Colorado’s countless yoga festivals attract a large roster of star instructors from around the world, which presents a problem: What are you supposed to do when your favorite yogi goes back to Bali? The brand-new Denver Yoga Festival (DYF) solves this dilemma by highlighting local yogis, so once the festivities are over you can stick with the best teacher for your preferred practice. Held at Union Station, the Oxford Hotel, and other prominent spots around town, the DYF features 60 events, including workshops, classes, and panels, over a four-day span. Overwhelmed? Relax. That’s why we assembled this condensed guide.

If You Seek: Motivation

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You want: Gina Caputo

Her style: Caputo combines unexpected stretches (ever target your texting muscles before?) with long holds in poses like forearm plank. It’s a challenge, but Caputo’s humor and encouraging catchphrase—“Five more breaths here, because you can”—push you beyond your perceived boundaries.

Catch Caputo at the DYF: At Brunchasana (translation: food after yoga) in front of Union Station. You can’t find inner peace if you’re hangry. August 7, 8 to 10 a.m.

If You Seek: Fun (and Beer)

You want: Denelle Numis

Her style: Numis injects helpful variations into poses, like adding a block in dolphin pose to ensure you square your shoulders. She is also committed to developing community: Numis holds many of her classes in breweries, where she encourages post-savasana socializing.

Catch Numis at the DYF: For Après Yoga at Denver Beer Co., whose Sun Drenched American ale pairs well with downward-facing dog. August 5, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

If You Seek: A Yoga Body

—Reace Daniel teaches a class. Photo courtesy of Thank Me Next Time Photography

You want: Reace Daniel

His style: His experience might be thin compared to other teachers, but Daniel (pictured) will whip your glutes, abs, and thighs into shape before you can say “pranayama.” Cheering you on over electronic music, Daniel keeps you hyped throughout muscle-searing horse poses and never-ending yogi bicycle crunches.

Catch Daniel at the DYF: In front of Union Station. August 5, 8 to 9:15 a.m.

If You Seek: A Challenge

You want: Cheryl Deer

Her style: Expect a belly-ripping core workout and long holds in technically difficult postures (picture you ankles above your head). But rest assured, Deer’s individualized modifications will make you forgive her for twisting your body into impossible positions well before her two-hour class is over.

Catch Deer at the DYF: Teaching a free class at the Oxford Hotel focusing on the neck, shoulders, and hips. August 4, 11:45 a.m.

If You Seek: Poetry

You want: Shannon Paige

Her style: This Boulder yogini delivers a carefully curated flow via poetic cuing. Paige’s expertly constructed playlists leads to a peak pose of peak sensation (not difficulty) that’s felt, for example, in every tiny corner of your feet.

Catch Paige at the DYF: Soulful flow with chocolate tasting in the Oxford Hotel’s Sage Room. August 7, 4:30 p.m.

If You Seek: A Gentle Flow

You want: Kimberly Roecker Soults

Her style: If you measure your range of motion on a pain spectrum, seek out Roecker Soults’ meditative, genial classes. Her style is informed by her adaptive class at The River, which is tailored for anyone with a disability or chronic illness—be it paralysis or other extreme hindrance to movement.

Catch Roecker Soults at the DYF: Teaching adaptive training in the Hamilton Room at the Oxford Hotel. August 4, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If You Go

Dates: August 4 to 7

Cost: $299 for a four-day pass

Take yourself out to the ball game: On August 6, $20 gets you a yoga class on Coors Field at 8:30 a.m. plus admission to see the Rockies play the Miami Marlins.

BONUS: Gain without the pain at a new “triathlon” in Fort Collins.

In Colorado, we measure our sense of worth by how many blisters we accumulate during ultramarathons. Wanderlust 108, however, presents an opportunity to actually take pleasure in exercise. A combination 5K, 75-minute yoga class, and 30-minute guided meditation on August 27 at Fort Collins’ Spring Canyon Community Park, the event bills itself as the first “mindful triathlon” in Colorado. You’ll be led through the mind-cleansing activities by experts and can sign up for extra classes on acroyoga and slackline. Best of all, you won’t have to train for months to endure enjoy this experience, which (let’s be honest) is closer to a spa day than a Tough Mudder. $34 to $54, wanderlust.com —Mary Clare Fischer

This article was originally published in 5280 August 2016.
Haley Gray
Haley Gray
Haley Gray is a Boulder-based freelance journalist. Her work has appeared in 5280, Roads and Kingdoms, Boulder Magazine, and the Albuquerque Journal.