Barcelona Yoga Conference 2019 - Review

[Tine]

It was the first "real world" appearance for happiness.com, also the first time sponsoring an event. We were blessed to have so many insightful conversations at our stand. We could share our vision and reflect on what works and resonates with real people outside our office. Such a gift!

Let's continue the conversation here. We want to hear from you. We are grateful to learn from you and shape happiness.com together!

[Tine]

[Tine]

One of the main takeaways for me is that conscious community means that the people I spoke to are conscious about how they use their time and be here now often means to favor real-life interactions over those online. If it is online it needs to be worth it. Another time-consuming site just won't cut it. I feel it for myself if I have fallen into the "facebook-trap" and afterward feel how it has eaten up my attention, sold it for advertising money and I have only lost time to otherwise be alive.

What does this mean for happiness.com? For me, it means that if people log in to make it worth their time and attention. Yes, we need a call to action, we need to motivate people to commit and engage and at the same time we need to make sure we respect their time, that if they invest time and attention it's worth it, that there's a real connection, vulnerability, support not just some scrolling through updates.

[Yvonne]

I had the same impression. value is key. People are more conscious about their online time and there is already a lot of content out there. We also need to see the different target groups. As there are yoga teachers and other businesses on the one hand side which make out a living and which like to find better reach. On the other hand side, there are students who want to look for classes, improve their yoga or maybe connect with others. So we should look at how we can improve communication here. Usually, the token argument was not the first thing to communicate.

[Yvonne]

During the event, we realized that also the usability of the signup process might be improved (e.g. bring the gender part to the second step) and make clear that a user can't use a space for the nickname.  Also some of the zip codes did not work (e.g. 31172), Germany is shown first in the list etc. We also might overestimate English speakers in Barcelona for the topic. There are still people who write Spanish only or prefer to do it. How do we handle the Spanish content in the newsfeed?  There was still some more feedback I'll share later.

 

[Candy]

I was very happy to see people approaching us as soon as they read the roll-up! I thought, wow, these are types of people I would love to see as part of our little community. The curious, the adventurous, the seeker. I do tend to agree with Yvonne about the Spanish though. Although BYC attracts a fairly international crowd, majority of the people still spoke Spanish and I found it particularly hard trying to explain what it was. What will we do with the list of emails we collected? Maybe a nice thank you note and an invitation to sign up should be sent some time this week, or early next week? I must say I felt very proud to see the happiness.com logo boldly displayed on the sponsors banner at the entrance of reception. Thank you Yvonne and everyone for setting up a super cozy and nicely branded stand.

@Tine Does happiness.com currently support a poll function? And can we post as happiness.com in the newsfeed? Although I love the weekly news and magazine article, I think there could be more interaction or content from us as well. Maybe sharing the instagram post on the newsfeed and creating a discussion around it is already enough.

[Tine]

4 hours ago, Bethnicles said:

 

@Tine Does happiness.com currently support a poll function? And can we post as happiness.com in the newsfeed? Although I love the weekly news and magazine article, I think there could be more interaction or content from us as well. Maybe sharing the instagram post on the newsfeed and creating a discussion around it is already enough.

1

Thank you for your input ?

Yes, we do support polls. However, I am not sure how to do it exactly. If you have an example what to ask the community we can try to set it up with @Lizzie's help? It's normally easier if you have something tangible.

@Calvin77 usually posts the Instagram content on the site too, right? Could you post some of the BYC pictures too?

[Yvonne]

My first time at the barcelona yoga conference and it was an amazing experience. So many amazing attendees from all over the world, famous teachers, good food and great music.
I was touched by some of the teachers Patrick Broome, had good laughter in David Lurey’s class, got challenged by Dario Calvaruso, experienced new sensations with Juan Dong and flew away with Shiva Rea. Luckily I didn’t plan to attend many classes and I was asking myself how others could keep up with the amount of classes and different styles? Also sometimes it was hard for me to choose to which to go. Sometimes I just choose it by a preferred location. What was your favourite?

[Calvin77]

6 hours ago, Bethnicles said:

And can we post as happiness.com in the newsfeed? Although I love the weekly news and magazine article, I think there could be more interaction or content from us as well. Maybe sharing the instagram post on the newsfeed and creating a discussion around it is already enough.

