The Berkshire Yoga Festival

Berkshire may not be the first place you'd expect to play host to Europe's largest yoga festival, but earlier this month, that's just what happened in Reading. The 2018 World Yoga Festival took place over four days, from Thursday 19th July to Sunday 22nd of July, with many hundreds attending each day. Some camped, and some just came for the day, but from what we've seen, this was a wonderful festival for all who attended.

A hugely welcoming festival, the World Yoga Festival isn't just for those who practice yoga daily. Complete beginners were welcome too, with several workshops and talks tailored specifically to those who are unfamiliar with the yoga ethos and technique. All ages were welcome too, which meant that everyone from toddlers to seniors got involved.

However, much of the focus of the event was bringing together some of the world's leading yoga instructors and thinkers. Yogis from all over the world were in attendance to help people better understand the health aspects of yoga, along with relevant religious texts and even herbal remedies. Dozens of talks took place, with masterclasses starting early in the morning for those who like to awaken with yoga, and right into the evening for those looking for a unique experience.

Of course, Yoga wasn't the only thing on offer at this unique festival. In keeping with its world feel, there was a host of world food and market stalls to browse, which featured everything from a beautiful Henna boutique to South Indian street food, health juices and more. This truly was a festival with a little something for everyone. Even if members of your family aren't huge yoga enthusiasts, this is certainly still an event you can bring them to next year.

Relaxation and rejuvenation were two of the big themes at the festival, which is why we also witnessed several spa and healing services available too. Fancy trying out reiki healing or an expert massage? Then this would be the place for you. There's nothing quite like a massage after a night camping.

And finally, what festival is complete without music? We were delighted to see several world music acts, ranging from violinists and dancers, to chanting, tribal music and more.

We truly hope to see the World Yoga Festival return, and those with or looking to purchase homes in Berkshire will be no doubt excited to see similar festivals pop up again in the near future.