The Wanderlust series of yoga and music festivals are a new entry to the destination fitness genre. Take a look at the Wanderslust Whistler Festival for an idea of what a Wanderlust Festival is all about.
Wanderlust has a series of yoga and music festivals being held across North and South America. Here is a list of the festivals dates for 2013, with links to each festival website:
Wanderlust Festivals include a variety of activities in idyllic resort venues. According to the Wanderlust planners, the core mission is to create community around mindful living
focusing on a few principles:
Wanderlust is a one-of-a-kind festival bringing together leading yoga teachers, musical acts and DJs, speakers, chefs and winemakers - all in a setting of breathtaking natural beauty. It's a celebration in the most beautiful places in the world.
Experience fun in the sun and dancing under the stars.
Hike on peaceful trails and yoga at the top of the mountain.
Sip cocktails with your friends and enjoy farm-to-table dinner with views of the surrounding natural vistas.
Enjoy early morning meditations and all-night musical performances.
I attended the Wanderlust Whistler Festival in August 2012. At Whistler, Wanderlust activities were held at several indoor and outdoor venues thoughout the Whistler Olympic Village. I stayed at The Westin Resort and Spa and luckily for me it was the registration location and music venue for the first couple of nights. My Sage ticket entitled me to 3 ticketed activities per day, plus all the evening music sessions.
There is so much to share, I will only mention the highlights. My first day began early with a guided hike that led to an open vista where Garth Stevenson played his bass for the group accompanied by birds chirping, sounds from nearby water, and other sounds in nature. And yes, he hiked with that huge instrument for the nearly two miles into the woods. After a 30 minute concert, everyone hiked out in a mood that matched the serenity we had just experienced. And this was before breakfast!
I enjoyed the concert in the mountains so much, on my last morning I saw Garth was leading another concert hike. I ditched the outdoor hike/yoga function where I was registered and crashed the hike/concert. No worries! It was the best way to end the festival.
Between the morning concert hikes, I enjoyed traditional yoga classes in the conference rooms of the hotel venues. An outdoor hooping class was unexpected fun - I hadn't used a hula hoop in more than 40 years! There were so many activities, I completely missed any lectures at the "Speakeasy". I missed the afternoon movies at Wanderlust cinema. I missed the farm-to-table dinner at the top of the ski lift. And after being overwhelmed with so much yoga, hikes, and music - I spent a quiet afternoon at the quiet Scandinave Spa. The Westin gave me a complimentary ride to the spa, as it wasn't in Whistler Village. The spa phoned for my return ride at the end of my visit, and when the driver picked me up he dropped me off at the evening concert and even took my gear where it was awaiting me in my room! Michael Franti was performing at this evening concert. The concert grounds were jam-packed, energy was palpable with everyone having a great time dancing and otherwise enjoying Michael Franti's music. Performing during other evenings were the ReBirth Brass Band (of New Orleans - they led everyone in a "pop-up parade" from the concert grounds to the late-night venue on the first evening of the festival); the acrobatic stylings of Quixotic, and high energy music from Thievery Corporation. There was quite an ecletic collection of musicians, and loads of fun after a full day of hiking, yoga, meditation, and speakers.
A community yoga class is a special feature at Wanderlust Festivals. Free to the public, and held late afternoon on a weekend day, everyone and anyone from the community is invited to participate.
If you're looking for an active vacation with lots of activities in a beautiful location, consider a Wanderlust Festival.