Berkshire Yoga Fesitval 2025: Full Schedule

8:00am EDT

Are You Compassionate or Codependent?

Friday June 13, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am EDT

Presenters

Nikki Myers

Founder, Y12SR

Nikki Myers, MBA, C-IAYT, is an accomplished speaker, teacher and the founder of Y12SR, The Yoga of 12-Step Recovery.Nikki is also a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, Addictions Recovery Specialist, and Certified Health Coach. Born from her personal struggle with addiction, based... Read More →

Friday June 13, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am EDT
Crane West 37 Corey Road, Hancock, MA, USA

Lecture/Talk

Curated Schedules Personal Growth & Transformation, Trauma-Informed Yoga

8:00am EDT

Trauma-Informed Strategies for Public Group Classes

Friday June 13, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am EDT

Clark Room, Country Inn

Are you a yoga teacher interested in working with populations who have experienced trauma?

Have you ever felt worried you might "trigger" a student by saying or cueing the wrong thing?

Specialized "trauma-informed" yoga classes can offer those who've experienced trauma with the tools to support healing and post-traumatic growth.

But what can teachers who don't have this specialized training do in their general group classes to create a safe and supportive environment for anyone who walks through the door?

In this workshop, Lauren Turner calls upon her experience working with Veterans and First Responders to share key strategies for how to incorporate trauma-informed principles into general group classes.

What we'll cover:

A shared definition of what "trauma-informed yoga" is
An overview of the anatomy of stress and the relationship between yoga & PTSD
Outline the differences between a "trauma-informed" yoga class and a general group class
Identify key principles when working with those who experience trauma and discuss how best to incorporate into a public class setting
Discuss strategies to promote safety in public group classes
Work as a group to share specific examples of how these strategies can show up in our teaching

The goal of this workshop is to increase the confidence of yoga instructors working in public group settings and give them tools to support their students.

The session is not designed to be a replacement for trauma-informed yoga techniques. It may however serve as a stepping stone for those who are interested in continued education in the topic.

The session will combine lecture (60%) with group discussion (40%)

More on the presenter:
Lauren Turner is a trauma-informed yoga instructor and the Founder & Executive Director of nonprofit, Warrior Within Yoga Project. After managing and owning a studio, Lauren shifted her focus to working with those who have experienced trauma. For the past four years she's worked directly with Veterans and First Responders in Massachusetts, providing mind-body tools to build resilience and support post-traumatic growth.

Presenters

Lauren Turner

Founder & Executive Director, Warrior Within Yoga Project

Lauren Turner is the founder of Warrior Within Yoga Project, a trauma informed yoga instructor and business consultant known for her down-to-earth teaching style and collaborative nature. Lauren’s work with veterans and first responders, both as an instructor and nonprofit leader... Read More →

Friday June 13, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am EDT
Clark Room, Country Inn 37 Corey Rd, Hancock, MA 01237, USA

Lecture/Talk

Curated Schedules For Teachers, Trauma-Informed Yoga

12:00pm EDT

My Best Playlist- Yoga Music Workshop

Friday June 13, 2025 12:00pm - 1:30pm EDT

Thunderbolt Room

Join DJ Taz Rashid for a workshop on how to build a yoga music playlist. Learn how to breakdown your classes in a simple way, and easily build your favorite music into any practice whether it’s a high intensity vinyasa, or a mellow yin, restorative class or to your personalized yoga style.

DJ Taz will show you how to hone your instinctive listening and intuitive teaching skills to "mix beats" and make smooth transitions throughout your classes. Taking the time to focus on developing the role of music in your yoga classes allows you to feel more confident about how music is enhancing your teaching, while you can expand and use your music library more efficiently. Any teacher can build her unique sound with compelling music that enhances the practice, inevitably attracting a larger student following. Highly recommended for teachers but anyone can attend.

Presenters

DJ Taz Rashid

Musician/Producer/DJ, Soul Groove Wellness

DJ Taz Rashid brings a high vibrational energy to any room instantly by mixing the beats and rhythms of Love, Ancient New World, House, Devotional, and all the cosmic sounds. He is known for his unique style of blending electronic dance music with yoga and meditation, which has made... Read More →

Friday June 13, 2025 12:00pm - 1:30pm EDT
Thunderbolt Room

Lecture/Talk

Curated Schedules For Teachers

12:00pm EDT

The Stories and Songs of the Yoga Tradition

Friday June 13, 2025 12:00pm - 1:30pm EDT

Crane East

Join expert storyteller, kirtan singer and lifelong student of Vedic lore, Raghunath in this inspiring exploration of the stories of the Vedic sages who our yoga asanas are named after. Hearing these stories your asanas become like deep meditations. He will also teach bhakti mantras and pepper the entire class with kirtan.

