Stratton Mountain, Vermont: June 20-23

Copper Mountain, Colorado: July 4-7

Squaw Valley, North Lake Tahoe: July 18-21

Whistler Mountain, British Columbia: August 1-4

Attention early birds: you have until March 26th to take advantage of the advance ticket pricing on 3 and 4-day passes! More info here: http://wanderlustfestival.com

If you want to get an idea of what you'll experience, check out our musical ode to Wanderlust Whistler, filmed at last year's festival in BC!

Are you getting your Wanderlust on this year? Which location are you excited for? See you there!

today i'm grateful for...

It’s a question I began asking myself every day, as a way to reflect. I wasn’t surprised after a few days of this practice to find myself noticing things in a whole new way and appreciating them like never before. What I didn’t realize was that by doing this every day, I was becoming, well, happier.

I began this daily habit when a friend of mine introduced me to an app she and her business partner were developing: 1THINGapp.com. It acts as a gratitude journal where you can either keep the things you are grateful for private or share them anonymously with the world. Every day, one of the ‘gratitudes’ that have been shared are illustrated by an artist.

"Sun Saluations" illustrated by Mike Ellis

I was so moved by this project with 1THINGapp.com that I wanted to pose the question with the Wanderlust community in Whistler. After all, yoga is the ultimate celebration of gratitude. I had created a “Before I Die” wall in Vancouver earlier this year and was astounded by the way people engaged with the wall.

Photo Credit: Dana Ramler

Inspired, I created a spinoff for Wanderlust. A giant blackboard with the words “Today I’m grateful for…” was set up in Whistler village. Buckets of chalk were left out and people were invited to share what they were grateful for that day. Each morning of the four-day festival, the wall was cleaned and put out and every day by lunch it was full. The responses were incredible. Grateful for everything from loved ones, sunshine, fresh clean air and new adventures to health, dreams coming true, mountains and freedom. People shared and the wall was bursting with gratitude.

Photo Credit: Dana Ramler

What I find most incredible about these projects is the impact of seeing the gratitude of others and its effect on me. I am continually touched, moved and inspired by what people are appreciative of and further inspired in my own life of things to be grateful for. It’s like gratitude is contagious!

Thanksgiving (a day dedicated to sharing gratitude) is coming up but we can’t help but wonder about the other 364 days of the year. Take a moment, pause and reflect. What are you grateful for today? And maybe try sharing it with the rest of the world, you never know who you’ll inspire!

Susanne Conrad helps people achieve happier personal and professional lives. At lululemon she's known as our Director of Possibility and has been inspiring and coaching us for as long as we've been making black stretchy pants. We couldn't be more thrilled to bring her Wanderlust Whistler speakeasy to anyone with an internet connection on August 24.

event lowdown

What: Play Big: Create Your Unique Legacy, a one-hour interactive session lead by Susanne
When: August 24th at 10 a.m.
Why: Get inspired and learn about tools to help you create a life you love!
Where: Watch the recap video of this livestream here:

get to know susanne

what was your path to get you where you are now?

When I was a young and a single mother in my 20s, a book I read by Shakti Gawain prompted me to write down my first vision statements: to have the time to be with my children during vacations; to have choice and flexibility in my work; and to be paid to be creative. I remember holding on to some of those ideas as if they were my lifeline. Over a period of many years, they did indeed airlift me out of what would have been a monotonous, cubicle lifestyle. Also in the 1980s, when I worked as an environmental analyst, part of me knew that thoughts and feelings and words could be just as toxic as benzine or mercury or plutonium. I never took the time to write what I was sensing until much later in life--mainly because I thought other people would think I was crazy or that I was't credible. Now, 25 years later, I see that the idea of relating thoughts to toxicity was a valid one. That was the voice of my intuition guiding me all along. What's gotten me here now is that I spend more of my time listening to my inner voice than I do denying it.

what can we expect from your speakeasy at whistler?

Participants can expect a very direct, real interaction between myself and them. Questions my workshop seeks to explore: what do you want your legacy to be? What do you want to live to see? Who do you want to be on the journey of your own life? My workshop will host a multi-dimensional dialogue between myself and the audience about how big we are allowing ourselves to be--in this life and on this planet. Each participant will receive a gift of an igolu Scout book to guide them on their journey post-Wanderlust.

what is a goal you are working on (or one you recently accomplished)?

