Pam Shanti SatNam Buckner

Yoga Journey

From a very young age I knew I was different. However I hid my differences because like most of us, we want to fit in and be liked. Unfortunately I spent the greater part of my life trying to "fit in".

Pivotal Shift

I had tried yoga in the past but found it was slow, repetitive and boring. It just didn't resonate with me. Then one memorable evening I attended a yoga class where they began the class with chanting mantra. I had never done that before and it felt quite foreign but somehow felt so deep in my soul familiar. I remember looking around and I started crying, I was among like-minded individuals such as myself. I was finally home.

Yoga is my Safe Space

As I started to explore yoga, I looked around and I didn't see very many people that looked like me. I noticed that not only did I look different but my body moved differently. After becoming a yoga teacher, students shared with me that they did not feel welcome in the traditional yoga class and much of yoga's concepts were misunderstood. I felt it was my duty to create this festival as a safe space to introduce people to yoga and to help establish the foundation for a lifelong practice and greater well-being. Namaste

Let's Make It Annual

Our first annual Soul Long Beach Yoga Festival held February 22, 2020 brought over 300 people to the center of Long Beach to sample a variety of yoga classes, buy life affirming products, eat healthy, edifying foods and experience several healing modalities. This year, due to COVID19, the second annual festival will be virtual. Although seeing everyone in person is exciting, maintaining a safe and healthy community is more important. We look forward to sharing space with you as like-minded souls connecting through the practice of yoga. Namaste

Jannelle McKinney

Marketing and Social Media Guru

I am the Marketing Energy behind our annual Soul Long Beach Yoga Festivals. Originally from Kansas City, I dreamt of moving to a different state. Five years ago that dream came true when I relocated to California. I’ve always had a passion for networking and helping people get resources by either connecting them with people for mutual benefit or helping them myself. Slowing I started getting into Yoga, (thanks to Pam) and I began to see the importance of physical but more importantly mental health and forgiveness of oneself. Yoga has helped me improve in many areas of my life and because of this I was excited to join the team to help spread awareness of Yoga in our communities.