Artist Spotlight: Emma Schmid

by iana velez | May 29, 2024 | Art & Music, ARTICLES, FRONT PAGE POSTS

Artist Spotlight: Emma Schmid

By: iana velez

ART & MUSIC

Barcelona native Emma Schmid’s beautiful artwork graces the cover of our JOY issue. We asked her to share a bit about her creative process, inspiration and a few thoughts on JOY. Check out her beautiful Instagram account @emma.schmid.illustration.

Share with us what you love about what you do?
I love to translate thoughts, ideas and messages into images. Adding meaning, highlighting and emphasizing. Communicating with drawings and color is so powerful, leading to feelings, moods, happiness, worries, and joy. I am especially interested in illustrating everyday people and routines that we all can identify with. Illustration also lets me navigate new adventures. Every new work feels like an opportunity to dive within different experiences, knowledge, and results. It is very enriching.

What advice would you give someone interested in becoming an artist?
Perseverance is key, confidence in yourself, no matter what seems to be the fashion…your own voice is always interesting when it is consistent it will have many opportunities. Of course, it is important to be active, showing up on social media, promoting constantly with new work or personal work that may pique art directors’ or clients’ attention.

Do you have formal art training?
I graduated from a school of arts in Barcelona studying, where I am originally from. I had an illustration career working freelance with my own work and studio from 2000 until now, working mostly with publishing, advertising, studios, products, toys, etc. For many years, I was focused on children’s illustration, but now my work has shifted to more illustration in editorial and advertising.

Share with us artists or creators who inspire your work
Some artists I love:

And many, many others!

Do you have a personal yoga, meditation or journaling practice? If so, does it influence your creative process?
I have practiced yoga for some years and it has always fascinated me in the wellness sense, and in the beauty of the practice too—the simplicity, austerity, the silence, the connection.

I’ve recently been quite obsessed with the interaction of two themes of yoga and floral images. I have worked on an extensive series of images approaching that—yoga practice balanced with huge flower designs in a beautiful harmony.

Where do you find the inspiration for your artwork? How do you stay inspired?
I find inspiration everywhere around me. Mostly in urban scenes, cities, on the streets, parks, fashion, culture, clothes, tradition and very especially in people. I enjoy highlighting people, characters, routines, gestures and styles. I love to catch diversity in all ways. I am constantly seeking inspiration beyond my own curiosity. Culture, media, other illustrators work and all art expression is also very inspiring to me.

Share with us your creative process.
When a work commission comes, the process starts with approaching the main idea to communicate, looking for information and inspiration and playing first with lines, sketching with pencil on A4 paper and Procreate software. Hand drawing, both pencils, analogue and digital are very enjoyable to me, from the freshness and free style of first rough drafts to cleaning and clearing them. Then color is usually done in Photoshop, final art as well.

Color is a different creation process, more complicated and deep, where I usually follow a natural intuition for each commission’s needs. It comes pretty easy when it’s about a single image, but very complex when talking about a book, or a set, where a balanced and rich palette is essential.

On your website you say, “Color plays an important part, it completely defines my work.” Can you share more about that?
I love color. Bold color. Color that shakes is an invitation to feelings, emotions, sensations…color touches with its power of communication. I feel comfortable with color, it definitely plays an important part of my voice and work.

The theme of this issue is JOY, can you share with us what/who you think of when you hear the word JOY?
I love to hear how my work talks about joy and spreads joy, and this is definitely the best compliment and reward I can have. It makes me so happy and fulfilled with the work I do.

SPOTLIGHT: Karma Kids Yoga

by iana velez | May 5, 2024 | ARTICLES, FRONT PAGE POSTS, Profiles

SPOTLIGHT: Karma Kids Yoga

PROFILES

Our Joy issue is launching soon, and here is a sneak peek at Tashya Knight’s article profiling some amazing kids yoga teachers in our community. Learn more about Shari Vilchez-Blatt one of the many teachers profiled below who is the founder of Karma Kids Yoga and also in our JOY issue available at partner studios in June. Interested in learning how more about teaching kids yoga? Join Shari’s upcoming kids YTT starting Friday, May 17th- Sunday, May 19th at Balance Arts Center, located at 151 West 30th Street in NYC! REGISTER NOW!