Presenters

Raghunath

Raghunath – born Ray Cappo – was a Lower East Side hardcore/punk singer-songwriter icon, touring the globe in his teens. In a decadent music scene infested with hard drugs, negativity and intoxication he was an anomaly, propounding clean living, a positive attitude and a vegetarian... Read More →

Friday June 13, 2025 12:00pm - 1:30pm EDT
Crane East 37 Corey Rd, Hancock, MA 01237, USA

Lecture/Talk

Curated Schedules For Teachers, Yoga Philosophy

12:30pm EDT

Expanding Perspectives: Addiction, Recovery, & Wholeness

Friday June 13, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT

Clark Room, Country Inn

Presenters

Nikki Myers

Founder, Y12SR

Friday June 13, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
Clark Room, Country Inn 37 Corey Rd, Hancock, MA 01237, USA

Lecture/Talk, YES! Talk

Curated Schedules Personal Growth & Transformation, Trauma-Informed Yoga

2:00pm EDT

Creating Fascial and Functional Resiliency

Friday June 13, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Clark Room, Country Inn

Creating a resilient body and mind can be helped by understanding how our fascia functions and what decisions and challenges we can make to increase movement and mind potential in our yoga practice. This workshop will be filled with some of the latest information in fascia, psychology, and understanding spatial use and how to apply these ideas through lots of hands-on movement play and practice.

Presenters

Lauri Nemetz

MA, BC-DMT, LCAT, ERYT500, C-IAYT, Wellness Bridge

Laurice (Lauri) D. Nemetz, MA, BC-DMT, LCAT, ERYT500, C-IAYT Lauri Nemetz is a long-time teacher and forever a student who values curiosity. She is the author of The Myofascial System in Form and Movement (Handspring Publishing, 2023) and a contributor to The Anatomy of Yoga Colo... Read More →

Friday June 13, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Clark Room, Country Inn 37 Corey Rd, Hancock, MA 01237, USA

Lecture/Talk

Curated Schedules Anatomy Focus, For Teachers

2:00pm EDT

Cueing Callouts: Reimagining Alignment and Movement in Asana

Friday June 13, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Burbank Room - Sponsored by Himalayan Institute

This highly interactive session relies on students to bring questions about their own asana practice and teaching language. Leslie will promote an experimental, experiential atmosphere of inquiry regarding the teaching of alignment, safety and effective cueing of asana.

Starting with clear, simple definitions of alignment and healthy movement, Leslie will help you put your understanding of asana on a solid foundation literally from the ground up.Some of the cues we will reimagine are:

Tuck your tail
Square your hips
Hinge from your hips
Keep your spine elongated
Open your heart with backbending
Always enter a backbend on an inhale
Always enter a forward bend on an exhale
Never do spinal flexion if you have bone density issues

Presenters

Leslie Kaminoff

Founder, President, The Breathing Project, Inc.

Leslie Kaminoff is a yoga educator inspired by the tradition of T.K.V. Desikachar. He is an internationally recognized specialist with four decades’ experience in the fields of yoga and breath anatomy. He leads workshops for many of the leading yoga associations, schools and training... Read More →

Friday June 13, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Burbank Room - Sponsored by Himalayan Institute 37 Corey Rd, Hancock, MA 01237, USA

Lecture/Talk

Curated Schedules Anatomy Focus, For Teachers

4:00pm EDT

Yoga as a Tool for Navigating Life's Crises: Applying Yoga to Crisis

Friday June 13, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

Clark Room, Country Inn

Engage in a 45-minute presentation exploring how yoga can be a vital tool during times of crisis and difficulty. Delve into practical techniques for managing stress, anxiety, and emotional upheaval through yogic principles, meditation, and mindfulness practices. Learn how to apply these methods off the mat to foster emotional balance, mental clarity, and a sense of peace amidst turmoil. The session concludes with a 15-minute Q&A, providing an opportunity to ask questions and receive personalized insights.

