Celebrate the Earth with Music and Yoga in Santa Monica

Molly demonstrate crab position using two Three Minute Eggs at
Tadasana International Yoga & Music Festival

When I stopped by the Tadasana International Yoga & Music Festival this afternoon, I expected to snap a few pictures and then take off.  But I wound up spending a few hours there wandering through the eco marketplace and peering in various yoga classes. I foolishly arrived without my yoga mat, plus I learned that you are actually supposed to schedule your classes.  Here are a few scenes from the first day of the festival.

If you can make it to the festival on Saturday or Sunday, it will be well worth your time.  I'd recommend spending the entire day because the admission is $99 per day.  But there are slews of activities and a variety of vendors are there with interesting products.  The Yoga Beauty Bar  had several paraben free body products on display including COOLA (a great locally made sunscreen) and Olie Biologique (which uses argan oil, rose hips and other natural ingredients to heal and moisturize skin).  Founder, Linda Alixe Thompson, says that Olie Biologique facial products are used by both men and women.

yoga beauty bar is a pop up store that carries organic body products

Additional vendors include: Three Minute Egg (oval yoga props [rather than blocks]), Hard Tail (with 20-50% savings off their amazing yoga wear), Jade Yoga (yoga mats), Mamma Chia Vitality Beverages, EOS Earth Friendly Products (dish, laundry and hand soaps), Kevita, Whole Foods, Eco Vessel, Yoga Hitch (an innovative strap to carry your mat that can double as a yoga strap or towel) and Simply Straws (lose the plastic straws and carry your own sipper).  Simply Straws has a promotion where you can earn a free straw by taking their pledge against plastic straws (and sharing it via Facebook or Twitter).  Beyond O2 Alkaline Water was supplying free water in several areas.

And for travelers looking for budget accommodations within the yoga community, OmStays is making its debut at TadasanaFest.  People can join as a yoga student or yoga teacher, and OmStays helps connect you with a yogi where you're heading.  Although men are welcome too, one of OmStay's goals is to help women travel on a shoestring.  At a glance, it struck me as a cross between Airbnb (which acts as an intermediary) and couch surfing with a yoga component.  Cost to stay at OmStay pad is $15 plus gratitude.

Founder of Simply Straws, Cyndi Sladics
A simply straw can help you sip at the San Diego Wild Animal Park
where plastic straws are forbidden (dangerous to animals)

Steve offers samples of Mamma Chia's vitality drink.
Guests could buy bottles or a case for a discounted price.

Alycia Monet Denham created Yoga Hitch to carry her own mat while she's also managing her toddler .
Like its inventor, Yoga Hitch can multi-task by serving as a towel or a yoga strap when you're in class.

When:  Saturday and Sunday, April 21 and 22 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Cost: $99 (minimum age 14)

Where:  2600 Barnard Way in Santa Monica

Tadasana is even offering a free 30 song download of the Music of Tadasana through YogiTunes (provided you give YogiTunes your name, email address and zipcode).