For Pickathon, sustainability is one of our core values. We’ve pioneered so many different ways for a music festival to be environmentally sustainable, but we also want Pickathon to keep our lives sustainable as well! Pickathon’s Wellness programs are a key way to provide sustainability programs for the mental, physical, and spiritual health of everyone going to Pickathon! The Refuge Neighborhood is the key to Wellness at Pickathon and it was one of the most popular new parts of the festival last year! A relaxing home in the forest where folks could decompress, get a massage, listen to sound therapy, and just take a moment away from the festival to re-center themselves. We’re so excited to expand the Refuge experience and bring back Yvonne Perez Emerson to design and build the space. Yvonne owns and operates Make & Mary, a Latina-run holistic herbalist shop in NE Portland that will delight your senses and calm your mind the moment you step through the door.
At the Refuge this year, Yvonne from Make & Mary will be building a portal to zen. Step into a calming area with florals and aromatic plants and take part in hands-on making with several botanical weaving walls throughout the space. The popular wishing wall will return, where you can set an intention or notes of good will to the universe. Last year there were close to a thousand entries! There will also be reading nooks with canopies, a rustic lending library, and a performance stage.
Showers and massage at the Refuge are brought to you by Libby Greenfield and Lindsay Love. The public will be able to receive paid massages from some of the best masseurs and masseuses in the Northwest open from 8am to 8pm. Make sure you stop by the Refuge early morning on Friday to schedule your massage before they sell out! Pickathon’s environmentally sustainable showers are open from 6:30am to 8pm. Treat your mind and body with care and attention, all while being immersed in the nature and unparalleled forest bathing of the Refuge. Grab an organic herbal sugar scrub created by Make & Mary on your way in for an aromatic cleanse while you enjoy a private, outdoor shower, and remember to bring your towel (or you can rent one from us!)!
Make sure to stop by the Refuge’s Radiant Refreshers before heading over to the Refuge showers and massage. Born out of the hearts and souls of 3 dreaming Pickathoner’s – RRR offers delicious and decadent drinks that contain no alcohol, only love, botanicals, joy, and life!
From Friday to Sunday, Refuge will host meditation sessions in the morning from 9 to 9:30am with body movement guide, Shaney Aalbers. At 10am, immerse yourself in sound with sound practitioners Dana Hersch or Naike Swai & Yarra Valey Perczek. Each day they’ll take you on a journey using voice, bowls, gong, breath, flutes, and more. At 11:30am, Yvonne will lead an aromatherapy workshop to make your own personal inhaler. After lunch at 1pm, the Refuge will host Open Interactive Art alongside Iced Hemp Tea tasting from Make & Mary. In the evenings from 8 to 9pm Friday to Sunday, the Refuge stage will feature more soundbath experiences. From 9:30 to 10:30 you might even get a chance to listen to some poetry as you wind down for the evening. On Friday at 6pm on the Refuge Stage, Oregon’s Poet Laureate, Anis Mojgani will recite poetry!
Outside of the Refuge, Yoga at Pickathon is another big highlight of our Wellness programming. Thursday evening Pickathon will host a Power Flow yoga session with Danny Meza from 5-6pm in the Lucky Barn. Friday and Saturday morning yoga sessions will take place between 7 and 9am at the Lucky Barn, with Portland yoga teacher Jamie King leading Flex & Flow Yoga on Friday, and Meza leading Flow and Power Flow Yoga sessions on Saturday. Sunday morning, Becca Low will be starting the morning out right with Slow & Strong Vinyasa yoga from 7-8am and 8:15-9:15am. Next door in the Orchard Neighborhood from 8 to 10:30am on Friday yoga teacher Miranda Lattimore will lead Mindful Morning Yoga, from 8-10:30am on Saturday and Sunday yoga teacher Pamela Sery will lead Rise & Shine Vinyasa Yoga sessions. Make sure you arrive early to obtain your spot. Bring your yoga mat and Pickathon water bottle!
For those really looking to get their sweat on, they can meet on Saturday and Sunday mornings at the Windmill Neighborhood at 7am for a three to eight mile run from Pendarvis Farm through the surrounding rural areas led by Samantha Cox. Join us for the very first year of Hike Pickathon! Also leaving from the Windmill Neighborhood Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 8am sharp, join Happy Valley city councilor (and big Pickathon fan!) Brett Sherman and the Happy Valley Hikers for a guided hike up into the Scouters Mountain Nature Park! You’ll be able to take in the beauty of the surrounding landscape and breathe in the glory of nature.
Whatever your level of energy, Wellness at Pickathon will engage your mind, body, and spirit, and will provide a way to escape from the stress of life outside the magical wonderland of Pendarvis Farm!
