to receive your pass + ask any questions for your weekend.
Location: Group Sales
Guided Hike: 1-2:30 p.m.
A 1.5 hour hike through the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Location: Meet on View Haus Deck
Yoga + Intention: 3-3:30 p.m.
A short 30 minute class mixed with yoga, meditation + intention setting to inspire and prepare you for your upcoming weekend.
Location: Alpen Haus
Meditation + Mindfulness Basics: 4-5 p.m.
Most of us live in a way where we are chronically stressed or lost in mental and emotional confusion. When we sit down to meditate, instead of finding peace, most of us find confusion within ourselves.
Join us for mindfulness and meditation basics to develop a strong daily meditation practice and discover a true and stable inner peace within
Location: Alpen Haus
Yoga Flow: 5:15-6:15 p.m.
Expand your heart and your mind in this yoga flow class with Jenna Thompson. Emphasis on proper alignment and flowing postures with breathe.
Location: Grass
Vision Board: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Visualization is one of the most powerful mind exercises you can do + Vision boards are a powerful tool in manifesting the life that you dream.
Enjoy making a vision board for yourself in this creative class.
Location: Brewery
Silent Meditation + Journaling: 6-7 p.m.
Sit in nature. Listen.
A short silent meditation followed by journaling. No rules.
Location: The quiet place
Hike + Sunset Yoga: 7-8:30 p.m.
Explore the mountains in the most magical time of day. A hike to the top of
The mountain with a yoga session at the top, surrounded by incredible
Views. A hike back down the mountain after.
Warning: This is a strenuous hike.
Location: Meet at Viewhaus, hike to 5506
SATURDAY
Hike + Morning Yoga: 7:30-9 a.m.
Begin your day on the right foot. Hike to the top of the mountain and a yoga blend at the top of the mountain filled with gratitude + a short meditation. Hike back to the base.
Warning: This is a strenuous hike
Location: Meet at View Haus, Hike to 5506
Vast Mind Meditation: 10-11:15 a.m.
The nature of awareness is vast, free, and luminous. All happiness can be found here. In this meditation we will explore the nature of awareness and the nature of thought. We will examine how we fill and how our experience changes, when we believe what we think
We will also examine: -Where do my thoughts come from? Are we what we think? Who am I without my thoughts?
Location: Alpen Haus
Vinyasa Flow Yoga: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
A moving meditation. Flowing with your breath, moving through postures.
Location: Alpen Haus
Flower Crown making: noon to 1 p.m.
Learn to make your own flower crown
Location: Brewery Deck
Our True Nature: 1:15-2:45 p.m.
What exactly is our true nature? Is it dependent on us feeling good and having a stress free life? Or is our true nature something much more profound and not dependent upon outward circumstances? If our true nature is what we truly are, why is it that most of us, do not freely live within our own truth? Together we will investigate these questions and more.
Location: Alpen Haus
Live Music at 5506′ w/ Shelby Rae Moore: 2:30-5 p.m.
Location: 5506’
Chakra Balancing: 3:15-4 p.m.
Sound meditation + gentle flows to align your energy
Location: Alpen Haus
Yoga, meditation, + mantras: 5-6:30 p.m.
Learn sweet mantras, a little flow, and a little meditation. Just what the doctor ordered to have you feeling fine.
Location: Alpen Haus
Silent Meditation + Journaling: 6:15-7:15 p.m.
Sit in nature. Listen.
A short silent meditation followed by journaling. No rules.
Location: The quiet place
Hike + Sunset Yoga: 7-8:30 p.m.
Explore the mountains in the most magical time of day. A hike to the top of
The mountain with a yoga session at the top, surrounded by incredible
Views. A hike back down the mountain after.
Warning: This is a strenuous hike.
Location: Meet at Viewhaus, hike to 5506
SUNDAY
Hike + Morning Yoga: 7:30-9 a.m.
Begin your day on the right foot. Hike to the top of the mountain and a yoga blend at the top of the mountain filled with gratitude + a short meditation. Hike back to the base.
Warning: This is a strenuous hike
Location: Meet at View Haus, Hike to 5506’
Guided Hike: 10-11:30 a.m.
Hike through the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Location: Meet at View Haus
Vinyasa Flow: 11 a.m. to noon
A moving meditation. Flowing with your breath, moving through postures.
Location: 5506’
Awakening with Heart: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Deep within us, there are two hearts: an emotional heart ,which is often a place of stored heartache or pain and a spiritual heart, which is wise, brilliant and Divine.
In this Dharma talk Craig will help us to access the deep spiritual heart and from this space let go of and heal our past pain or confusion. It is through this profound connection with our true heart space that we are able to access deeper levels of intuition and spiritual insight. Without access to the heart, we live a life at the mercy of our own mental and emotional confusion. Join us for deeper investigation of the heart.
Location: Alpen Haus
Partner Thai Massage: 1-2:30 p.m.
Thai massage is an ancient healing system combining acupressure, ayurvedic principals and assisted yoga postures. Learn the basics of Thai Massage and practice the art of giving and receiving.
Location: Alpen Haus
Silent Meditation: 1:15-1:45 p.m.
Silent meditation in nature. No rules.
Location: The quiet place
Yin Yoga: 2-3 p.m.
Soft, smooth, gentle, and transforming. Perfect way to end your weekend.
Location: Alpen Haus
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