Community. It’s what grounds us, and what most people yearn for as they navigate through an increasingly digital age.
Attending a concert with a friend, grabbing lunch with a colleague, or seeking like-minded groups to share your passions with — there’s something to be said about the comforting presence of another person and the promise of a communal experience. While alone time is unquestionably valuable in its own right, it’s essential to connect with others to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.
For Kyle Michaud, yoga is the perfect catalyst for bringing open-minded and passionate people together, in and out of the studio. As a festival producer and entrepreneur with a passion for sustainability, Kyle recognized tremendous overlap in ideals between his eco-conscious event experiences and yoga, and with this overlap, an opportunity to create a unique, universal yoga experience.
And thus was born, The Yoga Expo Los Angeles — a one-day event bringing together the local yoga community with a variety of 50-minute classes for beginners, advanced yogis, kids, and anyone in between.
We sat down with Kyle to learn more about the origins of The Yoga Expo Los Angeles, and why it’s so important and distinct from other yoga events.
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What is the Yoga Expo LA?
Kyle: The Yoga Expo LA is an opportunity for like-minded individuals to come together and experience a day full of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness. Our event comprises nearly 200 exhibitors and sponsors, over 70 yoga instructors from around the world, and more than 12,000 members of the worldwide yoga community. It’s a one-day experience featuring renowned teachers and a marketplace filled with unique yoga apparel and accessories, vegan food and beverages, and other brands and organizations that will help you stay happy and healthy. There’s also a sound healing stage, and power vinyasa and inversion classes.
We’re based in Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, and beyond. Our team takes pride in the value of work/life balance, and our entire team has worked remotely since day one, nearly four years ago. We have a team of eight that handles day-to-day event planning and production operations.
You’ve also led the charge for other local experiences in the past. What other events do you produce?
Kyle: We’ve previously produced The Travel Expo and The Data Science Expo. We also founded the VegFest Expos and Women Empower Expo. We also contribute as consultants to The Fitness Expo and a global medical conference.
“The Yoga Expo brings together people with similar ideals, and passion for mindfulness.”
How and when did Yoga Expo get started?
Kyle: The Yoga Expo came to fruition nearly four years ago, by accident. I was producing an event called The Green Planet Festival as a vehicle to promote sustainable consumption and educate/empower consumers to “go green.” Patterns suggested many of our attendees loved the yoga class offerings combined with my attainment of 200hr YTT, so we decided to pivot the event into a Yoga Exposition, carrying across the same themes (zero carbon footprint, eco-conscious exhibitors/sponsors, plant-based food and beverages). We realized that our ticket buyers were precisely the same audience, and our previous exhibitors wanted to join in on the new fun. So we decided to double-down, and create Yoga Expo!
Why do you think it’s important to have an event like the Yoga Expo LA?
Kyle: Since the beginning of time, the sense of togetherness and community has brought people together for the right reasons. The Yoga Expo brings together people with similar ideals, and passion for mindfulness. We connect many brands — each handpicked and invited with a specific mission in mind — with consumers, as we do yoga teachers with students. Attendees come to explore new styles and practices of yoga, and we’re there to make their experience as fulfilling and rewarding as possible.
What separates the Yoga Expo LA from similar events or organizations? What makes Yoga Expo LA special?
Kyle: Unlike other pricey yoga events, The Yoga Expo aims to make yoga accessible for all — all ages, all mindsets, all skill levels, and all financial healths. Our tickets are just $35 for unlimited classes and workshops throughout the day, and we never try to upsell or sell extra passes for a quick buck. We also sponsor local schools and communities by offering hundreds of free tickets and incentives for their participation.
What was the selection process like for choosing instructors, vendors, and brands for this event?
Kyle: In 2018, nearly 250 teachers from all around the globe applied to teach at The Yoga Expo LA. Our selection process consists of a panel that analyzes each application for fit. Year after year, we pride ourselves on offering the most diverse selection of yoga classes, workshops, and keynotes available in the global market. In 2019, we have two teachers flying from as far as Australia to lead classes on stage. Aerial Yoga, Face Yoga, Handstands 101…we have it all!
In general, we seek brands that are sustainable, innovative, and dynamic. Our yoga and wellness marketplace is filled with unique products and services you won’t find in your local mall or Amazon. Attendees love exploring our marketplace and trying products and apparel before they hit the store shelves. It’s a great way to get these mission-driven brands involved and connect them with their core audiences.
What about Pasadena Convention Center makes it the perfect fit for a yoga event?
Kyle: We expanded to Pasadena Convention Center from the Los Angeles Convention Center two years ago to create a more substantial experience for our attendees, and offer an unprecedented experience from the moment you arrive in beautiful Pasadena. Since 2016, our show has grown by 8% to 12% per year, and for our next one, we are expecting around 12,000 attendees.
Every year, we get feedback from attendees and sponsors and incorporate it to improve our show experiences. For example, this past year we offered 25% more space for exhibitors, a larger plant-based food court, and a collaboration with MindBody. We’re excited to reveal our new additions for this year on January 5th!
“When you listen to yourself, everything comes naturally.”
What is your favorite memory from past Yoga Expos?
Kyle: My favorite memories are seeing the happiness and bliss on our attendees’ faces, as they explore our venue to unwind and enjoy the positive energy from everyone around them. Our lives have somehow become so stressful and demanding, and the time we take for ourselves is so often displaced for others.
I think this is a significant driver for attendance — mindfulness and yoga are in high demand, as we hear our physicians, leaders, and close family and friends coming to realize the importance of self-care. When you listen to yourself, everything comes naturally, and that’s the purpose of meditation and yoga. That’s the purpose of Yoga Expo.
Lastly, what is one thing you’d like your attendees to take away from the Yoga Expo?
Kyle: There are dozens of styles and practices of yoga, and not every teacher or class may resonate with you. We encourage everyone to swing by and sample classes that interest you — maybe get out of your comfort zone and be open to new experiences.
The Yoga Expo LA takes place at the Pasadena Convention Center on January 5th, 2019. Practice unlimited yoga, taste local (and sustainable!) food, listen to live music throughout the day and shop in a one-of-a-kind, hand-curated yoga marketplace. Tickets available on Universe.
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