The International Day of Yoga (IDY) will return to Wānaka for the fourth year in a row next month, with a day full of yoga sessions which raise money for the local community.

Participants can take part in sessions ranging from Iyengar Yoga to Vinyasa Flow and workshops on topics ranging from mindfulness to vedic meditation during the annual June 21 event.

Soul Yoga owner and IDY event organiser Keity Garcia has been practising yoga for 20 years and she says it is about much more than poses on the mat - yoga supports health and wellness and promotes self discovery, ideas which the event will delve into across its sessions.

Keity has been running IDY in collaboration with other local yoga teachers since 2019.

“On my first year here in Wānaka I felt that something was missing that could bring the yoga community together, and from this I decided to create the International Day of Yoga Wānaka event,” she told the Wānaka App.

“Each year we have more attendees with successful feedback.”

Yoga teachers - each of them volunteering their time for the event - come from across the Upper Clutha community for the all-ages-and-abilities event and some from as far away as Alexandra. 

Each session offers unique benefits, Keity said. 

“Yoga Therapy focuses on the shoulders and neck and it is essential for those who spend long hours in front of the computer,” she said. 

“Alignment is a great way to understand and learn to adjust the Asana (pose) to your own body.

“Iyengar is the perfect way to learn to use props. Vinyasa is perfect for us to start the event and to finish with the Winter Solstice Flow will help to balance energies.”

Due to no-shows in recent years, there is a registration fee for classes for the first time this year and all proceeds will be donated to Food for Love and St John Wānaka. 

International Day of Yoga will take place on June 21 at the Lake Wānaka Centre.

Tickets are limited; register here.

PHOTO: Supplied