The Sedona Yoga Festival 2026
"Life is an ongoing ceremony of Mother Nature.” - Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD
Some experiences defy description — and the Sedona Yoga Festival is one of them.
Set within the ancient red rock landscape of Sedona, this festival is not simply an event. It is an invitation into something far greater — a living, breathing field of transformation where the land itself becomes part of the teaching. You hear about Sedona as the city of vortexes, but standing within it, the entire landscape reveals itself as one vast, pulsing presence. The earth here holds an ancient intelligence that moves through you whether you are ready for it or not. Having a festival rooted in this sacred terrain amplified every teaching, every practice, every moment of connection in ways that were impossible to anticipate.
SF Yoga has been covering yoga festivals for nearly two decades. This was one of the best.
The caliber of teachers, presenters, musicians, and vendors was truly unmatched — a gathering of luminaries reflecting the depth and breadth of what the yoga world has to offer at its highest. The lineup was expansive, and with so much to explore, no single account could hold it all. What follows are the highlights that stayed with me long after I left the red rocks behind.
Vishoka Meditation with Ishan Tigunait
Our first morning at the festival began with a beautiful Vishoka meditation practice led by Ishan Tigunait, Spiritual Director of the Himalayan Institute. The class left us feeling profoundly centered and calm — the perfect way to open a day at a festival like this. Ishan described the practice as "steps to find your way home," and by the end, that is exactly how it felt. He guided us on a beautiful inner journey, and we all left inspired to go deeper into the Vishoka path.
Vishoka is considered a complete meditation system — not merely a technique, but a path of inner transformation that addresses all layers of being: body, breath, senses, mind, and the deeper witness consciousness. It is often described as meditation as it was originally meant to be practiced — not as stress relief or concentration training, but as a direct means of moving toward liberation from suffering at its root.
To learn more, visit the Himalayan Institute: himalayaninstitute.org/vishoka-meditation
Kirtan on the Rocks with Ananda Das
One of the most distinctive offerings at the Sedona Yoga Festival is its outdoor excursions, and we chose to join Ananda Das for kirtan on the rocks. It was something truly special. We hiked out to Baby Bell Rock — one of Sedona's lesser-known gems — and were rewarded with sweeping 360-degree views of the landscape. We were the only ones there and it was stunning. I have to say, the real gift was the music in nature. To be serenaded by Ananda Das while moving through that ancient terrain, participating in kirtan — the call-and-response tradition of devotional chanting — on such powerful land made the experience profoundly moving. We felt like we were floating on the way back down.
Learn more about Ananda Das: anandadas.info
The Science of Breath with Dr. Sundar Balasubramanian
The workshop led by Dr. Sundar Balasubramanian, founder of the PranaScience Institute, was absolutely fascinating. He explored how the mind shifts in direct response to the breath, and shared research on the relationship between chanting and saliva production — the more relaxed we are, the more saliva we produce, and chanting amplifies this effect, activating the parasympathetic nervous system. We spent the hour chanting different mantras and feeling their distinct effects in the body. It was one of the most powerful hours of the festival. I left deeply relaxed.
Explore his work: pranascience.squarespace.com
Drumming Sounds with Andrew and Monica
There is always one experience that stays with you for years. For me, that was time spent with Andrew and Monica of Drumming Sounds.
The first event was their community drumming circle — unlike any I have attended. Andrew opened by guiding us in honoring the seven directions, with Max Ribner accompanying on trumpet. He then invited us into a judgment-free space, a container of infinite possibility. Each of us held a drum, and before we began, he asked us two questions: What are you saying yes to today? What does the world need? The responses flowed freely — community, peace, yoga, gratitude, love, even rebellion. Over a hundred people drummed together in unison, breathing together, healing together. It was beautiful.
After that, there was no question I would attend their sound healing session. Using at least ten different instruments — including voice and spoken word — Andrew and Monica created something I had never experienced in the hundreds of sound healings I have attended. These two carry something truly extraordinary.
Learn more: drummingsounds.com
Afternoon Kirtan with Saul David Raye
The afternoon kirtan with Saul David Raye and friends — joined by Max Ribner, Johanna Beekman, Chase Nichter, Joss Jaffe, and Prem Vidu — was pure joy. The love that radiates from Saul is unmatched, and through his singing and chanting, you feel it in every cell. The entire room was moving, singing, dancing. At the close, we gathered together, arms around one another, voices joined. It was a gentle and powerful reminder of what the world needs most right now.
Learn more: https://riamhealingarts.com
Evening with Jaya Lakshmi
Jaya Lakshmi took us somewhere truly elevated. With her full band surrounding her, the music was magnificent — devotional, luminous, alive. We could not stop dancing. I have been listening to Jaya Lakshmi for over a decade, and somehow each concert surpasses the one before. She closed with the beloved "This is the Day," and the entire audience sang as one. Music, chanting, community — the most direct path to remembering that we are all connected.
Learn more: https://jayalakshmimusic.com/home
Ecstatic Dance with DTO
Still blissed out, we moved into ecstatic dance with DTO. DTO designs inspirational music, that raises the vibration of the planet and we felt it! The music was incredible, the energy stayed high, and we danced well into the night. The perfect close to an unforgettable day at the Sedona Yoga Festival.
Learn more: https://www.instagram.com/dtomusic/
With a lineup this rich, there is simply no way to do it all. Kia Miller and Sianna Sherman were two teachers we didn't get to experience this time around — though we heard their classes were extraordinary, and they are at the top of our list for next year.
And then there were the vendors. In between classes, the marketplace was a world of its own. Our favorite was Manoj Chalam, whose collection of sacred murtis — each one carefully sourced from India and carrying its own distinct energy — was unlike anything we had seen. Beyond that, there were beautiful clothes, palm readings, red light therapy, and so much more. The kind of offerings that make you want to linger a little longer between sessions.
This is the kind of gathering that changes you quietly — in ways you don't fully notice until you're back in your ordinary life and something in you has shifted. We cannot recommend the Sedona Yoga Festival enough.
The good news? The next festival is just a few months away. October 1–4 brings a brand new location: 22 acres of creekside land, with the entire venue to ourselves. Kirtan under the stars. Intimate longform workshops in the ballrooms. Meals on the terrace. Drumming around the fire. With 137 rooms and a seamless blend of indoor and outdoor space, Outbound Sedona is the perfect partner for everything this festival is meant to be.
October cannot come soon enough.
Learn more and get your tickets today : https://sedonayogafestival.com