Yep, the content team have just started more regular meetings and every week in the newsfeed you can expect to see at least three things: a happiness quote, magazine article, plus link to forum discussion. With time (and learning of the skills needed) we hope to incorporate some of the other features such as polls and surveys etc. Magazines will also always link to Forum now too, so please feel free to interact and share thoughts on topics there. ❤️

[Calvin77]

On 7/9/2019 at 9:57 AM, Yvonne said:

There are still people who write Spanish only or prefer to do it. How do we handle the Spanish content in the newsfeed?  There was still some more feedback I'll share later.

This is very interesting and something I was thinking of too: I'm currently seeing English, German and Spanish language due to the people I have become friend with and the settings they have. If you speak the language fantastic, but not all of us will. Wonder if we have any settings for newsfeed languages preferences aside from only selecting to see happiness.com in English/German. The issues of a building a global community ??

[Tine]

I wanted to start my answer with "I am not much into yoga" then I remembered that I attend a weekly yoga class ? So I might have to reassess that.

The two days I spend at the Barcelona Yoga conference were in the free area. So I can't comment on the quality of the paid part. Having a free area that not only has food trucks and shops but also a small stage that offered music was a nice touch, which I thought reflected the values of a conscious community well. There were also free Yoga classes offered for those who can't afford a ticket.

My favourite time was when the music played at the free stage - some Bhajans to sing along and be joyful.

I had some inspiring, deep conversations which also highlighted to me that conscious gatherings and shangas create an atmosphere of openness, safety and support that is hard to find elsewhere but which the world needs. So it was a much-appreciated opportunity to recharge my batteries there.

[Bj****]

But I totally can start with "I am not much into yoga" Let´s say still not. I know it´s a good thing but just never have started to do this seriously.
I do really like the surroundings of an event like this. The relaxed people, the good atmosphere, healthy food and healthy people everywhere. I joined just on Sunday, but I had a good time, talking to interesting and interested people when there has been some more movement.
It was nice to attend an event of this kind to me

 

[Bj****]

It was really nice! What happens is, that those kinds of Events are completely different than other "Marketing" Events. It would have felt weird going too proactive to other visitors to "oblige them" to get us to know or running around to show off with happiness.com. On this event, it has been important to communicate with the people when they came to the stand by themselves, or start a conversation with them once they showed an interest somehow. But that´s totally cool! We´ll have a diversion in the Events which is nice as well, depending on the audience that is around.

The Spanish, English, German thing may lead to confusion, I agree. If Spanish people from an older generation (mine basically and older ;) ) sign up, not all of them speak English or do not feel comfortable doing so. If they anyways signup and want to be part of the community, do we answer them in Spanish? Otherwise, we lose them

[Veronika]

I couldn't attend this time, and i think I missed something ;). I go to yoga once a week but still don't feel like a "yoga person". The yoga in class I do is very breathbased/ slow yoga and I think many Yoga classes are quite different from this technique. I would love to get to know different kind of techniques, just out of curiosity and such a Yoga conference would have been a great opportunity. I will mark the date for next year and hope to see happiness.com with a stand there as well!

A question about the conference: I have many friends who themselves are yoga teachers, they might be happy to connect here with people who already have attended the event to get in touch for more information. For example would you recommened the conference for teachers as well as or is the target group more for students?

[Candy]

I spent my Saturday at the stand, trying to make eye-contact and get the attention of passersby. It was VERY hot, but we were well sheltered and shaded in our cosy little stand. I loved that the free area had a covered stage where there was always live music, some dancing or even yoga classes. The conference was very family-friendly and many people brought their children who played and had fun at the children's classes.

On Sunday, I joined two yoga classes, the first being YOGA FOR EVERYONE, by popular German yogi, Patrick Broome. Since I had no idea what to expect, and with a sore neck and a heatwave, I was so relieved to find a very intuitive flow that included a lot of shaking and humming, which left me both relaxed and energised at the same time!

Twenty minutes after that class ended, I joined the Rainbow Yoga class by Marcus Felsner, which was also a treat. We started off slowly, going in and out of poses. The room was situated in a shaded courtyard with a wonderful breeze caressing our arms and legs with every pose. The class ended with the most delicious savasana, and then a 20-minute singing session where Marcus whipped out his guitar and led us in harmony. Although my legs were VERY sore the next day, I very much enjoyed both classes and was grateful for learning new sequences from yogis who've been teaching for nearly as old as I am!

