CAYMAN BRAC
January 20th to 24th
Thursday to Monday – National Heroes’ Day!
BRACFEST is a celebration of outdoor lifestyle, rock climbing, and yoga in the Cayman Islands, on and off the rock/mat! Come join a guided climbing session, or link up with local climbers on their favourite routes. There is something for everyone: rock climbing, beach clean-up, yoga classes, diving and a sunrise bike race to the lighthouse point!
Whether you are a seasoned climber or a novice, looking for instructions or simply a friendly group to climb with, there is something for everyone at BRACFEST 2022.
BRACFEST ENVIRONMENTAL MANIFESTO – As a participant of Bracfest 2022 we invite you to join us in deepening our connection with the natural world. Together let’s further explore our own understanding of the stewardship responsibilities we have toward this beautiful island and the gifts it bestows on each one of us. We invite you to hike with us amongst the ancient trees in the Brac Parrot Reserve, enjoy delicious plant-based food at our welcome dinner and opt for a “Zero plastic – Zero waste” Bracfest.
As climbers, yogis and outdoor adventurers we want to ask how we can integrate with nature so that we give more than we take. There is a very real and imminent threat of habitat loss due to rapid development in Cayman Brac. We are a few local businesses partnering together with the mission of raising awareness and funds to help conservation organizations buy and protect land is of the highest priority right now. We invite you to open your hearts and minds and together as a community we will work toward affecting positive change and help inspire others to also love and protect this precious gem.
How much is it?
Entry fee: USD $25. Includes a t-shirt for the first 100 entrants and access to FREE and discounted events.
So how does it work?
You can book all the activities on this page (we recommend booking in advance as space is limited).
I’ve never climbed! Got no climbing gear!
No problem Mon! All gear climbing gear is included in all guided activities. Bike hire is also available from Active Pursuit.
How do I book?
Book for all Bracfest events right on this page! Follow these steps:
- Book your Bracfest Entry Ticket using the green button below. One ticket per participant is required no matter how many events you attend.
- Book individual events by clicking on the green “Book” buttons on the schedule below.
- Checkout by clicking the shopping cart in the bottom right of the screen.
- Review your events, enter your contact/payment details.
- Enjoy the festival!
Contact:
Rock Iguana Cayman Climbing Company
☎️ (345)-936-BRAC ✉️info@climb.ky
BRACFEST ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE
| THURSDAY, JANUARY 20 | |
| 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM |
Refresh your Rock Climbing Skills For experienced climbers only – solid experience in top-rope climbing, belaying, knots and climbing communication. Location: South Side Beach (park at Great Cave) Price: Donations to Brac Land Conservation A community event to improve your technique, refresh your leading, belaying and cleaning anchors skills. Climb together with the Cayman climbing community and Rock Iguana Guides. Bring your own gear or rent from Rock Iguana Ltd. Registration is required! |
| 7:00PM – 8:15PM |
Return to Light Yoga with Angel Robledo Location: Yogi Wall Price: USD $25 Moving with stillness through restorative and yin asanas (poses) under the stars and candlelight at the Yogi Wall. Invoke your inner light with sound meditation, breathing, relaxation, stillness and silence. |
| FRIDAY, JANUARY 21 |
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| 6:30AM – 8:00AM |
National Trust Eco-Hike: bird watching, education and photography Location: National Trust Parrot Reserve Price: Donations to Brac Land Conservation A community hike through the ancient dry-forest of the Brac Parrot Reserve, a piece of protected land named for the Cayman Brac Parrot (Amazona leucocephala hesterna) which you may be lucky enough to spot, along with the various other local and neotropical migrant birds. Learn about the importance of this unique ecosystem from some local naturalists and just enjoy a deep connection with the trees. |
| 8:15AM – 9:15AM |
Yoga Flow for Climbers with Heidi Stafford Location: Yogi Wall Price: USD $25 In this practice, we will focus on rehydrating the connective tissue in our hands to build better grip strength and dexterity, followed by activating and mobilizing our shoulders, hips and spine through flowing movement and deep breathing. It’s the perfect prep for climbing throughout the weekend and helps us to ease out any pent-up tension/postural imbalances from our daily lives. Expect energizing full-body love; All levels welcome. |
| 9:30AM – 10:45AM |
Traditional Hatha Yoga with Angel Robledo Location: Yogi Wall Price: USD $25 This practice includes asanas (poses), pranayama (breathing techniques) and meditation. We’ll practice slowly and gently, holding the asanas for 3-5 minutes allowing for a more profound connection to the meditative aspects of yoga. Encouraging relaxation and happiness rather than effort or strain. The physical practice isn’t just stretching the body, you are engaging with it—at every level. While in an asana, your focus is on gaining intimate knowledge of the body and its bio-energies. You observe the thoughts, emotions, sensations, and actions that arise in and around you while remaining non-reactive. Hatha Yoga is a way to use the body to discover the self. |
| 3:00PM – 5:00PM |
