The 10th anniversary of the Dirty South Yoga Fest (DSYF), held in August, prompted the editor-in-chief of Yoga Journal to travel to Atlanta.

Asked how Atlanta’s only current homegrown festival compares to others she’s seen, Renee Schettler spoke to what festival founder Jessica Murphy always says when asked about what motivated her to create DSYF: community.

“The focus on community is what sets it apart,” says Schettler. “The emphasis is on all local teachers and presenting an array of content where there’s literally something for everyone.” She further observed that everyone seemed kind and enthusiastic and appeared to be having a good time. “I saw people laughing throughout classes and talking to strangers, which you don’t always see elsewhere.”

The three-day event drew 850 attendees. “This year was a culmination of 10 years of evolution, growth and expansion,” says Murphy. “We’ve seen past attendees grow into teachers and volunteers, and we’ve seen vendors return year after year. Each year has its own unique flavor, and this year did not disappoint.”

Similar to last year, first-time attendees made up the majority of the audience at 65 percent, and 97 percent of all attendees were women.

As in previous years, DSYF will donate 10 percent of its profits to a local nonprofit. This year’s nonprofit is TNP Foundation, which partners with schools, community groups and after-school programs to offer yoga and mental health programs to kids and the adults who work with them. Programs include weekly classes, access to social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum and adult wellness sessions, workshops and trainings.