#139 - ALYCE HARRISON - Celtic Yoga & Co-Founding a Festival
In this episode I sit down withAlyce Harrison, yoga teacher, lawyer, mother and co-founder of Ireland’s Yoga Picnic Festival, to explore the intersection of yoga, Celtic wisdom, community, nature, and modern wellbeing..
Alyce's background is anything but conventional. Alongside a successful legal career, teaching law at university level and authoring an award-winning legal textbook, she has spent two decades immersed in yoga, mythology, meditation, women's wellbeing, and the study of Celtic traditions. Through her work with the Celtic School of Yoga and events at the sacred Hill of Uisneach, she has become part of a growing movement reconnecting Ireland's ancient wisdom traditions with modern yoga practice.
Our conversation begins with the question: what exactly is Celtic Yoga?
From there we explore the surprising parallels between Celtic mythology and yogic philosophy, the role of storytelling in preserving wisdom, and why so many cultures rooted their spiritual traditions in the rhythms of nature. We discuss Ireland's renewed interest in its own language, folklore and seasonal celebrations, and how these traditions can sit alongside—not compete with—the practices and teachings of yoga.
We also dive into the story behind Yoga Picnic, the independent festival Alyce co-founded with her sister and a close friend. What began as a small gathering of around 120 people has grown into one of Europe's most loved grassroots yoga festivals, attracting thousands of attendees while remaining fiercely committed to community, sustainability, authenticity, and connection.
Along the way we discuss:
Celtic Yoga and its roots
Irish mythology and folklore
Nature-based spirituality and seasonal living
Building community through yoga
Running an independent festival
Sustainability and conscious business
The loneliness of teaching yoga
Why authenticity matters more than performance
The power of gathering in person in an increasingly online world
At its heart, this is a conversation about remembering our connection to nature, to community, to tradition, and to ourselves. @theyogapicnic
NOTABLE QUOTES
“Yoga reminds us to come back to nature, to the seasons, and to ourselves.”
“We’ve sped back up again. The practice is remembering how to slow down.”
“People aren’t looking for performative wellness anymore — they want something real.”
“You can feel when something still has its heart.”
“We wanted people to feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally — simply by being together in nature.”
“Teaching yoga can actually be quite lonely. Festivals remind people they’re part of something bigger.”
“It’s not about taking from yoga — it’s about honouring it alongside our own traditions.”
“The wisdom was always there. We’re just remembering it again.”
“Authenticity is harder work than performance — but people can feel the difference.”
“We don’t want growth at the expense of the soul of the festival.”
PERKS FOR YOU
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THE HOST
@adamhusler - Fuelled by a fascination with anatomy and a desire to ask ‘why’, Adam specialises in a signature style of Alignment-Based Vinyasa— inspired by decades of study of anatomy, mediation, yoga and mobility . He’s taught classes, workshops and trainings in over 60 studios across over 20 countries, along with countless conferences and events. You can find him chatting on the Honestly Unbalanced podcast, consulting for studios and brands, co-leading one of Europes largest teacher trainings, writing for the likes of Yoga Journal and trying to be an awesome dad.
For workshops, trainings, events and retreats, find out more here.
