My first day at Wanderlust has been filled with yoga, music, nature walks, hoop dancing and more!
When Wanderlust and Kashi graciously invited me to attend Wanderlust, I wanted to do everything I could to fully immerse myself in the festival. Before I arrived, I created my schedule online and packed it with lots of different activities including power yoga, meditation, hiking, dancing and more. I felt a little upset when I’d stumble upon two sessions I wanted to attend that were happening at the same time. How was I supposed to do everything I wanted to do!?
It quickly became clear to me this morning that Wanderlust isn’t about doing EVERYTHING. It’s about being present. Selecting a handful of activities that call to you. Taking a moment after each session to relax and reflect.
The environment at Wanderlust is somehow simultaneously relaxed and electric.
My morning began with Energy Medicine Yoga. I walked from my hotel room to The Mothership meeting room for an 8 a.m. session led by Lauren Walker.
Isn’t that a gorgeous space? Though the ceilings and draped fabric initially caught my eye, I loved the attention to detail I saw upon further inspection, including the little stickers on the floor around the room that served as little reminders to breathe, commit and be in the moment.
Energy Medicine Yoga was very new to me and most of the class participants. Lauren Walker’s practice weaves together Eden Energy Medicine and tantra yoga. I did not find the two-hour session physically challenging but enjoyed the way Lauren incorporated self-massage into the practice. She took the time to explain massage techniques that will enhance a traditional yoga practice and reiterated the fact that you should practice smarter, not necessarily harder, to see benefits in your yoga practice.
After Energy Medicine Yoga, had about 30 minutes to spare before my next session and used the time to visit the vendors at the festival.
My breakfast didn’t do a very good job of holding me over, so I was grateful for some free samples!
High Brew Coffee was so delicious! I typically do not like bottled coffee, but the dark chocolate mocha flavor I tried was fantastic.
Krave jerky was another favorite.
I sampled the grilled sweet teriyaki pork jerky, black cherry barbeque pork jerky and pineapple orange beef jerky. Yum!
When I realized it was almost time to go, I popped into the Kashi tent for one of my favorite chocolate chip chia granola & seed bars to fuel me through my next session.
Up next on my agenda was “Treehugging 101: It’s Not Just For Hippies!”
The session description said participants would embark on a “hiking journey” and that’s all I needed to read to sign up! Apparently I should’ve continued reading because I missed the part that said we would be “sitting in silence and communing with Mother Earth.” I went into the session expecting a semi-rigorous hike up Stratton Mountain, so I was a bit disappointed when we took the ski lift up the mountain and then walked downhill for five minutes before our guide encouraged us to find a tree, sit with it for an hour and meditate.
I am all for enjoying nature, but I was really in the mood for an active hike and lasted for about 20 minutes before I high fived my tree and told our guide I was going to continue hiking down the mountain. At the beginning of the session, our guide told us we could continue hiking at any time, so he was totally cool about it and I thanked him repeatedly before heading to the base of the mountain. I quickly saw three more people start hiking down the mountain after I started walking, so I’m glad I wasn’t alone!
Once I was at the base of the mountain, I took our guide’s advice and hopped in a gondola that took me to the summit of Stratton Mountain where I hiked around on my own for a little while. Much better!
The weather was perfectly sunny and the views were breathtaking.
Eventually my stomach told me it was time to make my way back to find something to eat for lunch.
I found a food truck and ordered an incredibly flavorful chickpea curry dish along with a hibiscus ginger cooler to drink.
I parked myself in the grass and watched a live art installation by Cathy McMurray that she will be working on throughout the festival.
As I ate, I noticed a Hoop Dancing session going on behind me and once I was finished, I dropped in and had a great time.
There was a lot of laughter during this session, that’s for sure! It was a riot!
Before I knew it, my next session was about to begin! I walked to a nearby venue to listen to Elena Brower.
Elena’s talk, “Locating Our Light,” took us through a brief meditation before she spoke about meditation and her personal journey. She had a way of speaking that I found so relaxing and the mediation she took us through was incredibly stress-relieving. Elena concluded with a question and answer session and I found her whole aura so calming. (For those interested in meditation, Elena highly recommends checking out her teacher Thom Knoles’ website.)
Now it’s time for me to rush off to catch the “Wanderlust Spectacular” show, known as the “Cirque du Soleil of yoga” tonight that’s supposed to be quite impressive!
