Jess LeBlanc beams with enthusiasm and positive energy and she wants to share that outlook on life with as many people as possible.
Her joy for life and what she describes as a “silver lining” attitude has been a life-long process and is the concept behind a new festival she is organizing in Water Valley for the Summer Solstice.
Aptly named the Lucent Festival – lucent meaning glowing with or giving off light an adjective that best describes LeBlanc – she is hoping the June 18 and 19 event will inspire and refresh people.
“I wanted to create something outdoors for people to get together,” she said. “We spend a lot of our time disconnected from nature and I think that’s what keeps us sick.”
Scheduling the festival during a traditional time of renewal and refreshment, the yoga teacher at Green Lotus Yoga says she wants people to leave with a new outlook on life.
“People are really generous and full of love, especially in times of tragedy,” LeBlanc said, using the outpouring of support people showed to Fort McMurray as an example. “Events like (the Lucent Festival) promote that natural way of living more often without waiting for that tragic event.”
Over the two days, the Lucent Festival will be chockfull of events ranging from live music to arts and crafts to workshops. There will, of course, be a heavy dose of yoga and meditation as well.
“It will give people an opportunity to experience yoga in a safe and inclusive environment,” she said.
Often, LeBlanc says, yoga can be intimidating to people because of the perceived complexity and physical requirements of the poses. She hopes the festival will break down some of those barriers.
“But really it can be about just being together and a union of energy,” she said.
For those who don’t think they are bendy enough to participate, she has a simple mantra: “Saying you’re not flexible enough for yoga is like saying you’re too dirty to take a bath.”
LeBlanc also wants to use the weekend to promote local business and crafts people. The weekend’s artisan market, which is open to approved vendors that fit the theme of health and wellness, she hopes will do just that.
For more information about the event and to register go to embodiedadventure.com/lucent-festival. LeBlanc said the goal is to make the festival as intimate as possible so space is limited.
She encourages people to attend and hopes everyone will leave feeling refreshed, wanting to share positive energy with the world and maybe having tried something new.
“Even if that is just sleeping under the stars for the first time,” she said.