Presenters

Jai Sugrim

With 30 years of professional experience as a yoga teacher, longevity expert, and health coach, Jai Sugrim has dedicated his life to guiding individuals toward graceful aging. He helps clients enhance their physical and mental well-being into and beyond the second half of life. His... Read More →

Friday June 13, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Clark Room, Country Inn 37 Corey Rd, Hancock, MA 01237, USA

Lecture/Talk

Curated Schedules Personal Growth & Transformation

8:00am EDT

Embodied Leadership: A Journey into Powerful Presence and Purpose

Saturday June 14, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am EDT

Jiminy's Big Tent

Step into a sacred space of transformation where ancient wisdom illuminates the path to authentic leadership. Join celebrated teacher Hemalayaa for a soul-stirring journey that weaves together yoga philosophy, movement medicine, and powerful energetic practices to awaken the natural leader within you.
Through Hemalayaa's heart-centered EMBODY Leadership approach, you'll discover how to:

Access your body's innate wisdom as a compass for decision-making, tapping into the deep knowing that resides in every cell of your being
Transform self-doubt into embodied confidence and clarity through sacred movement and breath practices that unlock your natural power
Release outdated patterns that limit your leadership capacity, using gentle yet profound techniques drawn from yogic tradition
Develop unshakable presence through time-tested somatic practices that ground you in your truth
Integrate shadow aspects into wholeness, honoring all parts of yourself as essential to authentic leadership
Master the art of energy regulation, learning to stay centered and clear even in challenging situations
Cultivate sustainable practices that allow you to lead with impact while staying deeply connected to your essence

This transformative experience flows through:
- Sacred movement sequences that activate your power centers
- Ancient breathwork practices for enhanced presence
- Heart-opening meditations that expand your leadership capacity
- Energy alignment rituals for authentic expression
- Divine wisdom teachings for modern leadership
- Powerful group practices that amplify our collective field

Drawing from two decades of guiding transformational experiences, Hemalayaa creates a nurturing container where you can explore, expand, and embody your highest leadership potential. Her unique approach has inspired thousands globally to lead from a place of deep authenticity and spiritual connection.

This sacred gathering calls to:

Spiritual entrepreneurs ready to amplify their impact
Healers and teachers stepping into greater visibility
Visionaries seeking to lead from their truth
Anyone called to embody conscious leadership

Join us in this sacred container where movement, meditation, and ancient wisdom illuminate your path to becoming an inspiring, heart-centered leader.

Presenters

Hemalayaa

Hemalayaa empowers with her unique blend of traditional and modern mentorship and coaching. She provides tools to break down barriers that hold us back from experiencing a powerful spiritual connection. Hemalayaa is passionate about leading women to your own truth as well as inspiring... Read More →

Saturday June 14, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am EDT
Jiminy's Big Tent 37 Corey Road, Hancock, MA, USA

Lecture/Talk, Yoga & Lecture

Curated Schedules Personal Growth & Transformation

8:00am EDT

Hands On: Adjusting Through the Lens of Elemental Action

Saturday June 14, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am EDT

Greylock Hall

In this 90 minute teachers practice, we will look at many bodies in several different shapes and address each person's individual needs dependent upon what the body presents. This will assume you have some experience with putting your hands on students and are looking to train your eye to see what exactly each body needs. We will analyze where the body needs more (or less) earth, more (or less) fire, more fluidity, less rigidity, more breath or more space. The result is using hands on adjusting beyond a 101 perspective; you will refine your ability to make the time you spend in a students’ space feel unique , satisfying and revelatory.

Presenters

Nikki Vilella

Nikki is the co-director of Kula Yoga Project in NYC where she has been teaching for nearly two decades. She is at the helm of the 200 hour Kula Flow Foundations teacher training program, leads an annual 75 hour advanced TT at her home in upstate NY and offers a mentorship program... Read More →

Saturday June 14, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am EDT
Greylock Hall 37 Corey Road, Hancock, MA, USA

Lecture/Talk

Curated Schedules For Teachers

10:00am EDT

Visual Rhetoric in Yoga and Anatomy

Saturday June 14, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT

Thunderbolt Room

Images are powerful. Visual rhetoric is how images communicate meaning in much the same way that language is utilized to convey messages. What we see in yoga (through magazines, books, and media) and anatomical images reflect the culture and convey messages whether we are fully aware of them or not. Learn how we can convey and enrich our practice through positive images that reflect our authentic selves.

