top 10 wanderlust must-haves

When our team hit the Wanderlust yoga festival in Bondville, Vermont, last month they had an amazing time (despite the inclement weather). It was like a sampler pack of yoga styles and music: acro-yoga, vinyasa, chanting and gongs. With plenty more summer still to come and lots more festivals coming too, Paula (our Social Media Specialist) put together her list of essentials to get the most out of upcoming yoga festivals.

1. Wanderlust Rucksack – I was lucky enough to test this backpack before it hit stores.  I loved all of the zipper pockets and the laptop sleeve; plus the built in rain cover came in handy during the unexpected downpours.

2. Skinny Satin Pirouette – I’ve finally found a headband that works for my head; skinny and sticky so it stays in place. We did tons of inversion workshops so this was crucial for keeping my hair out of my face and letting me focus on the pose.

3. The Mat – Cushioned and grippy! After a 12-hour travel day, I was extremely happy I was carrying a comfy mat.

4. Manduka Equa Towel – The towel helped provide a little more cushion over my travel mat when I needed it and soaked up the puddles.

5. iPhone – My lifeline. I was tweeting, facebooking, instagramming and checking-in everywhere.

6. Water Bottle – When you’re doing 4-6 hours of yoga every day, staying hydrated was uber-important.  I switched back and forth between H2O and coconut water.

7. Travel Pooch – Anyone I travel with will tell you I’m more than slightly forgetful. I need a bag I can keep close to my body and easily do my keys-phone-passport-wallet check.

8. Vinyasa Scarf –This magical piece acted as my scarf, towel, wrap, pillow, blanket and rain cover. `

9. Dense Foam Block– I actually didn’t bring this with me, but I wish that I had!  Bricks were not supplied in any classes, and when you’re on your 3^rd class of the day, a little extra support would have been greatly appreciated.

10. Moleskin (not pictured) - This was beside my mat all weekend.  With so many amazing instructors at Wanderlust, I was constantly jotting down inspiration and education.  I saw some people using the moleskine app on their iPads instead of notebooks too.

top two nice-to-haves

11. Passport & Rosebud Strawberry Lip Balm – These aren't must-haves, but they're pretty important if you're a Canadian with a lip balm addiction.

upcoming wanderlust yoga festivals

• Wanderlust Chicago - Yoga In The City
• Wanderlust Tahoe - Inspired Gathering
• Wanderlust Santa Monica - Yoga In The City
• Wanderlust Tahoe - Wanderlust CA
• Wanderlust Seattle - Yoga In The City

Sometimes a vacation is just a few hours away. We recently took a road trip to the Gorge in Quincy, Washington for the 2011 Sasquatch Music Festival.  We found it amazing to find such an event close to home that we could fit into our busy schedule. The Gorge was the most unbelievable backdrop for us to relax on the hill,  and catch some of our latest favourite bands.

great bands to catch

We were so excited to catch some of our latest, favourite bands at this fest. If you get lucky you may catch them touring this summer.

• Matt & Kim - One word: AMAZING! This was our first time catching this two piece band, and we fell in love! The energy was awesome and they had they crowd beyond entertained! Download: Daylight
• Robyn - We have been running to her songs all spring and we were super-stoked to see her live! Of course she did not disappoint! Download : Dancing On My Own
• Fitz and the Tantrums - You can’t help move around when listening to this band. Download : MoneyGrabber

don’t worry…there’s more!

That’s not it for the summer music festivals. Be sure to catch some more great music at these future festivals this summer.

• Lollapalooza. Chicago, IL  August 5-7
• Bumbershoot. Seattle, WA September 3-5
• Wanderlust, Bondville, VT, June 23-26
• Wanderlust, Tahoe, CA, July 28-31

(Wanderlust is a series of yoga-cum-music festivals. We'll be there bending and rocking out. We'll also be offering goal coaching sessions in Vermont)

what to bring

Being prepared for a three-day music festival that includes camping AND travelling light doesn't come off without a little planning. Here are our suggestions to keep the experience happy and easy.

• Layer up! The Gorge was warm during the day and quite cold in the evenings. Be sure to pack layers!  We luckily packed a few of our lululemon favourites for the task! (Who knew wunder unders and vinyasa scarves could get any better right?)
• Remember to pack your water bottle. Being in the sun all day can make you thirsty. Most festivals have refill stations for your reusable water bottles. It’s a great way to stay hydrated and skip those pricey bottles of water at concessions.
• Grab an air mattress! Some of us aren’t the most experienced campers. An air mattress can turn a tent into a home!
• Don't forget ear Plugs. Sleeping in a parking lots of festival goers…ear plugs are a must!

