A Journey to Mandala
The journey to the Mandala Yoga Festival began with just two people and a simple idea. United at the perfect moment, they envisioned creating a space where community and yoga could thrive. In 2024, this vision blossomed into the first-ever Mandala Yoga Festival, an event that has been warmly embraced by our community.
As the initial spark ignited excitement, our team grew, bringing together passionate individuals who shared a commitment to promoting connection and mindfulness. This expanding team has been instrumental in shaping and enhancing the festival, allowing it to flourish beyond our expectations.
It is quickly transforming into a vibrant celebration of diverse yoga practices and community spirit. As we continue to grow, we invite everyone to join us on this incredible journey, cultivating love, growth, and unity within our yoga community.
“The movements of my yoga practice
Meet the MYF Team
Danita Nelms | Co-Founder | Event Manager | 500-Hour ERYT
The first glimmer arrived during the pandemic. when Danita felt scared and worried. Didn’t we all?! Some yoga studios closed and teachers were not teaching. Yoga practices radically shifted at home. Her heart felt so achy and heavy.
She does not recall the exact day the idea arrived. There were a lot of quiet days that all felt the same. Danita had been practicing Sun A Salutations (no worries if you do not know what they are) and birthday leg lifts (again, no worries) daily in her sunroom that first summer when everyone was in lock down. The sun would peak around the rooftop and plant a few sparkles on her yoga mat. Those sparkly moments inspired celebration and she did not want the feeling of the celebration to end. There she was, a festival, tiny and perfect on Danita's mat, full of expansive energy.
Danita spoke to groups in the community, letting them in on what was coming through for her. Some folks around the area told her they remember hearing her talk of a festival those years ago. The seed of the festival sat. She was ready for a willing crew.
They showed up in their yoga clothing with all the props. It is time. There are huge smiles on their faces, happily tipped to the sun. The festival is being nurtured to life in Wisconsin. A very long time ago, yoga was one teacher and one student practicing together. Now we are practicing together in connection and community.
This is your Yoga Festival! This is your celebration of practices that enrich your mind, body, and spirit. Maybe this is your sparkly moment. Please join us! We cannot wait to practice with you. More Love
Namaste and Welcome!
Jenni Davel | Co-Founder | Event Manager | Sponsorship Manager | 200-Hour RYT
When Danita asked Jenni if she wanted to create a festival with her, the answer was an immediate yes. What started as an idea quickly became a shared vision to build something that could bring people together, celebrate movement, creativity, and connection, and give the community a day to just be.
As Co-Event Manager and Sponsorship Coordinator, Jenni helps weave the pieces together, connecting with partners, curating experiences, and rolling with whatever comes up to make sure the festival feels effortless and welcoming. Yoga has always been her way of finding calm in the chaos, a practice that shows up in life, in the festival, and in being a mom.
Off the festival grounds, she and her husband Jake own Neenah Electric Tattoo, another space where creativity and community collide. At Mandala, Jenni’s hope is simple: to create a place where people feel they can show up as themselves.
Jackie Paplham | Visual and Energetic Coordinator
Jackie Paplham is the Healing and Mindfulness Experiences Coordinator. Jackie has a passion for holistic healing methods. The Healing Haven is created to give healers a space to unleash their gifts into the community and a safe place for the community to explore and receive diverse modalities of healing.
Kathy Davis | Yoga Experiences Coordinator
Kathy Davis is a transplant to the Fox Valley from the Milwaukee area and is the owner of Yoga Elements in Menasha. One of the most important parts of a yoga practice to Kathy is connection – connection that we develop with ourselves, between the teacher and student, among practitioners, and with our community and the outside world. The Mandala Yoga Festival is a celebration of this connection. As the Coordinator of Yoga Experiences, Kathy works to gather a wide variety of yoga teachers and holistic practitioners to provide opportunities for sharing yoga practices of all types to inspire connection!
