the lululemon team dance in the rain to Michael Franti - Wanderlust Vermont, 2011
Are you in the first few years of a yoga practice like I am? Do you live your life in a whirlwind of work, friendships, family and everything else in between…and sometimes feel tired and overextended when your head hits the pillow? If this sounds like you, I highly recommend heading with a few close friends to a weekend festival like Wanderlust.
Primarily focused on yoga + music, Wanderlust Festival (held in a locations across the U.S. each year) is a wonderful blend of all things designed to nourish to your body, mind and spirit. I was lucky enough to attend this year’s Wanderlust in Stratton, Vermont, and I have a couple of key learnings I’d love to share with you.
1. variety of classes & quality of instructors
Can you say Rodney Yee-Colleen Saidman-John Friend-Seane Corn-Elena Brower ten times fast?! If you are a beginner yogi trying to take your practice to the next level, this is the PERECT forum. Not only are you practicing with some of the top instructors in the world, the variety of classes is staggering. In our all too fast-paced daily routines, sometimes we count on what is tried & true instead of venturing into, for example, a deep-breathing Kundalini class. At a weekend like this, you have so many opportunities to try new styles of yoga and you might surprise yourself with what you like. Anusara and I are now BFF forever!
2. go with friends
After opening your heart, hips, and well, everything over the course of four days, I guarantee you will have some of the most authentic, powerful conversations of your life. The girls and I talked about goals, health, relationships and more – and they were some of the most honest, warm and impactful conversations I’ve had in years. We also laughed & danced our butts off – my face was as sore as my hamstrings when I got home!
3. trust your body
As always, who we are on the mat is usually who we are off it, too. I came into my weekend in Vermont thinking I couldn’t do certain poses. A few classes in, I discovered that if I just tried to perform them, I could do them. Were my poses textbook? Or the deepest stretch in the room? No – but they were still the poses, and it was me doing them. I took this realization back to my home studio in Vancouver and my shifted perspective has me doing things now I wouldn’t have dreamed of three months ago – both in & outside of class.
4. go with an open mind & heart
There is literally something for everyone at a festival like this. From getting feathers woven into your hair to palm-reading to music of all kinds, there is a lot to do if you need to take a break from asanas. I had never heard Krishna Das sing and, to be honest, I probably would have said “he’s very talented but it isn’t my cup of tea” had I heard him before. However, after seeing him perform live at Wanderlust, I listen to him at home all the time when I’m relaxing & making dinner. An added bonus: when you come home and find a red feather tickling your shoulder during a day at work two weeks later, it’ll stop you dead in your tracks and make you giggle!
If you are looking for a retreat from your daily routine, want to deepen your daily practice and love exploring, check out a weekend yoga festival. You’ll leave lighter, more centered and ready to return to your life with a spring in your step and a renewed intention.
want more?
- top 10 wanderlust must-haves
- be sure to check back for Alana's daily recaps from Wanderlust Tahoe.
upcoming wanderlust yoga festivals
- Wanderlust Tahoe – Inspired Gathering
- Wanderlust Santa Monica – Yoga In The City
- Wanderlust Tahoe – Wanderlust CA
- Wanderlust Seattle – Yoga In The City
You can find them at 
