Wellness & Sound Healing Tent

Presented by Meggan Emily , Mike McGuigan and Sara Curtin

The Soul Sanctuary is a wellness tent where you can find balance, recharge, restore, and connect consciously with the festival community. Highly vibrational offerings that compliment festival culture will include yoga, sound healing, meditation, breathwork, dancing, community ritual, education workshops and more! Bring your own yoga mats, blankets and other needed props for comfort.  All are welcome!   (Schedule and full class descriptions below)

Location:  The Soul Sanctuary Wellness & Sound Healing Tent is located within the Prairie which allows participants a quieter space for reflection and peace of mind during workshops without sound distractions from the festival bowl. There is amble space and flatter ground in the Prairie which also allows for an ideal foundation for yoga and other offerings. View Venue Map

Thursday, June 26 (4:00 – 4:45pm)

• Soul Sanctuary Activation, Opening Ceremony & Mantra

Friday, June 27 (9am – 4:00pm)

• 9:00 – 10:00AM – Morning Yoga & Sound Healing with Meggan and Mike
• 10:30 – 11:30AM – Venus Gong & Sound Healing with Karen and John
• 12:00 – 1:00PM – Advanced Yoga Play with Meggan Emily
• 1:30 – 2:30PM – Hooping with Danielle Lee of Hoop Elation
• 3:00-4:00PM – Friends of Bill W

*Times subject to change

Saturday, June 28 (9am-4:00pm)

• 9:00 – 10:00AM – Elevate Slow Flow Yoga with Sara
• 10:30 – 11:30AM – Vinyasa Flow with Neuroscience Focus with Tairi 
• 12:00 – 1:00PM – Crystal Bowl Sound Mediation & Energetic Healing w/ Mike & Friends
• 1:30 – 2:30PM – Closing Meditation with Paul
• 3:00-4:00PM – Friends of Bill W

*Times subject to change

Pop-Up Sessions!

• Astrology & Tarot Card Readings with Karen
• Reiki & Intuitive Healing with Paige
• Hands on Healing with Timmin

Contributing Musicians & Vocalists Include: 

John Rissman, Karen Tlusty-Rissman, Mike McGuigan & Meggan Emily

Thursday, June 26th 

4:00pm – 4:45pm: Soul Sanctuary Activation, Opening Ceremony & Mantra

Join the Soul Sanctuary Troupe in a ceremony that will mindfully open our circle for the festival weekend. Members of the troupe will dedicate, clear, bless and activate the space where we will gather throughout the weekend as a community. We will set a shared intention to cohabitate and co-create in a way that evokes the highest good of our collective. Please bring a blanket, pillow or anything else you may need to sit for our gathering.

Friday June 27th (9am-2:30pm)

9:00am – 10:00am: Morning Yoga & Sound Healing – A Blue Ox Tradition with Meggan Emily & Mike McGuigan 

Meggan &  Mike return to Blue Ox, offering morning yoga, sound healing and meditation. Students will move and breath through an all levels practice, designed to purify and awaken the body, mind and soul for a day of festival! This class is a Blue Ox tradition and will inspire students to connect to self and community through a healing practice. Please bring your own yoga mat and props. First we will practice yoga and then lay for sound healing…  This session includes hands on healing with Timmin…ahhhh!

10:30am – 11:30am: Venus Gong & Sound Healing with Karen & John

Join Karen & John for an hour of exquisite vibrations!  Sounds of the Venus gong, Native American style flute, Tibetan bowls and other instruments create a heightened meditation space that supports us in directly connecting to our deepest source of wisdom. Current astrological influences will be discussed, helping us align with celestial energies that assist our evolutionary growth and empower our intentions. Please bring a yoga mat, blanket, pillow or anything else you may need to lie still on the ground, as lying down is the most effective position to work with the energy of the gong.

Karen Tlusty-Rissman (Starsong) is a musician, astrologer and ceremonialist. Her practice is based on the belief that all life on this planet is One and brings this philosophy into all that she creates. She weaves the common threads from many Earth centered traditions to provide participants with a direct connection to their inner Source. She has played music for most of her life, playing Native American flute, concert flute, bass guitar, Tibetan singing bowls and the Venus gong. Karen is currently an astrology and tarot reader at the Quest Bookstore, part of the Theosophical Society. She has facilitated sacred circles for close to 40 years and has held the Community Drum Circle for more than 25 years. She has facilitated numerous ceremonies to honor life passages, seasonal transitions and for healing. Karen is available for private consultations, meditation classes, musical performances and lessons.