Presenters

Lauri Nemetz

MA, BC-DMT, LCAT, ERYT500, C-IAYT, Wellness Bridge

Saturday June 14, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Thunderbolt Room

Lecture/Talk

Curated Schedules For Teachers, Anatomy Focus

12:00pm EDT

Anatomy Panel: From the Anatomy Lab to the Yoga Mat

Saturday June 14, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT

Crane West

Learn from experts Jill Miller, Leslie Kaminoff and Lauri Nemetz on how cadaver dissection transformed their yoga teaching.

After listening to the panelist share on their experiences, the audience will have time to ask questions of their own.

Presenters

Leslie Kaminoff

Founder, President, The Breathing Project, Inc.

Jill Miller

Tune Up Fitness

Jill Miller, C-IAYT, ERYT, is the co-founder of Tune Up Fitness Worldwide and creator of the self-care fitness formats Yoga Tune Up® and The Roll Model® Method. With more than 30 years of study in anatomy and movement, she is a pioneer in forging relevant links between the worlds... Read More →

Lauri Nemetz

MA, BC-DMT, LCAT, ERYT500, C-IAYT, Wellness Bridge

Saturday June 14, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT
Crane West 37 Corey Road, Hancock, MA, USA

Lecture/Talk

Curated Schedules Anatomy Focus, For Teachers

2:00pm EDT

Relationship Mindset

Saturday June 14, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Clark Room, Country Inn

Producing, maintaining, growing and enjoying any kind of relationship is a skill, an art form. Just like any other skill or art there needs to be a blueprint that contains action steps, philosophy, and tools to master the craft. We will learn the 4 principles to perfecting any relationship. You will leave behind resentment and finger pointing and take with you a deep understanding of how to be harmonious with one and all. There’s only one person that can make any relationship work, YOU!

Presenters

Eric Paskel

Author and Founder of Emotional Empowerment Movement, Philosopher, and International Yogi, Emotional Empowerment Movement

Eric Paskel is the founder of The Emotional Empowerment Movement and has devoted more than 30 years of his life to understanding how human beings can rise above dysfunctional tendencies and control emotions instead of being controlled by them. As part of that mission, Eric has earned... Read More →

Saturday June 14, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Clark Room, Country Inn 37 Corey Rd, Hancock, MA 01237, USA

Lecture/Talk

Curated Schedules Personal Growth & Transformation

2:00pm EDT

Teachers Workshop: Working With Injuries

Saturday June 14, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Burbank Room - Sponsored by Himalayan Institute

As a yoga teacher you have likely come to realize that most people are dealing with some kind of ache, pain, discomfort or injury. The pressure to create a safe and healing space can be overwhelming. This workshop will provide you with the knowledge and skills to feel more confident in creating guiding students and anatomically informed sequences for all levels yoga classes and one on one private clients.

Presenters

Matt Giordano

Yoga instructor Matt Giordano (500 ERYT) gives credit to an influential figure from his teenage years--his high school art teacher-- for sparking within him the curiosity and tenacity that eventually led him to yoga. It was Eileen Walk who told Giordano: "You are not allowed to say... Read More →

Saturday June 14, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Burbank Room - Sponsored by Himalayan Institute 37 Corey Rd, Hancock, MA 01237, USA

Lecture/Talk

Curated Schedules For Teachers

4:00pm EDT

The Ache In Your Heart Is Holy

Saturday June 14, 2025 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

Crane West

Discover how minor adjustments can lead to significant transformations in your personal and professional life.

Presenters

Coby Kozlowski

Faculty, Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health

Coby Kozlowski, M.A., senior faculty member for the Kripalu School of Yoga and Esalen Institute, author of One Degree Revolution: How the Wisdom of Yoga Inspires Small Shifts That Lead to Big Changes, has been featured on the cover of Yoga Journal and Mantra Yoga + Health, and was... Read More →

Saturday June 14, 2025 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT
Crane West 37 Corey Road, Hancock, MA, USA

Lecture/Talk

4:30pm EDT

Future of Yoga

Saturday June 14, 2025 4:30pm - 5:30pm EDT

Burbank Room - Sponsored by Himalayan Institute

Presenters

Andrew Tanner

Founder, Berkshire Yoga Festival

Andrew Tanner is a global yoga teacher, men's mind/body coach, and public speaker known for his soulful style of teaching, and unshaken faith in people's ability to transform for the better. He has been offering holistic healing work and guiding people on spiritual retreat for over... Read More →

Saturday June 14, 2025 4:30pm - 5:30pm EDT
Burbank Room - Sponsored by Himalayan Institute 37 Corey Rd, Hancock, MA 01237, USA

Lecture/Talk

Curated Schedules For Teachers

8:30am EDT

Don't Walk, C.R.A.W.L.

