LISSA ALEXANDER
reporter@pqbnews.com
Celebrate Summer Solstice in Parksville with some yoga, music, hooping and a fire show at dusk.
Yoga Under the Stars takes place outdoors on the longest day of the year, June 21, at the Quality Resort Bayside, on the lawn over looking the ocean.
Scarlett Luke has been a fitness instructor and yoga teacher for seven years, and has been teaching with Hot N Cool Yoga for the past two years. The event was her idea.
“Solstice is a time of celebration for many cultures around the world and the longest day of the year holds spiritual, cultural and agricultural significance,” she said.
The event offers three yoga classes outdoors for all levels, one at 7 p.m., one at 8:30 p.m. and one at 10 p.m. The first is called Weekend Warriors, lead by Luke, and is about “building fire‚“ Luke said, strengthening muscles and involves some masculine energy. The second is Dance Your Flow, with instructor Jessica Evans and gets in touch with a more feminine side, Luke said. This class allows participants to connect with nature and flows from one move to the next. The third class is called Joyful Heart Openers, again lead by Luke, and is gentle Hatha yoga that relaxes and aims to find balance.
Dan Fack of VIBE Tribe will be spinning tunes throughout the night and Cora Schiller of Shasta Hoop Fitness will be there with hooping demonstrations. Entertainer Lukas Knab will do a fire spinning show around 9:30, or when it’s dark enough, Luke explained, and following the last yoga class people can lay back and enjoy the stars.
A $20 ticket is good for all three yoga classes (or $25 at the door), and practising yogis will know if they are capable of all three, Luke said. Beginners are encouraged to come and pick their favourite class and if they feel good afterwards, they should take in another, she said.
One way Solstice is celebrated is with bonfires, Luke said, and that’s where the fire spinner comes in. “That’s why we have fire spinner, to represent the bonfire of change and transformation.”
To buy tickets and for more information visit the website www.yogaunderthestars.com or call 250-607-7387.