On a recent Sunday afternoon, I sat down with a book by Max Strom, A Life Worth Breathing, for perhaps the fourth or fifth time since I bought it two years ago.  It’s one of those I return to again and again.  He has a way of communicating wisdom that resonates with me and he writes as if we were having a conversation sitting right here in my sun room.  I can almost hear his deep, comforting voice as I read through the dog-eared and note-filled pages. 
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Truly a gifted healer and personal transformation guide, Max has been speaking, teaching, and training instructors and students all over the world for about 20 years.  He recently published his second book, There is No APP for Happiness.  We are honored to have Max Strom return as a presenter at the 2017 Dubuque Yoga & Oneness Festival, and feel confident that you, too, will see why he is such a highly regarded speaker and teacher.

​I’ve attended workshops with Max in the past and have been pleasantly surprised that this tall man was one of the gentlest teachers I’d ever encountered.  His demeanor was soothing and it felt as if he were part counselor, part breathing teacher as he guided our class into recognizing that we deserved to live an inspired life, and even more, that this ability was surely within each one of us. His method sounded simple; heal the body, calm the mind, and mend the heart. 

In one workshop, he emphasized the physical, and emotional benefits of proper breathing techniques and taught a new way for me to experience a good breath.  It was the first time I’d had permission to draw the breath into not just my abdomen, but my side ribs, back ribs and whole chest cavity.  How amazing to learn, especially as a yoga instructor who understands the essential nature of proper breathing, that there was so much more to my breathing that I hadn’t known before until I felt the difference with his guidance. 
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What an awakening for me because I realized that it feels so good, so natural, and so healing to open my heart center more fully.  I loved how he added elements of other philosophies, recognizing that no one method, theology, school or teacher has the patent on these universal truths.

He gave us practical steps to live a more joyful, fulfilling life--learning his breathing technique was just the beginning. I knew I was about to embark on something that would change me in a significant way when I experienced the sense of deep peace and balance after his class.  I knew I needed to learn more.  I bought his book.

A Life Worth Breathing is filled with wisdom, practical exercises and techniques to lead you to your true self, for, as Max states in his book, “all knowledge and wisdom resides within, and that is, finally, the purpose of yoga; to help us on our journey within.”  The intention is to examine and bring balance and integration into what Max calls the “three pillars of transformation” – our mind, our emotions, and our body.   Max goes deeper into each of these aspects to help us truly understand and then use his techniques for real insight and change. His system of mental, emotional and physical self-development and transformation leads ultimately to our true nature and the intention of this work –our soul’s awakening.  
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It’s a manual on how to live your most fulfilled life and includes information beyond the transformation of mind, emotions, and body.  He writes about a personal code of ethics, activism—because “as you transform yourself…you are changing the world”-- and losing the fear of death to avoid what Max refers to as “a near-life experience.”  It’s all right here in the pages of his book, which you, too, will want to refer to again and again.  

We are fortunate to have Max Strom with us at this year's festival.  He has developed a system of personal transformation called Inner Axis, which is a system of techniques combining yoga, qi gong, and movement therapy with an emphasis on empowering people from all walks of life and ability levels. His lectures include a philosophy for real world living and personal growth that is meaningful to both the student and their family.

Max’s sessions at the festival this year will include; An Introduction to Inner Axis, Crisis is the Axis for Transformation, and ONENESS: The Art of Teaching Yoga From a Universal Platform, all on Saturday, April 29th.  To register click here. 

He has presented three TEDx events, a keynote speech on ethics in business at a Fortune 500 Corporation, and a talk at The Singularity University, and most recently at the first Wellness Symposium in Saudi Arabia. You can see more of his work on his DVDs, Learn to Breathe, to heal yourself and your relationships, and Max Strom Yoga – Strength, Grace, Healing. To learn more, visit his website at  www.maxstrom.com

by Karen Kramer, Dubuque Yoga & Oneness Festival Blogger

Welcome to the 2017 Dubuque Yoga & Oneness Festival!  We are so excited to celebrate another festival filled with great presenters, awesome yoga, and connection with like-minded people.  We are especially delighted about the evolution of this event to include the element of ONENESS…We Are One! 

​Scott and Julia Theisen are owners of Body & Soul Wellness Center and Salon Spa, founders of Heart-Centered Yoga Teacher Training & Personal Transformation in Dubuque, and are the visionaries and co-producers of the festival.  It’s evident that their commitment to building safe and sacred community, celebrating diversity, and trusting divine inspiration has been their guiding force. As Julia points out, the festival began as a clear message that “just dropped in” in the early morning hours in the fall of 2014.  She knew it was the right thing to do as several big names, like Sadie Nardini and Max Strom, seamlessly came on board as festival presenters.

Now, in this third year, the Theisens felt that divine guidance was asking them to “play a little bigger” as Scott described it, and “be a bigger source of light”.   Recently, I had a chance to talk to them about the focus for the 2017 festival.  The couple discussed the importance of “oneness” and how they were inspired to rename the event the Dubuque Yoga & Oneness Festival.
 
What does the term “oneness” mean? How did it become a part of the yoga festival name?

​Scott: “Our definition of oneness is the energy of love that connects everything and everyone.  It lies within each of us and connects us to each other.”

Julia: “We have always had the very strong component of ‘sangha’ at the festival which means “safe, sacred community”.  Sangha and oneness intersect completely.  Sangha really is a deep expression of love. We knew that we would dedicate this year’s festival to the theme of “oneness” and felt guided that we needed to make it a very explicit part of the name.”

Scott: “This feels like more of a reflection of who we are and what we’re about.  We have always been dedicated to personal transformation.  Now the Dubuque Yoga & Oneness Festival incorporates personal growth beyond yoga.  It empowers and welcomes in those people who are interested in the opportunity to experience powerful personal and spiritual growth and to raise consciousness.  The yoga festival has always been about celebrating diversity and being inclusive no matter what the experience level, age, color, or size.  Now, with this expanded view, we are drawing in those who never thought that a yoga festival was for them.”

Julia: “There are even yoga practitioners who don’t see themselves as one who could go to a yoga festival.  It’s an eye-opener for people drawn into the experience to realize that this yoga festival truly is for everybody!  Everyone belongs and it’s right for all yogis and everybody interested in personal transformation…and maybe the people who come for the personal growth will try a bit of yoga.”

How will we see “oneness” represented at the festival this year?

Julia: “It’s represented in who we ask to be a part of the event.  It starts with the conversations that we have with them and everyone who will be involved in any way.  Several of our yoga presenters will teach sessions built around the concept of oneness, and there will be at least one workshop per session regarding this theme.  The concept and intention is in our website and it’s a part of all our information. Then everyone involved will naturally hold this vibration of love—sangha and oneness—so those who decide to come to the festival are tapping into that energy.  With this great vibe there is an expansion of light.  We will feel that at the festival and then we all take that back with us from the event. Really, nothing else needs to happen!”

Scott: “At the festival we will embrace and embody oneness and sangha through the sessions offered, the entertainment, and the opening and closing ritual.  They all serve to elevate that energy. In some ways, it seems separation has taken center stage in our world right now.  We can come together and celebrate our diversity as a community.  We can celebrate our connection.  All people belong and are welcome. Part of the draw is that you can come and be with like-minded people who are committed to oneness and living more compassionately and being more aware.  We believe there is an awakening happening-- of realizing our oneness-- and this festival is an expression of that. “

Be a part of the awakening.  Early bird registration begins January 11 through March 1, 2017.  Like our website, join us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates and announcements of presenters beginning December 26th.  We are one!