Allison Butt | Brand Experience Coordinator
As the Brand Experience Coordinator for Mandala Yoga Festival, Allison strives to use her creativity and love for yoga to create a compelling and cohesive experience which resonates with yogis and wellness enthusiasts. With over 20 year’s experience as a graphic designer, web designer, brand manager for AB Creative Studio, and a 200-hr Registered Yoga Teacher, her experience and insights enhance the festival’s visibility and engagement that builds a sense of connection and belonging throughout the MYF experience. Allison is passionate about teaching and practicing yoga, and believes that MYF is about creating meaningful experiences that empower individuals on their yoga and wellness journeys.
Jess Haessly | Volunteer Experiences Coordinator
Jess has been serving the community offering professional yoga services since 2016. As a Yoga Professional, Mental Health Advocate, Empowered Mindset Coach, and Speaker, Jess is committed to creating inclusive experiences and environments. Her role as Volunteer Coordinator for the Mandala Yoga Festival is an extension of her desire to serve the community through heart-centered leadership. With a servant-leader attitude and collaborative spirit, her goal is to create an excellent experience for all volunteers from the Volunteer Application process to Day-of Execution of Roles and Responsibilities. She sees a festival that is welcoming to all, fun, and filled with a combination of light-hearted and deep experiences that attendees, volunteers, vendors, and the MYF planning committee can give all of us a deeper sense of belonging and pride in our community.
Jesica Schwarzbauer | Social Media Support Coordinator
Lori Smasal | Financial Coordinator
Lori serves as the Financial Coordinator for MYF, overseeing the festival's financial operations, including budget development, expense tracking, and optimizing sponsorship funds. Her work ensures an enriching experience for attendees, a thriving festival for the community, and strong support for MYF's mission.
With nearly 30 years of experience in education and instructional leadership, Lori brings a deep understanding of how to create purposeful and well-planned experiences—a skill she seamlessly integrates into her role as a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher. Her passion for teaching and practicing yoga is grounded in her commitment to fostering growth, connection, and well-being in others. Lori believes MYF is more than a festival—it's an opportunity to inspire, connect, and offer a welcoming space for all in a thoughtfully executed event.
Savi and Mark Gehrke | Sound Arts Coordinators
Music inspires heart to heart connection; sound vibration has transformative power.
Savi and Mark have witnessed the unifying power of music and sound throughout their many years creating conscious heart gatherings. Sound Alchemy Arts are the heart and core of the experiences they offer at Being Collective in Downtown Appleton. As inspired Sound Arts Coordinators for Mandala Yoga Festival, Savi and Mark are committed to curating beautiful and memorable soundscape experiences for everyone to connect with. Their own Loving Awareness Band, Brilliant Bliss, will be returning again this year, bringing the bhakti yoga practice of mantra music to the mix.
Wendy Janu | Support Coordinator for Yoga Teachers
Wendy Janu practices as a functional nutritionist and 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher, teaching in the Valley since 2008. Throughout her career, she has witnessed the profound transformative power of a consistent yoga practice, both in her personal journey and in the lives of her clients. Yoga meets individuals exactly where they are and has the potential to guide them toward discovering and embracing their true selves. At the festival, Wendy’s role is to support Kathy and the talented instructors who generously share their gifts with the community. She can confidently attest to the success of the festival’s inaugural year, where participants left feeling lighter, more energized, and uplifted.
Deb Sampson | Healing and Mindfulness Experiences Coordinator
Deb Sampson is a psychotherapist (LPC), yoga teacher, and massage therapist with over 19 years of experience in embodied healing. She brings a rich, integrative approach that honors the wisdom of the body as a pathway to emotional healing, resilience, and connection. Deb offers psychotherapy at Michael Noll Counseling (d.b.a. Soul Psyched), teaches yoga at Yoga Elements, and provides massage therapy at Radiance Spa.
As the coordinator of the Healing Haven at the Mandala Yoga Festival, Deb’s intention is to design a sacred pause within the festival—an inviting sanctuary where participants can receive massage, energy work, sound healing, and embodied support while feeling held in compassion and presence. The Healing Haven offers festival-goers an opportunity to reconnect with themselves, integrate their experiences, and leave feeling nourished on every level—mind, body, and spirit.
