North of Kenya’s coast is Lamu. Made up of five islands, this beautiful county exhibits peace and culture, among other things. Lamu Island particularly is reached via boat from the mainland and in this vibrant and culturally rich Swahili area we find narrow paths, several footpaths and, white, high stone walls which lead us to our second festival.
They say meditation is a great way to start your day: focusing your mind on the kind of day you intend to have and the demeanor you would like to portray. Meditation is part of a well-rounded Yoga experience. Yoga, a physical, spiritual and mental practice that originated from India, has become a renowned discipline around the world. The practice has a plethora of benefits but, if done in the right environment, can have even better long-term benefits. The Lamu Yoga Festival was created with the intent to ensure all the above, to invite visitors to visit the north coast and experience Lamu but also to allow visitors to leave with one primary outcome – focusing on the positive.
While the local media highlighted the negatives on the happenings in Lamu, Monika Fauth intended to show that within Lamu Island, peace and culture prevail. In 2013, she organized the first yoga festival in East Africa. The idea was to have visitors come in from and beyond Kenya, away from the bustle of their daily lives and surrender to serenity, scenery and wellness. From there, as we like to say, the rest is history.
But truly, six years later, the Lamu Yoga Festival has not only been a sought-after festival by yogis in the region, but it has brought in tourists and is currently featured on the Lamu County Government website. The festival runs for five days, usually in March, and consists of 150 workshops with about 30 instructors who facilitate dance classes, health and nutrition forums, and meditation sessions. The festival also includes boat rides to the neighbouring islands and evening dinner parties that bring people together and promote Swahili culture.
Since its inception, the Lamu Yoga Festival has become a globally recognized forum by wellness practitioners and explorers alike. The sandy beach environment is conducive for relaxation, and the best part is, you don’t have to be a yoga expert to attend, but if you want a reason to relax, mingle and rejuvenate… then we suggest this peaceful festival.
More information with dates of the 2020 festival are on Lamu Yoga Festival
