Justine Carlisle & Dana Woodbury, Two of the Three Founders. Kelly Casey, (right front), a Volunteer Responsible for Volunteers and Social Media. (Missing from photo is Regan Johnson)

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 1,469)

“We went to a national yoga festival in Vermont last spring and wondered why don’t we have this in Maine?” said Justine Carlisle, one of the three founders of the Maine YogaFest late this afternoon.   She and the other two had finished most of the setup work for this event which is to be held this weekend at the East End Community School on the Hill.  The two day event kicks off tomorrow morning at 8 am.

The three Gracious ladies did lots of research before deciding to go forward with the event which they hope will become an annual event. The location was to be on the ocean with plenty of accessibility for people who walk, use the bus or come by bike as well as by car. Carlisle said the moment they walked into the East End Community School, they knew this was the spot.  In addition, they are able to utilize outdoor space as well as indoor space which is important in the unpredictable summer weather.

Each person who registers agrees to attend three yoga classes for $90.  There are 46 instructors, with 39 of them from Maine.  The classes and lectures can be taken during the two day event or condensed into one day only if that works best.  Participants are coming from ten different states, including New York, Virginia and Florida.   So far, 400 people have registered for the event.  “The response has been so great,” said Carlisle.  “We are really pleased with how people have responded.”

Both days there will be a “village of vendors” – 30 vendors offering free massages, frozen yogurt, food trucks and much more.

“This is truly a labor of love,” said Woodbury grinning as though she meant it.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please go to maineyogafest.com