Films by, about and for women: Walnut Creek yoga studio hosts LunaFest

When Jillian Bobowicz practices and teaches yoga, she does so with the mission of helping others achieve peace within themselves, and then extend that same peaceful feeling to others.

She also believes in the spirit of gathering women together to create positive changes and to make a difference in people’s lives.

That is why Bobowicz has brought LunaFest, a short film festival by, for and about women to the YogaWorks studio in Walnut Creek, where she is an instructor.

Sponsored by Luna, a division of CliffBar that produces nutrition products for women, Bobowicz has arranged for the traveling filmfest to screen its films at YogaWorks on Jan. 28 to raise money for the Breast Cancer Fund.

“LunaFest was created by women to raise awareness about women and women’s issues,” said Bobowicz. “Our community will benefit by consciously coming together to support this cause. This event is also a great opportunity to educate ourselves on steps we can take today to promote greater wellness.”

There will be a representative from the Breast Cancer Fund present at the reception with information about the organization and simple ways women can all begin to take actions to reduce the risk for breast cancer and other diseases, said Bobowicz.

“A great place to start is by reducing our exposure to toxic chemicals,” she said. “LunaFest will be a platform to share information about reducing our risk for disease and creating communities that promote wellness and healing.

A lot goes into creating an event — especially a film festival. Bobowicz said she and colleagues Lisa Ornelas and yoga instructor Melanie Salvatore-August have been organizing the event as well as fielding questions from YogaWorks members and the public about the film festival and fundraiser.

While LunaFest is about promoting women and women’s issues, men are welcome to attend the screenings, she said.

“The content of some of the films is mature, so we recommend young adults and adults attend,” Bobowicz said.

The films are chosen by the LunaFest Board of Advisors. According to the board’s website, an average of 850 films are submitted to LunaFest each year, and only nine are chosen to be shown, she said.

“Audience members can expect to draw a deeper understanding of what it means to be a woman,” Bobowicz said. “We all have such unique experiences and these films defiantly speak to them, while at the same time striking the chord of the universal feminine.”

She feels these films will resonate with the central Contra Costa audience.

“Personally I never fail to be inspired by the stories of other women. As a modern suburban community we are all directly involved in the shift that is taking place toward greater awareness of one another, our environment and its relationship to our wellness,” Bobowicz said. “This event is designed to create community, raise conciseness on important issues and support the healing process. In my opinion, those are incredibly significant issues for this community.”

Anyone unable to attend the event can still make a donation to the Breast Cancer Fund anytime at YogaWorks Walnut Creek on the day of the event. LunaFest attendees will receive a free week’s worth of classes at the yoga studio. Donations will be collected all day and all classes through the day are also donation based, she said.

“LunaFest, to me, is about creating awareness and community,” Bobowicz said. “Coincidentally, these two concepts are also fundamental to my yoga practice. It is through coming together that we share knowledge and experience, thus creating relationships that can act as a vehicle for growth.”

The event is an opportunity for women to gather as an integral part of the community and as women yoga practitioners to listen to one another and support each other’s individual and collective processes, she said.

“It is forum for growth, learning and personal responsibility–three values that are significant to myself and YogaWorks as a whole.”