Can you imagine, hundreds of Yogis in one central location with over 50 yoga classes, and a variety of vendors? Overwhelming but extremely rewarding!
The Yoga Expo itself had a lot to offer, a wide variety of Yoga classes, mediation, spiritual workshops and tons of vendors. One can say it was a little too much, but you leave with more than expected. To be honest by 3-4pm I was wiped out… so exhausted that I had to do nothing between 4-5pm so I can enjoy my last class at 5-6pm. So lets that about the expo itself!
It was my first time attending! Everyone was excited about taking part in The Yoga Expo, the line was ridiculously long & yogis were discussing with their friends what their schedules looked like and what they were looking for. The attendance of participants was remarkable. Finally, the ropes were removed, and the wave of yogis poured into the designated section of The Yoga Expo at Ft. Lauderdale Convention Center. Sponsor bags were handed to us after entry and everyone scattered.
Check out the vendors, run to class, where to go?! Dealing with all that awesome energy upon entry I decided to check the vendors out, before I make my way to my second class option. I had one hour and that was not enough. I didn’t even get to make it to the second level due to the amount of vendors at the expo. Let’s take a break and check out some of the photos!
One hour is up, time to make my way to the 11:10am class. After having tendinitis for a over a year, anxiety and excitement surged through my body as I get ready to participate with Yogis in the following classes. My first class was From Stretch to Inversion with Zamanta Archibold. The class filled up pretty fast, every little space yogis tried to fit in. I can literally say there were over 70 students. Classes at the Expo were first come first served. The classes were opened to all levels. We did some partner stretching in the beginning which was a great ice breaker, we were yoga buddies and it reminded us that we are all learning together. I wish I had taken photos while participating in class but I did not want to miss anything, and I did not want to disrespect the teachers nor the students with my camera and the flash. So no in class photos for this article.
Class was over and onto to the next class on my agenda, Mediation with Pam Butler. Speed walking to the next location was a mission because everyone was trying to make it to their next choice of class. Well unfortunately, I made it but the classroom was much smaller than my first class and it was filled to the brim. People even sat outside and still took part but it was too late for me.😒 Well I’ll take this time to check out other vendors because my alternative option was also filled.
It was easy to loose track, you have to remember this expo is filled with lots of high energy and staying focus was a challenge but in a good way. Everyone was very supportive of the vendors present and it was just an amazing feeling. I learned a lot, bought a lot and made new friends. I did not expect majority of the vendors to be local, especially when it came to large brands like Just Live and Balanced Guru! Raw Juce and Suja were also handing out samples! Deliver Lean introduced their services and their menu, which was phenomenal because now that I’m focusing on eating healthier and my work schedule is crazy. This was an amazing alternative to help keep me on track. Talking and just meeting people and brands took up majority of my time at the expo which was okay because the interaction was pleasant.
After all the shopping, chit chatting, and etc I was burnt out! Oh my gosh it was already after 3pm, time files when you are having fun! Do I have the energy to make it to Budokon Yoga with Carlos Diaz at 4:10pm… not really and on top of that there was a massive crowd waiting to get in to his class. It was just too packed, so I decided to take a break and recovering for the final class. Jessica and I sat down, went through our bags of awesomeness and saved our energy for the final class Taoist Yoga Qi Dance with George Xavier Love.
Determined to make it into this class, we were the first ones at the door. It was an interesting class that focused on harnessing your energy in the palms of your hands and transferring it to your vital organs. This technique was taught to us in the form of a dance with its unique song. Something so simple, 10-20 minutes a day and can be done anywhere. It was a fun technique to learn. Thus bringing this day to a closure.
Overall, will I do this again? Yes! It was absolutely worth it! Plus I learned so much.
Any opportunities? A few, but things gets better every year.
- Not sure if the Convention limited The Yoga Expo but there needed to be more food vendors. Atlas brought mini wraps and was completely sold out before half way through the event. DeliverLean was doing only samples, along with Raw Juce and Suja. Physical activities increases appetites and we were starving, the granola bars and hemp seeds weren’t cutting it. Plus the attendance of this event was high and I can assume that it was underestimated.
- WATER! The juice sampling was great but we were dehydrated. The Convention concession stand below wasn’t sufficient. At least if the food vendors were lacking, selling water should not be sacrificed. Luckily, I had a 2 bottles of water in my trunk that I went to grab them. It was in such demand, that as I walked by sipping people where asking, “where did I get that from?”
- HOURS OF OPERATION: The event started from 10am-6pm and they literally let us in at 10am. So if you were in the long line and was trying to make it to the 10:10am class, you were late. They had to scan our passes, rip it in half (in case we needed to step outside the building), grab your sponsor bags, pass the vendors on the hunt of you trying to find your class location. IF anything, classes starts at 10 and doors opens at 9am. This would minimize yogis from freaking out being late to the class, and struggling to find the class locations. I also felt a little sad for the vendors, because you have this hoard of yogis rushing in and their just trying to make it to the class because it started 5 minutes ago.
- PAUSE why because I’ve heard a few yogis who had a full schedule line up and was struggling to try to meet some of the vendors. I’ve heard it throughout the day. Maybe just for one hour in the middle of the day, no classes just everyone having time to see the vendors. If not in the middle maybe at the end from 6pm-7pm. Because like me, I had a full agenda, I wanted to maximize and take advantage of the classes. Then I wouldn’t get to see the vendors, so I sacrifice some classes to check out the vendors.
These were my feedback about The Ft. Lauderdale Yoga Expo 2016 but its worth it, and yes I will definitely do it again. Just remember to listen to your body!