I think the BYC organisers did a great job in providing a space for people to connect, learn and share, and I was proud to be a part of that with happiness.com. I really liked that the conference was eco-friendly in the sense that they kept single-use plastic use to the absolute minimum and encouraged recycling wherever possible. I would've liked to see more (local) people visiting the conference, especially the free area. I wondered whether it was a question of marketing. Overall, the entire experience was great, and I would like to go back next year to join as many events in a day as I can! ?

Edited July 11, 2019 by Bethnicles

[Veronika]

Well, just a reason more to learn spanish, I would say ☺️?. I'm sure we find a solution here, maybe find some spanish speaking volunteers who can help out within the community. I would love if the community would start to be a place for language tandems in english/spanish, spanish/german or english/german, where people can talk about their struggles, experiences and personal way of life while learning a language better. That way it would add an even more interesting twist to it. I'm up for a spanish tandem, if someone is interested !

 

[supermarius]

I am very much in the same opinion as Bjorn. I have done my share of yoga but wouldn't say I am an expert on the subject, however  I have to say I had a moment in one of the concerts that really struck me as I saw everyone just letting go and enjoying the music that was being played. For me that the conference could have a space that facilitated this sort of communal feeling is really fantastic.

[huma]

I was there in the first 2 days and had a very good time. Seeing people's interest in happiness.com and getting to know many different people were so fulfilling. A session I attended was very interesting for me, NSR Self-Healing with Sebastian C.O. He showed Self Neuro Somatic Reprogramming techniques to reduce pain.  I agree with Tine about the free stage. It was a great touch and was my favourite. Seeing people get carried away at one of the concerts was extremely heartwarming. I could feel the community connection there. Besides that, I also heard comments about the community bond from the people I talked to. It's very impressing that the event created such an international community! 

I'm newly becoming a "yoga person", meaning that I'm a total beginner both of yoga and it's culture. I've always had been into sports and attending tournaments and loved the rush of those environments. The yoga conference reminded me of those environments, but a more mindful version of them. I wasn't expecting to feel that the conference environment resonates with me this much.

[Di****]

What do I bring back from this year BYC, I would say the smiles and the connection with people! My dog Miso would probably remember the heat! How wonderful to see people sharing and discovering a part of the world of yoga together. Without judgement. Just with an open mind. I am so grateful to have been invited to support the happiness.com project, to join this happy family who their goal is to make room for happiness in people’s (and animals!) life. I loved to see people taking the time to sit with us, learn more about what we do, but most importantly, people taking the time to get to know each other. So much, that I actually met a wonderful yoga teacher from Turkey who is actually a friend of someone I did my Jivamukti teacher training in India with a few years ago! The world is small and full of surprises! How wonderful it was to see how we could all work together, people from different trades, with different skill sets, from the vegan food truck, the kombucha bar to the essential oils parlour, pouring their heart into their passion. In all, people using their strength and together, collaborate on ultimately making our world a better place. There is more to yoga than just the physical practice. Yoga means union. The people at BYC proved that we can all unite! How could make this on a bigger scale? And/or more often? We need more of this events, more of these platforms, connecting, celebrating life, celebrating being who we are, be happy!

[JE****]

The first BYC -  unforgettable

The BYC will take place for the 10th time next year. I guess the family will work even harder to make this conference amazing.

The 9th conference was a great event. I joined as karma yogini in the kitchen team, that cooked thalis with Vasu Dev. You do "lose" a lot of time while you can not attent the entire day. But it calls you out of bed for the first lessons and you can still join many good teachers. We had laughs, we debated in the kitchen and discussed while forming energy balls or hearts. Especially I could enjoy the kirtans on the stage right infront of the kitchen.

Besides the karma "doings" the inner me was amazed by my first live Krishna Das kirtan and his workshop. As well sometimes I sneaked into the classes to observe Patrick Broom or other teachers. I do love the variety of methods and insides. The two yin classes were so different and so inspiring at the same time. 

The organization of the Festival is super good! Everything was set up, easy to find, to understand and it was easy to become a part of the BYC family. 

Nervertheless I would like to see some changes: no waste. Sometimes I do doubt the consciousness of yogis and yoginis. Is awakening only a personal matter? Or do we serve a higher good in the end? And isn't such a good related to mother earth? A conference like the BYC could create a point in that matter. 

For next year: try to be there : )