Yogapalooza comes to Mississauga

The yoga festival, Yogapalooza, is making its way to the streets of Mississauga.

Yogis from across the GTA will gather at the Art Gallery of Mississauga tomorrow at 7 p.m., to practice their beloved downward dog.

Yogapalooza first kicked off its movement in 2010 gathering over 700 yoga enthusiasts from the GTA and beyond. The event has hit the greater parts of the downtown core, such as Queen’s Park and Harbourfront Centre, while also making an appearance in other areas outside of the city like Gage Park and Brampton.

Salimah Kassim-Lahka, founder of the event and Yogavision studio owner, says the event is a way to offer movement, music and meditation.

“The idea is to bring people together to create community, to explore those aspects, and our method to our madness is to create a yoga festival in order to have that environment that helps people get to that place where they’re feeling more cautious, where they’re feeling connected,” Kassim-Lahka says.

Salimah Kassim-Lahka and Brigid Dineen are two of the three founding women of this festival of movement.

Dineen believes that Yogapalooza gives the opportunity for people to join together and develop connections.

“The difference is there is going to be a cocktail hour as well, so there will be a chance to mix and mingle with other participants. It’s really building a sense of community; we’ll be spending some time getting to know each other,” Dineen says.

This year, Yogapalooza attendees will be surrounded by visual artifacts all created by local artists invented a new and natural experience.

“Being in the gallery,” Dineen says, “just the things that are coming across your field of your vision as your practicing is quite different.”

Yogapalooza is reaching out to a community, and joining on a bigger picture of what yoga really has to offer.

Engagement Officer at the Art Gallery of Mississauga Tina Chu has played a crucial role in the development of the event.

Chu believes bringing the outdoor enthusiasts to an indoor setting will broaden the way yoga is practiced and add a different perspective to visual arts.

“I think moving it here, indoors has given it a very different dynamic, and there’s also the setting of the gallery itself that I think will add something very interesting and I think also within the space, it can craft a different kind of experience,” Chu says.

The event will include live music, tasty bites after the yoga class and a little bit of wine.

Doors open at 6:30 in the evening and the practice starts at 7.