Questions of the Evening
- Have you ever attended a yoga festival or a festival centered around meditation or a favorite fitness activity?
- Do you practice meditation?
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Looks like so much fun! I love your sideways cross necklace…where did you find it?
Thank you!! I think I got it on Hautelook!
Sorry to jump in, but I’ve seen a ton of those necklaces on Etsy!
Me too! Great recommendation!!
“…I high fived my tree …” That just made my day.
🙂
Just about to say the same thing! I LOL at that one!
I love that picture of you in the grass! Its like the happiest picture ever!
I’ve never been to a yoga festival but would love to! I think it would be one of the most relaxing trips.
Not a yoga mediation person, but I love to meditate on the Word of God! 😀
Jealous of your hoola hoop class! Looks extremely fun…I think I’ll go get me one haha
I love yoga too, but struggle with the “open mind” and meditation aspect. Same with you on the Word of God….When the instructor tells us to let our minds relax and think about nothing, I usually recite bible verses in my head. I’m happy to know there’s another yoga-loving-Christian out there 🙂 And let me know if you find a yoga retreat that doesn’t focus so much on mother earth, ha!
So jealous of all the amazing adventures you get to go on! Have fun!
So jealous of all the amazing adventures you get to go on! Have fun!
Wow! What a relaxing and rejuvenating time. I’ve definitely never been to a yoga event but would love to. Namaste!
I love that pic of you in the grass with the flowers!
Totally love that you high-fived the tree 😉
I’ve never seen those Akashi bars! Are they new?
I need to meditate more. It’s supposed to be so relaxing but I somehow always make excuses and never get around to it. Have the best trip!
Ooh, I totally want to go there! I had some friends that went to a yoga retreat in Costa Rica, and I was mucho jealous. And I love Krave jerky!
The Cirque du Soleil of yoga sounds awesome! I am with you, I love nature but meditating with a tree for an hour is a bit much for me I prefer to walk around the trees for an hour.
Wow this festival look so amazing! It is so nice to experience things that are a bit different! I try to meditate every day but sometimes I don’t squeeze it in… But when I do I am so glad as it makes you feel so good after!
It sounds like the most relaxing and fun festival!
That hibiscus drink sounds so yummy! And wow, talk about some gorgeous views!
I’ve never been to anything like Wanderlust, but I wonder if I’d be able to sit still with a tree for an hour! I probably would’ve had to break away too.
I just recently started really getting into yoga. What a perfect setting for a yoga festival!
I actually laughed out loud at my computer when I read “before I high fived my tree” and basically peaced out. I hope that wasn’t an exaggeration because the imagery of you doing that is the funniest thing I’ll read all day 🙂
Julie: I came thisclose to going to the festival, but it was too last minute and much was already filled.
Love the picture of you in the grass with the dandelions. Have fun!
Wish you could have come so we could have hung out!
I just can’t meditate haha During my eating disorder treatment, my therapist tried to get me into meditation, how to live in the moment, how to calm myself down when I was upset and all that jazz. I honestly tried and used her too but never really grasped the benefits. I gave up after a couple of tries. My personal way of meditation, when I think my whole life over, is usually when I work out. Specifically running actually. Now that I’m back to a normal weight and can run as much as I want, I usually take that time to “meditate” and it’s been working for me. Workouts are my way of calming down, that’s why I always workout after work! Stressful day = blissful workout!
That yoga festival sounds amazing though 🙂
sitting for an HOUR!? I would not have survived that either. Probably would have ended up napping, ha!! I am not big on meditation but I think being more present in every day life is a good skill to have. Can’t wait to hear about the rest of the festival!
This festival sounds like so much fun! The scenery looks gorgeous and it looks as thought you had some perfect weather to be outdoors!
Hoop dancing sounds like a blast! That’s something I’ve never done before, but I’d certainly love to try it out.
This sounds like a hippie-licious festival! I’m with you on the tree hugging though… no thanks. I mean, loves me some trees but I think if they let you HIKE up the mountain first you’d be able to more effectively appreciate that mountain in all of its majesty. Now I’m sounding super hippie myself…. ok, that was sort of on purpose.
Hope today you’re able to make some friends doing some active things! Maybe I just read into it wrong but it sounds like its kind of lonely so far!
