A Letter from the Director: 2023 Workshops & Instructors
Dear Backwoods Family,
Can you believe 2022 is almost over? The New Year will be here and we’ll all be reunited on the mountain before we know it.
Speaking of New Years, I want you to know that if you have any intentions, resolutions or goals to become a more conscious and healthy human in 2023, we’re providing tools at Backwoods 2023 to help you stay on track (or get back on track if you fall off between the New Year and 4/20).
I know you already know about the kick-ass lineup we have in store for you, but are you aware of the mind-body-spirit activations available as well?
The majority of yoga-type events and retreats cost about $100 per day. Your 3-day GA Backwoods ticket (current price is $159) equates to $53 per day!
Not only do you have amazing music and art to enjoy, but you have the option to be nourished by retreat-quality classes and workshops. It’s my goal to provide a workshop schedule that’s worth the cost of your festival ticket even if there wasn’t any music. So, no matter your flow, jam, or vibe, we have something to fill your cup, expand your mind, elevate your soul, and amp your vibe.
So, although the majority of my time recently has been devoted to planning all of our festival infrastructure (like acquiring fencing, porta-potties, RV’s, golf carts, and all the non-sexy stuff it takes to run an event), I’ve been able to complete my workshop schedule as well.
If you joined us in 2019 and/or 2021, you’ll recognize the names and faces on our schedule. Each instructor has served on the Backwoods Workshop team previously, and I’m excited to showcase such awesome humans!
We’ll have workshops Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Although I’m teaching several classes on the schedule, let me start by introducing my team.
Thai Yoga Partner Massage Instructor, Christina Duncan
Our workshops begin daily with Thai Yoga Partner Massage at 9am led by Christina Duncan.
Although Christina’s first love is performing, she also loves teaching many different formats in the mind-body world. After starting her Thai Massage certification a few years ago, she was excited for the opportunity to join the Backwoods 2021 team. People loved her classes, so why not invite her back this year?
Christina is the owner of Wichita's premier aerial and flow arts studio, Flow Foundry. She has been performing and teaching for over 20 years. Her modalities include flow, fire, aerial, yoga, SUP and Thai Massage. Christina’s electrifying energy invites your body and spirit to step outside of your comfort zone and into the place where magic happens.
This workshop will guide you through a simple but therapeutic flow to bring healing energy to your partner while you tap into your own meditative state from the ancient healing art of Thai Massage.
Laughter Yoga Instructor, Mackenzie Smith
Tap into your silliness in Laughter Yoga at 10am, led by Mackenzie Smith.
Mackenzie is a laughter enthusiast and an all around yogi. Her goal is to bring people closer to themselves and each other through the art of authenticity and exploration.
Mackenzie was trained by our original (2019) laughter yoga teacher, Michael Murphy. Michael’s classes were our most popular in 2019, thus I didn’t hesitate to invite him back for 2021. Although Michael’s life took him in a direction that didn’t allow his return to Mulberry Mountain, he was excited to introduce me to his protégé.
Mackenzie proved herself to be a valuable addition to the team, and has revealed herself to me personally as someone deeply entrenched in festival culture. After running into her randomly at several events since working together in 2021, I realized how passionate she is about spreading goodness throughout our community.
Laughter Yoga is hilariously simple. Breath is essential to life, and laughter is a potent breathing ‘technique’ that everyone has experienced before. Using laughter to heal, laughter yoga implements childlike games and silliness exercises to stimulate forced laughter, which creates genuine deep-belly joy-inspiring giggles when paired with interpersonal eye contact.
Laughter Yoga was created by a medical doctor as an accessible yogic breath work practice, stimulating the vagus nerve, cycling oxygen deep into the lungs, and offering a connection-building activity for all involved. No experience is needed to join, and we ask all participants to arrive without judgment and willing to make eye-contact.
Hoop & Poi Instructor, Lee Jeffries
Find your flow in Hoop Dance at 1pm and/or Poi at 2pm, led by Lee Jeffries.
Lee Jeffries is a southeastern based performance artist that has been specializing in a fusion of dance and hooping for over a decade. He began learning multiple props under the direction of the team at Arkansas Circus Arts in Little Rock. Since then, Lee has had the wonderful opportunity to work with such companies as Facebook, Rowdy Mermaid, and Lumia Dance Company in varying capacities from performer, instructor, and choreographer.
Lee strides to cultivate community and collaboration amongst those who cross his path, and encourage all to express and share their perspective through movement!
Lee taught alongside our long-time regular hoop instructor, Katie Sunshine in 2019, but was unable to return to Backwoods 2021 because his body was healing from a recent surgery. Although I promised Katie Sunshine a resident hoop-spot as long as I’m with Backwoods, she had a personal scheduling conflict that’s keeping her from the mountain this year. So, I knew I had big shoes to fill. I also knew I needed to find another flow instructor, as hoop is Katie’s only prop, and the main feedback I’ve gotten from our community over the past few years in regards to future workshop offerings - MORE FLOW CLASSES!
So, I was overjoyed when Lee reached out to me asking if his talents could be of service this year. Being a versatile flow instructor he’s excited to fill Katie’s shoes and add something new of his own to our schedule. This will be our first year to offer poi classes at Backwoods. Ask and you shall receive!
Yoga Electrified by Yawei Instructor, Aubrey Warren
Get grounded in your body, flow, stretch, and vibe out in Yoga Electrified by Yawei at Noon, led by me, Aubrey Warren.
