A yoga festival organized for the first time in Toulon

" Say yes to yoga! " This is the message from Camille Dionisi and Delphine Bonanno, founders of the Yes Yoga association. To spread this message, they are organizing Yoga Day, Toulon's first yoga festival.

They intend to demonstrate that "there is not one yoga for everyone, but one for each person" , says Camille, quoting one of her own teachers, while Delphine underlines their desire to "break the clichés about yoga" .

They will do so on Sunday, June 8th at Pré-Sandin Park, made available by the City from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Ten teachers of as many different practices—gentle ones like yin or hatha and dynamic ones like vinyasa or ashtanga—will demonstrate that there is yoga for all tastes.

And especially for all bodies.

"Our goal is to democratize the practice by emphasizing the fact that you don't need to be particularly flexible or in any particular physical shape to get started."

No trade, no promotion

What sets Yoga Day apart from other festivals popping up here and there in the Var? While registration is required, everything is free, and all the speakers (yoga teachers, but also weaving and art therapy workshop leaders, and speakers on breathing and emotions) are volunteers.

"We're not in a commercial business and the idea isn't to promote ourselves," assures Camille. Apart from a chair yoga class, the two women won't be giving any themselves.

However, there's no question of comparing their proposal to others, of saying that theirs is better – or worse! That would be the opposite of the spirit that the organizers want to share. "The idea is above all to build connections," insists Camille. "Of course, yoga is something you do for yourself, but you can give it back: by filling your carafe, you can then fill the glasses of others!"

Register online to open

Delphine adds: "In today's world, everyone tends to withdraw into themselves. Yoga, on the contrary, opens up to others." This is how the two women intend to "cultivate joy."

And they hope to do it on June 8th, with at least three hundred people, why not even five hundred!

"It's a first, but we already have more than 200 places reserved." Certain classes, such as parent/child yoga and art therapy, seem to be particularly popular.

If you'd like to participate, head over to the Yoga Day Festival's Instagram profile, which will then direct you to the Hello Asso platform where you can register. Don't hesitate to drop by on the day either; you never know if there might be some spots left!

In any case, don't forget your mat and, if you're spending the day there, your picnic. This is also how we " cultivate joy ."