Coast Explorer Blog

MARINER SQUARE on Newport’s bayfront takes you to three different worlds. Oregon Undersea Gardens brings you into the world of the ocean and its creatures. Undersea divers bring you up close and personal with a Giant Pacific Octopus, a ferocious Wolf Eel and other aquatic creatures, talking with viewers through a special underwater communications system. At the Wax Works, see realistic wax figures of famous celebrities, created in such stunning detail you’d swear they are real people. For the wacky, see an array of unusual and bizarre artifacts collected by Robert Ripley in his travels around the world at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! There are real shrunken heads and a magic harp you can play without strings. The deep space hall of mirrors may make you dizzy, so don’t step off into the universe. Prepare to be amused and amazed. Mariner Square, 250 SW Bay Blvd, Newport (541) 265-2206.

A WEEKEND OF YOGA at the Cannon Beach Yoga Festival offers workshops for every level and variety of interests. Featured instructors Alan Finger and Sarah Platt-Finger, Julie Gudmestad and Tiffany Cruikshank will be on hand for the festival February 25-27. In addition to 12 yoga workshops to choose from, there are some optional workshops. Nada Yoga: An Introduction to the Musical Art of Raga with Benjy Wertheimer & Steve Gorn is a vocal workshop. There are also two Yoga Figure Drawing workshops with Tolovana Arts Colony instructor David Kinhan.


Registration is open now at the Cannon Beach Yoga Festival website. Register by January 8 and the Festival Participant fee is $295; after January 8 the registration fee is $325. Festival Participants are entitled to four workshops as well as the Friday Welcome Gathering & Marketplace, Saturday and Sunday Morning Meditation and Yoga Lounge, Saturday night Community Gathering & Kirtan with Shantala, and the Sunday Closing Ceremony. Optional workshops are available for an additional fee. You may also register as a Festival Guest and choose from the optional workshops offered as well as attend the Saturday night Community Gathering & Kirtan. See the website for a full schedule of events, workshops and fees.

INSTRUCTORS:

For more than 15 years, Tiffany Cruikshank has taught yoga throughout North America, empowering her students to transform their lives through mindfulness and dedication. Her classes and workshops are full of humor, heart and hard work. In addition to teaching yoga classes, retreats and workshops internationally, Tiffany is the Acupuncturist at the Nike World Headquarters in Portland, Oregon, runs 200-hour and 500-hour yoga teacher trainings and has been featured in various video and print ads for Nike and Lululemon. Her book, Optimal Health for a Vibrant Life, was recently published as a 30-day detox for yogis.

South African Tantric and Kriya Yoga Master Alan Finger began studying yoga at the age of 16 with his father Mani Finger and renowned swamis of the past century. Alan and Mani created ISHTA Yoga (Integrated Science of Hatha, Tantra and Ayurveda). The ISHTA style integrates breath-based flow yoga with alignment, meditation and healing bodywork. Before creating a home for ISHTA, Alan co-founded Yoga Zone, Be Yoga and Yoga Works. Alan has authored several books and travels the world to share his teachings.

Sarah Platt-Finger was introduced to yoga while living in Taiwan as a dancer, choreographer, and English teacher. Her curiosity of both Eastern philosophy and physical wellness led her to the ISHTA lineage, where she received her 500-hour yoga certification in 2004. Sarah helped to create the ISHTA Yoga studio with Alan Finger and Julie Wilcox. She is currently the director of the ISHTA Yoga Teacher Training program as well as a lead trainer. Sarah teaches an intelligent flow class that caters to the wisdom of the breath and inspires the reconnection of the individual to the true Self.

Julie Gudmestad has been active in Portland, Oregon, as a yoga teacher and licensed physical therapist for over 30 years. She has integrated Western medical knowledge with yoga training into a unique teaching style, and has taught many workshops in the United States, Canada and Europe. She is a certified Iyengar yoga teacher and a member of the American Physical Therapy Association. Additionally, she wrote the Yoga Journal column, “Anatomy of a Yogi” for seven years.

Cannon Beach merchants, hotels and restaurants are offering specials and discounts to all festival participants and guests. Cannon Beach Yoga Festival (503) 440-1649