Meet Your Workshop Instructors for Backwoods 2021! 🧘♀️
Yesterday, we released the complete workshop & yoga schedule for Backwoods 2021. If you haven't checked it out yet, click here! 👈
Also, haven't purchased tickets to Backwoods at Mulberry Mountain yet? Click here 👈
Meet Your Workshop Instructors
Arkansas Acro Yoga
Class: Acro Yoga
Scott and Hannah Forbush are two of the founders of Arkansas AcroYoga. They have been teaching for 6 years. They are certified instructors through Acro Revolution and teach and perform with Arkansas Circus Arts. They did acro on their first date 7 years ago and it has been a foundational part of their relationship ever since. They love sharing with others the joy, playfulness, trust and team building that acroyoga brings. When not on their mats, Scott runs a coffee shop and Hannah teaches music lessons and paints pottery. They have two beautiful children who can’t stop moving, just like their parents.
"We’re excited to get to be back in the festival scene and to provide an outlet for movement and play in a fun and relaxed environment."
Christina Duncan
Class: Thai Yoga Partner Massage
Christina Duncan is the owner of Wichita's premier aerial and flow arts studio, Flow Foundry. She has been performing for over 20 years in many modalities including flow, fire and aerial and is certified to teach Aerial, Yoga, Yin, SUP and working towards completing Thai Massage certification. Christina’s electrifying energy invites your body and spirit to step outside of your comfort zone and into the place where magic happens.
"I am excited to attend Backwoods because I missed the opportunities when it was in Oklahoma but I have a personal connection to Mulberry Mountain from my many happy and challenging Wakarusas including the untimely last one. I am so grateful to connect with the mountain and all its people again!"
Mackenzie Smith
Class: Laughter Yoga
Mackenzie is a laughter enthusiast and an all around yogi. Hee goal is to bring people closer to themselves and each other through the art of authenticity and exploration.
"I am so excited to be behind the scenes in a community that I already love so dearly. This will be a great step towards being a part of the creation of environments where people can come to be free, connect, and grow."
Katie Sunshine
Class: Hoop Dance
Katie Sunshine was first inspired to pick up a hoop in 2008 after being introduced to hooping at a music festival in Ozark, Arkansas. What started as a hobby turned into a profession when one of her hoop videos went viral on YouTube. Since then, she's racked up more than 16 million Youtube views, hooped for commercials and music videos, and taught workshops all over the country.
"Backwoods is such an exciting gathering of artists, creatives, and beautiful souls in general. I'm just happy to be part of the magic that happens on Mulberry Mountain!"
Aubrey Warren
Classes: Guided Meditation + Sound Bath, Yoga Electrified
Aubrey Warren, your Festival Fairy Godmother, has been married to Jacob since 200, and they have been attending music festivals together since the beginning of their relationship. They live in Fort Worth, Texas, and stay busy raising their two boys. Aubrey is a Yoga Instructor, Certified Yoga Education Provider, Conscious Dance DJ & Facilitator, and an Ordained Minister with the Church of Spiritual Humanism. Although she's been teaching for over twenty years, her career started in TV commercial casting. Her unique skill set makes Aubrey the ideal Backwoods Workshop Coordinator, and she's excited to serve our community again in this role.
"Jacob and I found great healing and solace at Wakarusa (on Mulberry Mountain), when we were in a dark pace in our marriage. This venue has a special place in our hearts and we feel called to serve this community that's given us so much! When Backwoods took over the venue, we knew we had to be a part of it! I taught yoga at Backwoods 2018, and it was awesome. I was overjoyed to have the privilege to coordinate our 2019 Lineup, and I can't wait to share with you everything we have in store for 2021! I'm proud to work alongside such amazing instructors and even more proud to work for such big-hearted producers committed to bring us the best event possible! This year is going to be EPIC!"
Inside Backwoods Workshops: Interview with Aubrey Warren
Workshop Instructor Applications for Backwoods 2020 are now open online!
Click this link to apply now: http://bit.ly/bw2020-workshops
If you didn't know, Aubrey Warren organizes our workshops every year and she's an amazing member of our team. We caught up with her to talk about Backwoods 2020 and here's what she had to say:
Hey Aubrey, how's it going!