By Dec 2016, I address 10,000 people annually. One of the things I am most excited about is the upcoming opportunity to reach hundreds of potential goal-setters using Skillshare online hybrid class technology through a class I am teaching in October entitled "Author YOUR Life with Goal-Setting." I love reaching new audiences through these new mediums.

The underlying motivations for this goal are very dear to my heart. It is essential that young people create the healthy images in their own minds of the world they want their children to inherit. While my training as an environmental analyst might seem on the surface to better suit many of the problems the world faces today, I truly believe it is critical that younger generations begin to harness the power of their superconscious mind so they can live in freedom and choice about their own lives. This training will define the difference between someone who lives to fulfill their own goals versus fulfilling the goals of another.

how to participate in susanne's speakeasy on august 24th

1. Join us in real life at Wanderlust Whistler
2. Come back to this blog post
3. Visit our livestream channel
4. RSVP to our Facebook event so it's in your calendar, and invite your friends!

learn more about susanne

Visit Susanne's twitter and Facebook page to learn more about what she's up to.

the countdown to wanderlust whistler

I’ve been counting down the days until Wanderlust since I found out last winter it was coming to Whistler. My home is going to be transformed with yogis, musicians and likeminded individuals for 4 days. Here we’re used to seeing people carrying around their skis and snowboards, so yoga mats over the shoulders will be a whole new vibe!

what i'm excited for

1. Seane Corn is teaching a Detox Flow workshop that combines a vinyasa sequence while learning about living a healthy life. It will be great to be hear how to put your health first while being led through an amazing detoxifying practice.

2. I’m not sure if I’m excited or scared, but the Intro to Slackline Yoga workshop will be pretty cool. I’ve been practicing in the park by my house and walking on a slackline is a challenge in itself. My goal is to be able to rock a crow on the slackline by the end of Wanderlust!

3. Being led through an inversion workshop by Chris Chavez with Todd Boston!

4.ONE BODY UNITED! On Friday night, Michael Franti and Seane Corn will be extending an invitation to all of Whistler to join them in Olympic Plaza for one hour of music and yoga. Bring your mats and get ready for a party because it is going to be a wild 4 days in Whistler!

the ultimate apres area

lululemon Whistler is transforming our front patio into The Front Yard. There will be live music, healthy snacks and drinks, free wifi, and a yoga mat concierge to drop off or clean your sweaty mats. It will be the ultimate après yoga spot, as well as a place to connect, hang out and talk about your favourite workshops.

local tips

Between workshops, make sure you set aside some time to head up the mountain. Take the Whistler gondola up, check out the peak, take the Peak to Peak gondola over to Blackcomb and hike up to the Fitzsimmons look-out for some awesome views. Being up there is like being in heaven. Make sure you bring some comfy shoes, lots of water and your mat for the ultimate Tadasana.

Now, a little secret for you… Whistler is surrounded by some beautiful lakes. The closest to the village is Lost Lake. If you walk towards the Fairmont in the upper village you’ll see Lost Lake. From there hop on the Valley Trail, walk down to the lake and follow the path all the way around to the first dock. Once you’re there, clothing is optional! I couldn’t think of anything better than skinny dipping in the lake after a long weekend of down dogs and handstands.

Come say hi to us at the Whistler store and the Front Yard all Wanderlust weekend lawn for more hidden secrets and any question you have about this amazing weekend!

Rameen Peyrow was lululemon Whyte Avenue's very first yoga ambassador and 10 years ago opened the first yoga studio on Whyte Avenue in Edmonton. This summer West Coasters can practice with Rameen at Wanderlust Whistler, where he'll be sharing the teachings of Sattva Yoga with festival-goers.

who are you?

I am the founder of Sattva Yoga and the Sattva School of Yoga.

yoga influences

My influence comes from the original root of where yoga began. From a very young age, I have had a meditation practice that has been influenced and inspired by the rishis of the east. I also had an opportunity in my early 20s to study with Sri K Patthabi Jois for seven years in my 20s, which was one of the most beautiful and most important times of my life.