I am an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher and Certified Yoga Education Provider with over 25 years of teaching experience.
Yoga Electrified is a mixed-level vinyasa-style yoga class to kick-ass music. Different postures and movement meditations are used to help students move stagnant, negative energies out of the body to experience greater levels of joy. Music is used intentionally to aid in the facilitation of this process. Classes will be more gentle and stretchy as the festival progresses.
Typically I curate a playlist full of artists on the lineup. However, this year I decided to take Yoga Electrified to the next level by adding a live DJ.
Yoga Electrified DJ, Yawei
Yawei is a multi-media BIPOC artist with a bold new vibe coming out of Austin, TX. Delicately weaving multiple genres into unforgettable alchemical dance experiences, Yawei creates organic, tribal, sensual, worldly musical mantras punctuated by deep, shamanic bass beats that speak to our primal, expansive, highest selves.
Check her out on Soundcloud.
Guided Meditation + Sound Bath Instructor, Aubrey Warren
Find your Zen during the Guided Meditation + Sound Bath at 1pm, led by me again.
Receive an energetic massage for your soul and central nervous system as you're guided deep into a relaxed meditative state. These quartz crystal singing bowls attuned to the chakras will have you melting into your mat.
I literally had someone fall asleep last year, and we had to wake him up so we could start the next class. So, if you need to find ease in your mind or body and don’t have the energy for yoga, please allow the good vibes of the enviornment to bring you solace.
I’m excited that I not only get to share my love of mind-body practices with the Backwoods community this year, but I also get to share my passion for philosophy.
I’m not just a yoga teacher, I’m a yogi, which means I practice something called svadhyaya. Svadhayaya is a Sanskrit word that means “self study.” So, as I have gotten to know myself better, I have learned some life-changing philosophies and have developed tools and practices that have aided in my evolution, consciousness, and inner peace.
Join me every afternoon for a different Philosophy Class at 3pm.
Friday is Embodied Time Management: The Empowered Female Flow.
I don’t know if the other ladies in the Backwoods community have struggled with their menstrual cycles as much as I have. It used to be a huge area of grief, frustration, pain, and it strained my personal relationships. So sisters of the tribe, if you resonate with my experience, let me share with you what I’ve learned.
It’s possible to become empowered by your period. Learn how to harness your weekly superpowers by becoming more mindful and in tune with your menstrual cycle. Learn how to schedule your to-do list and get more done while improving your personal relationships.
If you haven’t ventured down this path yet, trust me, it’s going to blow your mind!
Saturday is Shadow Work 101.
Change unwanted behavior patterns through depersonalizing your programming. Your personality and psyche are composed of a combination of archetypal patterns. An archetype is an unconscious program of human behavior. Each archetype has "light" and "shadow" qualities. Your shadow is simply the pieces of you that you haven't gotten to know yet.
Learn the four primary "survival archetypes" that all humans have in common and their unique voices (recurring tapes they play in your head). Learning the languages and lessons of your survival archetypes enable you to identify which fragment of your shadow is in control and when. This awareness aids in your evolution and empowerment.
Sunday is Sex Magic, and my king, Jacob Warren, will help me lead the class.
Sex Magic Teachers, Aubrey & Jacob Warren
Take your intimacy to the next level. Sacred sexuality is a spiritual path that turns sex into a spiritual practice. This workshop focuses on the lineage of Egyptian sex magic and inner alchemy.
Learn the philosophy and some physical practices to help jump-start your journey (no nudity or sex will be involved during the workshop).
Jacob and I have been married for 19 years, have 2 teenage boys, and have been on a spiritual journey together since the day we met. Before having children, we made a pilgrimage to Egypt that changed our lives forever. I have studied with a tantra kundalini master and guru of the (mystical and underground) Shaktipat sect for the past five years. My relationship with my teacher guided me into turning all aspects of my life into a spiritual practice. As a tantrika, I started bringing meditative practices into the bedroom with Jacob and eventually started exploring Egyptian sex magic.
So, if you’re a dedicated yogi or if you’re simply curious to learn more and be a fly on the wall, wander over to the circus tent. We’ll be in the woods between VIP camping and the second (EDM) stage.
All of our classes are appropriate for all skill levels. No experience is necessary. Just bring your yoga mat, water, and a journal to take notes in the philosophy classes.
Inside the Goddess Awakening Temple
However, if you party until sunrise and sleep through everything I just mentioned, know that the Goddess Awakening temple will be next door and will host a few classes each day after the official workshop schedule ends. From arts and crafts and journaling exercises to quiet contemplation - Goddess Awakening is a safe space for healing, connection, and harm reduction.
They focus on gender equality and empowerment and create a judgment-free environment for all humans. They are allies and supporters of BIPOC and the LGBTQ+ communities as well.
Staff members will be available 24/7 should you ever need a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, or someone’s presence to behold your processing.
So, if you haven’t gotten your Backwoods ticket yet, whatcha waiting for?
Don’t forget, if you purchase your ticket between now and the end of the year, we’re going to gift you a ticket to the late night acoustic set and TACO PARTY with String Cheese Incident.
And lastly, have you heard about our art contest?
We would love you to design our 2023 official lineup tee. Learn more here. Deadline for submission is February 15th. I’m so excited to see what you come up with.
That’s all I’ve got for now.
May you and yours have a peaceful, healthy and joyous holiday season, and may we all lean into 2023 with courage, curiosity, and wonder.
Your Event Director & Festival Fairy Godmother,
Aubrey Warren :)