SPOTLIGHT FESTIVAL:  KENTUCKY YOGA FESTIVAL

Looking for something to do this May? We are thrilled for this year’s festival season 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 Paige Zen, Founder and Director of Kentucky Yoga FestivalFestival who we are thrilled to partner with. Complimentary copies of our magazine will be available at this festival!

**Use promo code: NAMASTE for 20% off **

What makes this year’s festival unique?
This year’s Kentucky Yoga Festival is rooted in being visible and shining your light – letting people know that by being themselves and shining unapologetically allows others to do the same.  When we speak up about what we are passionate about in a kind, respectful way, it allows others to know they can do the same. We’re going to incorporate a peacock masquerade ball on Saturday night of the festival which will encourage participants to dress up and get really comfortable in being seen – knowing that when they rise, their peers rise, and we all rise!   The experience is intentionally curated so that people can actually connect: with themselves, with nature, and with one another.
I can’t discount how much of a role the land itself plays. Barren River Magic, in Edmonton, Kentucky is absolutely stunning!  Being outdoors, moving under the open sky, sharing meals, watching the stars – it all supports a sense of presence that’s hard to replicate elsewhere. 

Who are some new presenters or offerings you’re excited about?
One of the things I’m most excited about each year is the mix – seasoned teachers alongside newer voices who bring fresh perspectives. This year we have presenters who blend yoga with somatics, nervous system regulation, creative expression, sound, and embodied mindfulness.

We’re also continuing to expand our Healing Oasis, where every attendee receives access to bodywork and healing modalities at no additional cost. That offering alone shifts the entire tone of the festival from “doing” to “receiving,” which feels really important right now.

And, I have to shout out to Craig Lonas of Core Element Yoga who is bringing a BUTI Glow Yoga class as part of our Peacock Masquerade Party encouraging folks to show up and show off. 

What advice would you give to someone who wanted to start their own yoga festival?
Start small. Start local. Start with people you trust.

A festival doesn’t need to be huge to be impactful. Some of the most powerful gatherings happen when the focus is on relationships, not numbers. Build with your local teachers, studios, musicians, and community spaces. Listen more than you plan. Let the event grow organically instead of forcing it into a mold you’ve seen elsewhere.

Also – honor your capacity. Sustainable festivals are created by people who pace themselves and ask for help.

The theme of our Summer 2026 issue is Community. What does “community” mean to you?
Community, to me, means belonging without performance. It means support. 

It’s a place where you don’t have to arrive polished or “figured out.” Where you’re allowed to be seen in transition, in healing, in joy, in grief – and still be welcomed. True community is built through consistency, care, and shared experience over time, not just shared interests.

It’s less about being the same, and more about being held. 

Community is something that we are all searching for. We are looking for human to human interaction – in REAL space – where we know that we can be seen, heard, and accepted. 

Why are yoga festival communities important?
Yoga festivals create rare containers where people can step out of isolation and into embodied connection. They offer a chance to practice yoga not just on the mat, but in real time – through listening, sharing space, resolving differences, and celebrating together.

In a world that often feels fragmented and fast, these communities remind us how to slow down, breathe together, and remember that we’re not meant to do life alone. That reminder is powerful – and deeply needed.