12:00pm – 1:00pm: Advanced Yoga Play with Meggan Emily

Advanced yoga is finally hitting the scene at Soul Sanctuary! This session will be both challenging and playful, allowing a space for the seasoned yogi to open their wings and fly. Come prepared for progressed posturing, a lil’ acro-yoga play and a prolonged sound healing in savasana.

Meggan has been a student of yoga for 25 years and teaching since 2009. Her classes reflect a commitment and reverence towards the origins of this sacred science. She is dedicated to offering authentic, student-centered yoga by guiding participants inward. Her style stems from deeply rooted wisdom, comprehensive science and all-inclusive application. Meggan inspires her students in their practice, by providing a safe, welcoming and challenging environment in which to breathe and move. She is a mother, an activist, a music lover, an animal empath, a healer and deeply committed to teaching presence from the heart.

1:30pm – 2:30pm: Hooping with Danielle Lee of Hoop Elation 

Never has there been an activity that brings together movement, expression, and mindfulness in such an uplifting way. In this session, you will learn foundational hoop dance moves through a beginner friendly dance. Absolutely no experience necessary, and all hoops are provided. Come as you!

Danielle Lee  of Hoop Elation hails from Madison, Wisconsin and began hooping in 2004, and started teaching hoop dance in 2008. Since then, she has taught regularly in Madison as well as regionally and internationally. Her charisma and positivity have been the keystone for today’s thriving Madison hoop community. She is a founding member of the Madison Circus Space, a 24/7 circus arts facility and nonprofit, where she serves on their board of directors. She is also the creator of the Cheeselandia Hoop Affair, a convention for people who love hooping that takes place at Madison Circus Space in February. Danielle is a professional hooper and certified instructor and lives to teach classes, lead events, perform, and do everything possible to share the transformational joy of hooping.

Saturday, June 28th (9am-2:30pm)

9:00am – 10:00am: Elevate Slow Flow Yoga with Sara 

Elevate Slow flow is similar to a Vinyasa flow, practiced at a more measured tempo with extended holds, allowing students sufficient opportunity to comprehensively embody the postures. By focusing on precise alignment, low-impact movements, and sustained posture holds, students will have access to heightened breath awareness and stability.

Sara, a seasoned yoga instructor, visionary, and mother, is the founder and owner of Flower of Life Yoga & Wellness Center. Drawing upon her transformative experiences, she established Flower of Life Yoga and Wellness Center to support individuals in reclaiming their inner resilience, overcoming trauma, and cultivating holistic wellness. Sara offers a distinctive and expert blend of traditional wisdom and strength-based approaches to yoga, tailoring her teaching to meet the specific requirements of each student. With a strong foundation in traditional yoga, power yoga, and weightlifting, her objective is to create a secure and effective learning environment that prioritizes proper alignment and enables students to unlock their full potential. When not on her mat, she enjoys spending time with her family outdoors and just recently began exploring the healing arts and benefits of Tai Chi.

10:30am – 11:30am: Vinyasa Flow with Neuroscience Focus & Live Music w/ Tairi Grace

This dynamic Vinyasa flow yoga class integrates mindful movement with the latest insights from neuroscience. Through a fluid sequence of postures and breathwork, we’ll explore how the brain responds to physical activity and how yoga can enhance brain plasticity, stress reduction, and emotional regulation. As we move through the practice, attention will be placed on cultivating neuroplasticity through mindful awareness of breath and movement. You’ll learn how specific yoga poses activate the brain, improve focus, and create a deeper mind-body connection. We’ll also highlight the power of the vagus nerve and its role in activating the parasympathetic nervous system for relaxation and balance. Expect a balanced flow, incorporating standing poses, balance work, core strengthening, and deep stretches. Each sequence is designed to optimize brain-body communication, reduce mental fatigue, and promote a sense of calm and clarity. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or new to yoga, this class invites you to experience how the practice can enhance both your physical and mental well-being.

Tairi Grace LCSW, 500 RYT is influenced by many styles and methodologies of yoga. She is a licensed clinical social worker and has been in private practice for over 14 years. She began studying yoga to find a non traditional approach to wellness that incorporated holistic healing. Her instruction style is theory based, which meets the individual client needs, and also blends hatha yoga with therapeutic applications such as ego psychology and intrapersonal neuroscience. Tairi is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master of Social Work from Aurora University. She specializes in children and adolescents and her expertise lies in sexual abuse and trauma work. Tairi Grace is the owner of Sense of Samadhi Yoga Studio, in Yorkville, IL. She additionally owns and operates Grace Holistic Center for Education, a Prek -12 grade school.