In 2002, I was authorized to teach by the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute (AYRI), a blessing given to very few individuals.

what is sattva yoga?

Sattva means purity, harmony, balance, joy, intelligence, wisdom. Sattva is the quality that yogis point their attention towards, making liberation possible. The practice was born out of one question, one seat and one mantra. The question is, Who am I?, the seat is meditation and the mantra is OM. The practice is dedicated to inspiring practitioners to attain a balanced state of being and live from a place of inspired potential.

how sattva evolved

Over the years, I combined the practice of postures and breathing, Hatha Yoga, with the meditative practices of Raja Yoga (concentration, meditation and absorption).

This self-inquiry style of teaching gives the practitioner a platform to learn the key tools that are necessary to becoming self reliant and confident on his or her spiritual path and path of self development.

Learn more about Rameen on his website or the Wanderlust Whistler website.

what style of yoga do you teach?

Vinyasa Flow, Hatha, Restorative, and Prenatal.

how did you get started with yoga?

While completing a BA in Cultural History and Eastern Philosophy I discovered BKS Iyengar's "Light on Yoga" in the library. Completely intrigued, I signed the book out and started a home practice. Two years later I found myself travelling in India and studying yoga - this was 16 years ago!

who/what are your biggest teachers?

Wow, this is a big question. Some of my most influential teachers to date are Mary-Jo Fetterly, Crystal Pite, Rhoda Pitcher, and Christine Selda. The deepening of my yoga, art, dance and ceremonial practice has been such a powerful teacher in my personal awakening and curiosity of body-mind-spirit integration. My greatest teacher to date has come with the birth of my amazing daughter, Desa Rose, who is 19 months old.

other than yoga, what are you passionate about?

Dancing, painting, ceremony, sailing, gardening, spending days with my family in nature, going on retreats, travelling.

what sort of classes are you planning for whistler?

I am really looking forward to teaching four very different classes that will draw upon my training and background in vinyasa flow, meditation, pranayama, and shamanic practice. I am so excited to be working with musicians such as Shaman's Dream, DJ Drez, DJ Urn, and Steve Gold. I am also leading a hike that includes meditation and shamanic ceremony at the top of the mountain.

whose classes are you excited to take at wanderlust?

Seane Corn, Sianna Sherman, Chris Chavez... I would love to practice with everyone if I could!

one thing people don't know about you?

I have sailed across the Atlantic Ocean.

Learn more about Mara on her website or go here to learn more about Wanderlust Whistler.

At a recent class we took with Danielle to celebrate the Seawheeze kickoff, we laughed so much we didn't even realize what a killer workout she was giving us until the next day. We love Danielle and wanted you to get to know her too, so we asked her a few questions.

what style of yoga do you teach?

I teach Vinyasa flow, meditation and the occasional dance class.

where and when did you take your first yoga class?

I took my first yoga class in 2000 at the Meridian Club in Los Angeles. It was a Hatha class and I was surprised at how difficult it was for both mind and body. It took me a couple of years to appreciate the meditative benefits to the practice.

what can we expect from your yoga class?

You will most likely start sweating early on in the class. I find that there is nothing more perfectly sequenced than Sun Salutations A&B, although I will deviate from that sequence from time to time. I am pretty honest and try to share from my experiences and what I’m working on at the moment, e.g. sometimes my practice is about patience; patience not only with how my body is unfolding or not unfolding but how I’m reacting to my mother, partner and children. I try to expand my own awareness off the mat.

who are your teachers?

My main teachers are my two daughters, ages 5 & 7. They teach me to be light, playful and appreciate little things like a simple picture drawn from crayons or the kid’s meal at Subway. They will occasionally surprise me with profound wisdom. My youngest, Gabrielle, saw me grieving over my aging mother and said “Don’t worry mama. Baba (grandma in Japanese) will be born again.” My other teacher is my husband Scott, who introduced me to meditation about 12 years ago. I continue to learn from my parents, yoga students, and teachers of meditation and Vedanta, Deepak Chopra and davidji.

what kind of classes are you teaching at wanderlust whistler?

