DJ Turned Downward Dog: The Music Loving Yogis Behind Exhale Festival

Whilst every other girlfriend in your circle of friends is perfecting her headstand or signing up for teacher training, the number of guys taking up Yoga is also on the rise.

Carl Faure and Charlie Kelly are at the forefront; and they’ve taken ‘broga’ to the next level by establishing Exhale – the UK’s first Yoga and Music Festival.

Carl, a former DJ turned Yogi, founded Stretch Yoga in Shoreditch and has a reputation as one of London’s best teachers. His classes are so packed that you can see you neighbours’ sweat beading. His Festival co-founder, Charlie Kelly, is equally as influential, founding London’s UV Yoga raving movement, Black and Light Yoga.

The pair met through the love of music and Yoga and decided that the next natural step would be to fuse dance and Yoga and create an accessible environment for people to enjoy both.

“Exhale Festival is not about all night raving. We wanted to make a space where people could celebrate and enjoy good music, surrounded by family and friends,” says Carl.

Held for the first time in West Sussex last August, Exhale Festival will be back this August with an impressive line-up of world-class Yoga Instructors. It also includes classes, performances, live music and dance parties.

As a precursor to the main event, Carl and Charlie are hosting an offshore warm-up with an Easter long weekend event in Andalusia, Spain, adding breathtaking views, nightly campfires and organic vegetarian food to the mix.

“The weekend in Spain will be bring together music, dancing and the natural force of Yoga for a weekend of high energy and good vibes,” says Charlie. “It will be perfect preparation for the next instalment in August.”

Exhale Spain ticket starts at £254 and includes yoga and all meals. Prices start from £254 for basic accommodation in tents, which is then scalable to Yurts, Dorms, and to Luxury double rooms in Suryalila’s beautiful Casa’s. Book tickets here.

For more information about Exhale Festival in August, visit www.exhalefestival.com