Great! Thanks for asking :)
In case some readers don't know, you've been a yoga instructor for a long time. How did you first get into yoga?
I had chronic bladder infections my senior year of college(2001). After a year on antibiotics, Igot frustrated with western medicine and sought out an easternpractitioner. Dr. Lee was the firstperson to ask me what was going on in my personal life and what I was puttinginto my body. THIS question wasEVERYTHING! I used to be 50 poundsheavier and in attempts to get skinny, I was addicted to Metabolife, theephedra-based diet pill that’s illegal now. Dr. Lee suggested I get off the pills, clean up my nutrition & startpracticing yoga. After 6 months ofpracticing twice a week, my bladder infections were gone, and I was no longerneeding the asthma medications I had been on since my youth. Knowing I had to share this magic with others,I started my Yoga Teacher Training the following year.
So once your training was over, when did you start teaching?
I taught my first yoga class in October 2003. I’ve spent the past 16 years teaching inmultiple gyms and yoga studios throughout Dallas-Fort Worth. Over the past 3 years, I’ve become aCertified Yoga Education Provider, which gives me tremendous joy! Being a teacher of teachers is a differentbeast. It’s one thing to teach poses ona yoga mat - it takes a heightened level of knowledge and expierence inyogic-philosophy to make it come alive and become applicable for those lookingto teach this practice to others. Forwhat you physically see on the mat barely scratches the surface of what is trueyoga.
How were you first introduced to Backwoods?
This is kinda a long story, so I’ll do my best to share the“Cliff’s Notes.” Without knowing thefull story, though, it’s hard to understand why this festival is so special tome…
We had our first son in 2007 and our 2nd in 2009, and I lostmyself in motherhood. Our marriage wasin trouble. In attempts to heal what wasbroken, we left our little boys with grandma and grandpa for our 1st camping musicfestival – Wakarusa, 2012. Itworked. Through letting go of our socialroles and getting lost in the music and the community, it was like we had yearsof therapy in one weekend. Recognizingthe magic that occurred and the value of the investment, we committed toattending annually to intentionally keep our relationship-fire burning.
At the last Wakarusa (2015), I had a vision of teaching yogathere – but when the festival “died” my heart was broken. All the while, I was stagnant in my career. Every day I would pray to Spirit, “Show me thenext right step.” During meditation Iwould hear, “You’re supposed to be teaching on a different platform,” and oneday that message was followed by a flash of that vision at Wakarusa. Maybe THAT is the platform. I said a prayer, wrote it down and opened myheart to the idea of being a Music Festival Yoga Teacher. Weeks later I got a Facebook message from afesty-friend who’s a hoop instructor. She got booked to teach hoop at Middlelands, produced by InsomniacEvents in Texas, and that they were looking for a yoga instructor. By the end of the day, I was booked for my1st festival teaching gig. When itlanded in my lap, I knew something bigger than myself was behind it all.
At the last Wakarusa (2015), I had a vision of teaching yoga there – but when the festival “died” my heart was broken. All the while, I was stagnant in my career. Every day I would pray to Spirit, “Show me the next right step.” During meditation I would hear, “You’re supposed to be teaching on a different platform,” and one day that message was followed by a flash of that vision at Wakarusa. Maybe THAT is the platform. I said a prayer, wrote it down and opened my heart to the idea of being a Music Festival Yoga Teacher. Weeks later I got a Facebook message from a festy-friend who’s a hoop instructor. She got booked to teach hoop at Middlelands, produced by Insomniac Events in Texas, and that they were looking for a yoga instructor. By the end of the day, I was booked for my 1st festival teaching gig. When it landed in my lap, I knew something bigger than myself was behind it all.
I taught at 3 festivals in 2017. When Backwoods announced taking over MulberryMountain, I KNEW I had to be involved. Iapplied online. I visualized myselfteaching on the mountain daily. A fewmonths before Backwoods, I still hadn’t heard anything back, so I starteddigging. I eventually got connected withJavier, one of the executive producers, and poured my heart into an email. He replied saying they already had a coupleinstructors booked, but that he could feel my passion and genuine desire toserve and would make space for me on the lineup.