I will be teaching a variety of vinyasa flow classes and guided meditations, some classes accompanied by Steve Gold, chants and drums.

what's a random fact about you?

I’m half Japanese.

other than yoga, what are you most passionate about?

Food. I like to cook.

Danielle's teaching a variety of yoga and meditation classes at Wanderlust Whistler and is also speaking on a panel called "Transformation: How I Came to Yoga" with Eoin Finn and Amy Ippoliti. You can also find Danielle at the Chopra Center in Vancouver, where she teaches and is the Studio Director. Her personal website is: http://daniellemikanagel.com/

My love affair with music started in the womb. My parents played Gregorian chants on headphones for my listening pleasure as I floated in my mum’s tummy. Music was always playing in our house growing up. My father was known for his mix tapes in the community. He’s made over 200 mixes in his day.

When I took my first class at Jivamukti Yoga, I fell in love. I could tell the teacher had thought out how her playlist set the tone for the class. Two things made vinyasa my yoga style of choice: 1. breath-based movement and 2. music is an integral part of the practice. A good playlist is one that takes you on a journey.

creative process for yoga playlists

It usually starts because either I hear a song that inspires me to move, there’s a theme I would like to work with, or there’s a bhav (mood) I’d like to create. From there I go through my music files and find other songs in the same genre or that have the same bhav (mood). You can also find like minded songs through ‘Genius’ on iTunes. Depending upon the BPMs of the song, it goes into one of four categories of the playlist. From there, you create the rest.

The opening is usually one to two slower songs to set the stage while you’re doing your surya namaskars. The next three songs start upping the energy. The third part is the peak/meat of the playlist. These songs will have the highest energy of the playlist, 30-50 minutes. Peak pose is usually around the 55 min mark of a 90 min class. After the peak pose, we move to the floor series: backbends, hip openers, twists and forward folds. During the floor series I begin I bring down the energy by slowing the tempo. The first two songs of the fourth part are bit slower than the peak and by the end of this part, they are super mellow readying for the shavasana song. What’s great about doing it this way is I rarely need to look at a clock while I teach as I can tell what time it is by where I am in the playlist. My playlists are usually 75 min long as I factor in 5 min for intro at the beginning and 5-8 min at the end for meditation and closing prayer. I also have a shavasana playlist just in case I need a bit more music at the end and my current playlist is over.

the class break down

0-10 min (Sun Salutation As)
Slow music to ease into the flow, usually accoustic, one person singing if any. Folk and classical pieces work great here. (Bon Iver, Arvo Part, Susheela Raman, Iron & Wine, Jamie Woon, Krishna Das, Bill Withers)

10-30 min (Sun Salutation Bs, standing series)
Down tempo, lounge music, R&B (Thievery Corp., Erykah Badu, radiohead, Bonobo, Bill Withers, Shaman’s Dream, Dj Shadow, Underworld)

30-55 min (standing series, moving towards peak pose)
A bit more upbeat or stay with lounge depending upon what your peak pose is. I usually have a house song as my peak song if the peak is a very energizing pose, inversions/arm balances. (Junior Boys, Amma, Antibalas, Beat Pharmacy, Girish, Gazal, Cheb I Sabbah, Gotan Project, Spy from Cairo)

55-65 min (backbends, floor series)
Back to down tempo, lounge, instrumental (Finley Quaye, Fat Freddy Drop, Portishead, Cat Power, Nightmares on Wax, Alif Tree, Tony Allen, Massod Ali Kahn)

65-75 min (shavasana)
Chillest song of the playlist. (Jai Uttal, Sade, Brian Eno, Amrita, Ben Leinbach, Shanti Shivani, silence is also great)

example playlists

Playlist name: Rain
I created it during the winter here in Vancouver, when we were in a particularly long spell of rain. The gift the rain gives us the opportunity to go deep inside. This playlist was to do exactly that. The peak song was Nina Simone’s, ‘See-Line Woman’. Besides that song, all the others are slower, setting a more earthy practice.

