Raquel, born and raised in Northern Michigan, holds two things dear to her heart: community and laughter Through guided movement, Raquel’s goal is to make you feel at home on your mat and connected to your body. Her flows offer attention to alignment, providing a strong foundation for beginners, and continually grant seasoned practitioners space to play with new transitions and reconnect to their roots. No matter where you are in your practice, Raquel will offer support, guidance, and plenty of opportunities to laugh throughout your experience. Raquel has been teaching at this festival since 2016 and loves taking this time to relax, spread joy, and dance to great music!

This immersion of sound will soften you into a place of relaxation, energetic support, and peace through various meditative sound instruments and guided meditation.

You will be able to work with and identify different types of hula hoops, handmade by Celestial Dance Hoops. Learn the difference between on-body and off-body hula hooping, as well as hula hoops are recommended for each method and why. Hooping Moves: Waist hooping/posture/movement while hooping, Alternating Hand weaves, beginning steps to isolations and vortex, lasso, and how to incorporate transitions

Dr. Steve has always had a fascination with understanding the body, so that… As a life-long learner he keeps striving to figure out how to help you heal better, fater, and naturally. This has led him to earn two post graduate Fellowships, a level only a few therapists have achieved. His approach takes a holistic view of your body with an appreciation for how everything is connected. It all starts with understanding your concerns, desires and goals. His focus is listening to your story and connecting the dots. You are more than a mere collection of body parts, but a whole person. Providing you explanations, information, and a plan for natural healing is his method. Your experience is being listened to and cared for as you work together to reclaim your comfort and confidence doing what you love. Enjoying life with his wife Mollie and their tripod-pooch “Coach” Henrietta, Dr. Steve has been an avid outdoorsman and rugby player/coach/fan for many years. The family shares a passion for great quality food, nutrition, fun and sun.

Loosely translated as “energy work” or “energy practice,” qigong is the foundation upon which tai chi is built. Combining mindful movement for strength and flexibility, breath work, and meditation, this somatic experience will take participants into a deep dive through their own body and being. As a bonus, the session will be enhanced by crystal bowl and Tibetan bowl sound healing from Emily Vaillancourt. Stanwood Chang studies Sun style tai chi with Master Thomas Duterme, Yang (Cheng Man-Ching) style tai chi with Dr. Peter Wayne, and Chen style tai chi with Master Wang Haijun. ​He is the Program Manager for the Eight Active Ingredients of Tai Chi Teacher Training Program at Dr. Wayne’s tai chi school, the Tree of Life Tai Chi Center. Stanwood also teaches the Tai Chi for Parkinson’s program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. He established his own school, the Red Panda Tai Chi Institute, in 2009 to preserve and transmit the traditional art of tai chi, while applying it to modern-day stresses, health issues, and lifestyles. Outside of tai chi, Stanwood studies anatomy, movement, and perception with Mary Bond.

Aleece took her 200hr yoga teacher training and has completed over 600 additional hours of body movement certifications including: Yin, Hatha, Hot Yoga, all Buti Yoga formats, and Thai Vedic Therapy. She has strived to give more to the community by continuing education in becoming a Doula and within the healing arts including sound healing, Reiki & Energy Work, the Sound Wave Table, Auricular Therapy and Bodywork. She is currently completing her 500hr YTT and becoming a Certified Personal Trainer. If you are looking for someone to empower you with the education you need to advance your body or take pause, Aleece has the tools, intuition and so much more! Emily is a Northern Michigan based sound healing practitioner, esthetician, and yoga teacher in training. She’s currently studying with the PGA to specialize in Yoga for Golf. Her sound healing sessions incorporate crystal singing bowls and grounding tones and other sound healing instruments to create a calming space for presence, emotional release, and nervous system reset. Emily often weaves sound into her own yoga practices to help still the mind and center the body and she’s honored to hold that space for others. During these sessions, her live sound will support the lead instructor’s guidance, enhancing the experience with intention, balance, and deep restoration.

Dan grew up and has made Northern Michigan his home. His love and connection to the Great Lakes can’t keep him away from this place. Dan’s spiritual journey started well over 30 years ago, connecting to the earth. Alcohol blurred his vision and path for a majority of that time. Dan started working on reconnecting his path a little over a year ago and last October at a men’s retreat he wrote a goodbye

Raquel, born and raised in Northern Michigan, holds two things dear to her heart: community and laughter Through guided movement, Raquel’s goal is to make you feel at home on your mat and connected to your body. Her flows offer attention to alignment, providing a strong foundation for beginners, and continually grant seasoned practitioners space to play with new transitions and reconnect to their roots. No matter where you are in your practice, Raquel will offer support, guidance, and plenty of opportunities to laugh throughout your experience. Raquel has been teaching at this festival since 2016 and loves taking this time to relax, spread joy, and dance to great music! Aleece took her 200hr yoga teacher training and has completed over 600 additional hours of body movement certifications including: Yin, Hatha, Hot Yoga, all Buti Yoga formats, and Thai Vedic Therapy. She has strived to give more to the community by continuing education in becoming a Doula and within the healing arts including sound healing, Reiki & Energy Work, the Sound Wave Table, Auricular Therapy and Bodywork. She is currently completing her 500hr YTT and becoming a Certified Personal Trainer. If you are looking for someone to empower you with the education you need to advance your body or take pause, Aleece has the tools, intuition and so much more! Aaron has been enchanting audiences across Northern Michigan with the soothing sounds of the Native American flute for over two decades. His performances, known for their beautiful and haunting melodies, deeply resonate with listeners, providing both emotional and spiritual experiences. Aaron’s musical journey began during his school years when he played the tuba at Petoskey Middle School. He continued his musical exploration while pursuing a degree in music at Central Michigan University (CMU). It was during his collegiate studies that Aaron was drawn to the Native American flute. Captivated by its distinctive tone and aesthetic appeal, he embraced the instrument wholeheartedly and has since dedicated himself to mastering its art. Today, Aaron Wayne Otto continues to perform and spread awareness of this unique musical tradition, sharing its profound cultural significance and timeless beauty wherever he plays.