The yoga tradition and festival community have many things in common: uniting groups of people, healing individuals, and holding a safe space for growth. That being said, it’s not surprising that most music festivals schedule a yoga class or two in the morning hours, or that many yoga festivals usually include a few musical performers. However, an experience that equally incorporates the best of both worlds is truly icing on the cake.

While many of us may not be able to make it out to India for an authentic traditional yoga festival experience, there are plenty of festivals in North America alone that exist to connect through love of live music, asana practice, and yogic principles. Here’s our list of recommendations. If you feel like we missed a yoga and music festival, please give us the info so we can check it out!

ARISE Festival, Loveland, CO

ARISE is a blooming festival that has worked its way into the hearts of Coloradians and travelers alike. Now in its third year, the annual event considers itself to be more of a movement than a party festival. ARISE’s Yoga Zone features a plethora of diverse classes from both local instructors and internationally traveling yogis. Class themes range from yin yoga with Tibetan bowls, to playful vinyasa. The festival has already announced 22 instructors, and plans on adding more. The music is just as good as the yoga, with headliners including Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros, The Polish Ambassador and Emancipator Ensemble.

Bahkti Fest, Joshua Tree, CA and Madison, WI

Bahkti Fest, which now takes place in both Joshua Tree, California and Madison, Wisconsin, has become known as the spiritual Woodstock of the new millennium. The yoga leaders on these lineups are always incredible, including names like prana flow yoga revolutionary Shiva Rea, and Bhakti yogi, Kirtan singers Govind Das & Rada. While not the typical music festival lineup, Kirtan musical performances are plentiful and happen throughout the day.

Wisconsin’s version of the festival takes place late June, while the one in Joshua Tree happens at the beginning of September. Due to overwhelming community support and love, Joshua Tree’s gathering has become biannual with the addition of Shakti Festival in May.

Bass Coast, Merritt, British Columbia

Bass Coast is a Canadian favorite. The West Coast festival has it all: high production level, cutting-edge electronic music and a quality full yoga lineup. The festival’s yoga studio has many different variations of yoga classes scheduled: from yin to kundalini, to flow, and even guided meditation classes. 

Beloved Festival, Tidewater, OR

Beloved is a four-day festival full of sacred music and transformational yoga practice. Over 21 yoga workshops are scheduled, each led by a different instructor from a diverse background. Renowned Shiva Rea is on the lineup, along with acro yoga classes, and Kundalini yoga chanting workshops. Sacred music is very versatile and the festival’s lineup includes: Groundation, The Polish Ambassador and Noura Mint Seymali.

Hanuman Festival, Boulder, CO

Hanuman Festival is a yoga and music festival that takes place at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Boulder, Colorado. The annual festival truly seeks to bring the heart of yoga to the community. Many talented local yoga teachers and nationally andinternationally traveling yogis come to Hanuman Festival to share their practice. The festival’s last musical lineup includes sensual bass music by Govinda, Dub Kirtan, and Lucent Dossier Experience.

Lightning In a Bottle, Bradley, CA

Photo by: Art Gimbel

Lightning In a Bottle is the perfect marriage of music and yoga, and the perfect blend of sacred and wild. The festival sets a prime example of how an event can be wild and fun, as well as calming and relaxing. Each year the festival incorporates a full yoga lineup, and there are two areas (Yoga Namaste and Yoga OM) that are dedicated to yoga workshops and classes throughout the weekend. The festival’s diverse yoga offerings demonstrate just how far reaching the tradition can be practiced. Last year the festival yoga lineup included the best of West Coast dance music: Flume, Odesza, and Thomas Jack.

Northern Nights Music Festival, Mendocino, CA

Nestled in the gorgeous redwoods of Northern California, Northern Nights Music Festival is an up-and-comer that certainly has not forgotten about hosting an extensive yoga program along with the music. The Grove area of the festival hosts the yoga, beginning with a guided meditation Saturday and Sunday morning. While most of the festival’s teachers are based in the California area, they all come from a diverse background and have many different things to bring to the yogic experience. The festival’s music is extremely diverse this year including hip-hop legends Black Star, Shlohmo Live and Gold Panda.

Wanderlust, All Over the U.S. and Canada

Wanderlust is the first of its kind. The touring yoga festival goes all over North America and beyond, and chances are that it will definitely hit a city near you. A celebration of mindful living, Wanderlust seeks out the most renowned yoga and meditation instructors in the world to share their practice at every event, as well as inspiring and euphonic musical performers.

Unifer, Tolland, MA

Unifier is an annual transformational healing and expressive arts festival that has plenty of yoga and live music. The year’s music lineup included festival favorites: Papadosio, Wildlight, and Nahko & Medicine for the People , as well as more traditional Kirtan singers. Several talented yoga instructors also come out to the festival to share their practice.