Holocene - Bon Iver (5:41)
That Home - The Cinematic Orchestra (1:53)
(First two songs above are mellow)

To Be Alone With You - Sufjan Stevens (2:48)
Close to Me - Elk City (5:16)
Brothers On A Hotel Bed - Death Cab for Cutie (4:31)
The Dress Looks Nice On You - Sufjan Stevens (2:32)
See-Line Woman - Nina Simone (2:38)
Gabriel - Lamb (4:19)
For Emma - Bon Iver (3:41)
His Master's Voice - Monsters Of Folk (4:50)
Time And Space - The Cinematic Orchestra (8:31)
'Round Midnight - Thelonious Monk (5:23)
Oh, Lonesome Me (Ft. Lucinda Williams) - M. Ward (6:06)
Don't Explain - Nina Simone (4:22)
A Thousand Tiny Pieces - The Be Good Tanyas (3:46)

Playlist name: House
I like to play this one when I’m working on inversions and arm balances as it’s very high energy.

Something About Us - Daft Punk (3:51)
manvantara - bliss (9:28)
The Messenger - New Funky Generation (3:48)
This Is The Time - Dubtribe Sound System (4:48)
Free (Deep house remix) - Jill Scott (6:21)
After Hours (Various Artists) - Bedouin Cafe (4:00)
2 Please U (Losoul Surreal Visits Dub) - Freaks (2:59)
Someday - Beard (5:23)
On My Own - Amma (6:00)
The Rhythm In Your Mind - Dubtribe Sound System (7:28)
DJ Kicks - DJ Kicks (6:19)
bangla soul - baul dimension (4:24)
Silent Stations Pt 1 - Project JPO (7:27)

Playlist name: Yuppers

‘Yuppers’ was inspired by the first song on the list by Steve Gold. I heard it in Seattle when he gave it to my teacher, Shiva Rea. It brings back such beautiful memories for me and I find it so powerful. I play this one when it’s a heart opening/backbending themed class. Every song on this playlist is a homage to one of my teachers. This is only a 55 min playlist. I usually stop it for a bit after the final backbends so students can really sit in their experience of the heart openers. I put it back on when we get into hip openers.

Let Your Be Known Remix - Steve Gold (7:10)
Ganapati - Susheela Raman (6:44)
By Your Side (Neptunes remix) - Sade (4:00)
Sometimes - Raphael Saadiq (4:07)
Diferente - Gotan Project (5:22)
Stay For Awhile (feat. Angie Stone) - Anthony Hamilton (4:02)
100 Yard Dash - Raphael Saadiq (2:19)
Until The Morning (Rewound By Thievery Corporation) - Thievery Corporation (3:39)
Ernie - Fat Freddy's Drop (7:17)
Fire And Rain - James Taylor (3:26)
Sea of Love - Cat Power/Myra Lee (2:18)
Into Dust - Mazzy Star (5:37)

where i get my music

Many people ask me where I get my music. I am blessed to have a couple friends back in NYC and San Fran that share what they’re excited about every so often. They’ve also come to know my tastes and send me things randomly when they think I’d dig it. Compilations are a great way to find out about new music (ie buddha bar, asian travels, punjabi lounge, Shiva Rea’s compilations are great). Genius in the iTunes store is also good. I’m from the electronic era so I love world beats mixed with electronica. Too many words in a song can make you feel like you’re competing while teaching. There are times when I love hip hop and other genres with a lot of lyrics if I’m teaching an intermediate/advanced class as I don’t have to talk as much. However in open level classes, I prefer playlists with less lyrics in the peak part of the class as I’m usually cueing a lot.

the most important thing

The most important thing to remember when making a playlist is that it should be music that inspires you! If you’re inspired by the music, it will come across in your teaching. There’s nothing worst than being in a class with elevator music (that’s what i call music playing softly in the background). Either play music and have it enhance the class, or don’t play it all. Music has the ability to take us deeper into our experience and it has the ability to take us out. So be conscious of how the music is shaping the experience.