What is different about teaching yoga to kids vs teaching yoga to adults? Is it different?
There are so many differences in kids versus adult yoga! Could you imagine if all of a sudden, in your adult yoga class, someone left their mat and started running in a circle around the room?! Or if you’re in the middle of teaching a pose/flow and someone says, “Did you know that my brother has a bicycle and I saw a frog and I love unicorns and cold pillows?” It’s the energy mostly that differs, but also expectations of behavior. I would never want my child students to behave like adults….too weird. They need to talk, share, connect, ask questions, share some more…show you a trick or two (“look what I can do” can often be heard in a children’s yoga class, but what they show you may or may not be yoga—either way, it’s a gift to the room, so I make space for it. Kids classes are loud, playful, silly, quiet, might involve singing, dancing, jumping, include non-traditional yoga props (from balls to crafts to stuffed animals and pom moms).

What inspired you to teach kids yoga?
I don’t know how else to explain that my random path of events led me to teach yoga to children. I was an ad exec, very successful, but not passionate as I once had been. I was laid off one summer, decided to just chill out and not look for another job. I got back into my own yoga practice with all the free time, and was able to see my nieces and nephews more over the summer, too. When I did yoga around them, they would copy me. I didn’t know if that was OK, so I did some research and found that of course it was great for kids and that there was a training coming up in my area that summer. I had NOTHING going on. I love to learn, so I took it. It changed me. I took another one. And another…learning more and more. I loved it and just wanted to share with as many children as possible. Two months later I opened up my first studio in NYC dedicated just to kids and families!

What pose do kids enjoy the most?
I don’t think there is just one pose that kids love the most…it really depends on the child (it’s a great icebreaker to ask this at the start of the kids class. My name is Shari and my favorite yoga pose is….and we all do the pose!). And favorites change as our bodies change, we get stronger and more confident. It’s typically one that they feel strong or calm in. If it’s a challenging pose that they can do, kids will likely choose that so that they can show it off. Better than saying a popular pose that they like, I will say they LOVE to invent poses! Give a child 30-60 seconds to come up with a never-before-seen pose and name it! Or pair kids up to invent a partner pose. Or 3+ kids to invent group poses.

Share one of your favorite memories/moments you’ve experienced teaching kids yoga?
There are way too many magical moments from over 20 years…and thousands of kids….From celebrity parents jumping into your yoga adventure with as much enthusiasm as a child (thank you, Jane Krakowski for being the most fun momma)…to my husband farting loudly off camera during live Instagram classes (yes and everyone heard it, and I had to address it)….to Sesame Street Workshop taking over my studio to film “yoga school”…so instead of noting just one, I’ll note that any time a child surprises themselves with their own strength and ability, the looks on their faces are everything!

How do you bring joy to teaching kids yoga? How does teaching kids yoga bring you joy?
I bring joy to my classes by being accepting, kind, compassionate, friendly and honest. And of course, a bit of silly doesn’t hurt. Or a lot. I include laughter, wonder, and always invite them to be who they are, to listen to their bodies (versus me), and make sure everyone feels heard. I build community and make connections (friendships) within each class, allowing kids to experience other kids by mixing up partnerships, playing games, having challenges and tasks, all while having so much fun! It’s the energy I bring to the class.

Nearly every day that I teach, I have a funny or sweet story to take home. But even better than that, when a child finally gets a challenging pose that they’ve been working on (they usually surprise themselves), it’s the best feeling to witness their excitement, their confidence and their glow! It’s a celebration for all!

SEDONA YOGA FESTIVAL

by iana velez | Feb 2, 2024 | ARTICLES, Festivals, Festivals 2024, FRONT PAGE POSTS, Profiles

SPOTLIGHT FESTIVAL: THE SEDONA YOGA FESTIVAL

MARCH 14TH – 17TH, 2024

FESTIVALS

Looking for something to do this March? We are thrilled yoga festivals are back and can’t wait to check out all the amazing events taking place around the world. This week we had a chance to connect with Heather Sanders, Founder & Producer and Lisette Cheresson, Director of Communications of Sedona Yoga Festival taking place in Sedona, AZ who we are thrilled to partner with! You will be able to get complimentary copies of our magazine at this festival!

What makes this year’s festival unique?
HEATHER: After years of seeing people network with one another organically and go on to do amazing things together, we are putting some intentions behind growing that network. As such, we’re actively exploring what purpose-driven collaboration looks like, in what is being shown to us as a new way of doing things. We will have more spaciousness in the schedule and more intentional time all together to spark these relationships, as well as fun activities that support people creating with one another to collaborate both at the festival and beyond.You will find our presenter roster here!

Share with us what you LOVE about your festival location?
HEATHER: Our venue, the Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock, is located in an area of Sedona that has very grounded and healing energy. With everything being walkable from the venue, we expect it to be very relaxed. There are many trails easily accessed near our venue, so folks can take time between classes to really find themselves on the land. There couldn’t be a better place for us to celebrate all together now and really connect with this sacred land.

