Big Exhale: Wellness and connection by the ocean

BIG Exhale will transform the Torquay Common into a one-day retreat-style festival focused on nervous-system repair, mindfulness, movement and community connection.

Taking place on January 10 as part of the expanded Nightjar Festival series, the event invites the community to slow down and reset through a carefully curated program blending science-backed wellbeing practices with festival energy.

Across the day, Big Exhale brings together teachers, musicians, breathwork facilitators and movement practitioners for an immersive experience featuring yoga, guided breathwork, sound journeys, meditation, storytelling and live acoustic music.

Matty Lawrence, the founder of Happy Spaces and now More Than Happy, will join Kate Schmidt to present a workshop that invites you to pause, breathe and embrace what matters most.

Designed with accessibility and genuine care in mind, the festival creates space for people to pause, recharge and reconnect with themselves and others.

Between sessions, visitors can explore the Wellness Village, offering sauna sessions, cold-plunge immersion and personalised treatments including massage, acupuncture, naturopathy, nutritional medicine, facials and energy work, all delivered in a calm and restorative setting.

The Mindful Makers Market adds a creative dimension, featuring conscious brands, sustainable self-care products and eco-friendly handcrafted pieces. Food trucks, nourishing snacks, ambient chill-out zones and family-friendly spaces round out the experience.

L-R: Big Exhale brings together teachers, musicians, breathwork facilitators and movement practitioners for an immersive experience featuring yoga, guided breathwork, sound journeys, meditation, storytelling and live acoustic music. Matty Lawrence, the founder of Happy Spaces and now More Than Happy, will join Kate Schmidt to present a workshop that invites you to pause, breathe and embrace what matters most.

As dusk settles, the atmosphere shifts as Dawnbreak takes over the dance floor, guiding guests through rhythm, movement and release to close the day.

Event producer Baeley Dear said Big Exhale was designed as a place for people to truly reset.

“Big Exhale is where people come to breathe again. It’s warm, it’s human, and it’s intentionally designed to help calm the nervous system while bringing people together,” she said.

“There’s movement, stillness, laughter and maybe some tears and by the end of the day, everyone leaves lighter.”

L-R: Ryan Mannix of It’s all Yoga will host a meditation masterclass. As dusk settles, the atmosphere shifts as Dawnbreak takes over the dance floor, guiding guests through rhythm, movement and release to close the day.

Big Exhale is designed for anyone seeking a reset a chance to breathe, settle, laugh, reconnect with others and explore wellbeing in a relaxed,coastal environment.

Whether you’re here to stretch, sweat, clear your head or simply soak up the atmosphere, Big Exhale is your invitation to pause, connect, explore and finally exhale.

Gates open at 11.30am for a noon start. For tickets, head to nightjarfestival.com.au

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