We try to keep our ears to the ground for up-coming events. If you're pumped about a festival this summer, let us know about it. Maybe we'll see you there.

If you are reading this in the back seat of a car while en route to Palm Springs for the Coachella Music Festival, congratulations! You have made a fantastic life decision. Our resident music maven couldn't agree more. Inspired by Coachella, Alexis offered to share her sage advice on the subject of summer concerts. We happily obliged (and took feverish notes).

alexis talks coachella

I had the pleasure of attending the 2006 Coachella Music Festival and had the time of my life. Unlike an indoor concert, which is also rad, outdoor festivals are about more than just great music. It’s about taking part in a weekend experience that revolves around joy, human connection, and just letting go and living in the moment.

Music creates the possibility to completely ditch our traditional views on boundaries. If you want to muscle your way to the front of the crowd, panting off every word of your favorite song without thinking about personal space and mingling sweat, you can. Stop and think about the wonder of that, really. Where else would you do this - the bus? The possibility to drop our inhibitions and lose ourselves in a beautiful moment - what a revolutionary and special opportunity.

what to see & hear at coachella

If you're headed to Coachella, take note of the list below. It may possibly have the longest title and it surely has the most valuable information you need for the weekend.

Top Five Bands In The Fine Print of The Coachella Poster That You Will Be Bummed About Missing In Five Years If You Don’t Go Now

Yelle – Can you say ‘dance party’ in French? You will be able to after this kinetic show.

City and Colour – Your eyes aren’t playing tricks…there IS an extra ‘u’ in ‘Colour,’ eh! These Canadian dudes are absolutely amazing.

Two Door Cinema Club – All my friends in the know swear these guys are the next big thing. See them now before you’re paying triple digits for club shows.

The Foals – See above statement.

Delorean – Any band that names themselves after the car in ‘Back To The Future’ can’t suck – it’s science!

The biggest little wristband

lex's guide to summer festivals

As a veteran of many outdoor music festivals, I can tell you that there are things that you will be happy you have with you – items that can save your happiness and keep you grooving. (We're talking about more than the wristband to get you inside the gates.) If you're Coachella-bound, you've already packed but there is still a long season of summer concerts ahead. Take my word and be sure to pack the following, no matter which festival you flock to.

Top Ten Items You Must Pack In Order to Keep Your Sanity

Lip balm – Running around in the summer heat? No matter how much water you drink, you will be dehydrated.

Fanny pack – Trust me. You think a trendy bag is a great idea for your perfectly planned hipster outfit? You won’t be thinking that when your keys are on the bottom of the mosh pit at Kings Of Leon. We actually make a wicked fanny pack perfect for hands-free partying. You can most likely find it at your local store. 

Denim cutoffs – They go with everything, they get better the dirtier they are, and nothing is hotter than a white tank, a bikini top, and your favorite old jeans hacked up.

Wunder Under Crops - I’m not even saying this because I work at lululemon, guides honor. When I went to Coachella (pre-working here), these were my staples. Perfect for changing into post-show if you’re camping, a great layer under a mini-dress if the weather is cloudy, great for the tired drive or flight home…you will be glad you packed these.

A really stylish hat – You can take any outfit from 0 to 60 with an original and stylish hat – plus sunburns are SO passé (Mom alert: remember your sunscreen!)

Floral-print minidress – The trend of the season and hippy-ish enough for your Woodstock moment.

Jewel-tone lipstick – You can be wearing the most boring getup ever but swipe on rich coral lipstick and VOILA! You are the most on-point member of your crew.

Comfortable shoes that aren’t ugly – So we wouldn’t want you to wear orthopedic shoes with your designer frock, but heels + crowds + grass fields and your dogs will be barking. My grandma used to tell me to be good to my feet and I think you should listen to my grandma.

The lucky owner of the biggest little wristband

Rock star sunglasses – They will be in every picture from your weekend. If they are the weak link in your bag, fix it – you will regret beat shades.

Socks – Your feet are going to be dancing machines. Slather on moisturizer and throw on socks during your voyage home. They won’t be as trashed when you wake up in real life.

Now go! Have the weekend of your life! And write us to let us know how it went – we are vicariously living in the moment through you (and Jacqueline, the lucky owner of that sexy wristband). Shine on you crazy diamonds!