Over 1000 people from as many as 20 different countries come together for 8 days on the grounds of a country estate in the Loire Valley in France, to practice Kundalini Yoga, White Tantra Yoga and other activities related to the teachings of Yogi Bhajan. Each year the Festival highlights a specific aspect of Yoga, but it also provides special attention to newcomers who have little or no experience of Yoga practice.

The day starts early with yoga and meditation in a big meadow as the sun slowly rises.  Breakfast is simple vegetable soup and some oranges and bananas; this is part of an ancient purifiying diet to facilitate the yoga. After breakfast the camp breaks up into same language groups (called Missels) where information about the day’s activities is given and where tasks to help with camp maintenance are coordinated. Later in the morning, there are a variety of workshops to choose from. In the afternoon there is a large all camp yoga workshop, with translation into the different languages.

Dinner is the second part of the diet: mung beans and rice, hot sauce, carrots and salad. Afterwards there is free time for social and family activities as well as a bazaar, study groups, and sports. Also at this time there will be an opportunity to have a treatment from one of the spiritual healers, massage-therapists or chiropractors who attend the festival. If this is your first time, there will be a basic introductory course to Kundalini Yoga and the Yoga Festival, in your own language, at the same time as the evening yoga class.

The highlight of the festival is a three-day White Tantric Yoga session. White Tantric Yoga is a very powerful and spiritually purifying yoga where couples sit in long lines and practice Kundalini Yoga mantras, mudras (hand postures) and breathing exercises.

see http://www.3ho-europe.org/ for more information.