Kayan Wellness Festival was due to arrive in Abu Dhabi for the first time this week – but the event has now been cancelled due to extreme weather conditions across the UAE.
Organisers took to Instagram to reveal the cancellation, after initially pushing the schedule back. A statement reads: "The Kayan Wellness Festival has been cancelled due to the unforeseen weather forecasts and due to the damages created onsite over the course of the past two days.
"We are adamant about the safety and security of the public which remains at the forefront and centre of our plans. We promise to bring back Kayan, bigger, better and sunnier!"
Anyone with tickets can contact Ticketmaster's customer service for further information about refunds, organisers say. Previously, the event was delayed by one day due to the forecast.
It is unclear when the rearranged festival will take place and if the original line-up will be the same as planned.
Originally, the event was going to be split into different valleys, with dedicated spaces holding movement sessions such as yoga and Pilates, creative workshops such as art therapy and inspirational talks such as tips for improving sleep. Complete with a Kids Valley, the festival is family-friendly with activities suitable for those aged six and above.
Talks were expected to be spread across the afternoon and evening, with Mo Gawdat, Dr Shefali and Chopra among the headline speakers set to take to the stage at Alo Valley.
Should the event go ahead, here are the original highlights.
Day one
There’s no getting around it – the headline speaker is the headline event of the opening day. Chopra is due to take to the Alo Valley at 7.30pm, tackling the subject of living an Awakened Life.
The Indian-American author is known for his many books on alternative health, including Quantum Healing: Exploring the Frontiers of Mind/Body Medicine and Ageless Body, Timeless Mind.
Other highlights on the opening day include the Nutritional Health in the UAE Heritage & Culture talk at 5pm, and the Melodies of Hope: Music for Healing and Wellbeing, held at 6.30pm.
Day two
If you haven't tried a breathwork class yet, day two of the festival is a good time to start. At 5pm, the evening kicks off with a Breathwork Activation session run by Lisa de Narvaez, a consciousness teacher leading workshops and retreats worldwide.
Elsewhere, Dr Shefali will lead the main talk, taking listeners through the theme of her bestselling book, The Conscious Parent, in which the clinical psychologist discusses how parents need to reflect on their own relationship with themselves to strengthen their parent-child relationships.
Not a parent? If you're willing to dive into the deep stuff, check out the fireside chat on the Pursuit of Becoming Through Loss, which will take place at 8pm in Zen Valley.
Day three
Saturday is a great day to bring the little ones. Over in the children's zone, they can get stuck into the Art of Identity from 5pm, creating an aromatherapy stress ball from 7pm and a colourful meditation from 9pm.
Grown-ups living in the pursuit of happiness, meanwhile, won't want to miss Gawdat's talk from 6.30pm on creating and maintaining happiness. Previously the chief business officer of Google X, Gawdat has been on a mission to study and devise a formula for happiness since the sudden passing of his son, Ali, in 2014. He published Solve For Happy in 2016 and has gone on to continue his mission of understanding happiness and wellness.
After a day of learning and engaging, our vote is on unwinding as the day comes to an end with the Gong Bath & Sound Experience from 8pm, allowing the frequencies to soothe the mind and relax the body.
Day four
If your free time has moved away from bars and clubs towards yoga studios and meditation circles, you might not come across the chance to dance your stresses away all that often. If that sounds familiar, then perhaps the Ecstatic Dance, taking place at 6.30pm, is for you. The idea is to shake off thoughts of self-consciousness and be in the moment with the music.
If that's not for you, then talks on improving your sleep (5pm) or Gary Brecka's advice on living a chemical-free life at 7pm may do the trick.
Day five
Manifestation is one of the buzzwords in the wellness space, and on Monday, Marisa Peer is heading to the main stage to clear up queries on the subject. The therapist, author and speaker will lead a talk at 7.30pm on the art of manifesting, and how to use it to lead an authentic life and achieve your dreams.
And if you're really drawn to the theory of manifesting and the law of attraction, don't miss the talk by Dr Khaled Al Suwaidi on The Secret, and finish the day with a grounding and meditation session at 9.30pm.
