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THE OM FESTIVAL 2025

THE OM FESTIVAL 2025

SPOTLIGHT FESTIVAL: The OM Festival

JULY 23-27, 2025
Arlington, VT

FESTIVALS

BIG BEAR YOGA FESTIVAL

**Exclusive discount for our community**

use code: YogaLove10

For 10 percent off 3 and 5 day all access passes.

Looking for something to do this July? We are thrilled yoga festivals are back and can’t wait to check out all the amazing events taking place around the world. This week we had a chance to connect with Samantha Grout, Founder of The OM Festival who we are thrilled to partner with! Complimentary copies of our magazine will be available at this festival!

What are you most excited about for this year’s festival

This is the 3rd annual Om Festival we are headed into this July. First, I would say that we are thrilled to have so many “Omies” returning, both attendees and musicians/teachers. Every single soul in attendance adds something special to the collective energy and we have some powerfully amazing Omies. Once you attend your first Om you are an Om’ie for life.

This year promises to be full of growth, learning, expansion, and fun. We have some wonderful new additions to our schedule such as SUP yoga, float sound healing sessions on the pond, paint n sip workshops as well as several super fun playshops. We are all about promoting a vibe of love, acceptance, creativity, and transformation for all attendees.

What is unique/special about the festival location?

The Om Festival is set in idyllic little Arlington, Vermont. This is the hometown of the main founder of Om, Samantha Grout, as well as our Marketing Guru/Goddess of Creation, Sarah Barendse-Elrod. They chose to hold it in and on the picturesque and majestic grounds of the historic West Mountain Inn set on 175 acres above the famous Battenkill River, owned by Amie Emmons, also an Om founder.

Arlington was the original capital of Vermont. Though the original state tree was taken down in a windstorm in 1979, the replanted replacement still stands, half a mile down the road from the festival site. It was planted not only by Richard Snelling, Governor at the time, but also by Sarah Barendse-Elrod, (age 4 at the time) who was helping her dad, Pierre Barendse, a local landscaper and happens to be right below Sam’s house and the Vermont Leadership Center on Red Mountain.  Make sure to set some time aside to find this tree!

Arlington is a hidden gem in the green mountain state. Quaint, serene, and beautiful. Green grass, wild flowers, roaring rivers, dirt roads, and summer sunshine… This area of Vermont sits atop of quartz, amethysts, and other stone formations that add wonderful energy to the area. Visitors often remark as to how relaxed they feel commenting that they “finally feel like they can breathe!”

Is there a theme for this year’s festival?

Embrace Your Awakening. The Golden age is being ushered in and so many are waking up to the truth of who and what they are. Om is the place this July  to celebrate and join with others on those high vibe levels for great food, incredible music, mind expanding classes, and a whole lot of fun away from it all playtime.

The theme of our issue is “celebrating age.” If you could share a message or piece of advice with your younger self, what would it be? 

I think our biggest pieces of advice would be:

  1. Learn to listen and really tune into your inner knowing. It is your GPS guidance system!
  2. Don’t be in such a rush. Enjoy every moment and fully appreciate all of the people in your world. Time goes by fast, and you never know how long you get to keep those you love. Take the time to celebrate and really enjoy your life.

That is why we are so excited about Om as it is truly a transformative retreat experience for your sacred soul where you can escape the stress of daily life and the green screen and be in the mountains.

BIG BEAR YOGA FESTIVAL
BIG BEAR YOGA FESTIVAL
BIG BEAR YOGA FESTIVAL
THE YOGA HOUSE

THE YOGA HOUSE

THE YOGA HOUSE

ilaStrate Yoga - logo

WEBSITE:

THEYOGAHOUSEBRANDON.COM

EMAIL:

info@theyogahousebrandon.com

ABOUT:

We specialize in offering a variety of yoga classes for all levels and styles. We are open 7 days a week and currently have 27 classes per week to choose from yin or restorative to hot or power yoga and many others in between. Therefore, if you are looking to relax, unwind and release stress we have yoga for you. Or, on the contrary, if you want to strengthen, improve balance, and sweat, we have that too! All of our teachers are registered and have many years of experience.
Our studio is uniquely located in the heart of Brandon, yet tucked slightly away in a quiet serene spot. The studio is designed with open ceilings and natural reclaimed wood furniture. Our comfortable reception area is separate from our practice space. You are welcome to relax before class with a cup of tea, browse, or shop. As you enter our practice area you will be greeted with a view of a tranquil conservation pond where many different bird species make their home.