After Backwoods 2018 was over, I reached out to Javier expressing what I thought we did awesomely and what we could do better in 2019. I ended my email with the following statement, “So you’re left with this decision. Either bring me back to teach a couple of classes next year or hire me to coordinate a full workshop lineup for you.”
What are your plans for Backwoods 2020?
I was honestly extremely satisfied with our 2019 workshopexecution and lineup. It’s my prayerthat we do just as good, if not better. Weare a growing festival, still doing our best to identify exactly where fundsshould be allocated to make the best expierence possible. We LOVED having ENDo’s sponsorship last yearand are currently in negotiation to see what we can manifest together nextyear. Stay tuned!
I was honestly extremely satisfied with our 2019 workshop execution and lineup. It’s my prayer that we do just as good, if not better. We are a growing festival, still doing our best to identify exactly where funds should be allocated to make the best expierence possible. We LOVED having ENDo’s sponsorship last year and are currently in negotiation to see what we can manifest together next year. Stay tuned!
Are you looking for anything particular for next year?
Yes! I was a film major at TCU who specialized in casting. While I was dealing with those bladder infections, I was working on casting TV commercials. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would end up back in casting, but workshop coordination is a lot like casting a show. I have an idea of the offerings I want to provide and I’m simply looking for the best fits for the job.
To all those applying, consider the “Yoga Teacher” rolealready cast. That’s me. I know there are a LOT of aspiring yogiswanting their opportunity to share their passions, so I’m challenging YOU to becreative with how you package your teachings. If you a pitch anything that feels like vinyasa or hatha yoga, you won’tget selected. Please remember, I wasn’tjust hired to be the Workshop Coordinator, but also the Resident YogaInstructor.
The roles I’m looking to cast:
- Laughter Yoga
- Partner Yoga – Acro and/or Thai Massage
- Flow Arts – hula hoop, poi, etc
- Other Energy & Conscious Movement Practices– Tai Chi, Chi Gong, Contact Improv etc (Not just ecstatic dance. We do that naturally during DJ sets.)
- Breath work / Pranayama / Chanting
- Sound Healing – gong, singing Bowls, etc
- Mind-expanding, wisdom-sharing information! (Workshops from last year: Intro to PlantMedicines, Spiritual Alchemy, Intro to Astrology). Please Note – I will not accept workshoppresenters who have not presented this content elsewhere. This isn’t the platform to test yourcontent. Go practice teaching, thenapply!
Who I’m looking for:
- People with the desire and intention to serve, who would pay to attend Backwoods otherwise.
- People enthusiastic about the following energetic exchange:
- Teach 2 workshops = Receive 1 Artist Pass
- Teach 3 workshops = Receive 1 Artist Pass + 1 GA ticket
- Teach 5 workshops = Receive 2 Artists Passes
- Artist Passes include = Artists’ area camping, Hospitality access (meals, drinks, etc), Showers
How can people apply to get involved?
Just fill out the application. PS – EVERYONE needs to apply, even if you taught at Backwoods 2019. Here’s the link: http://bit.ly/bw2020-workshops
Sounds great! Let's end on this: what’s your favorite thing about Backwoods?
The venue, community & team. Let me elaborate.
Venue: I appreciate live music anywhere, however I’m partial to events in nature. There’s nothing more healing than dancing your butt off to your favorite band, knowing the trees and Mother Nature will be there to sooth your nervous system when it’s all over. The Mulberry Mountain Magic is REAL! As you drive up the mountain, you slowly lose contact with the outside world digitally, sucking you into a different dimension – the mystical vortex that is Mulberry Mountain. Dude, did you know that quartz crystals fill the earth in Arkansas? So it’s not just the fresh air, the foliage, the breathtaking vistas, the river and the waterfall – there are minerals deep within the earth heightening every experience. Google “Healing qualities of Quartz Crystals” if you’re wanting to learn more on this!
