It is summer, and sharing is caring! We are giving away two tickets for two winners each for this fantastic festival! Simply follow Positive Life on Facebook or Twitter, share this post on your Facebook or Twitter page and tag @positivelifemag so we know!
By Aisling Cronin
If you have a passion for live music and natural wellbeing, the Groove Festival is perfect for you! This two-day summer festival is renowned for its combination of great food, fun activities, and high-quality performances by Irish and international music acts. It will take place in Kilruddery House and Gardens, Bray, Co. Wicklow, on the 19th and 20th of August 2017.
This year, Groove has introduced an all-new health, fitness and wellbeing precinct called Thrive. One of the many exciting events taking place at Thrive is a Yocella session on Sunday the 20th of August at 11.30 a.m, led by the experienced yoga and dance teacher Kitty Maguire. Yocella participants will be guided through a gentle yin yoga practice by Kitty, while cellist Anna Marcossi will provide live musical accompaniment. Ahead of her appearance at the festival, we spoke to Kitty to find out more.
What do you feel is unique about yin yoga?
Yin yoga is ultimately a self-acceptance practice – very different to the acrobatic, vibrant, yang yoga practices that many people are familiar with. Yin yoga is about ‘coming home’ to your body, in a sense. It’s not about striving for the best body, the best poses, or any other attachments that we don’t need.
How did you come up with the idea to combine yin yoga with cello music?
I always loved classical music, and I originally trained as a ballet dancer before moving on to teaching. I’ve been working as a yoga teacher for four or five years now, and as I began to work with yin yoga, I knew that cello music would be very supportive in that kind of space. I find the cello to be a very grounded instrument. Its music is very deep and strong, in comparison to other types of music that can really stimulate the body and become a distraction! Yocella is about completely accepting and nurturing yourself, and being in the present moment.
What are your future plans for Yocella?
Yocella is just one year old, and I hope it continues to grow! I’m holding a Yocella’s First Birthday event to commemorate that, from 3.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. on August 13th in St. Kevin’s Hall, Bloomfield Avenue, Portobello. It was a real honour to be asked to appear at Groove Festival, as there will be so many other fantastic teachers there. Being at the festival definitely won’t be a typical work environment for me, with so many exciting events going on!
To learn more about Kitty’s work, visit her website, www.kittymaguire.com. Enjoy 10% off tickets to Groove Festival (plus kids 12 and under go free!) Visit http://groovefestival.tickets.ie/ and enter code POSITIVELIFE. This offer is valid until July 31st.
groovefestival.ie / facebook.com/groovemusicfestival
