Wild Zen Yoga Fest
July 17-19th 2026
At Wild Zen , we believe yoga is more than a practice — it’s a way of living with presence, balance, and authenticity. Founded by Carrie Labarge (RYT 500, E-RYT), Wild Zen Fest offers a way into a life of mindful living, self-empowerment, and vibrant community.
Wild Zen Yoga Fest:
Wild Zen Yoga Festival is a radiant 3-day celebration of yoga, music, movement, and connection under the open skies. Together, we celebrate and honor the magic of Michigan summers — long golden evenings, lush green landscapes, and the freedom of gathering outdoors in community.
With transformative classes, live music, healing arts, and joyful connection, this gathering is all about unleashing your potential.
Find freedom, play, and empower yourself in a supportive and heart-centered space.
Why Join Us?
Our festival offers more than classes — they are immersive experiences designed to support your journey of self-discovery, healing, and growth. Each gathering is a chance to reconnect with yourself, others, and the natural rhythms of the Earth.
Come as you are. Leave more grounded, radiant, and whole.
Instructors, Experience Leaders & Healers
To See the 2026 Schedule Click Here
Carrie Labarge, creator of Wild Zen Yoga Fest. Carrie’s most important work in life is being a Mother to her two sweet babes; Louie and Betty
. She is co-facilitator of Mindful School of Yoga™ guiding future Yoga & Mindfulness leaders into the world. Carrie facilitates yoga teacher trainings and workshops, as well as, public and private yoga classes. Her goal in teaching and training is to guide others into an empowered and truly self-determined way of thinking, moving, and living. You can find Carrie teaching at a variety of venues and festivals, where she leads acoustic music & yoga classes.
Whitney Dawn Pyles, ACC is a certified Somatic Coach and Facilitator, Dance/Movement Guide, award-winning social artist, and adoptee on a mission to ease the loneliness epidemic. She believes that movement, presence, and play are powerful medicines, and that magic happens when we allow ourselves to show up authentically in all of our beautiful complexity. Whitney supports curious humans and creative visionaries to reconnect with their bodies, authentic expression, and one another. She is the creator of “The Zone of Authenticity: Authentic Connection Cards” a deck intended to help us all connect more honestly and empathetically with ourselves and each another. Learn about her coaching, community, and embodiment work at whitneydawn.com.
Hannah Laine is a Grand Rapids–based musician who utilizes the wisdom of sound healing to create intentional soundscapes and emotionally resonant performances. Also a vocal empowerment coach, she guides others to find their authentic voices and artistry, connecting deeply with the healing elements of their own voices.
Peri Jill is an artist, yoga teacher, somatic and nervous system coach guiding those on the path of reclamation. Using a multimodal approach, Peri supports people in claiming their gifts and personal freedom. This year at the festival she’ll be leading a somatics class exploring the art of play.
Hilary Appleby is the creator of Quiet Current Healing, home to Yoga Therapy, Reiki, Intuitive Sessions, and soon to welcome Spinal Flow. Through these modalities she helps others release stress, feel empowered, deepen intuition, and cultivate lasting soul strength. Teaching others to live from a place of curiosity and wonderment keeps her in awe of this wild human experience.
This year for Contemplative Yoga at Wild Zen Yoga Fest she will be offering an opportunity to meet your higher self through yoga postures, imagination, and breathwork.
Katie Venechuk. Katie is the founder and primary nature guide at In Your Element in Grand Rapids, a wellness company that provides programs focused on reconnecting to the benefits of time in nature. Katie is a certified forest therapy guide with the Association of Nature & Forest Therapy, a Michigan Master Naturalist with Michigan State University Extension, a seasoned yoga teacher (ryt-200, 2017), and an experienced foraging instructor, teaching about the wild foods that surround us on every walk outside. At the heart of all of Katie's programs is an opportunity to explore the world around you in new
ways, reduce stress, embrace tech-free connection, and feel a sense of belonging as you are, among community and in our wild world. Learn more about Katie and her work atiyewellness.com.
Jen Bullen is a somatic healing coach, yoga teacher, and guide for thosehealing their relationship with body, food, and movement. Her work blends trauma-informed yoga, nervous system support, mindfulness, and embodied healing practices to create spaces where people can reconnect with themselves through curiosity, compassion, and rest. Jen's classes invite participants to slow down, listen inward, and discover the wisdom already living within their bodies.
Ryan DeLuca is a somatic therapist, holistic health coach, and consciousness explorer dedicated to guiding others toward healing and self-discovery. He is also the founder of Cacao de Luca, a company specializing in premium cacao beverages, serving it intentionally as medicine during group workshops, and offering a variety of private group workshops and catering services. Ryan sources cacao beans ethically from Honduras, and roasts and refines cacao locally in Grand Rapids. Ryan is passionate about cacao’s health benefits, and believes cacao is truly medicine for the mind, body, and soul!
Stevie believes healing happens in community-and that everyone deserves a space where they feel safe, supported, and welcome exactly as they are.
A 500-hour trauma-informed yoga teacher, barre and POUND instructor, and recovery advocate, Stevie brings a heart-centered approach to every class she leads. Her teaching blends mindful movement, breathwork, grounding practices, and gentle empowerment, creating opportunities for students to reconnect with their bodies with compassion, curiosity, and confidence.
Rooted in both lived experience and a deep commitment to community care, Stevie's classes are soulful, accessible, and welcoming to all levels.
She is especially passionate about supporting individuals in recovery and creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and held on their unique journey.
Kristin Swann is dedicated to helping you find your joy. Her Qigong classes are full of light and laughter. She brings years of self-healing and transformation into the present moment to create classes that help us know, love, and heal ourselves. She has been practicing Qigong since 2006 and was trained by Master Liu He of the Ling Gui International Qigong School in Portland Or. Currently she is a licensed acupuncturist and owner of Grand Rapids Wellness. Where her and her husband dedicate their lives to keeping GR well.
Terry Prem Lancaster. Prem has been a student of Yoga for over 20 years and helped to direct a small Yoga Ashram in Ganges, Michigan for 5 years. Prem has put the band Vahana back together to lead your practice for this event. The Kirtana and Mantra Japa that the group Vahana offers today is firmly rooted in the practices of Vedanta and Yoga.
Tina Derusha is a breathwork alchemist, yoga nidra and restorative yoga teacher, and founder of Luna Zen — a breathwork-based practice for mind-body-heart-energy connection. She has spent five years guiding midlifers and creatives back to themselves through breath, radical rest, and nature-based somatic experience. Her own journey from breast cancer survivor to thriver lives at the heart of her work.
With a background in fine art and 25+ years curating gallery shows and crafting stories through a camera lens, Tina has a rare gift for turning ordinary moments into inspired ones. She is the author of two mindful flipbooks and teaches weekly at Yogi Union. A proud West Michigan native, she spends her off hours trekking with her husband of 23 years and three dogs — fueled by oat milk lattes, houseplants, books, creative projects, and travel adventures.
Angie is a gifted intuitive sound healer and songwriter. She has been singing her whole life but stepped into her gifts as a healer after her Kundalini awakening 8 years ago. Through her extensive vocal history, she's found a way to enhance the instruments with the sound of her voice. In doing so, she creates a rich and layered experience that sets her apart from traditional sound healing. She uses Quartz crystal singing bowls, chimes, steel drums, ocean drum and other instruments she has collected along the way. She also loves to share healing songs she has channeled from nature. You will leave her space feeling seen, heard, and renewed.
Sponsors WZYF