Sunday June 15, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am EDT

Clark Room, Country Inn

Sometimes, the biggest leaps forward are made by taking things one step at a time. But what if those steps aren’t about walking? What if they’re about crawling—grounding yourself in the present moment, embracing each phase of your healing journey, and gradually rising to your full potential?

In this empowering 1 hour seminar, Amandi Brown introduces the transformative framework of C.R.A.W.L.—a powerful, holistic approach to healing the mind, body, and spirit through yoga and mindfulness. Designed to help you structure your week for holistic wellness, this seminar offers a roadmap for personal growth that can be applied daily, from Monday to Friday.

What to Expect:
In this condensed yet powerful seminar, you’ll learn how to structure your week to support your personal growth—balancing physical wellness, mental clarity, and emotional healing. Amandi will guide you through each component of the C.R.A.W.L. framework, offering you practical tools that you can integrate into your daily life. This is your chance to begin living your best life—one mindful step at a time.

Why "C.R.A.W.L."?
C.R.A.W.L. is a reminder that transformation doesn’t need to happen all at once. It’s about starting where you are, taking one intentional step at a time, and trusting that every moment of the journey has its purpose. Whether you're new to yoga or have been practicing for years, this framework will empower you to heal, grow, and live with intention—each day, one breath, and one movement at a time.

Presenters

Amandi Brown

Co-Founder, CRAWL

Amandi Brown is a boundless spirit who’s made the ultimate commitment to living in harmony with his heart’s desires. With a profound passion for life and wellness, Amandi has embarked on a transformative journey that blends physical strength with mental resilience. Over the past... Read More →

Sunday June 15, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
Clark Room, Country Inn 37 Corey Rd, Hancock, MA 01237, USA

Lecture/Talk, YES! Talk

Curated Schedules Personal Growth & Transformation

10:30am EDT

Yes Talk: Ayurveda Works

Sunday June 15, 2025 10:30am - 11:15am EDT

Clark Room, Country Inn

Discover Ayurveda, the 5,000-year-old holistic healing system that complements and deepens the practice of yoga. In this short talk, you’ll learn the fundamental principles of Ayurveda, including the five elements and their combinations to form the three doshas (mind-body types) and how they influence our physical, mental, and emotional health. We’ll explore how Ayurveda and yoga work together to promote balance, vitality, and self-awareness, offering practical insights into incorporating Ayurvedic wisdom into your daily routine. Perfect for yoga practitioners seeking a more integrated approach to wellness!

Presenters

Kari Harendorf

Co-Founder, Better Yoga

Kari Harendorf is an Ayurvedic Practitioner, a C-IAYT Yoga Therapist, an E_RYT 500 Yoga Educator, and a Reiki Master. Kari, a teacher of teachers, was on faculty for 200-hour and 850-hour teacher trainings at the Kripalu Schools of Yoga, Ayurveda, and Yoga Therapy. She spent over... Read More →

Sunday June 15, 2025 10:30am - 11:15am EDT
Clark Room, Country Inn 37 Corey Rd, Hancock, MA 01237, USA

Lecture/Talk, YES! Talk

Curated Schedules Yoga Philosophy

2:00pm EDT

The Obstacles That Distract the Mind and Disrupt Practice: Master Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra - Chapter 1, Verse 30

Sunday June 15, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Greylock Hall

A wise one once said: “The first step to solve a problem is to accept there is a problem.”

What are the obstacles to practice? How do we work with the challenges on our path? How do we reconcile our intention to be alert and focused, our longing to be open and compassionate with human tendencies such as doubt, laziness, distraction, edginess, etc. This is a common and uncomfortable place to find ourselves in. During our time together, we will discuss this verse and how to relate to the obstacles that arise when engaging in practice.

Presenters

Rima Rabbath

Founder, Souk NYC

Rima is the founder of Souk NYC. In March 2020, Rima launched the Souk Zoom Room, which instantly became a lifeline: a net that joined and held up students from all over the world. Her online community became the portal to our physical Souk studio in Manhattan: a space of practice... Read More →

Sunday June 15, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Greylock Hall 37 Corey Road, Hancock, MA, USA

Lecture/Talk

Curated Schedules Yoga Philosophy, For Teachers

Berkshire Yoga Fesitval 2025

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