The studio is equipped with yoga mats to use (at no charge) and essential props for every class. We take pride in the cleanliness of our space with beautiful floors, large tinted windows overlooking the pond and nature, as well as soft string lighting for a calming ambiance.

Our studio has ceiling mounted radiant heaters for our therapeutic detoxifying hot/warm practices, and thirteen 99% quartz crystal sound bowls as well as other sound healing instruments we incorporate into our practices and sound sessions. We also offer the occasional outdoor class overlooking our conservation on holidays.

We love our Yoga House and the positive energy it brings to all our students. We welcome you in being part of making it your yoga home.

MEET FOUNDER DIANE ON OUR IG LIVE CHAT

Melissa Boyd, Satya Yoga and Pilates
Melissa Boyd, Satya Yoga and Pilates
Melissa Boyd, Satya Yoga and Pilates
TOURHERO

TOURHERO

TOURHERO

ilaStrate Yoga - logo

WEBSITE:

TOURHERO.COM/EN

EMAIL:

hello@tourhero.com

ABOUT:

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Melissa Boyd, Satya Yoga and Pilates
Melissa Boyd, Satya Yoga and Pilates
Melissa Boyd, Satya Yoga and Pilates
OHM CENTER

OHM CENTER

OHM CENTER

ilaStrate Yoga - logo

WEBSITE:

OHMCENTER.COM

EMAIL:

info@ohmcenter.com

ABOUT:

Founded by acupuncturist, healer and meditation teacher, Suzanne M. Hill, the OHM Center is a meditation center dedicated to helping people advance in their meditation practice and wisdom training.
The OHM Center is a one-room meditation and wisdom training center located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. We offer a range of classes intended to take you deeper into your relationship with your true inner nature and to a deeper state of relaxation.

We are currently offering Zoom classes during the days and In-House (in person) classes in the evenings and weekends.

INTERVIEW WITH SUZANNE HILL:

Located in the heart of NYC Suzanne Hill founder of OHM is truly a community center with heart. People hang out in the lobby and know each other and. This is not a “yoga studio” with over….classes a week both online and in person 

What was the inspiration to create the OHM Center? 

In 2017, I was getting ready to move out of NYC, with the plan of reducing my workload as an acupuncturist down to 3 days a week. Then, one day I woke up and had the overwhelming feeling wash over me that I needed to open up a meditation center. The words literally came out of my mouth, “It’s time.” For years, I had been teaching 3 meditation classes a week out of my home, so I realized it was time to get them out of my apartment and reach a community beyond my acupuncture patients. It took 6 months to find our location, and after a 9-month buildout, Ohm opened its doors in October 2019. So at the time of this publishing we will be about 5.5 years old!! 

OHM center is more than a meditation center. From the moment you walk there is a strong feeling of community and you can’t help but notice how people spend time before and after classes hanging out on the couches in the lobby and seem to know each other. Was this part of the vision? 

Yes! From the get go, I wanted people to feel like Ohm is a good 3rd space (after home and work), where they can feel safe, secure and welcomed…especially in a large city like NYC, where we sometimes feel like not enough people acknowledge or care about us. At Ohm, we care! We also want people to be able to meet others on their journey of self-development, and share experiences. At the end of class, I go around the room and ask people to briefly discuss what they experienced for 2 reasons: 1) to ground people back into their bodies through speaking, and 2) to help people connect to a group energy. If you only show up for class and leave in your own private cocoon, then you don’t experience the relating and connection that comes through verbal sharing. As humans, when we feel whole and balanced, we naturally want to share; other people learn from our experiences, so we all help each other grow. This leads to people being friendly with one another before and after class. A community naturally formed, without feeling forced, and without the sense that there are insiders and outsiders. We hope that everyone leaves our space feeling included and welcomed! (And by the way, I called it OHM to stand for Open Heart and Mind, but lately I’m writing it Ohm, so that people don’t call it the O-H-M Center!) 

What are the most popular offerings at OHM center? (ie: soundbaths? trainings?) 

