By Lila Galipeau
Known for its Oktoberfest and wing night, Ladysmith (Thorne) Quebec is probably the last place in the Pontiac you’d think of as being a hotspot for yoga enthusiasts. Every summer for the past 7 years, yogis have been flocking to this rural oasis to take part in Bhakti in the Woods – a weekend festival dedicated to all things yoga and wellness.
Started in 2013 by yoga teacher and massage therapist Bermalva Porter (owner of the Pontiac Wellness Centre in Shawville Quebec), Bhakti in the Woods was created out of the desire for a conscious event where every aspect is as environmentally responsible and intentional as possible. “It started as a small gathering. Enough people wanted it to grow and turn it into something more formal that we decided to turn it into a legitimate festival with vendors, volunteers, workshops, classes and music,” said Ms. Porter, who has been practicing yoga since she was 16.
People with all levels of previous yoga experience attend this festival. “We have people who practice yoga, people who know nothing about yoga and come to learn more, families, locals and people from cities such as Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa looking for a weekend getaway. We’ve also had people come from as far as Belgium, Arizona and South Korea,” stated Ms. Porter, “People from all backgrounds and all walks of life come together to celebrate life during the weekend.”
Many yoga festivals have started forming throughout Quebec but Bhakti in the Woods is special because it’s the only yoga festival in the Ottawa valley that puts a focus on yoga music and other forms of sacred music. The closest similar festivals are located in Montreal and Toronto but people choose Bhakti because they want to escape the city and relax in nature doing what they love.
The festival is located on Ms. Porter’s 40 acre off-grid farm that her family moved to in 2010. Everything on the site is powered by solar and wind energy. The festival tries to have as little waste as possible by offering composting and recycling. Their food vendor cuts down on waste by selling meal tickets prior to the festival so they know exactly how much food to prepare and attendees are asked to bring their own reusable dishes for the food to be served on.
If you’re concerned about porta potties, Ms. Porter reassured us that you won’t find any at Bhakti “The festival’s toilets are very unique. They’re composting toilets so all of the waste generated goes directly back into the earth in a proper composted format that we’ll use in flower gardens in the future.” This initiative proves how well thought out their efforts towards bettering the earth are.
Onsite camping is included in the festival’s ticket fee. Attendees may camp in field or woods campsites and there’s a special RV camping area as well. In the past, some people have even slept in hammocks for the weekend. If you’re not into roughing it, the festival’s website lists nearby alternative accommodation options offsite for those who want to sleep in a real bed after a full day of yoga classes.
Every year the festival is given a different theme and this year’s is creativity. To highlight this there will be new art installations throughout the site as well as over 25 classes and workshops dedicated to creative expression. Kentucky based duo Hudost is headlining their musical lineup, bringing their blend of folk, world, and rock to the Pontiac. Hudost’s latest album made the 2019 BILLBOARD Folk sales chart.
When asked where she sees the festival going in the future Ms. Porter replied “I see the Festival growing in size so that it can still be sustainable here on my land, yet small enough that it can be looked at as an intimate Gathering, a real down-to-earth kind of gathering, where people can really connect. That’s what people really enjoy about this particular Festival – it’s big enough, yet small enough, and diverse enough to give everyone a taste of something new and refreshing.”
Visit www.bhaktiinthewoods.com or search “Bhakti in the Woods” on Facebook and Instagram for more information on how you can get involved and attend.
Leave a Reply