WANDERLUST 108: BROOKLYN

There are certain days that just are super feel good days. This past Sunday happened to be one of those days as I took part in the Wanderlust 108: Brooklyn fest in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. It was such an amazing day and I'll try my best to put that in writing, just not sure if I can, but here goes! This might be a long one, sorry.

What is Wanderlust, you ask? Well, it's a 1 day festival (in this case, there are also multi-day events at different beautiful locations) of awesomeness. Wonderlust 108: Brooklyn was a 'Mindful Triathlon'...a triathlon consisting of a non-timed 5K, yoga, mediation all combined with music, dancing, healthy/holistic food options, vendors, body painting, and just a pure positive energy vibe. This is how Wanderlust describes their kindest triathlon and I knew I had to sign up!... 

'Unlike most triathlons, we place community above competition, inner peace above power, and self-awareness above strength. We prefer slow food to fast run times. For us, winning is measured in laughs shared and new friends made.'

The forecast leading up to Sunday's event was a bit iffy as there was a 60% chance of thunderstorms for that day, but thankfully we were blessed with such a beautiful sunny day with just a few sprinkles towards the end of the event to cool us off.

The day started off with the 5K and even though I wasn't able to run it due to my pulled Achilles tendon (boooo!), we were able to cheer a little bit for the runners at the finish line.                                            

                                                                                       

And that also allowed us to pick up our goodie bags/mats early and look around at the vendors before it got super packed. Alway thinking ahead! ;-)

After we picked up our bags/mats, we had one of The Haiku Guys members write us some personalized haikus! Mine was on running (duh!) and the happiness it brings me. That first line really stuck with me.

Then it was off to explore the grounds! Wanderlust did an great job of having so many varied vendors...clothing, food, jewelry, skincare. Many of my faves were there, such as Athleta, Siggi's yogurt, and Karma Collective. There were also charitable organizations spreading their word of helping and giving back, such as the Sonima Foundation, which aims to bring yoga and meditation to public schools. How awesome is that?!

The wonderful Power To The She words of Athleta

I heart Siggi's!! And in my favorite (all-year-long) flavor...pumpkin! 

The beautiful & sweet girls of Karma Collective had so much to choose from! 

Sonima had a fun photo booth with different affirmations to choose from or write your own. Silly because well, I am!

Pretty soon, it was yoga time! We found a good spot and just relaxed in the sunshine while waited for class to begin.

Loving these fandanas that we received with our goodie bags.

I was really excited about taking a class lead by MC Yogi, as I'd heard great things about him. And he definitely did not disappoint! He made 6,000 people feel so close...both figuratively and literally, as some poses had us leaning on or holding hands with our neighbors which I loved.

Yoga was then followed by music and dancing...and dedicated to our grandparents. How could someone not be happy?! 

After yoga and meditation, there were a few different fun classes that we could participate in...

Acro-Yoga

                                                                                     

Aerial Yoga by AIReal Yoga

                                                      

Hooping

                       

I really felt like I was 10 years old again! And obviously do not have a future career in hooping as I couldn't get more than 3-4 loops around me. Apparently these hips do lie, lol. But it was so fun!

Then the rain came and everyone scattered away. But we stuck around for a few more pics, of course!

All in all, it was a beautiful event. I loved seeing so many people of all ages, races, creeds come together for a day of running, yoga, meditation and just all around positivity. I'm looking forward to going to more of the Wanderlust festivals, possibly even one of the multi-day fests! 

Namaste!

Lole White Tour- Yoga in The Park

I'm a little late with my review of the Lole Women White Tour yoga event...but what else is new, right?! 

On Wednesday, September 2, my friend Monica & 1 joined 10,000 of our closest yogi friends for a peaceful night of yoga and music in Central Park. All expertly organized by Lole Women. This is going to be a pretty short post because I have just one word for this event...AMAZING! From start to finish, everything about those few hours in Zen-tral Park, as we called it afterwards, was truly amazing. 

I didn't realize just how many people would be there until we saw the rows upon rows upon rows of yoga mats/goodie bags lined up. Yellow as far as the eye could see! This was definitely not a mellow yellow moment! The combo of bright yellow against the green of grass all under this amazing blue sky instantly made me happy and so excited to connect with it all! 

Rows and rows and rows of yogis!

Photo courtesy of Lole Women

Once we were checked in, we had plenty of time to find a good spot and chat with people around us and of course, snap some photos ;-)

And then it was time for class to begin! We had the honor of being lead in chant and class by some truly awesome teachers...Elena Brower, Colleen Saidman Yee and Rodney Yee. 

Photo courtesy of Lole Women

Photo courtesy of Lole Women

And if that wasn't awesome enough, we had Ingrid Michaelson and Donna De Lory singing to us while we practiced yoga! Whaaaat?!! Yes! 

Photo courtesy of Lole Women

 The yoga class was exactly what I was hoping it would be...inspirational, peaceful, spiritual, and sweaty :-) 

But the fun wasn't over when the yoga class was completed! Ingrid stayed for a concert and there were Lole Women booths to purchase pretty items. Oooh mala beads...why yes, I do need more! ;-)

I'm so grateful to have been a part of such an amazing event. I was feeling the energy and positive vibes for days afterwards! Thanks, Lole Women for all the happiness!

Girl's Day: Well + Good's Surfside Salutations

What do you get when you mix yoga, stand up paddle boarding and beauty stations on an idyllic Hamptons resort on a perfect summer day? Surfside Salutations, that's what! Thanks to the good folks at Well+Good and a few other sponsors, The Surf Lodge along Montauk Lake became a fun and peaceful day of health and wellness for us lucky ones that registered in time. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, other than a girls day in the Hamptons with my BFFs and that we would get sweaty. Which we like to do! What I didn't expect was just how happy the vibes would be all around and how 'well and good' I would feel at the end of the day.

Upon checking in, we were greeted by such a beautiful setting at The Surf Lodge...and a goodie bag! the weather could not have been any more perfect for this event! Sunshine galore! We took some time to walk around and explore the Lodge before our fun day began! I could totally move here ;-) 

We also took advantage of being the early birds and for some pics before class (duh!) and staked out our yoga mats in the shade...best move of the day! The sun was wonderful but HOT HOT HOT!! 

Our yoga class was lead by the awesome Heather Lilleston, co-founder of Yoga For Bad People and instructor at Yoga Vida. She was AMAZING! Relaxing, yet funny with an awesome vibe, this was just the yoga class I needed!

Of course, after all that sweating its only right to get cleaned up and a little swanky! Am I right or am I right?! And Well+Good made sure that their beauty bars hit the spot. Their line up included a sunscreen station, a DIY after sun skin care station, a DIY raw food facials bar, and Target was on hand to lend 'support' to our girls with free sports bras!  

 Raw food facials that were good enough to eat...and apparently were! YUM!

My personal favorite was the RPZL hair braiding station. Ive always wanted a beautiful braid crown but my fingers and hair never cooperate. Thanks to Emily and team, my Game of Thrones hair dreams came true! 

 And then finally it was time for our Stand Up Paddleboard class with The Paddle Diva! This was the part of the day that I was nervous about. I have zero balance on flat sidewalk, so imagine me on a paddle board on moving water. No bueno! However, with The Paddle Diva's help, not only did I get on the board with no issues, but I also stood up and LOVED it!  I'm hooked!

Wish we could do this every weekend! :-) THANK YOU Well+Good for such an awesome day of sun, surf, & good vibes!