By far our most popular classes are Sound Baths; we have them every day at least once! People love the sounds and vibrations of the singing bowls, and we often incorporate them into the end of other classes like Yoga Nidra as well. Most of our

Sound Baths are 45-minutes or 1-hour long. The other 2 popular classes are Breathwork & Sound Healing and Gentle Hypnosis & Sound Healing. These classes are well-attended because they are 75 minutes long, and people feel like they have journeyed, so they’re deeply restorative. It usually takes people 15 minutes to sit up after the class is over! 

In early 2024, we added training & certification programs and the response has been enormous! We have trained a lot of people! Ohm currently offers a 25-Hour Level 1 Sound Healing Certification, which includes in-person weekly classes & lots of practice time. By the time our students complete the course, they’re able to give mini-sound baths for their friends & family. We also have 4-Hr. Energy Healing Training that is very popular. As we move into the Age of Aquarius, we believe that everyone should learn how to be an energy healer! 

The theme of this issue is “celebrating age.” What advice or practices would you recommend to someone who is interested in improving wellness as they get older? (optional question more about Suzanne if she wants to answer) 

By now, most of us know that there are many things that accelerate our biological aging such as: stress, living in a city, mental and physical toxins, trauma, chronic pain, etc. While none of us will live forever (as yet), there are indeed antidotes to this accelerated aging such as: good sleep, no sugar or toxins, drinking enough water, working at things we love, forming relationships with people who support and nurture us, etc.. Furthermore, from the spiritual perspective, the KEY antidote to aging is to release our natural reflex of responding to situations by becoming tense, worried and upset. Everything works out one way or another, and whatever situation that arises won’t be any different. It will ALWAYS work out. As we can uplevel our response to acceptance, trust and faith through regular meditation and spiritual practice, we will absolutely age more gracefully. The practices we teach at Ohm like mantra chanting, breathwork and meditation, all help you uplevel, thereby relaxing you, and decelerating the speed at which gray hair, wrinkles and arthritis appear. 

You originally worked in finance before changing careers to become an acupuncturist and then eventually open the OHM center. What advice would you give to someone considering a career change to work in wellness? 

There is wellness and then there’s spirituality, and ideally they should overlap, but sometimes they don’t. For sure, the skills that are always immediately transferable from other industries are hard work, responsibility and follow through. From corporate into wellness, I think that people have to learn not to be attached to their patients’ or clients’ outcomes. We are only ever the guide, not the doer, and it’s

really up to the patient how “well” they want to be. You can’t push others up the mountain; it’s too exhausting and inefficient. This non-attachment is tricky for some people coming from corporate, because it goes against the corporate mindset, where you are meant to “get things done”. But even in corporate, you will find that if you evolve past attachment to outcome, you will have a better experience and greater success overall. 

Coming from corporate into spirituality, the main lesson is patience, so that you’re able to let things unfold naturally. Divine timing has its reasons for things taking as long or short as they do, and it’s always for the greater good of ALL, not just us as individuals. Again, these lessons

Melissa Boyd, Satya Yoga and Pilates
Melissa Boyd, Satya Yoga and Pilates
Melissa Boyd, Satya Yoga and Pilates
THE YOGA PILLOW

THE YOGA PILLOW

THE YOGA PILLOW

ilaStrate Yoga - logo

WEBSITE:

THEYOGAPILLOW.COM

EMAIL:

lochana@theyogapillow.com

Melissa Boyd, Satya Yoga and Pilates
Melissa Boyd, Satya Yoga and Pilates

ABOUT:

The Yoga Pillow, a one-of-a-kind prop invented by Lochana Panapitiya, is revolutionizing the way yoga and meditation enthusiasts approach their practice. This thoughtfully designed prop combines the support of a yoga block with the softness of a yoga bolster, offering a unique blend of comfort, portability, and versatility. Made from high-quality cotton canvas with a supportive foam core, it’s perfect for restorative yoga, seated meditation, and challenging postures that require additional support.
 
Lochana’s vision for The Yoga Pillow was to create an accessible and adaptable tool that meets the needs of both beginners and experienced yogis alike. Available in calming colors like Sea Glass Teal, Blue Lagoon and White Coral, it adds an aesthetic touch to any practice space while providing the ideal balance of firmness and comfort. The Yoga Pillow’s innovative design allows it to attach to standard yoga blocks, transforming them into mini yoga bolsters for heightened support and deeper relaxation. Compact and travel-friendly, it’s easy to bring along to the studio or on the go. 
 
