Health & Mindfulness Retreat at Stoke-on-Trent City Centre’s FREE Better World Festival

Better World Festival has announced a line-up of engaging activities and workshops, and inspirational speakers for the Health & Mindfulness Retreat element of the free, family-friendly festival in August.

Stoke-on-Trent City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) is behind the new Better World Festival which will celebrate environment, unity and wellbeing and take place from Friday 6 August – Sunday 8 August.

The festival is free to attend and hopes to attract people of all ages and walks of life to celebrate the environment, unity and wellbeing, and to ask and address those questions about how we can all start making sustainable choices today for a better world tomorrow.

Festival goers are encouraged to visit Health & Mindfulness Retreat – which will be located in Albion Square – to enjoy its packed programme of relaxation and meditation sessions, yoga and Pilates classes,

The more active attendees – or those who want to adopt more healthy lifestyles – can enjoy a myriad of fitness classes from the more demure Sunrise Yoga, Peace Pilates and Sacred Shakra Dance, to the downright energetic hula hoop training, ‘Fit and Fierce’ and Hip Hop Dance, throughout the weekend.

The Health & Mindfulness Retreat is a must-visit for those festival-goers wanting to learn more about other cultures, experience something new and bring love, light and positivity into their lives.

Featuring on the schedule for the areas’ Speakers’ Stage is folk musician Jonne Walklate who will be talking about Kirtan, Mantras and Chanting (Devotional singing as a community), whilst Health Coach Oda Sonju will address “Spiral Energy Clearing” and “An Introduction to Human Design (Using the chakra system and astrology to get to know yourself better)”. Personal Coach Katie Poole will discuss “Journalling for Wellbeing” and John Shapter from The Centre of the Cosmos will explore “Ambient and Meditative Deep Listening”.

Gabriella Sofia Buxton, Owner of Love and Light Yoga Shala Studio and Empowerment Coach – and the lead curator for the Health & Mindfulness Retreat programme – is delighted to be supporting Better World Festival:

“It is so wonderful to be a part of a holistic event like Better World Festival. The impact that Covid has had on mental, emotional and social well-being over the last twelve months has been catastrophic, so it means a lot to be able to facilitate healing with our classes and workshops.”

Whilst the festival’s Health & Mindfulness Retreat is going to showcase a wide variety of  workshops, talks and activities to boost wellbeing, it is just one of many areas of Better World Festival, each one with an aim to inspire sustainable choices.

Better World Festival, sponsored by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and LILA Connect, will bring together speakers, activists, pioneers, charities, community groups and everyone with an interest in creating positive change in this weekend event which will see an extensive line-up spanning world music, workshops, group exercise classes, panel discussions, meditation sessions, family activities and so much more, designed to inspire new ways of thinking.

With three music stages including a World Music Stage boasting acts from Seychelles, The Dominican Republic, Spain, Russia and The Ivory Coast; a Kidzone for young families to learn new skills and crafts; Speakers’ Square which will boast a line-up of inspirational talks and panels with expert insight into dozens of world issues; an Outdoor Food Village with cuisines from all over the globe and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages; an Artisan Market; a Chill-Out Retreat; and much more, guests are bound to take something away from this special festival and be inspired.