Is it bad that I started laughing when you said you thought you were going on a rigorous hike but instead was told to find a tree to be with for an hour. I think I would have made the same mistake and not continue to read. I would have followed you back down that mountain as well.
Ryan laughed at me pretty hard when I told him about my mistake! Ha!
Krave beef jerky is the best! My boyfriend brought it along on our 2 day backpacking hike up Mt.Washington and we LOVED the chili lime flavor! Great snack for hiking. I’d love to try out the other flavors too.
Yum! I will have to try the chili lime flavor today!
This sounds like so much fun (and also maybe just a liiiitttle strange? but in a good way) I can’t wait to hear more about it!
I’ve never been to a yoga retreat/festival, but it looks like fun!
I just finished Dallas Willard’s book The Spirit of the Disciplines and it was about Christian disciplines of silence, prayer, fasting, celebration, secrecy, study, worship, fellowship, confession, etc.
Oh my. I have been a Christian for a long time, but somehow it didn’t click that there are concrete, real, practice-able ways to become like Jesus and draw closer to God. Ones other than the typical “pray and read your Bible” that hardly anyone seems to practice regularly (though these are vital). Anyway, for the last couple of days I’ve been trying to pray for 20 minutes per day. Like really actually on my knees prayer and asking God for help. I feel very rusty and a little akward doing it, but the time has been super good as well, and it’s like during the day I’ve felt how much kinder I treated people – like God was loving others through me. I hope so, anyway!! I’m going to keep practicing and trying things out, just like I do with my “practice” of fitness and nutrition. So many similarities there.
This is wonderful! Thank you for sharing!
It looks like such a happy atmosphere! I always need a reminder to just be in the moment. Sometimes we’re so quick to snap pictures, because as bloggers, that’s what we do. But once in a while it’s nice to just take it all in, be in the moment, and create a real memory that we’ll have in our brain forever!
This looks like such a relax and amazing retreat! ENJOY!
Oh my stars, THAT VIEW!!! Ok, I have seriously been dyyyying to get my butt to a yoga class!!! I’ve been really thinking it would help me to “chill” and get my mind off things! Have so much fun! What a cool experience!!
Looks like so much fun! I wish there were these types of festivals near me!
Ahh!!! I love Elena Brower! I take her classes on yogaglo.com all the time!
She was amazing!
haha, sit by a tree for an hour?!! i might last about 45 seconds then try to climb up it, chop it down, run away from it, or do anything but sit. sounds like a really interesting event!
Gosh I am just SO SO jealous. I wish I was there! I’m looking into Wanderlust RIGHT now.
wanderlust sounds like a really fun and unique experience! i have never been to vermont, but it looks absolutely beautiful. =)
chickpea curry dish – yum!
I would love to attend a festival like this! I think of yoga as my form of meditation – it helps me focus and be in the moment.
With that said, I don’t think sitting and communing with a tree is my jam. I once dated a guy who would go on retreats to meditate for a WEEK. I can’t imagine meditating for an hour, much less an entire week!
Wow this looks absolutely amazing! I’ve been to Yogaville (an ashram in Virginia), but I’d LOVE to attend a festival like this. Meditation is so hard, but so valuable! Enjoy!
Ha I would have totally high fived the tree too! I don’t think I would have last more than five minutes! I’m not the best at sitting still for long periods…especially in such beautiful hiking surroundings, good call on making the most of it!
I’m just not the meditation type. I would have been super disappointed about not getting to hike as well!
Great article and photos. I was a fan of Kashi until they were bought by Kellogg’s in 2000. Since neither company would acknowledge the sale I stopped purchasing Kashi products and started looking for another “healthy” options. I felt that Kashi could no longer keep their “healthy” promise to their customers once controlled by Kellogg’s.
This past Spring I started meditating a few times a week. Just 10-15 minutes at the end of the day. There are some great podcasts available on iTunes. It’s really helped me relax and let go of anything during the day that may have made me upset.
I’m more into yoga for the stretching and strengthening rather than the meditation aspect. However, it does give me time to slow down and reflect. I love your necklace!
Oh my gosh, I am so jealous you got to go there – I kept seeing ads for Wanderlust pop up all over the internet and I totally wanted to go but it was too soon and I was not ready yet. There’s a similar one happening closer to me end of summer though so I’m gonna do that (in Illinois). Looks great. Hope you had an amazing time.
Oh my goodness, this festival seems right up my alley. Looks fantastic!