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 :)