by Rachel Grundner
Less than 80 miles west of Chicago, a sacred sanctuary awaits for seekers, yogis and wilderness junkies alike to delve into nature, elevate the spirit and experience the highest expression of love. This “house of hearts” is Stonehouse Farm and home to the Sukhava Bodhe Yoga & Music Festival.
ILLUMINE was honored to attend this year’s event, held over Labor Day weekend. As highlighted on the the festival’s Facebook page, Sukhava Bodhe (pronounced soo-khaah-vuh boh-dhay), means “joyful awakening.” The four-day festival included yoga, music, kirtan, stand-up paddleboarding, wisdom talks, camping, dancing, kids activities and more.
This year’s event featured an abundance of workshops and classes for the solo traveler or the entire family. There was also plenty to do if yoga asana isn’t your thing! Not to mention, it was easy to make new friends with Chicagoland locals and those venturing in from Wisconsin, Missouri, New York and Toronto.
Among the family-friendly memorable highlights of the festival:
- Witnessing the joy on children’s faces as they balanced on a slackline, practiced yoga, and shot hoops at Rock the Love Youth Camp
- The incredible sounds and vibrations radiating from individuals as they released that which no longer serves them during Aubree Saia’s Transformational Breath Journey
- Walking the grounds of Stonehouse Farm, tasting plants and making fresh Apple Cider and Acorn Pancakes at Learning Your Edible/Medicinal Plants workshop with Dan Fitzpatrick
- A truly intimate experience, alone or shared with another, walking the Silent Meditative Candlelit Labyrinth under the stars and pausing to meditate at the sacred bonfire located in the heart of the labyrinth
- The communal gathering of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds as we fully surrendered our bodies to the rhythms of DJ Taz’s Club Divine Conscious Dance Party
- The heart pounding beats and awe-inspiring fire performances at each evening’s Sacred Fire, Drum & Dance Circle with Pyrotechniq and Low End Theory Ensemble
- A perfect start to the morning as we learned basic massage techniques for necks, shoulders and legs, especially after a night of camping, at Thai Bodywork with Paul Fowler
- A truly heartfelt experience for any self-proclaimed foodie, Chef Sarah Mallin offered a Chakra-themed (and gluten free and vegetarian) Farm-to-Plate Dinner. The meal was not only artistically presented, but also captivated diners with enticing aromas and delectable flavors.
- A completely entrancing experience as we grooved through a glow in the dark vinyasa under the stars at Groovin’ Glow & Flow with Crystal Gray. This session held sacred space as participants sang along and danced through their practice to timeless tunes.
- Escaping the sun’s heat at Stonehouse Farm’s swimming pond as we freestyled on paddle boards, played with the children, and cleansed ourselves in the cool water.
- Ending each evening with the intuitive dance inducing lyrics and beats of all performances, including worldly rhythms by Kirtaniyas and Natty Nation.
As a campmate eloquently expressed, “It was a beautiful tapestry of open hearts aligning with the sacredness of one another. Sukhava Bodhe offers the soul food to nourish our wisdom and reminds us the meaning of community, living in nature, under the canopy of the stars.”
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