Chanting

Stephanie Heidemann and Kimberly Braun set the space for a powerful unfolding of the day's events with this inspirational, intentional, chanting

About Stephanie

Stephanie Heidemann is a World-Fusion Vocalist/Performer & Arranger of music from around the globe. With a B.A. in Expressive Arts Therapy from Indiana University, Stephanie Heidemann richly explored improvisation and authentic creativity through expressive voice-movement settings and brings this influence to her music. Learn more about Stephanie by visiting her biography on the Group Practice Page and her website at left.

About Kimberly

Beyond being the creator and director of The Celebrating Wellness Fest, Kimberly is a well known and sought after meditation coach, retreat facilitator and keynote speaker. She is also an ordained minister, performing many wedding and life ceremonies, as well as a Reiki Master and recording artist with her own CD of chant. Learn more about Kimberly by visiting her biography on the Meet the Committee Page and her website at left.

Hoop Dance

Bonnie Brown (aka, Bonnie Be) of Outward Spiral performs as well as teaches Hoop Dance classes. She'll be selling her handmade adult sized hoops as well as sharing hoops for the festival and giving tips for anyone interested in giving it a whirl. She is also a certified Yoga Instructor and Wellness counselor.

You can find Bonnie at Rosemary Court Yoga. She teaches two complimentary classes, balancing the uplifting, invigorating, and unencumbered playfulness of Hoop Dance with the grounding and deepening practice of surrendering oneself into Hatha Yoga. She believes that combining these dual practices helps to create a well-rounded individual as well as a supportive community. Outward Sprial encompasses the idea that all the diverse aspects of ourselves do not need to exclusive of one another, but rather, paths merging together to bring us closer to an inner harmony that we can shine out and share with all.

Please contact Bonnie with any questions about Hoop Dance or Yoga as well as hoop orders.

Palms Together!

Introducing, Palms Together! Making their debut public appearance, the band is a group of yogis and musicians who collaborate to inspire, uplift, and raise your vibration through singing, drumming, and music making. The practice of kirtan, or call and response chanting, originated in India over 500 years ago, and it is a form of yoga, a way to open the heart and connect to the divinity which lies within. Audience participation is encouraged! Anyone can practice kirtan, whether or not you have any musical training. Just clap and sing along, or simply listen and feel the music and the magic, and leave feeling your energy uplifted and your heart joyous.

Leader Cheryl Chaffee, RYT-200 has been studying Anusara yoga since 2004, and is an Anusara-Inspired yoga teacher, offering group classes and private lessons in Sarasota and Venice, Florida. She enjoys teaching students of all ages and abilities, (even toddlers!) and always looks for the beauty in students' poses and hearts.

Cheryl has studied music since her childhood, and has sung with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus under the direction of Robert Shaw. When she first heard kirtan, she found it to be the perfect fusion of two of her loves, yoga and music. She is excited to be a part of the Celebrating Wellness Fest, and looks forward to sharing uplifting, devotional music with you.

Jaye Martin also leads "Art from the Heart", the At The Gazebo 1:15 presentation. See below for more details!

Art from the Heart

Garden of the Heart Yoga Center presents “Art from the Heart” with Jaye Martin. “Art from the Heart” is series of Yoga Poses to honor the Universal Creative power & our connectedness to one another are presented. Choreographed by Jaye Martin and performed by members of the Anusara Yoga Kula (community of the heart) from Garden of the heart Yoga Center.

About Jaye

Jaye Martin is a Certified Anusara Yoga Teacher. He began practicing yoga in 1998 after dancing professionally for over 10 years. He was introduced to Anusara yoga by Betsey Downing in 2000 and immediately resonated with its underlying philosophy of radical affirmation. Since then, he has continued to study and teach with Betsey as well as studying extensively with and assisting John Friend, founder of Anusara Yoga. Jaye is a heartfelt teacher, generously sharing his enthusiasm and spirituality with his students. He currently teaches Yoga full time at Betsey Downing's Garden Of The Heart Yoga Center in Sarasota, Florida as well as traveling to lead workshops at home and abroad. You can read more about Jaye, his classes, workshops, Immersions and Teacher Trainings at Garden of the Heart Yoga Center. Learn more about Garden of the Heart on our Sponsors Page and their website: www.gardenoftheheartyoga.com.