In that vein, SYF is unique in that it takes place in one of Earth’s well-known power points. Sedona has an energy of transformation and amplification. When we practice together in large numbers in this environment — with shared intention and an attitude of gratitude and love — it resonates and ripples out to the world at large.

The theme of our issue this year is JOY, how do yoga festivals inspire JOY?
LISETTE: There’s a lightness of being that happens when we share in yoga and chant and celebration. It’s not just about coming together in community — though it’s that too — it’s the inspiration of possibility. When we come together in the shared goal of recognizing our interconnectedness, we break the barriers we set for ourselves. We’re able to step into our true, authentic, shared humanity and remind ourselves what is actually possible.

The joy comes from that reminder — the tapping back into what’s really important, and creating the connections we need to shift out of stagnancy and hopelessness and into our divine power once we leave the event.

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TICKETS

SPOTLIGHT FESTIVAL: LITTLE ROCK YOGA FESTIVAL

by iana velez | Feb 1, 2024 | ARTICLES, Festivals, Festivals 2024, FRONT PAGE POSTS, Profiles

SPOTLIGHT FESTIVAL: LITTLE ROCK YOGA FESTIVAL

OCTOBER 8TH, 2024

FESTIVALS

♥ Yoga Love Magazine readers
can use the code:
LOVEYOGAMAGAZINE24
for 10% off discount ♥

Looking for something to do this Oct? We are thrilled yoga festivals are back and can’t wait to check out all the amazing events taking place around the world. This week we had a chance to connect with Cassandra Benning the founder of Little Rock Yoga Festival at the Wildwood Park for the Arts, AR who we are thrilled to partner with! You will be able to get complimentary copies of our magazine at this festival!

Share with us what you LOVE about your festival location?

Wildwood Park for the Arts is the most perfect and beautiful backdrop for the Little Rock Yoga Festival. Wildwood Park is home to Little Rock’s unique botanical gardens and the Lucy Lockett Cabe Festival Theatre. A center for the arts located in west Little Rock’s Chenal Valley, Wildwood’s 105-acre park, gardens and 625-seat theater complex make Wildwood one of our state’s most valuable natural and cultural resources. We strive to be the foremost partner for the state’s wellness community so we can create safe and welcoming spaces for Arkansans to UNITE, GROW & EXPLORE.

The theme of our issue this year is JOY, how do yoga festivals inspire JOY?
We have conducted several Meet & Greets with our teachers/presenters and the one thread that they have expressed to us is that the Joyful & Good Vibes are the reason they want to teach or just be a participant at the Little Rock Yoga Festival each year!

Why Attend the Little Rock Yoga Festival?

Unite: Meet and connect with fellow wellness enthusiasts, local artisans, and community leaders.
Grow: Enhance your self-awareness and well-being through a variety of yoga classes, wellness discussions, and meditation sessions.
Explore: Experience the natural beauty of Wildwood Park and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of our local artisan vendors and popular area food trucks.

Festival Highlights:

15 Yoga and Wellness Classes: Participate in sessions led by esteemed local yoga studio owners and teachers from surrounding areas, including Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Sound Baths: Immerse yourself in the healing power of sound with two mesmerizing sound bath sessions.
Artisan Vendors and Food Trucks: Discover unique, handcrafted goods and savor delicious offerings from local food trucks.

Learn More:

Facebook: LRYogaFest
Instagram: @lryogafest

www.lryogafestival.com

Contact: [email protected]

TICKETS

The OM Festival 2024

by iana velez | Jan 17, 2024 | ARTICLES, Festivals, Festivals 2024, FRONT PAGE POSTS, Profiles

SPOTLIGHT FESTIVAL: The OM Festival

JULY 24-28, 2024
Arlington, Vermont

FESTIVALS

Looking for something to do this July? We are thrilled yoga festivals are back and can’t wait to check out all the amazing events taking place around the world. This week we had a chance to connect with Samantha Grout, Founder of the OM festival in Arlington, VT who we are thrilled to partner with! You will be able to pick up complimentary copies of our magazine at this festival! We asked them to share some thoughts on JOY, which is also the theme of our new issue and this is what they shared:

“Joy, on the scale of consciousness, rings in at a whopping 540. This is above love and just short of enlightenment. Joy is an inner feeling of excitement, happiness, hope, appreciation, love, enjoyment and so much more. Often joy is brought about through “lightening up” aka humor. Laughter is a literal physical expression of joy. The body shakes and increases its own vibratory level. When you laugh, your face smiles, your eyes light up, and sometimes water. We believe the world needs more love, light, and laughter.

One of Om’s main goals is to allow each attendee, each performer, each vendor, and each teacher to join together in a group mastermind, anchoring our festival within the ethereal hills of Vermont – raising the collective and spreading joy not just to those who join with us, but to start a ripple that can spill out into the world.”

