Wanderlustfest and Why I'm Glad I Went

So it's taken me about a month to get this post together. Boy, did things get busy after the holiday but I wanted to talk to you guys about my solo experience at Wanderlust Yoga Festival because, simply put, it was pretty awesome. A long weekend full of yoga, shopping, eating, meditating, sipping, and making new friends was just what I needed to recharge my batteries. It's hard to explain to those that don't do yoga, meditate or make wellness a priority that something like Wanderlust (or the W.E.L.L. Summit) is important to make the time for. As I get older, it's become clear to me that when I take time for myself, whether it's selfcare, a yoga class or even a pedicure with an old issue of InStyle- it makes all the difference in managing the stressors in my life, big and small.

Taking the trip to Vermont, on my own, was a tougher than it sounds. With a six month old, stage five clinger at home, it was hard for me to take myself out of the equation and trust my (quite capable) husband to care for both him and my three year old. I knew that this was something that I've wanted to do for many years and the fact that I decided to do it right after having a baby was a little bit crazy. I think it was because I had just had my baby and left my job to be a stay at home mom (this was causing me to go a bit stir crazy) that it was important for me to go, regaining a sliver of independence and that alone time to just be me. Does that make sense? I also needed practice speaking with adults again and this was a great opportunity hehe.

Photo by Kylie Fly for Wanderlust Festival.

I did a ton of yoga and I loved every second of it, even the very hard parts. I practiced with Elena Brower and hugged her so, yeah, that was amazing. There was a Restorative yoga class that sort of changed my body I'm pretty sure. I met up with the girls from Vasu Tribe and they were headed to a Sade flow session. I sure did waitlist myself onto that one and got in... and you know what? This may not sound like a big deal, but for the first time in my life, I took off my tank and practiced in a sports bra #1 because it was super hot but #2 I just felt so comfortable in my practice and where I was that it didn't matter what I looked like or what the people around me thought of my body. It was freeing y'all.

Photo by Kylie Fly for Wanderlust Festival.

Of course I missed my babies because what Mother doesn't but I engaged with people and networked and tended to my soul a bit. I ate a whole bag of cherries while sitting in the grass just watching people interact with one another. I met a super sweet creative who grew up with my husband and his friends in Hagerstown, MD (Hi Inspired by Stephanie Rose!-She just so happens to make the cutest tees and such.) Small world, right? I was just there and floated around without schedules to keep for others or meals to make or any of my "real world" things. It was pretty much my favorite thing that I've done for myself in a long time.

I'm excited to plan for next year and perhaps take some friends along. Now that I've experienced it alone, I want to bring others to play and enjoy and take that time away from the norm. I don't regret it and I know they wouldn't either. I'm excited about Wanderlust's other manifestation, the 108 event which is basically a mindful triathalon- pretty cool, right? If you're in Boston and available on the 12th of August, won't you consider attending the Wanderlust 108 event taking place at the DCR Hatch Memorial Shell? Start your day with a 5k (your way), take in some yoga and then end with mass meditation. I promise you that experiencing this all with so many of your fellow Bostonians will feel special and magical and probably a little bit sweaty, but amazingly sweaty!

What are you doing to take time for yourself, set intentions and be a more mindful person?