Capoeira Volto Au Mundo

Capoeira (kah-po-WAY-da) took its shape in the bubbling cauldron of Brazil. Its roots trace from the African peoples enslaved there dating from the early 1500's. Its own evolution is testimony to the creative adaptability and will to survive of its people and culture. Still truly evolving, Capoeira has been spreading worldwide in recent decades. It provides a rare modern format to bring together our best human resources - music, vigorous physical interaction, playfulness, community structure, and creativity - to develop problem solving capabilities, confidence, and respectfulness in the 'un-balance-ing' conditions that we are often in. Much more than a “martial art”, capoeira is an art-of-life.

Capoeira is played in a circle (“roda”) of people that includes several members playing various percussion instruments. Driven by soulful songs and rhythms of diverse intensity, two capoeirstas at a time engage in a spirited dialogue of body and wit. Nonstop attacks, defenses, and counterattacks suggest a fight while the mood is generally playful. The strategies rely on trickery as much as agility, speed and strength. Ritual elements and personal expression are infused throughout the uninterrupted pulse of the roda.

The batizado is the feature event of a full reunion weekend where we welcome our newer students and recognize our existing ones! The batizado is an event where students receive their cords. They must train hard and know the requirements for the cord they are receiving and are tested on their knowledge before the big day. The capoeirsta must play one or many Mestres, and as a tradition they are to be taken down. The batizado is a celebration not a competiton and the Mestres and teachers are there to celebrate with everyone.

“The career of the capoeirsta begins with the batizado. From the first jogo to the point of fully understanding the art, students will spend many years constantly probing and training their weaknesses, facing the treacheries of life with open eyes. During this time, they will be physically, mentally and spiritually challenged as they strive toward a well-rounded study of the art.”

-ALEMIDA, Bira. Capoeira - A Brazilian art form. North Atlantic Books. Berkeley, CA 1986 p. 143

About Capoeira Volta Ao Mundo

In 1996, Mestre Rony moved to Western Florida from California where he was giving Capoeira classes with Contra-Mestre Amunka. Mestre Rony soon started his own Capoeira Group, Volta Ao Mundo, while living in St. Petersburg, Florida. Where he had his first small school. In 1999, he moved Volta Ao Mundo to Sarasota, Florida; he was giving classes in three different locations, and was anxious to find a permanent location. Within a year he found a 3000 sq. ft. facility that he could teach and train Capoeira. In 2002, Volta ao Mundo was moved to the location we train in today, on the corner of Bee Ridge Road and Tuttle Ave. To date, Volta Ao Mundo has three academies, including locations in Tampa, FL with Professor Girino, and Springfield, IL.

Hymn for Her (H4H)

H4H=rapid emotion thru space causing elation. This duo takes you over stars & sands playing soul-scaping music w/voices & hands. A variety of stringed instruments & chords of vocals intertwine in a way that captivates & mesmerizes.

About Hymn for Her

Hymn for Her is a story of two musicians who took a break from touring with their band (mpeband.com) and traveled up to Maine to write a book.

They made a deal with an inn-keeper to perform for the dinner crowd in exchange for a quaint little shanty by the sea. It wasn't long before cabin fever set in. Thus, a baby was conceived and a band was born. (They're still working on the book.)

In the year of The Golden Pig, Spring 2007, their baby was born in Florida and the duo started recording an album. Things got cookin'. They stripped down to the bare necessities: two acoustic instruments and two voices, keeping it as true to their live performance as possible. Back up the coast to Maine for a summer and fall of recording and shedding. Before cabin fever struck again, they high-tailed it home to Philly, PA where they completed their rising phoenix.

Mixed and mastered at Studio 4 with grammy winning producer, Phil Nicolo, 'Hymn for Her' bring to you their debut CD, 'Year of the Golden Pig'

Instrumentation

hymn-voice, acoustic guitar, banjo, harmonica, bass drum her-voice, acoustic guitar, banjo, ukulele, hi-hat