FEBRUARY 23, 2017 // 7
Yoga fest draws aficionados from around the nation
Christen Allsop
leads seventh
annual festival
By R.J. MARX
CANNON BEACH — In a city
that values aesthetics, fitness
and the spiritual, the Cannon
Beach Yoga Festival appeals
to devotees of all three.
The seventh annual
festival arrives Feb. 24 to
27 as a result of a grant
from the Tourism and Arts
Commission to the Friends
of Haystack Rock. More than
200 visitors are expected
for classes, workshops and
concerts at Tolovana Hall,
Cannon Beach Chamber
Hall, Hallmark Resort and
Tolovana Inn.
Christen Allsop of Cannon
Beach Yoga Arts founded and
manages the festival, which
she described as offering
round-robin shuttles, scenic
strolls, shopping and “lovely
places to fall into for a lovely
meal.”
And don’t forget the
yoga. “We’ve invited some
world-renowned teachers on
the yoga teaching and confer-
ence circuit,” Allsop said.
Featured instructors in-
clude Judy Gudmestad, Aadil
Palkhivala, Alan and Sarah
Finger and Sarahjoy Marsh.
“They’re people I’ve
worked with and really
PHOTO BY SARAH MCALLISTER
PHOTO BY SARAH MCALLISTER
Julie Gudmestad, a certified Iyengar yoga teacher and physical therapist.
hold in high regard,” Allsop
said. “They’re hand-picked
because I want to have the
best people coming from a
number of different fields.”
Classes focus on poses,
alignment, energy work and
the psychology of yoga.
Meditation, philosophy,
dance and art as well are
integrated into the weekend
events.
Allsop’s brother, Cannon
Beach artist and teacher Da-
vid Kinhan, offers Saturday
and Sunday classes in figure
drawing.
“We’re offering a
well-rounded scope that
will allow something for
everyone,” Allsop said. “I’m
a firm believer if you put
yourself in front of the best
teacher, you’re going to get
something wonderful from
that teacher. That’s why I
think it’s important for even
beginners to study with
masters.”
Yoga has a long tradition
in Cannon Beach, Allsop
said.
“There have been lots
of great teachers who
have come through Can-
non Beach,” Allsop said,
including festival presenter
Sarahjoy Marsh, teaching
“Yoga for the Right Brain”
and “Restorative Yoga”
among other classes.
A third of the attendees
are teachers themselves,
Allsop added.
Allsop’s parents bought
a home in Cannon Beach in
1978. Her husband, Mark
Allsop, is the owner of
North Coast Mechanical.
Daughter Lauren Allsop —
known as Lolly — teaches
Julie Yanko models at a yoga figure drawing class. The class will
be taught again this year by Cannon Beach’s David Kinhan.
yoga at the studio.
“When my husband and I
moved here 25 years ago, our
daughter went to Fire Moun-
tain School, then Broadway
and Seaside High School.”
A yoga teacher for 15
years, Allsop opened Can-
non Beach Yoga in 2011.
“Yoga’s grown so much
over the last 10 years; now
there’s actually a chance to
sustain a yoga studio year-
round,” she said.
The studio on North
Hemlock will offer a central
hub for all of the festival
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activities and a shuttle bus
available to bring attendees
to and from events.
“It’s really an honor
and a privilege to be able
to have an opportunity
to produce this event in
Cannon Beach,” Allsop said.
“I’m proud our community
can put something like this
together. It’s really pretty
special.”
For registration and
information, visit www.
CannonBeachYogaFestival.
com or call 503-440-1649.