What to expect at The OM Festival:
Southern Vermont is no stranger to yoga festivals and fun immersive events as there was previously a major yoga festival that ran for nearly a decade at the Stratton Mountain Resort. It drew thousands of yoga enthusiasts yearly to Manchester and the surrounding mountain areas seeking to get their downward-facing dog on and enjoy the resplendent views and crisp clean fresh air. The problem was that when the pandemic hit – all of this came to a grinding halt. This left a massive void.

Sam Grout, a sixth-generation Vermonter, yogi, entrepreneur, and techie had a vision to fill that void and start a new chapter in Vermont to continue this tradition of yoga, good food, and building community. Sam is the Co-Founder of The OM Festival – a transformative retreat experience for your sacred soul. She and the rest of the Omies are here to invite you to visit Vermont and experience that same beautiful Wanderlust spirit living in the rolling hills of West Arlington. This is where the new chapter began with the first annual OM Festival hosted at the West Mountain Inn in 2023. It is again that time of year! The mountains are calling, and it is “Time to Go OM.”

This epic, multi-day, family-friendly yoga, music, and wellness festival brings an amazing combination of yoga, music, workshops, and outdoor adventure to yoga lovers, families, foodies, and outdoor adventure seekers. This is the ultimate opportunity to experience an outdoor yoga and wellness festival in the breathtakingly beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont.

The 2024 festival lineup will feature more than 60+ classes and workshops, numerous guided hikes and nature walks such as mushroom identification, farm-to-table dinners, wine tastings, wood-fired pizza nights and more.

This festival boasts an unparalleled lineup of local and international yoga teachers, kirtan artists, and bhakti musicians from around the world. There will also be flow artists, meditation instructors and talented performing artists such as fire dancers. Attendees can practice and learn various styles of yoga (at all levels), outdoor activities such as SUP yoga, hula hooping, slack-lining, and more, or indulge in local farm fresh food from Jamaican Jewelz, cold-pressed organic Kombucha from Baby Kombucha or relax in the Enchanted Forest Spa with spa treatments from The Alchemist Laboratory, Well Balanced Massage and Maggie’s Healing Path where our attendees can enjoy a facial, massage, healing treatment and/or reiki session. Be sure to check out OM Botanicals amazing all-natural products in our Vendor Village as well as check out Boston Vibrations huge selection of singing bowls to the cool clothing from Kava Threads and Kukui Maca an all-inclusive bohemian boutique.

Kids under 12 will be admitted FREE. A five-day all-access pass starts at $499, 3-day passes are $399 and there are day passes as well as music passes that will give you entrance to all classes, workshops, vendor village, spa tent, and nightly entertainment.

MORE INFO

CATSKILL MOUNTAIN YOGA FESTIVAL

by iana velez | Jan 17, 2024 | ARTICLES, Festivals, Festivals 2024, FRONT PAGE POSTS, Profiles

SPOTLIGHT FESTIVAL: CATSKILL MOUNTAIN YOGA FESTIVAL

JULY 27, 2024
Plattekill Mountain, Roxbury, NY

FESTIVALS

Looking for something to do this Summer? We are thrilled yoga festivals are back and can’t wait to check out all the amazing events taking place around the world. This week we had a chance to connect with Raegan Reed, founder and coordinator for the Catskill Mountain Yoga Festival who we are thrilled to partner with this July! Learn more about the festival here and pick up your FREE copy of Yoga Love Magazine at the event!

What makes this year’s festival unique?
We have new classes, workshops, vendors and experiences! We also have some of our faves returning! Please take a look at our NEW APP for all the fun classes, workshops, etc!

Share with us what you LOVE about your festival location?
We love Plattekill Mountain, in Roxbury, NY! Our fest is unique in that it is located at this hidden gem, in Upstate NY. We hold classes at the tippy top of the mountain! Participants can ride the chair lift up and down, or hike up and down.

The theme of our issue this year is JOY, how do yoga festivals inspire JOY?
The CMYF brings so much joy to me, our presenters, vendors, and to our festival-goers.The vibes are full of love and positivity and everyone leaves feeling totally rejuvenated and refreshed by this fun event. Planning it is a pleasure! Every time a new instructor reaches out or a new vendor finds out about us, we are so pumped to have them join our little family. We love the attendees, the vendors, and it’s like one big happy family year after year! It is also very fun to connect with our treasured sponsors and new sponsors. Plus, we have some new exciting SWAG for this year’s swag bag! VIPs are guaranteed a bag!

www.thecardioclub.com

MORE INFO