Community & Team: As the Backwoods 2019 team was forming, it was apparent how many of us were a part of the old Wakarusa community. It blew my mind how many of us were all at Waka 2012. It’s almost like Waka died so we, the community, people who love Mulberry Mountain, could create something new – TOGETHER! I am incredibly grateful that Will and Javier, our executive producers, made the brilliant move to shift Backwoods to our current location. And lastly, I’m crazy proud to work along-side so many huge-hearted, passionate souls whose hearts are all in the right place. They’ve found passionate freaks like me to utilize our expertise to create a memorable experience for everyone involved.
Awesome Aubrey. We're all excited to see what you put together for next year... thank you for your time!
My pleasure. I can't wait for Backwoods 2020 :)
Complete Workshop & Yoga Schedule - Backwoods 2019
Here it is! Another reason to get excited for this year's Backwoods: your complete workshop & yoga schedule for all four days of Backwoods 2019 presented by ENDo Water 💧
Thursday
7:00 PM - Silent Disco Yoga with Alice Evans (ENDo 💧)
8:00 PM - Deep Facia Release with Cecille Mercado (ENDo 💧)
9:30 PM - Opening Meditation at the mainstage
Friday
8:00 AM - Sound Healing Meditation with Savanna Serenades & Abigail Pomeroy
9:00 AM - Intro To Astrology: The Zodiac Signs with Savanna Serenades
10:00 AM - Intro To Pranayama with Shanti Nolen
11:00 AM - Hatha Yoga Alignment with Alice Evans (ENDo 💧)
12:00 PM - Guided Meditation with Aubrey Warren
12:30 PM - Intro To Hoop with Katie Sunshine
1:30 PM - Yoga Electrified: Get Grounded with Aubrey Warren
2:30 PM - Guided Meditation with Aubrey Warren
3:00 PM - Acro Yoga with Katrina Repman & Chris Cox
4:00 PM - Intro To Plant Medicine: Revive & Energize with Damien Shreve
5:00 PM - Alignment Base Vinyasa Yoga with Hylary Ahrendt (ENDo 💧)
6:00 PM - Forbidden Knowledge with Jaquintin Means
Saturday
8:00 AM - Sound Healing Meditation with Savanna Serenades & Abigail Pomeroy
9:00 AM - Intro To Astrology: The Planets with Savanna Serenades
10:00 AM - Music For Meditation: Kirtan with House of Hearts: Jason & Shanti Nolen
11:30 AM - Laughter Yoga with Michael Murphy
12:30 PM - Hoops Tricks And Transitions with Katie Sunshine
1:30 PM - Yoga Electrified: Get Grounded with Aubrey Warren
2:30 PM - Guided Meditation with Aubrey Warren
3:00 PM - Acro Yoga with Katrina Repman & Chris Cox
4:00 PM - Drum Circle with Jason Nolen & Jacob Warren
5:00 PM - Intro To Plant Medicine: Relax & Restore with Jaquintin Means
6:00 PM - Ancient Religions & Symbols with Jaquintin Means
7:00 PM - CBD Restorative Yoga with Alexis Grisaffi (ENDo 💧)
Sunday
8:00 AM - Sound Healing Meditation with Savanna Serenades & Abigail Pomeroy
9:00 AM - Intro To Astrology: Phases Of The Moon with Savanna Serenades
10:00 AM - Intro To Plant Medicine: Ceremony & Ritual with Damien Shreve
11:00 AM - Guided Meditation with Aubrey Warren
11:30 AM - Laughter Yoga with Michael Murphy
12:30 PM - Acro Yoga with Katrina Repman & Chris Cox
1:30 PM - Yoga Electrified: Grace & Surrender with Aubrey Warren
2:30 PM - Guided Meditation with Aubrey Warren
3:00 PM - Flash Mob Rehearsal with Lee Jeffries & Katie Sunshine
4:00 PM - Innerverse Podcast with Chance Garton
5:00 PM - CBD Restorative Yoga with Alexis Grisaffi (ENDo 💧)
6:00 PM - Spiritual Alchemy with Jaquintin Means
We'll see you at Backwoods 2019!! Grab your tickets now if you haven't already: http://bit.ly/backwoods-tix
