Festival Flow: Yoga Poses for Before, During & After Outside Lands
- elisha st denis
- Aug 6, 2025
- 3 min read
Outside Lands is here! and if you're anything like me, you're already planning outfits, artist lineups, and your bag situation. But one thing that’s always on my prep list? A few strategic yoga poses to keep my body feeling good all weekend long.
Between dancing in crowds, standing for hours, and carrying gear around Golden Gate Park, festivals can be surprisingly tough on your body. So here are my favorite poses for staying grounded, energized, and pain-free, plus a peek at how I personally prep for Outside Lands.
Notice: I don't do any advertising :) All these links are because this is truly what I wear and love!
My Personal Outside Lands Prep List
Here’s what I always bring for the weekend:
Warm jacket (Karl the Fog is real)
Sturdy combat boots (for dusty terrain and unexpected rain) I've been wearing these Dr. Marten ones for years!
Rumpl sleeping bag blanket (for comfy hangs in the grass, plus it has a little clip in the corner so you can wear it like a cape)
Foldable Longchamp Le Pliage Backpack (tucks into my pocket, unfolds after entry)
Water bottle (hydration is non-negotiable!!)
Everything gets packed in a clear gallon-sized bag for security—and once I'm inside, it all goes in my fold-up backpack.
Oh... and yes, I absolutely do forward folds mid-festival. I even led my friends in a mini post-set stretch circle last year.
Festival Flow: The Poses
Before the Festival – Energize & Ground
Start your morning with movement to shake off sleep and boost stamina. This will prep your legs, hips, and mind for a long (and magical) day.
Sun Salutations (2–5 rounds to wake up the body and loosen you up for the big day!)
Warrior II to Starfish (straight legs and arms go overhead) – feel confident and grounded while stretching arms and legs
Eagle Pose – stretch your upper back and hips while building balance (use a chair or wall if you need help with balance)
During the Festival – Reset & Release
Whether you're waiting in line or taking a break between sets, try these low-key poses and movements to refresh your body:
Standing Forward Fold – decompress the spine and hamstrings (I do this all the time while standing in a crowd waiting for the next act to go on!)
Supported Downward Facing Dog – Find a wall or something else to support you and place your hands on the wall while coming into a downdog to open your chest and relieve tension in your shoulders (one of my favorite festival stretches!)
Yogi Squat – Pop a yogi squat and stretch out those legs while busting a move!
Tree Pose – stay balanced amid the crowd (another fun pose to do in a crowd or make a tree pose circle with friends)
Neck & Wrist Rolls – relieve tech-neck and dancing fatigue
Seated Cat-Cow – great if you're sitting in the grass!
After the Festival – Recover & Restore
When you get home, give your body a little love. These poses reduce inflammation, reset your nervous system, and help you wake up feeling human again.
Legs Up the Wall – drain the feet and soothe tired legs (also activates your sympathetic nervous system which helps you go to sleep)
Reclined Pigeon / Figure Four – open tight hips
Supine Twist – rinse out the spine and aid digestion
Savasana – just be, focus on slowing down your breathing and get ready for the next day!
Join Me: Post-Festival Yoga Class – August 16
Need a full-body reset after the weekend? Come stretch it all out with me in Golden Gate Park the Saturday after Outside Lands (8/16). We’ll move through a slow, grounding flow designed to restore your body and calm your mind.
📍 Whale’s Tail Meadow, Golden Gate Park
🕚 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
💸 Free (donations welcome)
💛 Bring your mat, a water bottle, and your post-festival stories
Final Thoughts
Music festivals are about connection, expression, and presence, which is what yoga is all about, too. Even just a few stretches each day can help you feel more in your body, more present in the moment, and more able to dance the night away (without regretting it the next day).
Have fun out there, drink water, don’t forget to catch your breath, and enjoy the moment!
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