Grand Valley Yoga Fest: A Yoga Festival on a Mission
I have had the privilege of sponsoring, volunteering, and participating in Grand Valley Yoga Fest since 2019. What started as a grassroots effort by a small group of Mesa County teachers and yoga professionals has grown into one of the most meaningful events in our valley — and one I look forward to every year.
What Is Grand Valley Yoga Fest?
Grand Valley Yoga Fest is an annual three-day celebration of yoga, music, and community set among the beautiful peach orchards in Palisade, Colorado. With 50+ classes and experiences and a genuinely welcoming community, it draws inspiring teachers and musicians from around the country — past and present presenters have included Govind Das, Saul David Raye, Sianna Sherman, and Swami Sankarananda, among many others.
What makes GVYF unique is its mission: 100% of proceeds are donated to mental health and suicide awareness programs in the Grand Valley. Since 2018, the festival has donated over $35,000 to local programs — all built on the energy of people who show up year after year because they believe it matters.
Why This Cause Matters to Me
Mental health is something I care about deeply — both professionally and personally. As a mental health warrior myself and someone with family members living with severe forms of mental illness, this cause is close to my heart.
What I love about this festival is that it works on both ends. The proceeds go directly to organizations doing real, on-the-ground mental health and suicide prevention work in our community — the unglamorous, necessary kind. And the festival itself is its own form of medicine. Yoga, movement, music, breathwork, being outside, being with people — these things regulate the nervous system. They reduce anxiety and isolation. They remind us that we are not alone. That’s not a small thing. That’s exactly what mental health support looks like upstream, before crisis hits.
Join Us This Year
Each year the festival brings a fresh lineup of teachers, musicians, and experiences. Check grandvalleyyogafest.com for current dates, pricing, and tickets.
Move. Connect. Give Back.
Kat McArthur is a Licensed Massage Therapist and Fitness Instructor specializing in Manual Lymphatic Drainage for those with healthy bodies and chronic health conditions. After facing years of debilitating symptoms related to autoimmune diseases, conditions and other idiopathic medical issues, she discovered the benefits of lymphatic massage in helping reduce and manage symptoms. Her passion is providing lymphatic education and fitness to her clients, community, and beyond. She is dedicated to helping clients take accountability for their health and wellness by offering to improve their daily lives.