Practice with Clara at Wanderlust Whistler this summer in August, and check her personal site http://www.pixieyoga.net/ for upcoming teacher trainings, retreats, and inspiration.

music and yoga: a strange evolution

The yogis who practiced in the palaces of Mysore, India in the early 1900s probably never expected that yoga would be taught at the top of a ski resort in Whistler or Tahoe to the sounds of Thievery Corporation, yet the evolution seems so natural when you step back and look at it. When I presented at Wanderlust last summer it felt like a modern Woodstock.

Both Wanderlust and Woodstock have music playing late into the night, along with vendors and caravans of smiling, free-spirited people talking of peace and love. What’s different? The brown acid of the 60s has been replaced with downdogs, Trikonasanas and Tantric philosophy.

yogi rock stars

Even though many in India view yogis as wandering ascetics in spiritual pursuit of Moksha or “release” from the trappings of material possessions and the ego, there are armies of “yogi rock stars” who are content in the limelight, sharing their passions around the globe. You’ll see them hobnobbing with musical celebrities at yoga festivals this summer, no doubt.

No matter what your opinion of Yoga Rock Stars, the fact is that yoga and music are both great gifts for the elevation of the spirit.

Think about the many days you've found yourself in a mundane space and then that perfect song comes on the stereo that stops you in your tracks, and has you singing along in your head or even out loud. Your heart feels lighter, your pain fades away and gravity somehow tugs you down less.

This is the great gift of yoga, as well. Like music, it too restores our positive perspective, celebrates the splendor of life and the radiance of the heart. After just a few sun salutations all of us have wondered, “What was I worried about today, anyway?” Our body becomes an antenna that picks up the music of the soul.

conduits

My current personal definition of yoga is that “Yoga is the art of getting out of your own way.” Good musicians know this, as do artists and athletes. When they are in the zone and playing something powerful, you will notice their eyes are closed. They are open to something coming through them. Reflecting back on these moments they ask themselves, “Who was playing this music?” They are masters of being a conduit.

And this is what I tell people in our Blissology Yoga teacher trainings. Of all the things a yoga teacher has to perfect, the main one is how to be a conduit for the force of love, joy, awe and bliss. I think that the best yoga teachers, like great musicians, get out of their own way. They are not encased in ego, but they let something powerful flow through them.

This is why one of the best Savasanas I had was accompanied by musician and yogi Michael Franti on the Jivamukti Yoga DVD. He channels something in his music that is also there in the words and energy he uses during Savasana.

Let’s celebrate this great union of music and yoga. In the words of Hafiz, “let’s set this dry, boring place on fire.” If you attend one of these great music and yoga festivals, you will see that the Cosmic Dance of Shiva has evolved to the beat of our modern era, and it’s a great thing. I say, “Let’s ROCK!”

Come rock out with Eoin Finn at Wanderlust Whistler this summer or visit him at blissology.com for inspiration, teacher trainings, workshops and more.

when and where did you first do yoga?

I took my first yoga class 20 years ago in Argentina and I have to admit that it wasn't love at first sight. At the time I was 18 years old and the pacing of that Hatha class was simply too slow for my wondering mind and eager body. I think I fell asleep several times throughout the class and when it was over, I confused the quiet state of being with an uneventful experience. It wasn't until 8 years later, when I took my second class, that yoga really caught my attention. This time the deep sense of peace that I felt after class made me realize that I had fallen upon something really special.

where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration in anything that is authentic, from people to nature to art. In a world where science and technology can reproduce anything and make it look the same, only what's original has real value to me.

who are your teachers and influences?

Life has given me great teachers to learn from. It would be impossible to name them all because I don't even know some of them, but here I go in random order: children, yoga, birds flying, piano music, devoted students, The Ramayana, ferns unfolding, books, summer nights, my literature teacher in high school, the sound of the ocean, Eckhart Tolle, dark chocolate, theatre, The Bhagavhad Gita, waterfalls, old things, Japanese Maples, sunshine, Lao Tzu, photography, lemons and spontaneous laughter. I may be forgetting a few...

your favourite and least favourite yoga pose (and why)?

My favourite pose is handstand scorpion because it encourages me to be alert yet quiet, active yet yielding and strong yet light.

My least favorite pose is any that triggers my ego to push through and makes me forget how to soften, regardless of how far I go.

what do you focus on in your classes?