Scuba Dive with Scuba Shack Location: Scuba Shack Price: Contact Scuba Shack Explore the deep walls with a guided or unguided shore dive. Tanks and equipment rental are available from Brac Scuba Shack. Bookings must be made in advance directly with Scuba Shack. (Possibility of a boat dive to be determined closer to the time if boats are operating for tourism at that time)
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| 3:00PM – 5:00PM |
OR Community Rock Climbing – find a climbing buddy and CLIMB ON! Location: South Side East – Crag location to be confirmed Unguided climbing for self-sufficient climbers. Bring your own gear or rent from Rock Iguana Ltd. No pre-registration is required but gear rental should be done in advance. |
| 7:00PM – 9:00PM |
Welcome Dinner – The Farm Restaurant Location: The Farm Restaurant (Le Soleil d’Or) Price: CI $45 (includes service charge, excludes drinks) Come and enjoy a Vegan and Vegetarian buffet made by the incredible chefs at The Farm Restaurant all using fresh produce sourced from their blufftop farm. Includes fresh pizza from the wood fire oven. This event is being very generously subsidized by The Farm restaurant for the participants of Bracfest so it’s an opportunity for a unique Brac experience that is not to be missed! We will share the vision of Bracfest 2022 and introduce some of the conservation causes we are donating to this year. Maximum 40 diners so book early. For the reservations contact Le Soleil d’Or: +1 345 948 0555 |
| SATURDAY, JANUARY 22 |
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| 8:15AM – 9:15AM |
Yoga for Flexibility and Mobility with Renée Ravazzani Location: Yogi Wall Price: USD $25 This class is not just stretching. The practise begins with a nice warm-up, including simple mobility drills, flowing from one posture to another, working with active and passive flexibility, giving time to our body to adjust to the pose and explore the range of motion of our joints. |
| 9:30AM – 11:00AM |
Arm Balancing Workshop with Renée Ravazzani Location: Yogi Wall Price: USD $35 Arm balance is available for all different levels! In this class, you will learn techniques and the variation of the pose that works for your body type. How to use your core muscles to keep your weight off your arms while you find balance practicing poses like Crow, Flying Pigeon, Dragon Fly, Baby Grasshopper Pose, etc… We’ll keep going until our bodies are ready for Shavasana (relaxation). |
| 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM |
Beginners Top Rope Rock Climbing – All levels Location: South East Side Beach (park at the great cave) Price: USD $125 Explore your verticality and see the world from a different angle! This tour focuses on top-rope climbing in a safe, fun, and casual environment. Absolutely no prior climbing experience is necessary: this tour is designed for all ages (8+), fitness, and skill levels. The instructor will ensure that you are 100% safe at all times and will guide you through all of the tricky sections. This is true no-hassle rock climbing; we will set everything up for you – all you do is climb! |
| 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM | Beach Clean Up Location: South East Side Beach – (Garbage bag and gloves are provided) Give back to nature and the climbing community by donating your time to help clean up the beach which leads to some of our favourite climbing crags! |
| SUNDAY, JANUARY 23 | |
| 5:30AM – 7:30AM (sunrise at 6:56) |
Sunrise Bike Ride to Lighthouse Point Location: Meeting at Active Pursuit Shop (Next to Brac Scuba Shack) – South West Side Price: USD $30 with a rental bike OR Bring your own bike: Donations to Brac Land Conservation Bring your own bike or rent one from Active Pursuit Ltd and join us as we cycle from the South West End of the Island to the Lighthouse to watch the sunrise over the ocean from the top of the Bluff. |
| 8:15AM – 9:15AM |
Vinyasa Drumming Jam with Angel Robledo Location: Yogi Wall Price: USD $25 A moving meditation yoga class through 21 sun salutations (a set of yoga poses) with live drumming. The first 5 sun salutations will be guided and thereafter our bodies and hearts will move in time with the beat of the drums. |
| 9:30AM – 10:30AM |
Yin Yoga with Chantelle Relly Location: Yogi Wall Price: USD $25 This class is about finding stillness and cooling the body. There are no dynamic sun salutations or standing poses, sitting or lying on the floor – the pace is slow. The class focuses and works the deeper levels of the body, mind and soul. Yin poses are held for 3-6 minutes allowing for a deeper journey into the fascia, yin-tissues, connective tissues, tendons, ligaments and joints of the body. |
| MONDAY, JANUARY 24 | |
| 8:15AM – 9:15AM |
Chakra Yoga Flow with Chantelle Relly Location: Yogi Wall Price: USD $25 A gentle flow using asanas (yoga poses) and pranayama (breathing technique) to cleanse, balance, and open the chakras – the subtle energy centers of the human body. The class starts off with slow sun salutations followed by asanas dedicated to the seven chakras, helping sharpen the mind while balancing and opening the chakras. |
| 9:15AM – 10:15AM |
Restorative Yoga with Heidi Stafford Location: Yogi Wall Price: USD $25 In this class, we will cultivate deep relaxation through supported restful positions and slow breathing which directly rebalances the nervous system and allows the body to heal and regulate itself. The practice will offer us a space for efficient recovery from our active weekend so that we can feel rejuvenated, refreshed and ready for more fun. |
| The rest of the day… | Relax, Eat, Drink, Sleep, Snorkel, Hang Out or Keep Climbing!!!