12:00pm – 1:00pm: Crystal Bowl Sound Meditation & Energetic Healing with Mike & Friends

Join us in the Soul Sanctuary for a unique experience of Sound Vibration Immersion, Group Reiki & Hands on Healing. In this session, Sound Healer, Mike McGuigan will use the powerful vibrations from Crystal Quartz Singing Bowls to help restore, refresh, and rejuvenate your body, mind, and soul. Soul Sanctuary troupe members will simultaneously offer reiki and hands on healing to participants, helping them to relax, purify, balance, and restore. Please bring mats, blankets, pillows, and other needed props for comfort.

Mike McGuigan brings over 20 years of experience as a multi-instrumentalist, playing music professionally both as a live performer and as a recording studio artist. Mike and music have
been synonymous since a very young age. An outstanding Music Program at Batavia (IL) High School helped earn Mike a music scholarship to Western Illinois University. After college, Mike continued performing professionally in various Jazz Ensembles and Rock & Roll bands in suburban Chicago. In 2015, Mike completed training with the Vibrational Sound Association, and began his career as Sound Therapist and Sound Healer. Mike now owns a Holistic Health Company, Emphasizing on Sound Therapy, Crystal Singing Bowls, and Reiki.  Mike is a Reiki Professional, for both humans and animals, and has built and grown a successful practice as Reiki Professional for Vitality Animal Chiropractic Center in Aurora, IL

1:30pm – 2:30pm: Closing Meditation with Paul

Sit with Paul and learn the art of adhering the attention and gathering pranic forces in the central channel through Spinal Breathing Pranayama to open practice.  Then practice will move on to Deep Meditation, which is the systematic repetition of mantra.  When mantra is adhered to it becomes a vessel over the thinking mind, which leads the practitioner deeper into the present moment.  Opportunity arises when we learn to dance on the knife’s edge between creation and dissolution.  Come see through direct experience why a twice daily meditation practice is the foundation for seeing with new eyes.  All who come will be taught.

Paul is an RYT 200 and the meditation teacher at Sense of Samadhi. Years of meditation, spiritual practice, and yoga have led Paul on the path to help others. This coupled with a personal battle with drug and alcohol addiction makes Paul both a learned and empathetic coach. Paul models his teaching style after peaceful and holistic modalities which generally includes breathwork and meditation.

Reiki & Intuitive Healing with Paige

*Providing Reiki Session & Oracle Card Readings

Paige Haviland, owner of Ultreya Healing & Wellness, is a seasoned and experienced Energy Healer, Trauma and Grief Counselor, certified Death Doula, and End of Life Educator. Her transformative journey began over a decade ago after surviving a near-fatal illness and navigating the unexpected loss of multiple close family members. Paige, an Usui and Karuna Ki Reiki Master/Teacher, Emotional Freedom Tapping Practitioner and Therapeutic Healing Touch Specialist, found her calling through western medicine and holistic energy healings. She is currently working towards being master certified in Compassionate Inquiry with Dr. Gabor Mate and finishing her Psychotraumatology degree. Paige offers compassionate support for those facing trauma, grief, and heavy emotions through multiple holistic modalities. Paige actively volunteers with Rainbow Hospice and holds certifications from the Midwest Women’s Herbal Conference and National Teaching Transitions. She is a Reiki Master/Teacher certified through Om Sweet Om and Aimee Pleger, EFT Tapping certified through EFT International, Therapeutic Touch certified through Therapeutic Touch International Association and Certified in Peri and Post Natal Pregnancy Loss. She’s been featured as one of the holistic practitioners in The Soul Sanctuary at Blue Ox Bluegrass Festival as well as featured on international podcasts, YouTube channels and online articles.

Hands on Healing w/Timmin

*Providing Healing during various sessions

Timmin has been a Licensed Massage Therapist since 2017 and a Reiki practitioner since 2019. After being in the medical system for 8 years, she found that a hands-on approach was the best way for her to work with her community. Her Reiki training has allowed her to connect with her clients on a more therapeutic level and helps her deliver a personal session for each individual.  Timmin has loved being a massage therapist  all this time, and her energy work keeps her passionate and excited to continue working with others!

John Rissman, Musician

*Guitar, Banjo, Percussion, Sound Healing

John started playing acoustic guitar at age 14. The rest of his life has been spent playing and writing music of all types. Later in life he picked up the banjo and a little mandolin as there was always enough guitars to go ‘round. John started playing more spiritual music when he joined the band Star Sangha with his wife and a group of very talented women. Although time is taking its toll on his hands he will, gratefully, keep playing forever.