With its emphasis on flexibility and functionality, The Yoga Pillow is quickly becoming a must-have for anyone looking to deepen their practice. Discover more about this transformative prop at  theyogapillow.com.
Melissa Boyd, Satya Yoga and Pilates
Melissa Boyd, Satya Yoga and Pilates

Sponsored Content from our Partners: The Yoga Pillow

What was the inspiration to create The Yoga Pillow?
The inspiration came from my personal yoga and meditation journey. During my yoga teacher training, I noticed the discomfort that can arise when sitting on yoga blocks for extended periods in meditation or trying to find proper support in poses without pain. A lightbulb moment struck when I saw a fellow student place a yoga bolster on a block. After tons of market research and building the first prototype, I realized there was a need for a hybrid yoga prop that could provide comfort, alignment, and versatility—something that didn’t exist yet. That moment sparked the idea for The Yoga Pillow, a tool designed to make yoga and meditation more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

What is your favorite feedback you’ve received about the pillows?
One of my favorite pieces of feedback came from a customer who tried The Yoga Pillow at an event we were vendors for. Her reactions to using it were priceless. She mentioned how amazing it was and how “it feels like a couch for my pelvis.” Other customers have mentioned “it’s like temper-pedic for your butt” and “this is an amazing gift for my body.” It’s been truly incredible just to see the facial AND body reactions of people that use it for the first time. Hearing and actually seeing how The Yoga Pillow has positively impacted someone’s relationship to yoga is by far the most rewarding part of what I do.

Your pillows look incredibly comfortable, especially for anyone who experiences discomfort sitting for long periods of time or knee pain in certain yoga poses. Who do you find would benefit most from using them?
The Yoga Pillow is ideal for anyone who experiences discomfort during yoga or meditation, especially those with sensitive joints or injuries, limited flexibility, or just have a desire for some coziness and support. It’s perfect for beginners who may feel intimidated by certain poses, as well as experienced yogis looking to deepen their practice with a bit of comfort as they prep for more advanced poses. It’s also a great tool for anyone incorporating restorative or yin yoga into their routine, as it enhances alignment in poses held for longer periods while adding comfort. It is also wonderful to use as a meditation cushion following an invigorating ashtanga style yoga practice. We have even had customers that use it as a wonderful floor cushion to just sit around the coffee table to hangout.

Share your favorite yoga/wellness social media/web accounts that inspire you.
I’m inspired by accounts that focus on mindfulness, mental health, and authentic wellness. A few of my favorites are:

@Yoga_Medicine and @TiffanyCruikshank for the wealth of information around combining modern medical and anatomical knowledge with yoga as well as delving into blended learnings from Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda.

@JaniceLiou for her creative imagery and focus on yoga alignment and her authenticity in teaching yoga.

 @BanyanTogether, @TaraBrach and @Jack_Kornfield for their mindfulness-based content and knowledge on Buddhist mindfulness teachings.

These accounts remind me of the transformative power of yoga and the importance of community in this space.

Congratulations on creating a new wellness product and small business; it is a huge accomplishment. What advice would you give anyone looking to start their own small business?
Thank you so much! My biggest advice is to start with a clear vision, start lean then expand and most importantly stay connected to your “why.” Building a business takes resilience and clarity in thinking. Not only has my meditation and yoga practices helped here but also the foresight to keep things as simple as possible. Additionally, having a strong sense of purpose will also keep you motivated during the inevitable ups and downs. Also, surround yourself with people who believe in your mission and bring complementary skills to the table. Finally, listen to your customers and your inner self. Their feedback is invaluable in refining your product and building something truly impactful.

Thank you for partnering with Yoga Love Magazine! We are able to do the work we do because of our amazing community of sponsors and partners. Can you share what inspired you to partner with us?
It’s an honor to partner with Yoga Love Magazine, a platform that uplifts and celebrates the yoga and wellness community in any cultural setting. Your focus on inclusivity and mindful living aligns perfectly with the mission of The Yoga Pillow. I wanted to work with Yoga Love Magazine because of its ability to inspire and connect yogis from all walks of life. Together, we’re encouraging more people to prioritize self-care, deepen their practice, and discover the joy of yoga and mindfulness no matter where they come from.