Location: Your bed? Hammock? Pool? Ocean? Bluff? Thank you for joining BRACFEST 2022! |
Meet the Yoga Instructors :
Angel Robledo – Brazil
Founder of the Yogi Wall and Co-founder of Rock Iguana Ltd.
Yoga first encountered Angel’s path in 2001 while studying Tibetan Buddhism Philosophy.
In 2012 she did a Yoga Ashram in Rishikesh (India) and started to create her own routines to release her lower back pain and happily shares these moves with fellow Yogis and students. She went back to India many times after that where she finished her teacher training in Dharamsala, yet she continues taking courses and self-studying on a daily basis, always seeking to broaden and share her knowledge.
Angels desire to create in Cayman Brac, a true Yogi Community and a sacred place to practice yoga and meditate…
“ The Yogi Wall is her expression of Love to all Beings and Mother Nature. Having an outdoor yoga venue embraced by nature is the mother’s gift to all who enter the sacred space.
Angel believes this is the best place to connect our energy with the elements and our true selves..
Renée Ravazzani – Argentina
Founder of Sannyasa Yoga & Acrobatics
Renée is an entrepreneur yoga instructor certified by the International Yoga Alliance, an aerial circus acrobatics performer, a rock climber, diver, and fire dancer!
At the age of20 years old she saw the Cirque Du Soleil show for the first time and she knew that is what she wanted to dedicate herself to.
A couple of years after Renée said ‘see you later to Argentina, her home country in order to achieve her dreams and discover the world.
During her travelling, she had the opportunity to continue her education, perform and teach in places like France, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, India and now the Cayman Islands where she lives full time. With a Master’s Degree in Physical Education and 12 years of experience, she follows her passion for helping others to overcome fears and motivates them to discover a new world of physical activities like aerial silks, aerial hoop, flexibility, yoga and acroyoga classes.
Heidi Stafford – Cayman Islands
RYT 200, and a Neurofascial and Triggerpoint Therapist
Yoga first captured my attention in 2010 with an intensely sweaty 90-minute Bikram Yoga class. The sequence offered me a unique opportunity to practice concentration and self-observation within a very physically demanding environment, which was humbling, uncomfortable and so necessary.
By 2013, my practice was consistent and I wanted to learn more, so I participated in Bliss Yoga’s first 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training, and have since explored many avenues within and beyond yoga to continue learning and growing. Ayurveda, the so-called “sister-science” of yoga, has played a major role in the way I apply yogic lessons to my own daily life. The emphasis on the power and importance of optimal digestion has been absolutely life-changing for me. After a few years of self-study, I trained at the California College of Ayurveda and now practice several cleansing and rejuvenating Ayurvedic Therapies including Abhyanga Oil Massage and Shirodhara. I also really enjoy exploring physical anatomy through yoga and mindful movement, focusing on myofascial networks and trains of the body for biomechanical balance.
With further training in Triggerpoint therapy (Coaching the Body) and Neurofascial body-care techniques (Melt Method), I am now mostly focused on helping people resolve postural imbalances and pain patterns through yoga (strength + stretch + balance), as well as self-compression and hydration techniques.
What I really enjoy most about teaching yoga and mindfulness practices is how much I am always learning, and what a pleasure it is to share this expanding understanding with others along the way.
Chantelle Relly – United States
500 Hour Professional Level Yoga Teacher Training
Chantelle has been practicing yoga for sixteen years and has noticed a remarkable change in her quality of life & increased energy, vitality and physical health along with contentment, patience, and peace of mind. Yoga is about finding equilibrium, a balance of strength and flexibility in our bodies, our breath, and our minds. As we practice yoga regularly, cultivating awareness of body and breath, we can begin to explore the link between them as a gateway to experiencing our own life force, the energetic system of prana, the energy that animates all living things. Awakening this natural healing energy reminds the body to heal, the mind to calm, and the spirit to honor its own inner wisdom.
Chantelle completed her 500 Hour Professional Level Yoga Teacher Training at the world-renowned Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Massachusetts. There she was lucky enough to train with several experienced faculty members, studying all aspects of yoga from anatomy and physiology to philosophy and meditation. Teaching in the Kripalu style, students are encouraged to find their own unique expression of yoga that best helps to fulfill their individual goals of physical fitness and mental clarity. Chantelle guides students through creative posture flow where the breath is linked with movement & mediation in motion.
