The trees, the earth, the water, the sky—are not just scenery. They are participants, teachers, and companions in our Yoga practice. At an outdoor Yoga festival, eco-friendly practices are one way we honor that relationship—acts of care that connect us to the living world and remind us of our place within it.

That honoring can begin before we even arrive, in the way we prepare. Simple choices—like bringing a reusable water bottle, avoiding single-use plastics, carpooling, or packing simple plant-forward foods in reusable containers—are not just eco-friendly; they are acts of care that set the foundation for how we show up in community and in relationship with the earth.

It continues in how we arrive. Instead of coming as consumers ready to use the space, we can arrive as guests entering into relationship with it. Before unrolling a mat—or at quiet moments throughout the day—we might pause to acknowledge the land. That could look like offering a word of thanks, a silent prayer, or even something as simple as a breath.

Relationship also deepens through selfless service. Karma Yoga, the Yoga of service, can be practiced not only with the land itself but also with one another. Sharing supplies, swapping mats or clothing instead of buying new, offering food or kindness to someone who forgot something—all of these choices are ways of caring for each other and, by extension, caring for the planet.

And then there is how we receive the gifts of our host. We bring to the festival many beautiful sights and sounds—chanting, music, conversations. But the land also holds its own beauty and is always speaking. The wind moves through the trees, birds call across the sky, water gurgles and flows. Staying attuned to those sounds is a way of staying in contact with the primordial vibration of OM—the reminder that all life is connected.

In the end, eco-friendly practices are, at their heart, practices of relationship. They remind us that presence is not enough without honoring, and honoring is not complete without action. Each bow, each mindful breath, each act of reciprocity is a way of staying in right relationship—with the living world and our place in it.

Itzel Hayward is a coach, facilitator, and Yoga teacher dedicated to helping individuals and communities grow in empathy, connection, and collective well-being. She is the founder of Attuned Living, where her offerings integrate mindful communication and embodied practice to support healing and transformation for both groups and individuals.