The YogaFestival returns to Superstudio Più, the fifteenth edition that focuses on quality and “live” practice in complete safety. Giulia Borioli, its founder and leading personality of the entire Italian and international Yoga field, tells us what has changed in the Covid era.

15 years of YogaFestival and the return to the historic location, Superstudio Più, where your headquarter is also located. How has the festival changed in these 15 years and how has the enjoyment of yoga turned in Italy?
From the first year until today yoga itself has undergone a swift evolution, which has had a great impact on today’s society. The first edition was born in this way, for my desire to convey this ancient and wonderful knowledge to as many people as possible. Over the years, the festival has become a reference point, which was missing, for  yoga community. Why? I believe that being superpartes, presenting so many yoga styles in the same way, involving foreign guests who have never come to Italy is the secret of a certain success...

The YogaFestival returns to Superstudio Più, the fifteenth edition that focuses on quality and “live” practice in complete safety. Giulia Borioli, its founder and leading personality of the entire Italian and international Yoga field, tells us what has changed in the Covid era.

15 years of YogaFestival and the return to the historic location, Superstudio Più, where your headquarter is also located. How has the festival changed in these 15 years and how has the enjoyment of yoga turned in Italy?
From the first year until today yoga itself has undergone a swift evolution, which has had a great impact on today’s society. The first edition was born in this way, for my desire to convey this ancient and wonderful knowledge to as many people as possible. Over the years, the festival has become a reference point, which was missing, for  yoga community. Why? I believe that being superpartes, presenting so many yoga styles in the same way, involving foreign guests who have never come to Italy is the secret of a certain success.

How will this new edition of YogaFestival be? What are the goodies not to be missed and the most anticipated teachers?
This is a limited edition, for the reasons we know. More a review than a festival. Only yoga classes ,26, with teachers chosen from among those who over the years have supported and have grown during the event. We asked to work on the idea of providing tools to "be born again" and here everyone has done their utmost with commitment and care. For example. RamRattan proposes a (rather secret) Kundalini technique to boosting the immune system; Nuzzo teaches how to purify body and mind and soul; Eena De Martin on how to take root to "keep afloat", Jacopo Ceccarelli describes how to activate a body and consciousness global awakening...and so forth.

You once told me: "In the end, yoga is one!" beyond styles and different schools. What exactly did you mean?
Yoga is a multimillenial tradition which has a first common reference text for all those who have chosen the path over the millennia. It consists of YogaSutra, by Patanjali, a mysterious mystic who lived before Christ. In this text you’ll find basis, the yoga foundations, there is no escape. All we see around is a free and sometimes questionable creative and subjective interpretation... because yoga is one.

Practice at home has been fundamental for many people, locked in lockdown, demonstrating how powerful yoga is to maintain a physical and mental balance. And how did you spend this enforced quarantine?
My lockdown’s been filled by a lot of yoga. I did Instagram and Facebook live interviews with many teachers, I created an online streaming event 4 hours only of speech long with teachers, musicians, monks, swamis…lots of very interesting guests. Online yoga...I hope it will soon be past and we return to practice live.

What do you think about "digital practice" done through the new media: Zoom, several apps, webinars, online classes....?
I don’t consider them neither good nor bad...I think it’s a moment need but not healthy to continue it indefinitely. It is not good for people!

There has been a great proliferation of schools and teachers over the years. Crash courses of several hours to get a piece of paper and teach. There is no regulation. You are in touch with international federations and top leaders in the sector... is anything being done to safeguard teaching quality?
A superpartes institution that can certify the quality of individual’s preparation without wanting to make a profit has not yet been created in the yoga world (not even in the whole world). That’s be nice, because the endless proliferation of influencers and shallow teachers, in addition to hurting yoga can be harmful for those who practice! I hope that someone will decide to regulate the sector soon or later.

YogaFestival 2020 #15
RI/Nascere 
October 3-4 and October 10-11 
Superstudio Più, via Tortona 27, Milan
Info: www.yogafestival.it