In my classes I focus on my students that graced me with their presence. Teaching is usually my favourite thing in the day because I get to take a break from my needs in order to serve others. To me, yoga is a journey of undoing and I'm happy to assist my students in freeing themselves from the phantoms of yesterday and tomorrow, from should's and must's, from attachments and resistances, and stepping into the present moment.

Nico is teaching this summer at Wanderlust Whistler, Aug. 23-26, or you can practice with him at various studios around Vancouver BC.

maria in a nutshell

Hometown: Victoria, BC
Website: http://www.mariafilipponeyoga.com/
Ambassador at: lululemon Johnson St
First memory of yoga: Watching my Grandma, when I was 9 years old, practice yoga postures with a Karen Zeebrof book.
First yoga class In my 20s, my brother Joe took me to a class at the Jewish Community Centre.
Bikram Yoga: hot or not? I thought it was absolutely nuts. It took me a full year to get back in the room and once I committed myself, the way I lived my life changed for the best.
Your favourite place to visit: After high school I worked for 3 years as a flight attendant. My top 3: Hawaiian Islands, Rome & Paris.

how pilates healed maria's back

For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by the body and alignment. My first teaching gig at age 15 was assisting in an aerobics class, offering hands-on adjustments, flipping the records and correcting people's form. With no former training, in a packed house with music bumping, I knew I had found my true passion.

the five principles

After many years of working with students on a one-to-one basis, I have boiled the brilliance of Pilates down to 5 powerful principles:

1) breath
2) neutral pelvis
3) scapular stabilization
4) ribcage placement
5) cervical alignment

I worked as a personal trainer (and aerobics instructor) for many years, and despite being in "good shape" I was dealing with low back pain. It was only then, when I began to study and practice Pilates regularly that my back pain disappeared. I was hooked.

practice with maria

I will continue to share these simple yet profound principles with all students willing to slow down, dive in and have a look at how easily one's optimal posture may be restored.
Take a class with Maria at Wanderlust Whistler on August 23-26, 2012, or find her in Victoria BC!

What are you doing on August 23-26, 2012? The first-ever Wanderlust Festival in Canada is taking place in Whistler, BC, and we couldn't be more stoked to be hosting this huge yoga and music experience in our own backyard.

what is wanderlust?

Yoga. Music. Dancing. Mountains. Put all those together and add amazing yoga instructors, top musical acts and DJs, inspiring speakers, and your friends, and you've got the basic ingredients for a Wanderlust weekend. Feel free to improvise on this recipe to create the weekend of your dreams!

There are four Wanderlusts in total:

Stratton Mountain, Vermont - June 21-24, 2012
Copper Mountain, Colorado - July 5-8, 2012
Squaw Valley, California - July 26-29, 2012
Whistler, British Columbia - August 23-26, 2012

Yoga. Mountains. Need we say more? (photo from Wanderlust 2011 c/o Tom O'Neil)

yoga teachers at wanderlust whistler!

Here are the teachers that will be moving you through four days of downdogs and sun salutations at Wanderlust Whistler, including many from our ambassador family!

Baron Baptiste
Eoin Finn
Janet Stone
Lisa Black
Tina James
Anne Marie Kramer
Danielle Mika Nagel
Reno Muenz
Maria Filippone
Rameen Peyrow
Tiffany Cruikshank
Clara Roberts-Oss
Meghan Currie
Julia McCabe
Mike Nichols
Nico Luce
Cameron Gilley
Sjanie McInnis
Jeff Mah
JP Tamblyn
Ichih Wang
Mara Branscombe
Kevin and Hali Mcquillan
Chris Chavez
Carina Raisman
Ryan Leier

view a timelapse of the wanderlust experience

what you need to know (in a nutshell)

1. Wanderlust Whistler is taking place Aug. 23-26, 2012
2. Tickets will be available February 21 here: www.wanderlustfestival.com
3. All other details about who, what, where and when can be found here.

'memba last year?

Squaw Valley Wanderlust 2011: A Summary
Exploration at Wanderlust Vermont

Mark your calendars, grab your friends and see you in Whistler!