SPOTLIGHT FESTIVAL: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA HOBOKEN

Looking for something to do this June? 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 Radha Devi Om, Visionary and Founder of International Day of Yoga Hoboken with Co-Founders Urban Souls Yoga Studio (Karen Flannery, Matt Flannery and Brendan Gibbons) who we are thrilled to partner with. Complimentary copies of our magazine will be available at this festival! 

What makes this year’s festival unique? 
This year we are centering the festival around honoring the traditions of yoga while celebrating  how those traditions live and breathe in a modern community. The event takes place on the  Summer Solstice, Sunday, June 21st, at Pier A Lawn (11 am – 6.30 pm) in Hoboken and brings  together teachers representing classical lineages alongside contemporary practices. We are  highlighting Iyengar, Hatha 26, Vinyasa, and Ashtanga Yoga, creating a bridge between the  roots of practice and the way people experience yoga today. Last year we unified studios across  the city, and we intend to deepen that collaboration again while supporting a new charity  partner. 

Who are some new presenters or offerings you are excited about? 
Our theme this year is Honoring the Roots, Living the Practice and I am excited to continue collaborating with community leaders like Brendan Gibbons, Patrick  Franco, and Gagan Bhutani, each of whom brings a strong connection to a traditional lineage. The inclusion of these classical styles adds depth and context to the day and offers participants  an opportunity to experience yoga beyond a single approach. It feels like a return to the source while still welcoming everyone exactly where they are. 

What advice would you give to someone who wanted to start their own local yoga  festival? 
Start with relationships. A meaningful festival grows from genuine collaboration between  teachers, studios, and community partners. Keep the intention simple and rooted in service.  Honor the traditions that came before you while making space for accessibility and inclusivity.  When the purpose is clear, the planning becomes a shared effort rather than a solo project. 

The theme of our Summer 2026 issue is Community. Can you share with us what the  word community means to you? 
In yoga, community forms through shared breath, shared presence, and a shared willingness to  grow. It is not about agreement or sameness but about connection, care, and a sense of being  part of something larger than us. It is a place where people can show up as they are and feel  supported without needing to perform. 

Why are yoga festival communities important? 
Yoga festivals create a container where individuals, teachers, and studios come together in  unity rather than competition. They remind us that yoga was always meant to be practiced in  relationships with others and in relationships with the world around us. These gatherings help  preserve tradition, inspire new practitioners, and strengthen the collective spirit of wellness.  When people practice together in an open space, the experience becomes larger than any one class. It becomes a shared moment of awareness and humanity that continues long after the  day ends. 

“Alone you go faster, together we go further”