Berkshire Yoga Festival 2026

You may recognize these two leading indicators for longevity. But whatever is helpful in the future must be attained and maintained for its healthy benefits today. We’ll explore these vital health markers in remarkably doable ways. What good is it to attain if we cannot easily maintain? We’ll address wrist issues and arthritic tendencies in the base of the thumb. You’ll learn why it’s not so much strength, but grip function that’s vital. But foundational to it all is cardio-respiratory health. We’ll delve into practical and straightforward breathing practices you can easily incorporate into your daily life. The results you experience will naturally inspire simple, steady practice. 

Your gait pattern is inextricably tied to your body’s basic breathing rhythms. Our mammalian evolution demanded that our biology master the coupling of walking and breath. This gentle workshop coaches your whole body to improve its stride through a few simple tests, foot and core rollouts along with challenges to your range of motion. Explore your psoas and the fascial engine of the thoracolumbar aponeurosis in all planes of movement through specific self myofascial release application. Connect a foot-trunk pathway and step into the breadth of your breath.
PROPS: Blocks, Strap, Mat

Chairs will be provided. Bring your mat!

Join Stephan and Ingrid in their wildly popular Chair Yoga class for all ages that is fun, challenging, invigorating, and inspiring (and perspiring!). We start in the chair for simple joint-opening movements, and then get up and create yoga flows using the chair as a prop that will surprise you and make you wonder why you haven’t done this before. Chair Yoga is great for people who may have stiff muscles, may have an injury, may not enjoy getting down to and up from the floor frequently (or at all), or who really enjoy learning a new way of practicing (and teaching) yoga. Some poses are actually deeper using a chair! It is a wonderful way to personalize your practice for your shifting daily needs. And, blissfully, you’ll experience a healing Savasana with your legs up on the chair, with Ingrid singing to you. : )

Most building foundations are rock solid and designed not to move. Our human foundation is different. If our toes, feet, and ankles don’t move properly, our foundation is compromised. Problems can “trickle up" and affect knees and hips. It’s challenging to have good balance and a healthy gate if part of the foundation is rigid. Come to this workshop to mobilize all the working parts from the knees down. We’ll address the vital role of the big toe and how to keep it healthy. We’ll even have some fun with gate analysis so we can put it all together for a healthy, happy stride. 

Bones and joints thrive on pressure! But how we apply this pressure is crucial for success. We’ll explore the benefits of Avita Yoga for bone health, particularly in relation to osteoporosis. We’ll learn from a groundbreaking study demonstrating how regular practice can reverse this condition without extreme exercise. This workshop highlights effective methods for each movement to enhance bone health. You will discover how Avita Yoga increases bone density and alleviates arthritis, promoting healthy and strong joints. Flexibility is not a prerequisite to benefit from this workshop. 

Between the ribcage and the spine, we have over 100 articulating surfaces. Stickiness or rigidity in one area can lead to excessive movement in other parts. This sequence of movements and shapes targets the health and function of the two lordotic parts of the spine, the neck and lower back. We use them to reveal incongruous movement patterns, resolve pain, and generate health throughout the spine.

Named after the Foster the People song. Discover the benefits of Chair Yoga—a supportive, accessible class designed for all ages, body types, and mobility levels. Whether you're looking to increase flexibility, reduce stress, improve circulation, or simply move with more ease, this class meets you where you are. Using the stability of a chair for seated and standing poses, you'll enjoy a safe, low-impact practice that nurtures both body and mind. Perfect for beginners, seniors, office workers, or anyone recovering from injury. ✨ No experience needed ✨ Breathe, stretch, and strengthen at your own pace ✨ Feel more grounded, energized, and calm Experience the power of mindful movement—one breath at a time.